Reflecting Jesus

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October 9-11

Introduction

Today we’ll be finishing Acts 9

Last week we looked at the conversion of Saul

And today we are back looking at Peter

The disciple of Jesus, who lived with and followed Jesus for 3 years, and is now continuing the work of his teacher

And we see that Peter is talking and acting exactly how Jesus was.

That he was a reflection of who Jesus is to the people in these stories

We’ll read two stories back to back:

One of a paralytics man who is healed

And another of a woman who is raised from the dead

And really, as we are reading, if you substitute Peter’s name for Jesus—you wouldn’t even bat an eye

So lets jump in and read our text

Acts 9:32–43 CSB

32 As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up. 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity. 37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

Can you guys see how Peter has picked up and is carrying on the work of Jesus?

This morning we’re going to talk about what it means for us to do the same

For us to reflect the character of Jesus to those around us

Reflecting Jesus

Words

Works

By the Holy Spirit

We reflect Jesus to those around us through our words and works through the Holy Spirit.

We talk about this all the time but: Our faith as followers of Jesus is more than just mental knowledge and believing the right things

It is something that is felt and noticed by the people around us

In Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

We represent a different country—a different way of doing things

How many of you have traveled to other countries?

Does anyone have any examples of things they do differently in other countries that we don’t do here?

Driving on the left side of the road

Siesta in Spain

Bowing in Japan

We aren’t meant to just blend into our surroundings, we act as representatives of Jesus

And not in a forceful way or a flashy way (American’s traveling)

We don’t pick fights with people over how we are different

But we follow the humble and gentle example of Jesus

And we do this through our words and works through the Holy Spirit.

Our Words

I think we have a lot to learn from Peter’s words in this story

Namely, his lack of words

In both encounter’s combined Peter says 14 words

Acts 9:34 CSB

34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up.

Acts 9:40 CSB

40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

If you’re familiar with Peter’s life in the gospels, how would you describe him?

Brash

Talk first, ask questions later

Speaking his mind/on his whims

But here he has the calm and controlled humility of Jesus

And words that are filled with faith and absolute trust in Jesus

He’s not praying long drawn out prayers, pleading for God to move and intervene

He speaks simple prayers of faith, knowing God hears his prayers

Matthew 6:7–8 CSB

7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

So I have a question for each of us:

Do we talk too much?

Both in prayers, but just life in general?

Are we speaking with too many words?

One of the proverbs reads:

Proverbs 10:19 CSB

19 When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent.

New Living Translation Chapter 10

19 Too much talk leads to sin.

Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

If we are to reflect Jesus, our words must reflect him

Jesus was a great listener and question asker

You see Jesus always used his words to build others up and speak the truth in love to those around him

Even when he had difficult things to say—he calls people out—but does so with their best interests in mind

In Matthew, Jesus tells us:

Matthew 12:36–37 CSB

36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

I think here we see a transformation in Peter

I think Peter in the gospels would have fumbled over his words, but we see the Spirit at work in his life

But it’s not just how we speak… its how we act

I mean this is the main distinction of what makes a hypocrite

Someone can speak all of the correct things—but if they act in a way that is contrary to their words

We call them a hypocrite

Ex. Parents—Screen-time/Emotions/etc

Our Works

Reflecting Jesus happens both in our words and works

If we are sacrificial in our work but tear others down with our words—what good are we?

If we speak the kindest words but act like a jerk—are we reflecting Jesus?

Here Peter not only has his tongue under control—but he reflects Jesus with his actions

In a literal sense—Jesus performed many miracles—including healing (3) paralyzed people (Roof man, Centurion Servant, Bethesda) and raising (3) people from the dead (Widow’s son, Jairus daughter, Lazarus) (And himself)

And here Peter performs the same miracles Jesus did

Healing a paralyzed man

Raising a person from the dead

And we too, should reflect Jesus in our actions

And the question of miracles comes up—should we be performing miracles? or Why aren’t we?

But I want us to focus on the heart behind these miracles—not the miracles themselves

Jesus and Peter’s eyes are towards the least and lowly

Here we see two people thats lives are forever changed by their encounter with Peter

Aeneas

A paralyzed man for 8 years

And in Jesus’s time this carried such a stigma to it

Often people linked physical impairment as a direct result of sin — looking down on this man morally

People with these impairments were not allowed to the temple and to participate in temple worship

They could not provide for themselves so either their family members had to completely provide for their needs or they resorted to begging in the streets

And these people were ignored, disregarded, and pushed to the side

But Peter noticed this man and brought healing to his life

Dorcas (Tabitha)

A widow (we can assume)

None of her family is mentioned

She is close with all of the widows of her city

She made them clothing

And she was a blessing

Acts 9:36 CSB

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

And again, widows in this time were way different than widows today

There was very little opportunity for women to work—especially enough to provide for themselves

They were a financial burden to remaining family members

But this woman was a blessing to her whole community—and Peter intervened and raised her from the dead

And what I want to focus on in this passage is that both of these people were overlooked, neglected, and pushed to the margins

And following in the works of Jesus means serving those who have no one to serve them, no one to represent them, no help

Or in the words of James:

James 1:27 CSB

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

And for us… who are these people?

There is so much need in our world… it can be overwhelming

We don’t have to meet every need, and serve every underserved community—but we have to start somewhere

The works of Jesus go way beyond being nice to your friends, classmates, and family

There is a missional aspect to following Jesus

We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world

We continue the work of Jesus in our lives TODAY

One of the things I love about this church is the work that Bianka has the privilege of leading

Our church doesn’t exist to just be its own silo of holiness, but we go out into the community to help those in need

Followers of Jesus are people who serve others

And at different seasons we have different capacities, but even if its in the smallest amount… let’s serve those around us

It’s something you need to practice

Often it’s not a natural response to serve others selflessly

It takes time, energy, resources

You could be doing other things

But thats the whole point

But as we serve others—it actually changes our own heart—and we find enjoyment and fulfillment in our sacrifice

I would say… find what you are passionate about—and see how you can help

LWOP/Steven

Teach in Prison

Donating

Here are a few examples:

In this church

Stressed out families we can serve in Kids Church

Give them a reprieve and time to receive from God free from distractions

Bianka’s work in local outreach

Helping in tangible ways in our community

At your schools

Who are the people that need to be shown kindness?

Who are the people who are pushed to the margins and overlooked?

Who are the people that others have written off because of their past?

In our daily lives

Praying for homeless people (prayer matters!)

How can we reach out in love to those who have no one in their corner?

By the Holy Spirit

I want to go back to the sentence I started off with:

We reflect Jesus to those around us through our words and works through the Holy Spirit.

All of this… has to be done through the power of the Holy Spirit

We cannot reflect Jesus if we are neglecting God’s own work in our lives

We can try

We can imitate

We can try to say the right things—and control our tongue

We can try to do all the right things—and serve others

But an imitation is not a reflection

Make-up can cover and imitate

A mirror reflects

And we aren’t to just put spiritual make up to make us look better

We are to actually reflect Jesus

Like I started with in this story, You could read Peter’s encounters with these people and swap out his name for Jesus and you wouldn’t even notice

What if our lives were like that

We were the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere we go

Every conversation we have

Every room we enter

This is a high standard—but it is what we are aiming for

And we can only accomplish this through the power of the Holy Spirit

But what does that even mean? — I’m sure we have heard this a lot if we’ve been in the church

I just want to address 3 common misunderstandings:

It is not ‘Let God — Let go” & It is more than self-discipline

The aim is communion with God — Powered by his love for you

3. It happens in our thoughts and minds

It’s not a mental game — and it does impact the way we tangibly live

But walking in the flesh/spirit starts in our minds

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 CSB

3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Conclusion

Small Group Questions

Ice Breaker: Who is a role-model that you want to be like when you grow up? What about them inspires this?

Do you think you talk too much? Have your words ever got you into trouble?

Is there a particular group of people/social justice cause that breaks your heart? How can you help? (Even if it is prayer)

What do you think it means to walk in the Spirit? Is this a difficult idea for you? Why?