My Life Is His
INTRO
Good morning! My name is Mike… Acts introduction… Core convictions of the church.
READ ACTS 9:32-43
MY LIFE IS HIS
Last week Josh taught on of the most transformative stories of all time. Saul becoming Paul. Quickly Luke, (who is the author of Acts) switches abruptly back to Peter who is living his life the way he saw Jesus living.
But Peter didn’t always live this way. Just a few years before he was a guy who wasn’t sure of who he was. He was a guy who for the most part was pretty concerned about his own life, well-being, and safety.
I think it’s safe to say that even up to the death of Jesus Peter’s soul focus was on his self. One of his most infamous moments was denying that he knew Jesus 3 times in a public square right before the crucifixion out of fear for his own life.
Fast forwarding a few years and Luke tells us in chapter 9 verse 1, “PETER WAS TRAVELING FROM PLACE TO PLACE…”
I don’t want to rush over that sentence because so much is being said with such few words. If we rush over it I think we miss out on the whole point of these 2 miraculous stories.
Peter is traveling from place to place… translation… Peter was a really busy guy!
It’s important for us to remember that when we read these stories in Acts Luke is recording the extraordinary. They were the things that didn’t happen every day.
In fact, they were so uncommon that when they did happen people by the hundreds (maybe even thousands) turned their lives over to Jesus.
So, let me give you a word of caution as we continue to read stories of miraculous healings… let’s not make the mistake and think that the miraculous was a every moment of every day type of thing for this first church.
If we read into that we can quickly become discouraged with our own faith and our own church community because we aren’t seeing or experiencing what we think the early church saw and experienced.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not belittling these miracles at all. They are amazing and we ought to be people that get inspired by them and see our faith increased as a result of them…I think it’s good to desire and want to see miracles.
But let’s first remember that the book of Acts is roughly a 30-year timetable. Let’s keep in mind that even in the first century God said “no” far more than he said “yes.”
That the same God who healed the lame, raised people from the dead, made the blind see, the deaf hear is the same God today.
And for reasons I don’t know he still says “no” far more times than he says “yes.”
If this is true, then we must ask ourselves a follow up question. Should a potential no, stop us from asking for a yes?
If some of us are honest with ourselves, we have stopped asking God for something because he has been silent. And we have taken his silence as a no.
Or God told you no and you didn’t like it so you just stopped asking and maybe even believing.
Being a dad is a wonderful thing. Kids are so insightful and they teach you so many things about yourself.
But that’s not my favorite thing about being a dad. For me, one of the best things about being a dad is seeing the resiliency of my kids in action.
(EX). Right now my youngest son, West, is into hot wheels. We actually potty trained him by promising him a new hot wheel every time he went to the bathroom in the potty.
Within about 2 weeks he was potty trained and for some strange reason he still thinks that anytime he goes to the bathroom in the potty he’s going to get a car even though he is potty trained! So, West has been hearing “no” a lot recently.
Here is what West has recently learned about me. Dad is going to say no far more times than he is going to say yes. But if he keeps asking, and keeps believing, having just a little bit of faith when he asks, maybe - just maybe, if he asks enough, eventually I might say yes.
And he’s right. On one occasion he asked me for a car and he got a new race track!
What’s my point? A “no” should never stop us from desiring a “yes.”
Often times the yes will surprise us and be completely different than anything we had ever asked for.
As for Peter, the shift we see in him is great. His life was no longer his to live. He understood that his life was for God to use in any way he wanted.
I think Peter was accustomed to hearing no more than yes. But the more no’s he got the closer he got to seeing a yes. I think a phrase that I would sum up the life of Peter with is this, “MY LIFE IS HIS.”
When we talk about core convictions of the early church. I think this is a huge one.
Kiana preached on this a few weeks back. God can do whatever he wants. We do not get to decide what God does.
Instead of this being a discouragement and keep us on the sidelines of our faith it ought to build up a curiosity and a desire to see God do whatever he wants even if what he wants is not what I want.
I think if we want to see more miracles and healings in our church I think it starts here. MY LIFE IS HIS.
I can understand how you might not be able to get there yet. I can understand how frustrated you might be with God because the “NO’S” are piling up and it is wearing you down.
I have been there as well more times than I want. I can tell you from personal experience – the only thing that got me through those dark times was turning to scripture. Specifically, 2 Cor. 12.
READ 2 COR. 12:8-10: Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What’s Paul saying here? Oftentimes the things we want from Jesus are not the things Jesus wants for us. Paul says he pleaded with the Lord 3 times! He didn’t get what he wanted so he accepted it and took what Jesus gave him. His presence.
AENEAS
I think this is how Peter approached his life as well. I think Peter woke up every morning reminding himself that his life is not his own and that God wanted to use him today. And it is this posture that he meets a man who had been bed ridden for 8 years because he couldn’t walk.
We don’t know too much about Aeneas. We don’t even know if he was a follower of Jesus or not. I lean on the side that he wasn’t for the simple fact that if he was I think Luke would have told us.
What’s the point? Jesus can heal anyone, anytime, in anyplace, with any condition. Additionally, Jesus heals not just for the benefit of an individual but also for the benefit of a community.
Luke says that all who saw Aeneas turned to the Lord! This had to be hundreds of people if not thousands!
The church is growing and being strengthened all because Peter understands that his life belongs to Jesus. He is doing the things that Jesus did.
But Jesus isn’t done yet so neither is Peter.
TABITHA (DORCUS)
Luke then shifts his focus to a woman named Tabitha.
Unlike Aeneas, Luke tells us that Tabitha was a follower of Jesus. At this point the term “Christian” had yet been invented. So, to be known as a follower of Jesus went far beyond what you believed about Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus meant that you did the things Jesus did.
Luke tells us the reputation of Tabitha in just 1 verse. “She was always doing good works and acts of charity.”
Not just for anyone… her focus was on widows. She started a sowing ministry and would make cloths.
Notice how much Luke doesn’t over exaggerate Tabitha’s lifestyle. She knew what she was good at and did that for select population of woman.
Tabitha saw a need and instead of looking the other way she met that need. I think that Tabitha’s heart broke for these vulnerable women. I think Tabitha new that it wasn’t enough to just have compassion - she needed to act.
Not just 1 time but for the entirety of her life… she gave herself away just as she knew Jesus to.
We are not sure how but Tabitha dies and instead of completing the burial process those she served hear that Peter is 10 miles inland. Maybe word had spread to them about Aeneas? We are not sure. But what we do know is that Peter had developed a reputation for being on the front lines of miracles. So, they rush on foot to Peter and bring him to her.
I have to wonder if Peter is thinking about the time Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Mark 5?
I wonder if it ever crossed Peter’s mind that what if God didn’t raise Tabitha? I have to believe that thought entered his mind… but it didn’t stop him from getting on his knees to pray to bring her back to life.
To everyone’s amazement God says yes and raises Tabitha from the dead. This is extraordinary. This is faith building. So much so that many more became followers of Jesus all throughout that region.
TRANSITION…
So, there are multiple ways to interpret and understand these two stories.
1) we can understand it to be about miracles and how we can really go for it when we are together… because if it happened then… it can happen now.
2) We can ask the question, why don’t we see more miracles like this today?
3) Or we can talk about the Kingdom of God and the importance of living a faith filled life.
All of these approaches would probably make a great message.
In my preparation and prayer this week I think God has put it on my heart to draw our attention to the characteristics and the lifestyle of the followers of Jesus in this passage.
Namely Peter and Tabitha. I know for me when it comes to my relationships with Jesus I can often times desire outcomes more than a lifestyle that Jesus is calling me to.
Not that outcomes are bad… Remember, Paul’s plea in 2 Cor. 12. I just think that Jesus is up to more than that. Maybe Jesus wants us to desire his presence more than his provisions?
As it pertains to Peter and Tabitha I want to give you 3 characteristics I think we need to embrace as the people of God. Jesus wants us to live like him and when we do I think we will see the miracles follow. VERY QUICKLY…
CHARACTERISTICS TO EMBRACE AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD
AVAILABILITY
To be available doesn’t mean you are not busy.
The early church wasn’t sitting around doing nothing. They were living very full lives.
They were busy… they were just busy with the right things.
Acts 2:42 stuff. Community, prayer, meals together, service, worship, and work.
Think about your week… how are you spending your time? If your week all about you or are you available to others?
How can you make yourself more available to God and others this week?
SERVANTHOOD
The church was on the frontline of mission in their community.
The widows needed Tabitha. Tabitha didn’t need the widows. However, she recognized that her life was not hers to live. So, she devoted herself to the needy and forgotten.
Mission for the people of God is not a Saturday serve project it is a devoted life to a cause that breaks your heart.
What breaks your heart? Before you can devote yourself to servanthood I think you have to start with that question.
FAITH
I am not standing up here saying that you need to have more faith if you want to see God move in your life.
However, scripture does inform us that there is always more faith to be had. Faith isn’t just about believing in Jesus. Faith requires action.
James tells us that faith without deeds is dead. Paul says that we “live by faith, not by sight.”
Faith is what holds our relationship with Jesus together! Faith doesn’t only change how we think. Faith changes how we live.
Faith is living in a reality that trusts God. This is the reality that Peter was standing in.
So, Peter continues to ask God boldly for things and he receives humbly. Whether it’s a yes or a no.
Are you living in a way that demonstrates your trust of God?
NEED TO WRAP UP – KIANA AND TEAM COME UP.
I’ve just been convicted this week that there are a lot of other things at the center of my life that are making my relationship with Jesus a bit fuzzy. Not even bad things. Mostly good things.
As I sat in these 2 stories I just want what Peter had. I just want what Tabitha had. That was Jesus at the center of everything.
(EX). Who in here loves a good road trip? When you are on a long road trip you make a lot pitstops. The reason for those pitstops is a variety of things. Gas, drinks, food, bathroom breaks etc.
Pit stops are great and necessary but no one goes on a road trip because they can’t wait to take a pit stop. Pit stops are not the point!
The point of a road trip if you do it right isn’t even the destination!
What the point of a road trip? The journey!
If our relationship with Jesus is a lifelong journey. A lot of times for me, I can treat JESUS more like a pitstop so that I can get to the destination. In other words, if I am not careful Jesus is just a means to get what I want.
And I can easily neglect the importance of being on a journey with him and just enjoying his presence along the way.
Maybe I am the only one who struggles with this? Maybe not.
My prayer for us today it to live like Peter and Tabitha. To make Jesus the center of everything. To stop desiring the outcomes more than the lifestyle. What if we reversed it?
What if we allowed outcomes to shape our lifestyle?
What would our lives look like if we were so available to God, serving others with the gifts and resources God gave us, and trust God with everything we had, humbling receiving whatever he gave to us?
I think we would start to see outcomes we have been praying for and wanting because our souls would be so aligned with God that our desires are his desires.
DESIRE IS THE WORD I WANT TO PRESS INTO A BIT NOW FOR OUR RESPONSE TIME.
WORSHIP/RESPONSE
DESIRE
DO YOU HAVE A DESIRE FOR JESUS MORE THAN YOURSELF?
DO YOU DESIRE TO SEE JESUS WORK IN YOUR LIFE?
ARE YOU WILLING TO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE TO SEE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN?
Pray for those who work from home…
Working from home is a blessing for many of you but it is also adds a complexity and obstacle to your mission in the world.
Pray for creativity and boldness to step into mission. Be intentional. Seek people out. Go to people like Peter did. Narrow your focus like Tabitha.
Ask yourself the question, what breaks my heart? Let that lead you to next steps.