The Further Adventures Of Peter

The Further Adventures of Peter

Acts 9:36 – 10:8

Jeff Hughes – July 13, 2003

Calvary Chapel Aggieland

I. Introduction

a. People that are sold out servants of Jesus are fun to be around. These are the kinds of people that really reach down and sacrifice for the good of others. Last week, we saw how Barnabas really stepped out to bring Saul into the fold of the church at Jerusalem.

b. Remember Philip from back in chapter 8? Well, the scriptures told us that Philip worked his way up to Caesarea, where he lived; spreading the gospel all along the way, and Joppa was along that way.

c. Apparently, some people in Joppa accepted the good news from Philip in Joppa and decided to make decisions for Christ. This band of believers formed a church there at Joppa, just like the group of believers at Lydda did.

d. Last week, we saw Peter journey down to Lydda to check on the believers there and do some evangelism. Peter spread the gospel in the region around Lydda and Sharon, the area west of Lydda.

e. Joppa was just a bit further west from Sharon, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The believers there had a problem, so they sent for Peter to help them out.

f. We will look at this as we continue our study through the book of Acts today, but first, let’s take a moment to pray and ask the Lord’s blessing on our study this morning.

II. PRAYER

III. Illustration

a. A large group of European pastors came to one of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. Following the European custom of the time, each guest put his shoes outside his room to be cleaned by the hall servants overnight. But of course this was America and there were no hall servants.

b. Walking the dormitory halls that night, Moody saw the shoes and determined not to embarrass his brothers. He mentioned the need to some seminary students who were there, but met with only silence or pious excuses. Moody returned to the dorm, gathered up the shoes, and, alone in his room, the world’s only famous evangelist began to clean and polish the shoes. Only the unexpected arrival of a friend in the midst of the work revealed the secret.

c. When the foreign visitors opened their doors the next morning, their shoes were shined. They never know by whom. Moody told no one, but his friend told a few people, and during the rest of the conference, different men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret.

d. People notice others in the body that serve with a right heart. The church at Joppa had a lady that served the body with everything that she had. People like that are important and valuable to the body.

e. Many people don’t serve like that though. They just don’t get it. They make excuses. They wind up missing out on being a blessing to others, and that is one of the greatest blessings that you can get yourself.

f. Today, we are going to look at two people that were intent on following God, even though they were from the other side of the tracks so to speak.

g. Our study comes from Acts, chapter 9 verse 36, through chapter 10 verse 8, as we continue our study this morning. Let’s read along -

IV. Study

a. Intro

i. 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.

ii. 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.