Series: Action [#21]
THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN
Acts 9:31-43
Introduction:
During this COVID-19 pandemic, I have said and I have heard people say, “That will never happen”. Things like, “The Government will never shutdown Churches in the United States”. I want each of you to list 5 things that before COVID-19 you said, “That will never happen”. (Make 1 of them something positive.)
[Give a moment to write 5 things.]
Some of the things you might have thought or written-
In the United States, the Government will never…
* Restrict where we travel.
* Choose which businesses thrive and which ones close.
* Make us do something like wear mask 24/7.
* Shutdown Schools.
* Draw me closer to Jesus.
As we read through the Gospels and through the Book of Acts, we find Jesus and the Apostles healing people, casting out evil spirits, etc… We often act as if this is not possible in our time. Is this some of those things that we think will never happen?
Acts 9:31
Things began to improve for the Christians. This morning we are going to look at a healing and a resurrection. As we look at the healing of Aeneas and the resurrection of Tabitha, I want you to think about suffering. Yes, a man was miraculously healed, and Peter was 1 of 5 people in the Bible to resurrect someone from the dead- (Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, Paul, and Peter); but our passage also shows us the value of suffering. Suffering is a tool for the Gospel. Suffering is a way that the Gospel of Jesus is made known. Suffering is how the Gospel is lived out in our lives.
Acts 9:32-34
Suffering Lesson #1…
1. God is sovereign over suffering.
God is in control. This man had been stuck in bed for 8 years. Why did God wait so long to heal Aeneas? Because God is sovereign- God knows all and is in control. God used Peter to heal Aeneas in the power of Jesus Christ.
Many of us are suffering from some of these things that we said would never happen- Why now? God is not surprised about the timing of this virus and the World’s reaction to this virus. God has a purpose and plan for all that we are dealing with.
God may use you just as He used Peter. Peter was traveling all around, preaching the Gospel. It wasn’t an accident that Peter met this paralyzed man in Lydda. It is also not accident that God may use you to heal someone, (whether that be physically, emotionally, or spiritually).
Acts 9:35, 42
Suffering Lesson #2…
2. Christians should endure suffering for the sake of Christ.
Miracles have a Divine purpose. It is not just some random thing that happened. Aeneas was healed in order to draw people to Jesus Christ. His being able to get out of bed and walk was a byproduct. Again, the resurrection of Tabitha was to draw people to Jesus Christ.
As we go through suffering, we need to remember the real purpose of our healing, our victory. When we have a victory, the purpose is to draw people to Jesus. Your healing or your victory over something is the byproduct.
Acts 9:36-43
Suffering Lesson #3…
3. We must bear the burden of suffering.
Tabitha had been serving others. She was always doing good and helping the poor. The widows were there when she died and most likely had been there since they found out that she was sick. There was clothing there that Tabitha had made. Tabitha had ministered to the widows and to the poor. She had been bearing the burden for those who were suffering.
Once she became sick and was stuck in her home, the widows that she had helped came to take care of her. These widows were bearing Tabitha’s burden of suffering.
Conclusion:
Can God use us to physically heal someone or raise them from the dead? The answer is yes. God is sovereign and there is nothing that is impossible for Him. What is more important than people being physically healed or raised from the dead; is that they are spiritually resurrected and spiritually healed.
