Amazing Grace: Acts 9 Wed night 7.10.19

07/08/19 Amazing Grace

07/08/19 Amazing Grace

READING: 

Today’s one of those days when something surprisingly captures my attention in the Scriptures. In today’s New Testament reading, we learn of God’s power displayed through Peter’s ministry—particularly, his healing Aeneas and Tabitha (Dorcas).  Through God, Peter first brought strength and power to Aeneas, “who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years” (). Peter spoke, and immediately Aeneas got up.

Today’s one of those days when something surprisingly captures my attention in the Scriptures.

And it’s Peter and his work and ministry.

Now what do we know about Peter?

1. Followed the Lord 2. Part of the inner circle

2. Part of the inner circle

3. Denied Jesus 3 times 4. Preached at Pentecost

4. Preached at Pentecost

5. Was sent to minister to the Jews primarily

6. Was crucified for the faith, but he elected to be crucified upside down.

So those are just some of the highlights of his work, but in Acts chapter 9 we get a chance to see God’s power displayed in and through the one who had once denied Christ.

So lets look at our text today and see what we know about Peter.

verses 32-43

particularly, his healing Aeneas and Tabitha (Dorcas).  Through God, Peter first brought strength and power to Aeneas, “who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years” (). Peter spoke, and immediately Aeneas got up.

Acts 9:32–43 ESV

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

So looking at this text i want to shar a few thoughts with you that I would like to call Amazing Grace ....

Now I say Amazing Grace, for several reasons, but namely that he called Peter and prepared him, equipped him for ministry.

Peter was chosen by God to be used… and it wasn’t just him, no my friends, it wasn’t just Peter it was each and every disciple whom the Lord saved. And yes that even applies to us....

How wonderful that the Lord would save us and then take that which was broken and use it… I hear people say all the time, I cannot do this or that… Prove it.

Peter was a broken vessel, weak, wavering mind and yes even denied Jesus. But that which God has chosen to use is just right...

You are just right...

Now verse 32, Paul has been ministering and he went here and there, but he came to the place called Lydda.

Lydda lay north and west of Jerusalem, it was a town that had been established by the tribe of Benjamin as they took the land from the Canaanites. It was once called Lod.

Now verse 33 tells us that in that place, Lydda, Peter comes across a older man who is in that town and the Scriptures tell us that he is paralayzed, in fact he could do nothing for 8 years.

That is a long time.. after 8 years you cannot do anything for yourself expect move your upper body a bit, arms and maybe torso some, it is a terrible situation. It meant you were totally dependent on another.

Now this man, his name is Aeneas (Ah knee us)

Peter sees him and has compassion on him, speaking to him.. look at verses 34-35

Acts 9:35–36 ESV

35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Acts 9:34–35 ESV

34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

And so Peter spoke to him, much like the man he encounters in Acts chapter 3. He speaks to him and tells him, the Lord has healed him and tells him, commands for him to arise. he does and is well.

The phrase make his bed, is literally, pick it up....fold it and get it ready to travel.

So this man is healed and well. how awesome it is to see… and here is what is even better, the residents of Lydda and Sharon, two areas in very close proximity to each other and they had known and have seen this man.

Upon seeing his new state they are turning to the Lord. How wonderful!!

And now as we move forward we see more… verses 36-43

Lets look there again… Verses 36 -37

Acts 9:36–37 ESV

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

So very close where our story as just been. we move down the road just a little bit to Joppa. Joppa lay about 10 miles north of Lydda.

Now we recognize the name of this city of Joppa. why do we know it? Jonah and the whale....

And there in Joppa we find a disciple, a person named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas,( it was a greek name that mean antelope or gazelle, this person was a devout person, a righteous person who was full of faith. She has good works and acts of love and mercy.

And the truth is she became ill, and died. Life came up and some how she gets a illness that leads to death.

We know that no matter who you are death is no respecter of persons...

So at death they cared for her body, washing it, cleansing it and then laying it in a upper room, much like what we have done with a “wake” in our areas past. So she is laid out where the mourners can be around her.

And Peter becomes aware of this.... He is literally made aware of her death as the people there in Joppa heard that Peter was near and have sent for him.

Acts 9:38 ESV

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”

Come please without delay… interesting she is not ill but dead when they send for him.

You see how much faith they have in the Apostles of the Lord Jesus.

So verse 39 tells us that Peter arose and went with them.. look at the passage

Acts 9:39 ESV

39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

They brought him to that room where her body lay and we have a chance to see something so wonderful and meaningful...

The room was full of mourners, but look at them, it was the widows of the community and they all had the tunics, these coats and garments that Tabitha had made for them...

Remember we are told she is active in her faith and practice…

But you see the special testimony they had for her...

Now lets look at the last three verses

Verses 40-43

Acts 9:40–43 ESV

40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Peter clears the room.

And he kneels down to pray, and then turning to her Peter says to her… Tabitha arise… and she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up....

Then – – Peter “gave her his hand and helped her stand up” (). The gentleness in that act as the fisherman reached out to her is sweet indeed.

More incredible to me, though, is that Peter was the same man who once denied even knowing Jesus. Three times, he had rejected any notion that he was a follower of Jesus – but, now, God’s power flowed through him. God’s grace really is amazing.

PRAYER: “God, thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for drawing us back to You and then using us for Your glory.”

). Peter spoke, and immediately Aeneas got up.

More incredible to me, though, is that Peter was the same man who once denied even knowing Jesus. Three times, he had rejected any notion that he was a follower of Jesus – but, now, God’s power flowed through him. God’s grace really is amazing.

PRAYER: “God, thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for drawing us back to You and then using us for Your glory.”