New Perspectives
Acts 9:32 –43
February 10, 2008

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed. And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. (ESV)

Perspectives on Unpleasant Circumstances
Why is this happening to me? Why is God letting this situation go on? Have yo ever heard anyone say something like this? Have you ever said this or felt this way? Unpleasant, even painful cirsumstances are a part of life for everyone, including Christians. In this small church alone we have cancer, health problems, financial trouble, homelessness, marital problems, stress, divided families, lack of job ... We can certainly understand why people ask, “Why me?”

As we read today's passage we could also ask, “Why did God allow these things?” Two faithful believers face serious problems. Aeneas is paralyzed for 8 years. Tabitha becomes so sick she dies. Why didn't God protect them. Why weren't they rewarded for their faithfulness?

This kind of questioning is due to a wrong perspective that is pervasive throughout the church in USA. We have the wrong idea about life. We assume that this life is all there is so we deserve it to be pleasant. Now, no one would acknowledge that they think this life is all there is. In fact, most Christians would strongly proclaim their belief in an after-life. Sadly, their world-view belies that belief. If we really believed in eternal life after physical death then we wouldn't be so concerned about suffering here on this earth.

The correct perspective on life should be that our purpose is to glorify and honor God and that our main rewards await us in eternal life. When looked at in that light 8, or even 80, years of suffering pale in comparison to eternal rewards. Aeneas was paralyzed. That is not a pleasant situation, no doubt about it. But, it gave him a unique opportunity to exhibit peace and joy so as to honor God. Even better, God allowed Aeneas to be a part of a great evangelistic event that brought many people to salvation (9:35). Aeneas' relatively short-term suffering led to many souls being saved and he will be rewarded for his participation in heaven.

Tabitha died. Most of us look at death as the ultimate tragedy but it isn't. Death is not a loss for Christians but rather a reward. It is a loss for family and friends who are left behind but even they can be comforted by the knowledge that their loved one is in paradise – and they will be reunited one day. Have you ever wondered how Tabitha felt being brought back. There she was, in heaven, all her suffering and hardship was over. Then pow! She is back in her weak, imperfect body. No wonder Peter made everyone leave the room before he prayed to get her back. He might have been afraid she would slap him for dragging her away from being with Jesus.

Remember, our lives are not our own. We have out them on the altar and sacrificed them to God. Stop trying to take back what you have given to God. Stop believing this life should be fun, comfortable, or easy. This life belongs to God and is His to do with as He sees fit. Aeneas and Tabitha gave their lives to God and He allowed them both to be part of a great evangelism (9:35 & 42). They have a reward waiting for them in heaven for their part of in leading those people to Christ.

The proper perspective on unpleasant circumstances is that they are opportunities to magnify God and be a witness to His love, power, mercy, and saving grace. Unpleasant circumstances are opportunities to earn rewards and blessings. Never look to be a martyr but joyfully accept God's plan for your life.

Perspective on Miracles
When most Christians read the stories of Aeneas and Tabitha they mostly notice the miracles. Miracles are exciting and encouraging. It is good to see the miracles but we usually focus on them for the wrong reason. Miracles give us hope that God can do one for us. That God will supernaturally intervene in our lives. I do believe in modern day miracles and I pray for them but not for the same reason that many do. Miracles are about God, not us!

People did benefit from the miracles related in this passage but that wasn't their main point. I am convinced that people still benefit from miracles today but people's happiness or healing aren't the reason God does them. The purpose of miracles is to bring glory to God! God used miracles in the Bible, and still uses miracles today, to advance His kingdom. God healed Aeneas and brought Tabitha back to life so that these miracles would testify about Him and draw many people to Himself.

God wants us to pray. He wants us to ask Him for things, including miracles. But we are supposed to ask with proper, not selfish motivation. James 4:2b-3 tells us that we don't see miracles because we either don't ask or we ask with a selfish motivation.

Perspective on God's Reputation
God working to glorify Himself is a theme throughout the Bible. Not only does He actively seek to glorify Himself but He will use people to do it. I prefer to say God graciously allows us to participate in bringing Him glory but we can see that God doesn't always give us a choice. He will use us, we can only choose how we respond.

This concept puts some people off. They think God is being egotistical, selfish, and arrogant. Be careful though. We can't judge God by human standards. God is the standard! We judge ourselves by Him, not Him by us. God cannot be egotistical. He is perfect. Stating such is not bragging, it is stating factual truth. God cannot be selfish. He is the center of everything. The world does revolve around Him.

We need to have the proper perspective on God. He is awesome, far beyond us in every way. We can't even fully comprehend Him so there is no way we can judge Him except by the standard He gave us. God's standard is perfection. He is perfect, His kingdom is perfect. Humans are imperfect and our world is imperfect. God is drawing people into His kingdom so they will one day be perfect and He will eventually destroy this world. Therefore, God is more important than we are and His kingdom is more important than this world. Sacrificing ourselves for God is simply having the right priority. Especially in light of the fact that God sacrificed Himself for us on the cross.

Perspective on Good Works
The final perspective that we will consider is how we should view good works. The Bible specifically points out that Tabitha did Good works. Many times the Bible tells us that we should do good works. Yet good works have been given a bad rap. Good works are seen as part of legalism. Legalism is trying to earn salvation through good works. That is impossible. But good works are an essential part of our Christian life and cannot be overlooked.

These days were hear a lot about salvation by faith. To be sure, faith is needed. Without faith no one can please God (Hebrews 11:6). However, faith itself is not enough – we need good works. We will finish with 3 passages on the correct balance between faith and works.

James 2:14-24 (ESV)
           What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?       If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food , and one of you says to them, “Go in peace,         be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things they needed for the body, what good is that? So also,          faith by itself , if it does not have works, is dead.

            But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works , and I         will show you my faith by my works. You believe God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe –and             shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not     Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works, and the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” - and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not in faith alone.

James tells us plainly that faith is useless without good works. Faith alone is not enough. Faith alone is just good wishes that without action is dead. Good works are the evidence of faith as they are the natural outflow of a renewed life. Actions make faith complete as they are a living testimony to what God is doing inside of you.

In a statement that is probably shocking to many modern day American Christians James tells us that justification is by a combination of works and faith (verse 21). Faith without action is not real faith. After all, even demons have faith in that they are certain that God exists but they are doomed to hell.

Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV)
            “When the Son of Man comes in glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on his glorious throne.            Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd        separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on His left. The          the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

            Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me , you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil        and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a         stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not           visit me.' Then they also will answer saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Good works flow out of faith. The righteous aren't out doing some sort of ministry. They don't even realize they are doing good works. They are just living out their faith. Good works are the evidence of salvation and the lack of good works are the evidence of being cursed.

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
            Not everyone who says to me “Lord. Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will          of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your             name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then I will declare       to them, “I never knew you, depart from me , you workers of lawlessness.”

Just as faith without works is dead, works without faith is dead. The people in this passage did great works but had no relationship with God. Jesus called them 'workers of lawlessness' because their actions came from a wrong heart. Wrong motivation means the people are trying to do their own agenda and call it God's work.

We must be careful to only do what God is calling us to do. But be aware that God IS calling each of us for something. Our responsibility is to find out what it is – and God desires to show you. There are periods of inactivity but they are rare and are short in duration. These times are for recuperating from heavy spiritual warfare or to prepare us for future battles.

Conclusion
Let's learn to see things from a proper perspective. When we do, we will have significantly more peace and joy.