You see Peter but Peter Sees Jesus.

Intro

Quick reminder of last week - Paul / Bull in china closet / Barnabas / Pastor /Builder of leaders

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Today our attention turns to Peter: Or at least that is how we often read todays passage.

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Acts 9:31–43 ESV

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 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.” 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. 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

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Two points I want You to See Today.

Jesus is the healer!

Healing is the means to the end and not the end!

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Jesus is the HEALER

Acts 9:32–35 ESV

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Who heals Aeneas? Jesus Christ!

Peter is not supernatural / No apostle was supernatural /

But they and the Church served a Supernatural God, who can and does Heal!

We never heal anyone - Jesus is the healer at all times.

We do not have the power to heal - Only Jesus has the power to heal.

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Peter did not Pray for Healing rather he proclaimed that Jesus was healing.

Peter saw the Holy Spirit moving on Aeneas and Proclaimed it!

Peter had learned to see and hear the Holy Spirit from Jesus.

John 5:19 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

Peter was not a super hero, rather Peter was able to see and understand what the Holy Spirit was up to.

Jesus is the healer, Jesus is the super hero.

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Acts 9:39–40 ESV

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. 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.

Peter prayed not for healing but to tune into what the Spirit was doing.

This was not about Peter’s will and desire but rather he wanted to know what the Father’s will was.

Once he knew the Father’s will he turned to the body of Dorcas and commanded life.

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We have to remember that we are not the hero; Jesus is the hero.

We are not powerful; Jesus is all powerful

We do not command God; we listen and obey, even when His desire does not meet ours.

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

2 Corinthians 12:7–9 ESV

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The Apostle Peter relied on the Power of Christ!

His was not to heal, his was to see, listen, and obey.

Ours is not heal, ours is simply to see, listen, and obey.

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HEALING IS THE MEANS TO THE END NOT THE END!

The Glory of Jesus is the END!

Not your healing, not your neighbors healing, the GLORY of Jesus is the end.

Aeneas was an unbeliever therefore, Peter made sure he knew who was doing the healing.

Acts 9:34 ESV

And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

The healing was a means to give Jesus Glory and to make Him known!

Acts 9:42 ESV

And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

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Jesus is the healer

All that Jesus does is to lead to His glory and our salvation, even if it does not fit our agenda.

So, lets be like Peter, lets seek to see and listen to the HS

Lets be like Peter and place our faith in Jesus and not in our own faith.