WHAT WILL THEY SHOW AFTER YOUR DEATH?
ACTS 9:36-42 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 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!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. 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. 40 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 for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 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.
INTRODUCTION: WHAT WILL THEY SHOW AFTER YOUR DEATH?
The Bible Has Thousands Of Characters, but some of them play more important roles than others. Some prime good players in the Bible are.
1. Adam And Eve: Adam and Eve really are inseparable. Even the Bible refers to them as "one flesh" in recognition of their coming from the same flesh (Adam's) and being joined together again in marital/sexual union.
2. Noah: Noah is most famous for building an ark — a giant three-decked wooden box
3. Abraham: Through him all people of the earth will be blessed.
4. Moses: The Hebrew Bible describes Moses as the greatest prophet who ever lived, and for good reason. Moses is born during hard times for ancient Israel. They're enslaved in Egypt, but he is used by God to bring them out.
5. David: David is Israel's second and greatest king.
6. Elijah: Elijah is one of Israel's greatest prophets, as well as God's heavyweight champ in an epic bout against a deity named Baal (the Canaanite storm god).
7. Isaiah: Isaiah is one of the most influential prophets in the Hebrew Bible advising many kings.
8. Mary: Being Jesus' mom, as you might imagine, is bound to put you in the theological limelight, and Mary holds this office with dignity and grace. She is a concerned Mother who sees herself as blessed.
9. Peter: Jesus affectionately gives his closest friend, Simon, the nickname "Rocky". Very impulsive but became a mighty speaker and evangelist in the early church.
10. Paul: Is arguably the person most responsible for spreading Christianity throughout the Mediterranean region, on its way to becoming the religion of the Roman Empire.
ABOUT JOPPA WHERE TABITHA LIVED
Joppa: Tabitha lived in Joppa, a seaport town in Palestine, 35 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Solomon used this port to receive timber that was used for the building of the Temple. Joppa is where Jonah ran to catch a boat for Tarshish.
SOME THINGS TO OBSERVE ABOUT STORY: NOT FOR MA MARY, BUT US.
1. DORCAS HAD THREE NAMES. SO WHAT? (9:36): She’s known as Tabitha, AKA Dorcas & Gazelle. Tabitha is her Aramaic (Syrian) name and Dorcas is her Grecian name. Both of these names mean gazelle or any small antelope of Africa and Asia, a creature with stunning eyes and swift feet and graceful movements. It was common practice back then to give an animal nickname to a beautiful woman. How would I call my wife? Mary Weah is not Mary Weah in Heaven, a new name…
2. DORCAS WAS SINGLE OR A WIDOW: Most commentators think she was a widow or single because there is no mention of any man in her life. You do not need a man or woman to complete you – you can serve God single.
3. DORCAS DID HER DEEDS IN SECRET (36, 39): Tabitha did not do anything heroic like Deborah or risky like Rahab. She simply served her Savior by ministering to the marginalized. The needs of people moved her to action. She was not lazy. She knitted those clothes for people. The Bible says that she was “full of good works.” Wouldn’t you agree that there are more people filled with words than there are people filled with works? 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.” Tabitha reminds me of 1 Timothy 2:9-10: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” What she did is what made her beautiful; it wasn’t her fancy clothes, it was her fruit of compassion.
4. THE ONLY WOMAN CALLED A DISCIPLE IN THE BIBLE (36): She’s the only woman in the New Testament explicitly identified as a disciple. This title was not given to Mary or Martha or any other woman. A disciple was a learner, a follower and one who was determined to be like his or her teacher. Luke 6:40: “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Some people are so proud they cannot be taught. That could not be said of Tabitha. We know that she had a heart of compassion just like Christ”
5. BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE (37): When what we see as bad things happen to good people, some of us begin to conclude and make predictions as to who they were in the Lord. Pastor Ma Mary died because… Be careful what you wish upon others. The Bible says “the same measure you measure shall be measured unto you.”
6. YOU CANNOT HELP EVERYONE, BUT YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE (36, 39): She always did good and had a heart to help the hurting and the hopeless. Widows did not have Social Security or pensions back then. If they were to be cared for, it was her family or the church that did so. Verse 36: “helping the poor.” Verse 39: she was a seamstress. She’s a picture of the Proverbs 31 (19-20): “In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Small things done with great love will change the world. 1 Peter 4:10: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” As we serve, the church is strengthened.
7. DORCAS WAS APPRECIATED, BUT AFTER LIFE. WHY? (39): We have the tendency to honor people only after they are dead. Why don’t we remember people and appreciate them in life.
8. TEAMWORK BROUGHT DORCAS BACK TO LIFE (38): The criers and the goers and the receivers all joined to make sure that Dorcas came back to life. Church, this is a teamwork. During this death of our Mother, we worked so harmoniously and urgently with the Weah Family. Why can’t we all work together and get something done?
9. WHAT WILL PEOPLE SHOW AFTER YOUR DEATH? (39) For Dorcas, they brought clothes. For some, they will bring gossips, and lies and cheating, and disrespect and stubbornness and unforgiving spirit. As they surrounded Peter they put Tabitha’s deeds on display by pointing to their own clothing. The phrase “robes and other clothing” in the original language refers to both their undergarments and their outerwear – Tabitha had made everything they were wearing. They were literally clothed in her compassion and their customized clothing shows how Tabitha saw each one of them as individuals. Do you respect and honor people?
10. EVERYONE MAY SING YOUR PRAISES, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN BRING YOUR MIRACLE (40). Peter had to put some people out of the room. They would be detractors. They meant well, but they would take away from the miracle. Sometimes, you have to get some people out of a situation in order for it to work. All they do is gossip and talk and complain.
11. GOD RAISES SOME, GOD KEEPS SOME (37-39, 40-41): I now begin to wonder why Dorcas was raised from the dead while someone like Stephen was not. He was publicly martyred in Jerusalem and it seems to me that it would have been incredibly powerful if he had been brought back to life in a very public way in the capital city. But he wasn’t. And yet here’s a quiet woman raised to life in a private upper room in a small town. Why was she raised? Was it because she was a great teacher that could never be replaced? Was she a huge financial contributor? Was she a miracle worker? She was raised because God does not want compassion to die in the church! James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
12. WHAT DID SHE DO AFTER BEING RESURRECTED? We don’t hear about what happens next but I don’t think she went out on a speaking tour. I’m convinced that after she regained her strength, she went right back to her quiet and unassuming service. Miracles always magnify God and work to spread the good news of His glory. When you hear of someone claiming a miracle and all they’re doing is focusing on themselves, your guard should go up. Look at verse 42: “This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”
CONCLUSION: WHAT MUST WE DO PASTOR?
1. Hug People Like You’ll Never See Them Again - Holy Kiss. Romans 16:16 (Hugs).
2. How We Address Each Other: Titles with which We Greet Each Other Matters.
3. Encourage Each Other. Hebrew 10:24-25; 3:12-13.
4. Demonstrate Personal Interest & Care. Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26.
5. Care For People In Crisis - Matthew 25:34-40.
6. Refrain From Gossip. James 1:26; Proverbs 6:16-19; 16:27-28; Romans 14:19.
7. Show Tolerance & Forgiveness. Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13.
8. Restore The Erring. Galatians 6:1.
9. Give Your Life To God: Everything will pass, what you do for Christ will last.
BIBLE VERSES TO HELP CLOSURE
1. 1 PETER 1:22: 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living & enduring word of God.
2. 1 PETER 2: 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
3. JUDE 1:24: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
