Misc. - "Having a Kingdom Mindset" - Acts 9:32-35

Good evening everyone! It looks great in here and I’m very excited to be bringing the Word tonight, so I want to go ahead and ask that you all find your place in Acts 9.

We’re going to pick up in verse 32 where Pastor Chad left off last week.

I know over the last few weeks, you’ve journeyed through Acts 9, and have taken a close look at Saul, his conversion, and a mark of a healthy church.

While all that has gone on with Saul, or who we know as Paul, Peter is still on mission.

In the passage tonight, Peter is going to have an opportunity to speak to a man that had the palsy… he was broken, sick, and paralyzed… and as Peter found him, Jesus healed him.

This encounter is so

Opening illustration...

The story is told of two liberal sociologists who were walking down the street. They saw a man lying unconscious and covered with cuts and bruises from a terrible mugging. One of the sociologists turned to his colleague and said, “Whoever did this terrible deed really needs our help.”

Peter didn’t miss an opportunity.

Earthly eyes see: “poor person. Bless him.”

Heavenly eyes look at people and see: “this is someone Jesus died for. He has me here to share the good news, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Having a Kingdom Mindset

Acts 9: 32-35

I. The Servant’s Tour (32)

As we pick up Peter’s ministry,

A. The Destination/ of the City (32a)

Peter is about to make his way through a few cities...

From Lydda to Joppa

From Joppa to Caesarea

From Caesarea back to Jerusalem.

Peter’s just being a good pastor, traveling around to visit these other body of believers.

He had those heavenly glasses on! Thank goodness!

How did the Christians get to Lydda?

Some people think it spread when persecution hit.

That’s very likely.

Another option is that these places were ministered to when Philip traveled through that region!

Either way, think of this:

The Gospel went forth and was spread throughout that region.

Those actively involved in ministry seem to be the ones that God gives the ministry opportunities to.

The gospel came to a place of struggle and things changed.

Luke had just given a summary statement in verse 31

as the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, they were edified, the Lord was glorified as they walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and they were multiplied. God grew the church spiritually and God grew the church numerically.

As Peter shows up, he’s wearing his heavenly glasses, looking for opportunities to serve.

B. The Description of the Christians (32b)

He shows up and look who he’s looking for… believers!

Now how are the Christians described in verse 32?

Saint - holy one. someone that is set a part.

Someone that is set apart

Changed by Jesus.

it’s not a sinless person but a saved sinner!

This word was used by Annais earlier in this chapter.

This word was used by Paul in Ephesians 1:1

Ephesians 1:1 KJV 1900

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

How in the world are these people called holy?

They were once a group of religious people.

Paul’s handkerchiefs

Witch craft workers who threw away their books

II. The Servant’s Task (33)

Look at the beginning of verse 33.

“and there he found a certain man named Aeneas.”

He was actively looking at the world and circumstances with heavenly eyes.

QUESTION: Is our town different because we are here? Are we making a difference in this town? Johnny Hunt said, “D.L Moody passed through the cities of Great Britain and Ireland and left behind him a tail of Bible Institutes, evangelistic associations, missions, revived churches, and redeemed lives. How many broken hearts comforted, broken lives mended, broken homes rebuilt, would one have found in his trail?”

Peter’s task was to be on mission for Jesus. His role was to look for opportunities for the Lord to use him and for him to share the good news of the Lord with others!

He comes upon a sick man, notice a few things about him:

A. The person who was Ill(33a)

Peter found the man.

When I found Jesus...

B. The period of his illness. (33b)

8 years! another word for paralysis.

C. The problem of his illness. (33c)

Aeneas: name means “Praise.” Lydda: name means “struggle, travail.”

We learn these names were significant as Aeneas’ praise was paralyzed because of his illness.

God was about to do a work in Aeneas and for Aeneas. Don’t ever loose hope. Don’t ever quit trusting in the Lord Jesus.

You’re in a place where praise has been a struggle.

III. The Sovereign’s Triumph. (34)

A. Peter Made it about Jesus. (34a)

Peter understood that it was not about him, but it is all about the Lord Jesus. He brought honor to the Lord Jesus. He didn’t point Aeneas to himself or his abilities, but he pointed the sick man to Jesus. We learn from Peter that whatever service we are doing we are to honor the Lord Jesus in it.

B. Jesus Healed the Sick. (34b-c)

1. The command to Aeneas. (34b)

Have you ever noticed that some of the commands of God are humanly impossible.

Think about some of them:

reach the world with the gospel of Jesus.

Be loving and exude the fruit of the Spirit on 85 southbound at 5:15 any weekday.

Forgive those that have sinned against you.

Some people teach that God will not ask of you what you cannot do! That’s not consistent with the word of God

so how do we accomplish all of these tasks?

We die!

2. The compliance of Aeneas. (34c)

He got up!

Remember that when you trust Jesus, in that instance you are TOTALLY Forgiven.

IV. The Sinner’s Transformation (35)

Acts 9:35 KJV 1900

35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Aeneas got up from his sick bed and God used his living testimony of His grace, mercy, and power. God has power to heal and God has power to save. Luke tells us that everyone in Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas. His walk gave evidence to the people that God can heal, raise up, and restore the fallen. Our walk in this world should be evidence to the lost that Jesus saves. In verse 35 the Bible tells us the result of Aeneas’ healing, the lost were saved. God is more interested in the salvation of a man’s soul more than He is in the healing of a man’s body. Our bodies will not last, but our soul is eternal.

TRUTH: Aeneas is not alive on this earth any longer. He died. Something got him! The healing of his body was a great miracle, but the greatest miracle is the salvation of a man’s soul. You can be healed by God and still die of something later on.A. The man was evidence to them. (35a)

B. The multitudes were evangelized by Him. (35b)