Tabitha: Resurrection and Revival
Notes
Transcript
Read Text
Women’s Ministry
Women’s Ministry
For the past few weeks and leading up to Mother’s day I wanted to emphasize some of the many women mentioned in the Bible.
We have looked at symbolic women such as the great harlot of Revelation 17, 18 and 19 and the Bride of Christ mentioned in revelation 19.
We have also looked at actual historical women of the Bible like Phoebe last week and today we will look at Tabitha whose Greek name was Dorcas
To say that women are a huge part of Jesus’ ministry both during His time on earth and since His resurrection and ascension would be a tremendous understatement.
Women are a vital and irreplaceable part of the advance of the Kingdom of God
But to be fair, so are the men
So are teenagers and children
We are ALL part of the Body of Christ
As we read in 1 Corinthians 12, we cannot say to ANY part of the Body, “I have no need of you.”
Which is NOT the same thing as saying every part looks the same or carries the same load.
Tabitha illustrates the heavy load that women in the church often carry.
She demonstrates how vital the role of women is in the local church
Vs.36 tells us that she “abounded with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.”
As a teenager in an AG church I gradually became aware of how important the women of the WMCs (Women’s Missionary Council) were.
You see, shortly after the AG formed in 1914, the women of our fellowship wanted to carry their share of the ministry.
So in 1925, Etta Calhoun formed the first Women’s Missionary Council which defines what the women focused on at the beginning of our fellowship — missions!
But then the whole fellowship focused on taking the Gospel around the world under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Because of that emphasis, because of the leading and blessing of the Holy Spirit, Pentecostal Christians now number over 63 million in the world
Women have contributed to missionaries all over the world being able to accomplish their mission of taking the Gospel.
I remember as a teenager in the a small AG church in Pensacola, FL that Sandra and I attended, Grace Assembly of God, that the ladies had a missionary “closet” they maintained for the missionaries who would visit our church.
Like Tabitha, the ladies had quilted quilts, collected linens and other household supplies that missionaries would need to set up a home in another country.
Over the years, the ministry of women expanded and women were involved in all areas of the church.
Doing again, what our text says” continually abounding with deeds of kindness and charity.”
Whether ministering to missionaries
To people inside the church
Or reaching outside of the church
Women seem tireless in their efforts to show the love of Jesus.
That is Tabitha’s testimony: she ministered the love of Jesus.
It isn’t by accident that the girls ministry of the AG has an achievement program where girls can earn something called Honor Star has a Tabitha step.
Girls complete Bible verse memorization, Bible studies and service projects according to the acronym: STAR (which uses the names of 4 prominent Bible women)
Susanna - Service
Tabitha - Testimony (the one we are studying today)
Anna - Attitude
Ruth - Relationships
And yes, what a testimony Tabitha had!
She ministered, even when ministry wasn’t easy.
She may have felt like these boys...
You try and try, only to have those with whom you labor so long and so diligently end up right back in the bad place you tried to help them escape.
But ministers of Christ don’t give up, they don’t quit — they run the race all the way to the finish line.
That’s what Tabitha did. She continually ministered.
A Bad thing Turned to Good
A Bad thing Turned to Good
But then Tabitha’s ministry of “Continuously abounding deeds of kindness and charity” was cut short by sickness and cut off by death.
How sad that such a godly woman was cut down in the midst of doing so much good.
Well, I guess that’s it!
Aren’t you glad the followers of Jesus at Joppa didn’t take that attitude?
They dared to believe that God could turn the situation around.
God blesses those who dare to believe — even in the face of impossibility and death.
I believe that the Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts that God had more He wanted Tabitha to do.
They had heard the Apostle Peter was in Lydda, so they sent for him.
And Peter was a man of faith and action.
He had been with Jesus for 3 1/2 years and saw that Jesus was a man of faith and action.
Jesus saw the sick and healed them.
He saw the lame and healed them to walk again.
He saw the leprous and cleansed them.
He saw the blind and gave them sight.
The deaf and He made them to hear.
Jesus saw the dead and raised them to life.
Peter had watched the ministry of Jesus and he learned that ministry of faith and action.
So peter responded, he came to Joppa.
It seems the widows who had been recipients of Tabitha’s ministry, felt the need to show their sorrow by displaying all the garments and tunics that Tabitha had made.
A tangible reminder of all that Tabitha did.
I want those of you who minister to know that God knows your ministry for Him.
Even if there may not be a tangible reminder of ministry.
As the Apostle Paul said in:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
The one who plants may not see tangible evidence of his or her labors.
The one who waters may not see tangible evidence of his or her labors.
We labor together, seen or unseen — and God gives the increase.
It may be in eternity that we see the fruit of our labors for Jesus.
Don’t be discouraged if you can’t see them in the here and now.
But Peter, praying under the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit prayed for Tabitha to come back to life.
And she did!
But that’s not the end of the account.
And make no mistake, this is NOT a tall tale, a work of fiction, this is the factual, historical account of a woman who was dead being brought back to life by the power of God.
It became known … and many believed.
It became known … and many believed.
As Vs. 42 says: The miracle of Tabitha’s resurrection from the dead led to many putting their belief in Jesus for salvation.
What the devil meant for harm and to end Tabitha’s ministry only serve to bring about a greater work of revival and awakening.
God uses miracles to do more than meet the need of an individual.
He uses them to advance the Kingdom of God.
He does that by bringing a revival in the church:
A revival of prayer
A revival of faith
A revival of being a witness
A revival of labors for Christ.
Then that revival in the church can spread beyond the 4 walls and cause many others to be brought to a place of repentance.
A place of surrender.
Because they see and are convinced by the power of God.
Jesus Can Use Me!
Jesus Can Use Me!
The Holy Spirit wants to use your testimony like He used Tabitha’s.
It may not be as dramatic as being raised from the dead — but it has significance.
It can touch the heart of the one who has been hard towards God — maybe even mad at God.
Don’t discount your testimony by comparing it to someone else’s.
A miracle is a miracle — whether God raises the dead, heals the sick or provides just what is needed at just the right time.
We can use that miracle to call people to God.
Turn to Jesus:
Repent of your sins
Surrender control of your life
Let’s ask the Lord to help us to do that!
Prayer
Invitation:
Do you know Jesus?
Have you repented of your sin.
have you surrendered your life?
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper
A. Invitation
1. Jesus makes it possible for US to do what Tabitha did:
Be a follower who continually and abundantly ministers deeds of kindness and love
2. He made it possible through His sacrifice.
The giving of His body to be beaten.
The pouring out of His precious blood.
5. We are called to remember that sacrifice by partaking of the Lord’s supper together.
B. Partake in a “right” manner
1. 1 Corinthians 11:27–28 (NLT) So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
2. I’m not trying to exclude anyone.
I’m trying to get you to repent of your sins BEFORE you partake.
3. Let’s pray!
C. Come:
1. Break the bread
2. Get a cup
3. Hold elements
4. Stand (or sit) across the front.
5. We will all partake together.
D. Bread
1. 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (NLT) For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
2. Prayer
3. End prayer with prayer from Seder:
i. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who brings forth bread from the earth.
4. Partake
E. Cup
1. 1 Corinthians 11:25 (NLT) In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
1. End prayer with prayer from Seder:
i. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
2. Partake
F. Jesus is coming soon!
1. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT) For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
2.
G. Dismiss with Hymn