Acts  Sermon Series

Wheelersburg Baptist Church 5/5/02 Brad Brandt

Acts 9:32-43 "What the Lord Can Do to Get the World’s Attention"**

Over 100 years ago, William Ramsay, a young English scholar, went to Asia Minor with the expressed purpose of proving that the history given by Luke in his gospel and in the Acts was inaccurate. His professors had confidently said that Luke could not be right.

He began to dig in the ancient ruins of Greece and Asia Minor, testing for ancient terms, boundaries, and other items which would be a dead giveaway if a writer had been inventing this history at a later date as claimed. To his amazement, he found that the New Testament Scriptures were accurate to the tiniest detail. So convincing was the evidence that Ramsay himself became a Christian and a great biblical scholar. We still look upon Sir William Ramsay’s books as being a classic as far as the history of the New Testament is concerned.

This morning we’re returning to an "old friend." It’s the book of Acts. Last year we began a journey through this New Testament record written by Luke. We learned where we came from as a church, and why we’re here. Due to the size of the book we’re approaching it in segments. The first leg of the trip took us halfway through chapter 9, some twenty-three messages over the course of seven months. That’s where we’ll take the baton and begin running today. I’ve entitled leg two of our journey, "Moving Out of Our Comfort Zone," for that’s exactly what the early church did beginning in chapter 10.

The book of Acts begins following Jesus’ resurrection, just prior to His ascension. In Acts 1, Jesus gave His followers what in essence was both a charge and a prediction: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (8)."

And that’s precisely what happened. After Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit came and the followers of Jesus began to tell people about Him. The Church began in Jerusalem. Then it spread throughout Judea. In time, it took the message of Christ to those on the "other side of the tracks," the Samaritans. It was "full steam ahead" for the church. Luke provides this summary at about the ten-year mark (Acts 9:31): "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord."

One phase yet remained in the church’s mission. According to Jesus’ command, the believers had evangelized Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Now it was time to go to the Gentiles. This would be no simple task, for the obstacles were huge. We’ll see how the church began to reach out to the Gentiles when we come to chapter 10.

But before we get there Luke gives us two interesting snapshots of miracles at the end of chapter 9. Both snapshots involve the apostle Peter, and both snapshots illustrate this vital truth. The Lord can do some amazing things to get the world’s attention, so that people will give Him His rightful place in their lives.

I love reading the book of Acts because Acts is full of action. We see things happening. The church is moving. God is revealing His greatness, and thus getting the world’s attention. As we take a look at Acts 9:32-43 we’ll see what He did in two situations.

This first case involved three scenes. First…

A. A man became a paralytic (32-33). "As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years."

As the story begins, the spotlight is on Peter. We saw Peter a lot in the first nine chapters of Acts. He’s the main character in the first half of Acts, a role Paul will fill in the second half of the book. Up until now we’ve seen Peter in Jerusalem, but in this episode he moves outside of Jerusalem. He travels to Lydda.

That’s good, Peter. Remember, Jesus told His followers to start in Jerusalem, not finish there. The two events we’re about to study show us that the power of Christ is not restricted to Jerusalem. Though the church began in Jerusalem the Lord never intended for it to remain in isolation there. Jesus said, "Go," and in the text before us we’ll see Peter leading the way, going. He wasn’t sitting in some hierarchical office at headquarters. He was obeying the Master’s commission.

We’re in trouble when we stop going, when we start getting comfortable where we are, when we think that God blesses us so our lives will be easy.

Lydda was about twenty-five miles from Jerusalem, some twelve miles from Joppa on the Mediteranean Sea. In the Old Testament it’s known as Lod. Today it’s the location of Israel’s international airport. It’s possible that this area was evangelized originally by some of the people who had been to Jerusalem for Pentecost in Acts 2. Quite likely, Philip the evangelist also ministered in this area (Acts 8:40). Now Peter goes to Lydda.

Why? Luke tells us that as Peter traveled about the country he went to Lydda for the purpose of "visiting the saints," that is, the believers. He went to see the church. His aim was to encourage the young believers there by giving them truth and support, as well as to correct false teaching that so quickly enters on the heels of the truth. We can assume that as an apostle he also went there to teach unregenerate people about Jesus, to spearhead new ministries, to open doors to yet unreached pockets of people. As an apostle Peter had the God-given ability to authenticate the truth of the gospel by use of miracles, as we’ll see momentarily.

While in Lydda Peter found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic. Notice that Peter found him. This man didn’t initiate the healing that will soon take place. Peter did. We might assume that Aeneas was a believer, although Luke doesn’t specify. In fact, while he later refers to Tabitha as a "disciple," he simply calls Aeneas "a man."

Life was hard for Aeneas. He’d been bedridden for eight long years. The KJV says he was "sick of the palsy." The NIV simply says he was a "paralytic." The term just means to be paralyzed, but Luke doesn’t specify how. Had he had a stroke? Did he experience a spinal injury? Was his paralysis due to some illness like polio? Dr. Luke doesn’t tell us. All we know is that Aeneas had endured eight years of immobility.

But that was about to change. It happened in scene 2.

B. The Lord healed him (34). "Aeneas," Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.’ Immediately Aeneas got up."

Charles Swindoll has said, "This was really power! Some of us for years have been saying, ‘Arise and make your bed,’ to our teenagers with no result!" I can’t help but notice a vivid contrast between this healing event and those of so-called "faith healers" in our day. God’s Word states three important details about this miracle.

1. The miracle was initiated by Peter, not Aeneas. Remember, Peter found him. And then Peter approached him and spoke to him, announcing that he would be healed. Aeneas didn’t go to some "healing service." Indeed, he didn’t initiate this miracle. Peter did. Peter, unlike modern healers, didn’t blame his healing failures on the sick person’s "lack of faith," for there were no failures. Peter had a 100% track rate.

2. The miracle was accomplished by Jesus, not Peter. What were Peter’s words? "Jesus Christ heals you," he said. To be precise, Peter didn’t heal this man. Jesus did. Peter was merely the instrument. A hammer can’t build a house unless the carpenter picks it up. Neither can a human being restore lifeless limbs apart from the energizing work of the Creator. Jesus Christ heals you. Please notice that this miracle brought attention to the Lord, not to Peter.

3. The miracle was instantaneous and complete. This wasn’t a "progressive healing." There was no hesitation, no stumbling around for dramatic effect. The healing was instantaneous—"Immediately Aeneas got up." And complete—Peter told him to "take care of your mat," since he wouldn’t be needing the mat again.

What kind of effect did the miracle have that day? Luke tells us in scene 3.

C. The people were impacted (35). "All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord." Luke says two things happened to the people.

1. They saw the man. For eight years they’d seen a man who was bedfast, totally dependent on outside help for movement and care. Now they saw the same man healed and carrying his mat. It made quite an impact. What did they do?

2. They turned to the Lord. The Greek verb is epistrepho which means "to turn around." Peter used the same verb in his sermon following the healing of the crippled beggar in Acts 3. He told the crowd in the Jerusalem temple (Acts 3:19), "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out."

Know this. Aeneas wasn’t the only one who moved that day. The whole city did a 180 and started moving in a different direction. No more status quo. They turned to the Lord. That term tells us something very important about true salvation. When a person becomes a real Christian, it involves more than just a change of mind. It involves a turning, a fundamental change of direction in life. It involves an about-face.

By the way, who turned that day? Luke says that "all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon did." The people of Lydda turned. But so did the people of Sharon. Sharon was a neighboring village. The term also referred to a district. The fertile plain of Sharon runs long the Mediterranean coast from Joppa to Caesarea, about fifty miles. Which did Luke have in mind? I don’t know. I do know that God got some people’s attention that day, quite possibly a lot of people’s attention, as indicated by the three letter word "all" in verse 35. "All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord." Whether that’s saying that everybody in those two locations converted to Christ, or just those who saw Aeneas, this was a great day for the kingdom.

My friend, our God knows how to get people’s attention. "You mean by healing people?" you ask. That’s one way. No, I don’t believe the Bible substantiates the gift of healing is for today. I do believe God heals. Yet that’s just one way He gets people’s attention. He can use lots of things to grip people’s hearts. And when He does, people turn to His Son, Jesus Christ, and give Him their allegiance. Perhaps He’s working in your life right now. What should you do? Stop living your own way and turn to Him.

Luke gives us a second snapshot beginning in verse 36. Let’s look at it…

Tabitha is one of the unsung heroes of the faith. The church needs more Tabitha’s. I can say that with confidence in light of what God did when the early church lost her. Tabitha brought honor to God in three ways.

A. She honored God in her life (36). "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor."

Joppa was ten miles beyond Lydda. Interestingly, it’s the place where Jonah the prophet found a ship and tried to run from God (Jonah 1:1-3). Ironically, as Wiersbe observes, "Jonah went to Joppa to avoid going to the Gentiles, but Peter in Joppa received his call to go to the Gentiles!" We’ll see that next time.

Living in Joppa was this wonderful Christian woman named Tabitha. That was her Aramaic name. The Greek equivalent was Dorcas, both names meaning "gazelle." What really strikes me about Tabitha isn’t her name, but her reputation. The KJV says, "This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did."

Preaching is good, but what would the church do without servants behind the scenes doing the work of ministering to people in need? According to verse 39, Tabitha made clothes for the needy, especially the widows. No wonder Luke calls her a "disciple" in verse 36. When you saw Tabitha there was no question she was a follower of Jesus.

Yes, before us is a woman who honored the Lord in her life. Allow me to make a couple of applications at this point.

1. To do the same, we must follow the Lord. If we are going to honor the Lord in our lives we must follow Him. That’s what a "disciple" does, as Tabitha exemplified.

2. In addition, we must love people in practical ways. I’m struck by Luke’s description that Tabitha "was always doing good and helping the poor." You can tell if our religion is true or a sham by how we treat the defenseless and needy. You know the verses…

Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-36? "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’"

Here was Paul’s charge in Galatians 6:10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

James sums it up in James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…"

Tabitha loved people in practical ways. She was always doing good and helping the poor. Beloved, according to what we’ve just heard Jesus, Paul, and James say, that ought to be the norm, not the exception. Churches should be full of people who are doing good and helping the poor.

Do you agree? Whose job is it to care for the poor? We tend to think it’s the government’s job. Apparently, Tabitha saw it as her responsibility, at least in part.

Did you realize that according to US Census Bureau reports, there are 31 million people below the poverty line in our country (in the year 2000 report)? Granted, poverty is relative. Many who classify as "poor" in our country are wealthy compared the people I met in Papua New Guinea, for instance, where the average income is $150 per year. And from talking to others who have the knowledge to make the comparison, the poverty in countries like Haiti, Sudan, and Ethiopia is even worse than PNG. So some have greater needs than others, that’s true. But we could easily rationalize our way right out of facing the fact that we are living in a world full of needy people. And if we’re going to be like our Savior, we have the privilege and responsibility to show that we care.

The needs are right here, too. The rate for Ohio in 1997 showed that 11% live below the poverty line. In Scioto County the rate is almost double at 21%. Brothers and sisters, this is our Jerusalem. We are living in an area where the economy is flat, where jobs are scarce, and a lot of people are having trouble making it.

Is that a problem to be concerned about? It sure is. But in another sense, it’s a wonderful opportunity. In what way? Needs are opportunities. When we as a church meet the needs of the poor, particularly those in the household of faith, we’re giving the lost world a picture of our Savior—who left the comforts of heaven, lowered His standard of living, and gave His life to bring sinners out of their spiritual bankruptcy (2 Cor 8:9).

Beloved, this is the county God placed WBC in. This is the Jerusalem He wants us to reach. One out of five people living around us is below the poverty line. We are called to reach them with the gospel. How are we going to do it? I don’t know for sure. Am I saying we can eliminate poverty? No. I am saying we need more Tabathas, individuals who are willing to meet physical needs as well as spiritual needs. And I’m convinced if we’re going to reach the lost in this area we need to become more like Tabitha, people who love the Lord and love people in practical ways. She was a woman who honored God in her life.

B. She honored God in her death (37-39). Verse 37 states, "About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room." Now there’s a tragedy. It’s hard to find true servants. This church had one—and she died. We’re not told what her sickness was, nor how long she lingered. Luke just says she died.

What the church members did next is quite significant. They prepared her body for burial and called for Peter. Verse 38—"Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

Why did they call Peter? Did they want some pastoral care to assist them in their grieving? Perhaps. But maybe they hoped for something more.

"What are we ever going to do without Tabitha?" many undoubtedly were saying. "We need her! Maybe Peter can do something. Let’s see if he will come."

Verse 39 explains what happened, "Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room." Our culture doesn’t handle death too well. We either try to dress it up and minimize its tragic reality, or we ignore it. These believers faced it.

Luke describes what they did, "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." The believers faced the fact of Tabitha’s death. She’s gone. A great loss has occurred. They actually went to the room where the body was. And what did they do? They cried. It is okay to cry, you know.

They also showed Peter the robes and clothing she had made. This wasn’t about fashion. This was a reflection on how God had used this woman to bless their lives. As I visualize this scene, I see the widows wearing the clothing Tabitha made for them, as they poured out their hearts to the apostle:

"She made this for me, Peter," one widow said. "I was cold one winter night and had no money to buy clothing, when I heard a knock at my door. It was Tabitha. She handed me this robe. And then she sat and visited with me. She helped me get through the loss of my husband. Oh, Peter, what am I going to do without her?"

As she sobbed another widow spoke up, "Sir, I lost my husband five years ago. My only son died suddenly last year. It’s been tight, but God’s been good. One of the ways He’s sustained me is through the kindness of Tabitha. One time she gave me a dress and in the side pocket I found two silver coins. But what meant even more than the dress and the money was the fact that she was someone who cared for a poor, helpless person like me. What will I do without her?" She, too, broke down in tears.

Do you think people will respond that way when you die? Why did Tabitha make such an impact on the disciples in Joppa? Simply put, because she cared. She really cared about people and showed it. She made clothing for the needy.

You see, each of us has God-given abilities and skills. I hope you appreciate the potential in what the Lord has entrusted to you.

"But I’m not good with words," you say. "I can’t do anything significant for God." Not so! A thousand times, not so! Can you sew? Can you fix cars? Can you cook a meal? Can you clean a guest room for a visitor? Do you know how to raise a garden, balance a checkbook, and live by a budget?

If you can do one or more of those things, answer this. Why did God give you the health, the ability, and the learned experience to be able to do these things? He didn’t do it just to make life better for you. Please know this…

1. God doesn’t bless us so we can live like a sponge. That’s how a lot of people live, even Christians. They’re takers. They take from God day after day. They soak up the goods this life has to offer and forget those goods are on loan from the Almighty. If we’re living that way we are in for a very embarrassing time at the judgment. No, God doesn’t bless us so we can live like a sponge. Rather…

2. God blesses us so we can serve others and advance His kingdom. Everything we have has come from Him. I mean everything. Your house. Your education. Your vocational experience. Your tools. Your guest room. You have it because God entrusted it to you. The ability to sew and the fact that you had a mother who taught you how to use that ability. Skillful hands that can fix things when they break, and a dad that showed you how use them. God didn’t give us abilities and possessions so we could use them for self-seeking ends. He gave them to us—more accurately, he loaned them to us—so we could serve Him by serving others, thus advancing His kingdom.

You say, "Do you mean I can use my skill as a mechanic for kingdom purposes?" That’s exactly what I mean. "How?" you ask. Answer this. Do widows’ cars ever break down? Do you realize we have twenty-two widows listed in our church directory? Not all of them have cars, but some do. Do they need help with car repairs, or at least help in finding an honest mechanic who won’t take advantage of them? My friend, when you use your skill as a mechanic to serve a widow, you are doing kingdom business.

The same is true when you cook a meal for someone who’s sick or mow their grass. This can be kingdom work—if you do it for the King.

I’m convinced that right here is one of the main reasons why so many Christians are living unfulfilled lives with a nagging sense that something’s missing. They are hoarding what God loaned to them. Why does God bless us with abilities, businesses, houses, cars, and the rest? So we can be comfortable and self-sufficient? No. If you want to experience fulfillment beyond imagination, roll up your sleeves and serve those in need.

Which raises a problem for us. Most of us don’t know people who have needs. I mean really know them. And so we coast along with resources galore going to waste, as far as God’s kingdom is concerned. I urge you to surrender your life to God as a servant, and then to ask Him to show you needs. Then look out!

God has been opening some incredible doors recently. About three years ago I shared with you my burden that our church be known in this community as a place to go if you want to find biblical answers for the problems of life. We began asking God to send us people in need. He has heard our prayers!

A couple of months ago Children’s Services asked, "Would you like to help us by providing counseling for families in crisis?" In addition, we are receiving referrals from doctor’s offices for patients who need more than medical attention, from lawyers whose clients need more than legal assistance. They need biblical counsel. Hardly a week goes by now that we don’t receive calls from people in the community saying, "I’m having marriage trouble," or some other problem, followed by this request, "Will you help me?" And so we give them biblical answers by pointing them to Christ. I say "we" because we now have a team of trained individuals involved in this recovery work.

But we need your help. You say, "I’m can’t counsel people. I’m not good with words." I’m talking about a different kind of help. As we counsel people, we map out a course for change. In so doing, some very practical needs arise.

God once brought an unmarried couple to us who were living together. As we ministered God’s Word to them, they believed in Christ. They also saw their need to stop living together. But that meant one of them needed a place to go. God provided by burdening one of our retired couples to open up their home and allow the woman to live in their extra bedroom. That’s kingdom business.

On another occasion we were working with a single mom who began to learn that her parenting was unbiblical. She needed help. She needed a woman who would spend time with her to model how to be a godly mom. And God provided one of you.

We have increasing opportunities like this. A couple that needs marriage counseling doesn’t have a car. Another couple that lives month to month needs someone to show them how to use a budget and then meet regularly with them for accountability. A woman came to us recently who lost her mate suddenly. She needed someone to sit with in church.

Tabitha never preached a sermon from a pulpit, yet she preached hundreds of them, most of them more memorable than the sermons Peter and John delivered. We need more Tabithas at Wheelersburg Baptist Church. Tabitha honored God a third way…

C. She honored God in her return to this life (40-43). Verses 40-41 tell us how, "Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive."

The scene reminds me of what Jesus did when He raised Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:34-43). The words are almost identical (in fact, only one letter difference). Jesus said (in Aramaic), "Talitha cumi, little girl, arise." Peter said, "Tabitha cumi, Tabitha, arise."

Three things happened as a result of this miracle.

1. The church was encouraged. Can’t you just see the widows’ faces light up as they see Tabitha standing there smiling?

2. Many lost people believed in the Lord. Luke concludes the story in verses 42-43, "This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon." Many people believed.

3. Tabitha received more opportunity for service. I see the mystery of God in this. Why did God bring Tabitha back to life? He certainly doesn’t always. He didn’t bring Stephen back in chapter seven. Nor would He when the apostle James, one of Jesus’ inner three, lost his life—which we’ll see shortly (in chapter 12). Why then did God grant Tabitha more life and not Stephen and James?

Weren’t Stephen and James far more important to the early church than Tabitha? Even to think that question—and a lot of us might think it even if we never asked it—shows how far short we fall from seeing ministry as God sees it. We tend to think that the church needed Stephen’s preaching skills and James’ leadership more than Tabitha’s sewing skills and ministry with the poor.

William LaSor shares the following story, "When a runaway truck crushed a boy and his bicycle under its wheels, leaving his deaf-mute brother as the parents’ only surviving child, the mother told me, in her grief, ‘Everyone in the city is asking, "Why wasn’t this one taken and the other spared?" But I don’t feel that way. I loved them both alike.’ She bowed before the strange will of God in lovely humility that was an example to all who tried to sympathize with her."

I don’t know why God returned Tabitha. He doesn’t tell us. Maybe He gave her an extension on life just to show us how much He thinks of those who serve behind the scenes. This I know. By returning to this life, Tabitha got to do more of what she loved to do. Serve.

1. Needs are merely opportunities for God to work. The paralysis of Aeneas, the sickness and death of Tabitha. On the one hand, those were needs, even tragedies. On the other hand they became opportunities for God to get the world’s attention. We must see needs in our lives that way, not as problems but as opportunities for God to work.

2. Needs are also opportunities for me to work. LaSor suggests that one of the reasons for the continued growth of the early church was the good works which it did. I think he’s right.

Do we need good preaching? Absolutely. But we also need mechanics and cooks and carpenters who will see themselves as servants for the kingdom. Will you avail yourself and your abilities to the Lord today for His work?

3. In both cases, the purpose is the glory of God. Ultimately, that’s what human needs are, opportunities to see God receive glory. May He use us to that end.

Acts  Sermon Series