2014.05.25 Acts 9:
36-43
Tabitha is raised from the dead
Today
we meet a lady with two names….. Tabitha in Aramaic and Dorcas in Greek…… Here
is a lady who… As far as we know…. did
not meet Jesus personally….. but her life was totally transformed by Jesus…… How did that happen…..? Well the very same
way that it happened to us…… She heard the Good News…… Someone proclaimed the
Word of God to her….. The Holy Spirit touched her heart and she believed..… Then
the Word of God totally transformed her life…….. How wonderful! Someone
told her about Jesus…… The Joy and excitement of the early church was
electric…… They went everywhere telling the Good News….. God has revealed
himself…… The Long awaited Messiah is come……. Jesus is the Messiah and
Redeemer! Tabitha repented of her sins and was transformed by the Words of life
that she had heard…. Maybe she heard the powerful sermon of Peter on the Day of
Pentecost….. Peter proclaimed the Christ from the scriptures…. This book is
about Jesus from genesis to Revelation….. It´s all about him….
The
joy… The excitement…. And the explosion of the early church were all caused by
the Word of GOD! The early church understood that it was The Word of God that showed them the
truth…… The Word of God transformed
Peter and Paul…. Paul wrote in Romans 1:
16…
Romans
1: 16,17 NKJV Sch 2000
16 For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is
written, “The just shall live by faith.”
16 Denn ich schäme mich des Evangeliums von Christus
nicht; denn es ist Gottes Kraft zur Errettung für jeden, der glaubt, zuerst für
den Juden, dann auch für den Griechen;
17 denn es wird darin geoffenbart die Gerechtigkeit Gottes
aus Glauben zum Glauben, wie geschrieben steht: »Der Gerechte wird aus Glauben
leben«.
The Joy and
excitement of the early church was rooted in the OT scriptures….. Think
about Paul…. Pharisee of Pharisees….. He was very religious…. very careful to
obey every little detail of the law….. But he knew that he did not Love God
with all of his heart and soul and strength….. He knew he was a hypocrite…. As
he writes to the Romans….. he shows that The OT had proclaimed the glorious
Good News from the mouths of the prophets….. He quotes Habakkuk here in verse 17…… The Just (The righteous) shall live by
faith….. Jesus was his righteousness…. He repented and believed the GOOD
News…. That´s the GOOD NEWS…. Not that we are good… and people to be admired…..
If we are willing to tell the truth about ourselves we will say that we are
sinners saved by grace….
Here in the 21st century we find a weak and
tragic situation…. We are not joyful and
excited….. We do not proclaim the Word of God with joy and power….. It seems
that we don´t really believe that it is the Power of God to salvation…. It
seems that we don´t accept this book as the very Word of God…. It is as if we
don´t like what it says….. We decide that God didn´t mean it when he tells us
something in this book that we don´t like…..
As believers we often sit in judgment of the Word of God…… instead of letting
the Word of God convict us of our sin and rebellion…. Even if we say we
believe the Word…. When it gets in the way of our chosen lifestyle….. or when
it forbids our sin…. We ignore it…. We let our lust and sin and pride rule our
lives instead of crying out to God for help…. But we still proclaim that we belong
to Jesus….
The absolute power and authority of the Word of God has
been under assault by the Godless for
many years…. Really it has been under attack since the Garden of Eden when Satan said to Eve…… Hath God said…..
The early church had no such problem…… They believed the Word of God ….. It
transformed their hearts and minds…. The joy and excitement was explosive…… It was Good News indeed…… Forgiveness… mercy … grace…… The Love of God was truly
being shed abroad in their hearts…. They were full of joy and Hope!
The
Good News is that we….. as genuine believers… are
justified by faith….. It is the source
of our joyful Christian life…. Turn with me to Romans 5…v1…
Romans
5: 1- 5 NKJV
1Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4
and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5: 1- 5 Sch 2000
1 Da wir nun aus Glauben gerechtfertigt sind, so haben
wir Frieden mit Gott durch unseren Herrn Jesus Christus,
2 durch den wir im Glauben auch Zugang erlangt haben zu
der Gnade, in der wir stehen, und wir rühmen uns der Hoffnung auf die
Herrlichkeit Gottes.
3 Aber nicht nur das, sondern wir rühmen uns auch in den
Bedrängnissen, weil wir wissen, daß die Bedrängnis standhaftes Ausharren
bewirkt,
4 das standhafte Ausharren aber Bewährung, die Bewährung
aber Hoffnung;
5 die Hoffnung aber läßt nicht zuschanden werden; denn
die Liebe Gottes ist ausgegossen in unsere Herzen durch den Heiligen Geist, der
uns gegeben worden ist.
Look at this list…. I have 2 lists for you today…. Here´s
the first… Genuine Believers
1
justified by faith…. Not works
2 we
have peace with God…. our sins are forgiven
3 Through
our Lord Jesus Christ… we stand in GRACE
4 because
of our hope…. we can cope with life…. We can glory in hard times….
5
the Love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit….
What
Good News…. No wonder the early church was joyful and
excited….. They actually believed the
Word of God…. We are not ashamed of the Gospel…. It is the power Of God
unto Salvation…
Let´s turn to Acts… we´ll pickup the text where we left
off… As I said last week we are walking with Peter for a few chapters… turn to…
Acts …9…v….v36
Acts
9: 36- 43 NKJV
36
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated
Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had
washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa,
and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him,
imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the
upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and
garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them
all out, 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 Then he
gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and
widows, he presented her alive.
42
And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 43 So
it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.
Acts 9: 36- 43 Sch 2000
36 In Joppe aber war eine Jüngerin namens Tabitha, was
übersetzt »Gazelle« heißt; diese war reich an guten Werken und Wohltätigkeit,
die sie übte.
37 Und es geschah in jenen Tagen, daß sie krank wurde und
starb; und man wusch sie und legte sie ins Obergemach.
38 Weil aber Lydda nahe bei Joppe liegt und die Jünger
gehört hatten, daß Petrus dort war, sandten sie zwei Männer zu ihm und baten
ihn, nicht zu zögern und zu ihnen zu kommen.
39 Da stand Petrus auf und ging mit ihnen. Und als er
angekommen war, führten sie ihn in das Obergemach, und alle Witwen traten zu
ihm, weinten und zeigten ihm die Röcke und Kleider, die Tabitha gemacht hatte,
als sie noch bei ihnen war.
40 Da ließ Petrus alle hinausgehen, kniete nieder und
betete; dann wandte er sich zu dem Leichnam und sprach: Tabitha, steh auf! Sie
aber öffnete ihre Augen, und als sie den Petrus sah, setzte sie sich auf.
41 Und er reichte ihr die Hand und richtete sie auf. Und
er rief die Heiligen und die Witwen und stellte sie ihnen lebend vor.
42 Es wurde aber in ganz Joppe bekannt, und viele wurden
gläubig an den Herrn.
43 Und es begab sich, daß er viele Tage in Joppe bei
einem gewissen Simon, einem Gerber, blieb.
Peter was nearby
and he was available..... Do you remember what Isaiah said when he heard the
Lord speak in Isaiah… ch6…v8 "Who shall I send, and who will go for
Me,"
Isaiah answered,
"Here am I send me."
How about us….. When we see a need do we say, LORD there's a need over there. Why don't You send me?" Jesus
told Peter to go and feed His Sheep…. and Peter went…. He was available…. Peter
was involved in the needs of the church….. When he heard of the need….. He
picked up everything and went…. Peter travels to Joppa to help….. He is told
about a wonderfuI Disciple named Tabitha…. She was self-sacrificing and loving
and giving…. She served others in her fellowship in very practical ways….I hope
you will be inspired and encouraged by her sweet giving spirit….
She was a Godly woman who made clothes for the poor….. She was a simple servant…. a true follower of
Jesus… There are many great and Godly
women in the scriptures but notice this…. Tabitha
is the first one who is called a disciple….. This
should teach us not to despise the gift of helps….. or undervalue practical
serving….. Tabitha was a disciple of the
Lord Jesus Christ…… She opened her heart to Jesus and that changed
everything….. Her genuine love for Jesus was her motivation in making clothes
for others…… It was out of gratitude to Jesus that she dedicated her life to
serving others…. Tabitha was “always
doing good and helping the poor”. Because she was following the example of
Jesus, following the prompting of Jesus, to do good and help those in need…… She
was sewing as unto the LORD Jesus……. Can you do that? What are you good at?
What do you enjoy doing? Do it as unto the LORD…..
What are you passionate about? What are you doing for
Jesus?
It can be as practical as cleaning toilets or any hands
on practical work…. Gifts of helps…. True
faith expresses itself in deeds not only words….. Genuine ministry also includes
caring in practical ways for the most vulnerable in society…… especially widows
and orphans……
James
1: 27 NLT
Neues Leben
27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for
orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
27 Rein und vorbildlich Gott, unserem Vater, zu dienen
bedeutet, dass wir uns um die Sorgen der Waisen und Witwen kümmern und uns
nicht von der Welt verderben lassen.
If we want to glorify the Lord with our lives…. as
Tabitha clearly did….. then we need to use our gifts to serve others….. willingly
and joyfully…… Tabitha was quick to move to the needs of the people around
her…. She was joyful in even the simple things…. When she got sick and died…..
The church was deeply moved…… They sent
for Peter because he was nearby….
There is one ability God values most…. Peter displayed it
here…. There are many gifts and abilities…. The Lord has given everyone of you
who belong to Him….. Gifts that you can use to Love and serve and help the
people around you…. But the greatest ability is availability……. Because we do
everything with the strength and ability that he provides…. If we don’t make
ourselves available to be used by the LORD… no matter what kind of ability we
have….. it is of no help to others or the Kingdom of Heaven…. What
does availability mean? It means placing one’s self completely at God’s
disposal….. We belong to Him…. He has redeemed us….. We say Lord Here I am send me….
In
this story Peter was available, and God used him mightily…..
Peter came to Joppa….. and when he
entered the room where they had laid her…… the friends and widows surrounded
him…… They showed him the clothes that she had made for them…… To their minds….
Tabitha was irreplaceable….. She was unique and they missed her…..
We are each unique in God´s Kingdom and plan.….. There
will never be another you…. or me…... In that sense the lesson from these
verses is that we should cherish and thank the LORD for each other... The church in Joppa valued Tabitha very much…..
What graceful and thankful people we should be for our brothers and sisters in
Christ…….. We have every reason to be grateful and thankful to the Lord Jesus
for all of the people that He has put in our lives….. People who will love and
pray and encourage us…. And people that we can love and help and encourage as
well…
Peter was involved…. He was Christ glorifying…. and
available…… They said come and he went….. By the way Peter actually stayed in
Joppa for a few years….. He was also prayerful….. He knew to Look to the LORD
JESUS for the needs of the church…
Look at Verse 40…..
Acts
9: 40 NKJV Sch 2000
40
But Peter put them all out, 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.
40 Da ließ Petrus alle hinausgehen, kniete nieder und
betete; dann wandte er sich zu dem Leichnam und sprach: Tabitha, steh auf! Sie
aber öffnete ihre Augen, und als sie den Petrus sah, setzte sie sich auf.
What a miracle…. It had taken Peter at least a day to get
to Joppa….. That´s on a fast mule….
God performed a miracle…. Peter was available and God
used him as his human instrument…… He was full of faith and a man of prayer….
He didn´t just walk in there a say get up! He prayed and looked to the LORD…..
He did not assume that God was going to raise her up….. He prayed….
Do you remember in Acts chapter 5…. It says that many miracles
were performed at the hands of the Apostles….
Acts
5: 16 NKJV SCH 2000
16
Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing
sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all
healed.
16 Es kamen aber auch viele aus den umliegenden Städten
in Jerusalem zusammen und brachten Kranke und von unreinen Geistern Geplagte,
die alle geheilt wurden.
All were healed….. Instant and complete healings…. Peter
did not decide that he was a great instrument of God…. He did not say to himself…..
Peter…..You are a great man of God….. You are full of faith….. Tabitha get up!!
No he knelt down and prayed….. He looked to the Lord our healer….. Brothers and
sisters pride is our great enemy…… Even when the Lord is using you…. Even when
you are having victory over your sinful nature….. Don´t decide that you are
God´s gift to the world…. Don´t let anyone call you a great man of God…… We are
all just sinners saved by grace…..
God
uses us in spite of ourselves…. He doesn´t need us at
all….. He let´s us join Him in His work… We need only to be available…. He will
give us the abilities and gifts that He wants us to have….
May
the Lord our God save us from ourselves…. All we have to offer Him is availability…..
And so when Peter stops and kneels down and prays….. He
is saying Lord You are great….. Please raise this woman up…. As long
as we rest in His strength…. We are able to Glorify Him…. Verse 41….
Acts
9: 41 NKJV Sch 2000
41
Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints
and widows, he presented her alive.
41 Und er reichte ihr die Hand und richtete sie auf. Und
er rief die Heiligen und die Witwen und stellte sie ihnen lebend vor.
He presented her alive…. Can you imagine the joy? Instantly
all of their tears were washed away….. But God didn't do it for Tabitha…. He
didn´t do it for the widows in Joppa either…..
Do you know why He did it? He did for the same reason
that all of the miracles had been done….. as signs to confirm the messenger and the message….
To prove to the world that the Gospel of
Jesus Christ was true…… He did it as a sign….. God had our salvation in
mind….. Peter dropped everything and
went up to minister to a group of weeping widows….. and revival brakes out in
the city…..
The church was thrilled and joyfull….. I´m sure that
Tabitha was also joyfull…. And very happy to rejoice with her brothers and
sisters… Thank the Lord for His faithful servants…. Peter was available… The
Lord used him….
He was humble and prayerful….. and through the LORD Jesus Christ…. He was powerful... And Peter was fruitful…… verse 42…..
Acts
9: 42 NKJV SCH 2000
42
And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
42 Es wurde aber in ganz Joppe bekannt, und viele wurden
gläubig an den Herrn.
The miracles that we see in the scriptures are to cause
people understand God´s revelation of Himself…. and to cause them to turn to
Christ in faith….. Believing the Good
News of the Gospel….. so that they may be redeemed…. That is exactly why we see these miracles
recorded in the scriptures….. Here in Joppa joy filled the house….. and the
entire city as the Grace of God swallowed up death…… Everyone who heard of it
was astonished and amazed at the grace and mercy of God….. Many responded with
conviction of sin and repentance….. A revival broke out in Joppa…. turn to John
20…v31….
John
20: 30,31 NKJV Sch 2000
30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other
miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these
are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
30 Noch viele andere Zeichen tat Jesus nun vor seinen
Jüngern, die in diesem Buch nicht geschrieben sind.
31 Diese aber sind geschrieben, damit ihr glaubt, daß
Jesus der Christus, der Sohn Gottes ist, und damit ihr durch den Glauben Leben
habt in seinem Namen.
The miraculous
signs that were recorded in this book….. The Word of God itself…. is the revelation of Our great God and Savoir…..
So that we would repent and believe the Gospel…. It is the Word of God that bursts into the lives of people
down thru the centuries….
William
Carey served the Lord in India for 35 years….. But he only saw a
handful of people saved….
He spent most of those 35 years translating the Bible
into many of the dialects of India….. and every missionary who has served there
since….. has used his translations to present the Gospel…... Translating is hard work…. It is not glamorous… He
served the Lord in very practical ways…… He's home with the LORD…. but he's still bearing fruit today through those Gospel translations that
he worked so hard doing….. Are you having a hard time with the way the LORD is
running your life…. Does it all seem pointless? Read about William Carey´s life…. He saw
very little of what the Lord was doing in and through him…. Some plant… some
water…. But God gives the increase…..
We are meant to be fruitful…… We will be fruitful if we follow
and obey the Word of God… Back to Acts
9…Verse 43…
Acts
9:43
NKJV Sch 2000
43
So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.
43 Und es begab sich, daß er viele Tage in Joppe bei
einem gewissen Simon, einem Gerber, blieb.
This is very interesting….. This is not normal because
one of the least acceptable jobs in the minds of Jewish people…. was the job of
a tanner…. because a tanner…….had to handle dead animals and the skin of dead
animals…. No self-respecting Jew would have anything to do with a tanner….. He
was despised…… and, in fact, the Mishnah said if a woman had a husband who took
on the trade of a tanner….. she had the right to divorce him….. because he chose
a job that was so defiled….. Tanners were
not respected….. They were also ceremonially unclean….. They were defiling
themselves every day with this work…. Peter stayed for perhaps two or three
years there in the house of Simon the
Tanner….
It seems the Lord was preparing him for his next great
adventure…. He had already sent him to the Samaritans who were half gentiles…. That
of bringing the Good News of the Gospel to the horrible Gentiles….
Peter was greatly used of the Lord and he has lot´s to
teach us….
Let´s
look at the marks of Peter's ministry….. Here we see what we need to be…. We
need to be…..
1 Be
involved….. moving to the needs of others….
2
Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ….. and remember…. Glorify Him and never
yourself…..
3 Be
available…..
4 Be
humble and prayerful…..
5 Be
fruitful…. Plant… water… sew…. Do something…. Join the Lord in His work….
I pray that these things will be true in your life and in
mine…... Remember what Paul said in
Romans 1…v16,17……I am not ashamed of the Gospel it is the power of God…. We see
tabitha´s life reflecting these things…
Tabitha
served
the Lord with her simple abilities…. She
has inspired millions of women and men to use whatever gift they have received
to serve others….. May God inspire us to
use our gifts for his glory today…..
We have been saved for a reason…. He has stuff for us to
do….. We need to be like Peter and Paul…. Fearless and serving the Lord with
our whole heart…. no matter what the cost…. A good disciple follows their master….. and
that is what Peter did….. We need to be like Peter…..
I wonder
if he was thinking of the Lords
wonderful humble servants….. Disciples Like Tabitha when he wrote these
words in his first letter…. Turn to 1
Peter 4…v10…
1
Peter 4:10 NKJV SCH
2000
10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as
faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
10 Dient einander, jeder mit der Gnadengabe, die er
empfangen hat, als gute Haushalter der mannigfaltigen Gnade Gottes:
Whatever we do as believers….. Whatever we do for others….. little things
and big…. We are doing them as Stewards
of God´s grace…. This grace and mercy that we have received from the Lord Jesus…..
Should give shape to our life….. and cause us to be generous and kind….. It
motivates us to take our eyes off of ourselves….. and to be helpful to all of
the people that the Lord has put in
our lives… Pure religion?….. Visit the
fatherless and widows….
Do you want to grow in Godliness? Fix your eyes on Jesus
and not your circumstances…. Rejoice in the Grace of God every day…. Serve the
Lord in whatever way that you can…..
We
need to open our mouths and declare the Good News…. We also
need to be careful not to forget the simple and practical ways that we can
serve each other…. and the lost in our community…… Don´t wait for The Lord to
call you to some great ministry…. Stop running from all that you already know
that you should do… We have been saved to serve each other and the lost…. Turn
with me to Titus 2…. Here Paul gives some very practical advice….v7…
Titus
2: 7 NLT Neues Leben
7
And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind.
Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 7 Und
du selbst sei ihnen in allem ein gutes Vorbild und ein Beispiel für die
Glaubwürdigkeit und Würde deiner Lehre.
Titus
2: 11-14 NLT
11
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12
And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We
should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,
13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our
great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to
free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own
people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Titus 2: 11-14 Neues Leben
11 Denn die Gnade Gottes, die allen Menschen Rettung
bringt, ist sichtbar geworden.
12 Sie bringt uns dazu, dem Leben ohne Gott und allen
sündigen Leidenschaften den Rücken zu kehren. Jetzt, in dieser Welt sollen wir
besonnen, gerecht und voller Hingabe an Gott leben.
13 Denn wir warten auf das wunderbare Ereignis, wenn die
Herrlichkeit des großen Gottes und unseres Erlösers, Jesus Christus, erscheinen
wird.
14 Er gab sein Leben, um uns von aller Schuld1 zu
befreien und zu reinigen und uns zu seinem eigenen Volk zu machen, das bemüht
ist, Gutes zu tun.
I know that most of us who are here this morning are
already believers……. But maybe you are
here this morning because you are religious…. because it´s what a fan of
Jesus is supposed to do…. You grew up in Church but it is not real to you….
Stop pretending! This is not a game…
Stop
running from Jesus…. Look at verse 11….. It says that the Grace
of God has appeared to all men…. God is commanding us to repent and come to
Him…. Jesus has come to seek and to save the lost….. It is those who don´t understand the grace of
God that run from Him…… We have a great
God….. He is ready to forgive and save….. He is the one who is by nature a
Savior…. He is the redeemer of broken
hearts and lives…. Be like the prodigal son today…. return to the Father….
He will run to you and identify you as His child…. He will cover you with His
robes…. Robes of righteousness….. Received by grace that none of us have earned
or deserved….
The Word of God rings loud and clear down through the
centuries…… Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand…… today is the day of
salvation….. let´s pray…
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