SUNDAY - JULY 27, 2025 "Continuing the Work of Jesus" Acts 9:32-43

Welcome to DeSoto Hills Baptist Church.

Our Sunday morning services are weekly at 9 and 10 30 am.

You're listening to an audio recast of this past week's service.

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God bless.

Xavier Bibles this morning will be in Acts Acts, chapter 9.

Acts 9 · chapter mention

We're going to finish out Acts, chapter 9 this morning.

Acts 9 · chapter mention

We've spent several weeks now since about Acts, chapter 6, looking at people outside of the apostles and Peter.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

We've looked at Stephen and talked about Stephen, we've talked about Philip, we've talked about Saul and we've talked about a man named Ananias.

But today, as we finish out chapter 9, our attention turns back to Peter.

It turns back to the apostles and what's going on there.

And here's what we're going to see today.

Today we're going to see Peter healed a man named Ananias and a lady named Dorcas, and his doing that was to advance the kingdom of God by continuing the work of Jesus.

Remember we talked about that in the book of Acts, how the book of Acts, what it is, is the acts of Jesus Christ, through the apostles and the church, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so we see, what we see and find today is one of the apostles, namely Peter, continuing that work of Jesus Christ, and he's doing that through the act of healing two separate people.

But we come to us then While we are not Peter, we are not Jesus, we are not even Anais and Dorcas.

So what does this mean for us?

We are not even a naus and orcus, so what does this mean for us?

I think what it means for us is we also need to advance the kingdom of God by pointing people to Jesus.

We point people to Jesus.

So the challenge for us is this that we must, we must point people to Jesus by bearing witness about Jesus.

So today, what we want to do is answer this question how did Peter's miracles, how did the signs?

How did his healing of these people?

How did that point people to Jesus?

So we come to Acts, chapter 9.

Acts 9 · chapter mention

This morning we're going to read, starting in, verse 32, and read down through the end of the chapter, verse 43.

So if you're able this morning, I encourage you, invite you, to stand with us as we give honor to the reading of God's Word.

Acts, chapter 9, verse 32.

Acts 9:32

Now, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

There, among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

There he found a man named Anais, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.

And Peter said to him Anais, jesus Christ heals you Rise, 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 had washed her they laid her in an upper room.

Since little 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 that many believed in the Lord.

And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one, simon, a tanner.

Let's pray together, dear God.

We are thankful for today.

We are thankful for this opportunity that we have to open your word and to be challenged and encouraged by and through your word, and we pray that today through our study that because of your word, our lives will be changed for all eternity.

God, we love you, spirit, we ask you to work as only you can.

Jesus, it's in your wonderful name that we pray, amen, amen.

So, again, the question that we are seeking to answer is is how did Peter's miracles point people to Jesus?

Well, let's, let's begin with the first one, with the healing of Anais, and let's let's understand so.

So Anais, we don't know much about this man.

We know that he lived in a town called Lydda, and Lydda was east of Jerusalem, between Jerusalem and Joppa, and Joppa was on the Mediterranean Sea, and so we know that Anais lived there and that Peter, and we know that he had been paralyzed and bedridden for about eight years, and that's really all we know about him.

So it seems to me that the focus in this story is not really on Anais, but on Peter.

So let's turn our focus to Peter, then, and understand some things about Peter.

First thing I want us to see about Peter is that he was present with the people.

Listen right there.

It says in verse 32,.

Now, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

So see that again, as Peter went here and there among them all, he was out with the people.

He was out ministering to the people.

He was out ministering to all the people.

And it even says that he went to Lydda and ministered to the saints who were there.

So he was ministering to believers.

We know that he was among the believers, ministering to them.

We've already seen in Acts that Paul was also out ministering to all people, even if they weren't yet believers.

Remember in Acts, chapter 3, peter and John.

Acts 3 · chapter mention

They were going up to the temple to preach and they met this man who had been paralyzed, and Peter comes to him and he heals him there.

So Peter is, he's out among the people, he's out getting to know the people, he's out understanding the people, he's ministering to both believers and unbelievers alike.

He is out, he is present with the people.

The next thing that we see is that Peter heals this man.

Again, this story is so short.

We don't know much of what transpired around the healing.

We just know what happens right here in verse 34.

It says, and Peter said to him Anais, jesus Christ heals you, rise, make your bed.

And immediately he rose.

Now let's look at those words of Peter for just a moment.

Peter says Anais.

Peter says Anais, jesus Christ heals you.

Now that's big.

Peter doesn't say anything.

He doesn't say I heal you in the name of Jesus Christ, I heal you, or anything like that.

He says Jesus Christ heals you.

Now, that's not the only way that Peter has healed people.

We just talked about the guy back in Acts, chapter 3 who Peter healed.

Acts 3 · chapter mention

In Acts chapter 3, verse 6, this is what he says to that man Peter said I have no silver and gold, but what I have I give to you In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Acts 3:6

Rise and walk.

So why the difference?

I'm not real sure.

I'm not even sure that we should make a big deal in between the two things.

But here's what I understand from both of these Peter is healing not by his own power and not in his own strength.

Peter is not healing because of his faith.

He is not healing because of anything.

He is healing in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of Jesus Christ.

Peter is continuing the work of Jesus Christ that Christ had come to do.

Peter is working and he is healing people in the name of Jesus and we have affirmation of that.

We have affirmation that Peter is doing these things in the name of Jesus.

We have it right there in verse 35.

And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord.

They didn't turn to Peter.

They didn't turn and say oh Peter, you're such a great leader.

Oh Peter, I wish I had your power.

Oh Peter, I wish I could be like you.

Oh Peter.

It's not what it says that they did.

Now, if this healing was done in the name of Peter or if it had been done in Peter's strength and power, we can assume that all the people would have turned to Peter at that point.

But that's not what they're doing.

Luke goes out of his way to make sure that we understand in this book that they are not turning to Peter, they are not turning to the apostles, they are turning to the Lord.

Peter is not doing his work, he's not doing work of the apostles, he is doing the work of Jesus Christ.

We also understand that by comparing what we see Peter doing here, let's compare him to the work that we see Jesus doing back in some of the gospels, back in Luke, chapter 5.

Luke 5 · chapter mention

In Luke, chapter 5 and verses 17 through 26,.

Luke 5 · chapter mention

It's a long passage, but see what happens with Jesus when he comes across a paralytic in this gospel.

On one of those days, as he was teaching, pharisees and the teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.

But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the mist before Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said man, your sins are forgiven you.

And the scribes and Pharisees began to question, saying who is this?

Who speaks blasphemies?

Who can forgive sins?

But God alone.

And when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them why do you question in your hearts which is easier to say your sins are forgiven or to say rise and walk, but that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

He said to the man who was paralyzed I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.

And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home glorifying God.

And amazement seized them all and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying we have seen extraordinary things today, listen.

So let's compare that then to what happened with Peter and Peter and Anais.

Now there's some differences.

Of course.

Jesus, when he approaches this paralytic here, he forgives his sins.

Peter doesn't do that.

Why?

Because Peter ain't Jesus.

He just tells us that the Pharisees, they say only God can forgive sins.

Absolutely right, that's why Jesus did it.

Peter's not Jesus.

Only God can forgive sins, absolutely right.

That's why Jesus did it.

Peter's not Jesus.

He can't forgive sins.

But what Peter is doing and what Jesus is doing in this, he says so that you may know the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins, so that they may know that Jesus can forgive sins.

What does he do?

He heals the man.

Arise and walk.

Now here's what Peter is doing.

Peter can't forgive sins because he's not God, but he can point people to God.

So he says in the name of Jesus.

And then it's almost verbatim take up your bed.

Take up your bed and rise.

Take up your bed and go home.

That's what he does, but Peter is pointing people to the son of man who has authority to forgive sins not to himself almost identical.

There's another story that happens over in John chapter 5.

John 5 · chapter mention

In John chapter 5, verses 1 through 9, peter, or jesus, heals another man, starting in verse 1.

John 5:1–9

After this, there was a feast of the jews and jesus went to jerusalem.

Now there is in jerusalem, by the sheep gate, a pool in aramaic called bethesda, which has five ruth colonn.

In these lay a multitude of invalids blind, lame and paralyzed.

One man was there who had been invalid for 38 years.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him do you want to be healed?

The sick man answered him sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up.

And while I'm going, another steps down in front of me, jesus said to him get up, take up your bed and walk.

And at once the man was healed and he took up his bed and walked.

Again, almost verbatim Jesus Christ heals you, rise, make your bed.

Peter is not doing his own work, he is pointing people to Jesus Christ.

We see it in almost every action, in what happens between Peter and Anais.

But there's a second story here.

There's the story of of Dorcas, in verses 36 through 42.

As we come to this story again, let's try to understand what we know about Dorcas, which in Aramaic is Tabitha.

Tabitha lives in Joppa, which is not far from Lydda.

It's what we understand.

Joppa is on the Mediterranean Sea, it's a coastal city on the Mediterranean Sea, and what we can tell from this story is Tabitha.

She is well respected and known and is ministering within her community.

You can tell by the way that people are so upset when she passes away, and it says that the widows, they are bringing all kinds of clothing that Tabitha had made and given to them.

So Tabitha is doing ministry.

It calls her a disciple, but other than that, we don't know a whole lot about her, other than that she died.

So again, let's turn our focus to Peter and see what Peter does and how Peter reacts in this story.

First of all, again we see Peter being available, being present and available.

It says in verses 38, 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.

What do we see Peter doing when this need arises and they need him to come and they need him to act.

Peter, he gets up and he goes with them because he is available.

He is available not just for the people, but he is available for the work of God.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, he is available to continue the work of Christ.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we see him get up and he goes with them.

Then he arrives there at the house.

Then he arrives there at the house and at the end of that verse it says when he arrived, they took him to the upper room where they had laid her body and all the widows stood beside him weeping, showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them Verse 40.

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.

You see, peter stopped and prayed Because Peter understands some things.

There is nothing he can do, he has no power to do anything with this lady.

He has no power to heal her.

He definitely has no power to call her back from the grave.

He has nothing except for Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

So he stops and he turns his attention on God and he prays.

He looks to Jesus and then, turning to this lady, he says, arise.

And she arises.

And then look, we have affirmation that he is doing again doing the work of Jesus.

In verse 42, when it says and it became known throughout all Joppa and many believed in the Lord.

Again, catch it Many believed in the Lord, not in Peter, not in the works of Peter, not in what Peter had done, but in the Lord.

They believed in Jesus.

Peter is not pointing people to himself, he is pointing people to Jesus.

We have stories of Jesus telling us very similar things.

I know we keep going back, but let's do it again.

In Luke, chapter 8, jesus heals a young lady.

Luke 8 · chapter mention

In Luke, chapter 8, verse 40, starting in verse 40, it says this Now, when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him and there came a man named Jairus who was a ruler of the synagogue and, falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about 12 years of age, and she was dying, and Jesus went.

Luke 8:40

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.

So we see Jesus being available, much like Peter.

He was there and there were crowds around him and there were people around him because Jesus had done some pretty spectacular things, much like Peter had done back in Lydda.

Lydda had healed Aeneas.

So people were all there and things were happening.

But somebody came and said hey, you're needed here.

So Peter got up.

He's following the example that Jesus had left him.

Jesus is there.

Jairus comes, says I need you.

And so Jesus goes.

Then skip over.

There's another healing in between this which, for time's sake, we won't look at, but skip down to verse 49.

While he was still speaking this is Jesus was still speaking someone from the ruler's house came and said your daughter is dead, do not trouble the teacher anymore.

But Jesus, on hearing this, answered him Do not fear, only believe she will be well.

And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him except Peter and John and James.

And the house he allowed no one to enter with him except peter and john and james and the father and mother of the child and all were weeping and mourning for her.

But he said do not weep, for she is not dead, but sleeping.

And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead, but taking her by the hand, he called, saying child arise, and her spirit returned and she got up at once and he directed that something should be given to her to eat and her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Very similar To what happened with Peter.

I believe.

What the similarities come Because Peter was following and continuing the work of Jesus.

The biggest difference is Jesus didn't stop and pray Before he healed the woman, but he didn't have to Because we've already talked about it he was God.

He was God.

He was God.

He knew what was happening, but Peter had to turn to Jesus and he prayed, and both of them, for both of them.

These lives were restored and they came back to life and people believed Again.

Another major difference Is what happened After Jesus healed this lady.

He said the parents were amazed.

Life and people believed again.

Another major difference is is what happened after jesus healed this lady.

He said he told their parents.

The parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened, even the disciples.

And that's a little bit different from what happened with peter, because they told no one, but with peter, many believed.

Why is that difference?

Here's why it's all because the timing of god.

Jesus is saying my time is coming.

When people will see this.

When Peter had when it happens with Peter Jesus time had come and he said now bear witness about me.

So what Peter is doing is he is bearing witness about Jesus and what Jesus had done.

Even the language here some would say it's probably coincidence.

I'm not sure of that.

The language here is so similar.

When Jesus healed this young lady, he said child arise In Aramaic.

Here's what that sounds like Talitha kum.

Now listen to what Peter said Tabitha arise In Aramaic, tabitha kum.

Listen.

You can say it's coincidence because child in Aramaic sounds like Tabitha.

I don't believe so.

I think it's the working of the divine father, showing us that he has had a plan from the very beginning and we need to point people to him.

So that is exactly what Peter is doing.

He is pointing people to Jesus.

But now we come to us.

What does this mean for us?

Does it mean that we should be healing people to point people to Jesus?

Does it mean that our services should look a whole lot different and I have the deacons come down here and y'all walk forward and I pop and they catch you as you pass out?

Is that what he's telling us to do?

I don't think so.

Let's understand for just a moment the signs and the miracles and what they were in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, we only see a handful of people actually performing signs.

One of them is Jesus.

Jesus performs many signs and wonders, and he tells us why.

There was at one point in Jesus' ministry that people were coming around him and he says hey, believe the words that I say, but if you don't believe the words, look at the works.

Believe the works.

Jesus was performing miracles.

He was performing signs so that people would see that he is the Son of God and that they would know that he is the Son of God, that he is the Christ who has been sent to save them.

The signs pointed people to him and that they should believe him.

And then, after the gospels, we come to the disciples, to the apostles really the 12 apostles, and besides the 12, there's only a handful of people Barnabas, philip and Paul, who was an apostle, performing signs.

What's the purpose?

Well, the signs of the apostles.

The purpose of those signs were to show people and to point to people that say, hey, we are continuing the work of Jesus, because we are doing the works of Jesus.

You can believe that the words that we are speaking are the words of Jesus.

Listen to what we say.

We're telling you the truth.

You can believe it because of the words we're telling you, jesus' words.

You can believe it because we're doing the works of Jesus.

Then the two others Philip, his miracle happens at the Samaritan Pentecost Because we're doing the works of Jesus.

Then the two others Philip, his miracle happens at the Samaritan Pentecost, saying, hey, there's a new work.

The gospel is doing exactly what Jesus has said it would do.

It is spreading to Judea and Samaria.

Here it is happening.

You can believe it, barnabas.

His miracle happens as the gospel is going to the Gentiles, pointing to the fact that the gospel is doing exactly what Jesus has said it would do going to the uttermost parts of the world.

All of the signs and miracles were signs and miracles to point people that they could believe the words of those people because they're doing the works of Jesus.

But here's what happens with us Because we have the apostles and because we have their words, because they have written their words and given us the very words of God that we can read and we can understand, that point us to Jesus, we don't need the signs and miracles anymore because we have the very words of Jesus and we can trust them, because the people who wrote these words were the very people who were doing the same works of Jesus.

So the call is not that we go about and be performing all kinds of signs and miracles to point people to Jesus.

Listen, the greatest sign and miracle that God is at work is when someone who was lost has been found.

It's when someone who was lost has been found.

It's when someone who was dead has been made alive.

It was someone who was guilty of all sin, had been justified.

That's the greatest miracle that humankind has known.

We need him to work, we need him to move.

So if Peter his signs, he hid these signs to point people to Jesus, but we're not called to do the signs, what do we do then?

What does this mean for us?

Jesus has told us very specifically, I promise you, I point you to it every week, in Acts, chapter 1, verse 8.

Acts 1:8

In Acts, chapter 1, verse 8, jesus is with the disciples right before he ascends to the heavens and he says this but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:8

What are we supposed to do?

We are supposed to be his witnesses.

We are supposed to bear witness about Jesus.

We are supposed to point people to Jesus using his words, using his work in our lives, pointing people to, to who Jesus is, that.

He is the one who came, who lives, who died, who arose so that we could have life.

He is the one who came to die in the place of guilty sinners just like us.

He is the one who arose from the grave, defeating our sin and giving us life and placing on us his righteousness.

He is the messiah, he is the christ, and we need to tell people who to Jesus.

And we can look at how Peter did these things.

First of all, we see that Peter was present, that he was available.

Listen, peter, yes, he was doing ministry among the saints.

He was in the church doing ministry.

He was present there.

He was available there, but Peter was also available doing ministry outside in the streets.

As he was walking to the temple, he passed a man and healed him.

It's very similar to what Jesus tells us in Matthew go Go, therefore, and make disciples.

Really a good translate that first go is a participle that really could be translated this as you are going make disciples, listen, teachers.

I'm sorry, I know this is a poor subject, but tomorrow many of you are going back to school.

Hear me as you are going make disciples.

Some of you are getting up and going to work in the morning.

As you're going, make disciples, students, you're about to go back to school.

Sorry, it's happening.

As you are going, make disciples.

Point people to Jesus.

That's what he's called us to do, and we begin that just by being present with people around us.

Hear them, love them.

Hear them, love them, minister to them, reach out to them.

Not only was Peter present, he pointed people to Jesus.

While you may have some good advice, point people to Jesus While you may have a good listening ear.

Point people to Jesus as you're going.

Point people to Jesus Not for your glory, not for the glory of anyone, but Jesus.

That's what we see happening in Peter Both times, both of these healings.

Both times people didn't believe in Peter.

They turned to the Lord.

Let's point people to Jesus.

Listen, I don't know where you are today, but if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, listen, we just said it.

But I need you to understand.

You are dead in your trespasses and sins, but God makes us alive, and he does that because he sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross to take the punishment for the sin that you have committed.

Jesus died taking that wrath upon himself.

He was buried and three days later he arose, satisfying.

Satisfying the punishment that we deserve.

And when Jesus arose, now he gives to us his life, he gives to us his righteousness, he justifies us, making it just as if we had never sinned.

And if you have never trusted and believed in him, oh, may today be the day of salvation for you.

Just a moment.

We're going to pray.

After we pray, we're going to sing a hymn of invitation and we'll be right down front to receive you.

If you've never trusted Christ as your savior, we invite you to come.

I'll pray for you.

There will be counselors who can take you out and share with you how you can know Jesus Christ is your Savior.

But maybe today, maybe today, you recognize that in your life you haven't been pointing people to Jesus, you haven't been fulfilling the call that God gave Listen, not just preachers that God gave to all of us To bear witness about him.

Maybe this morning you need to come and you need to repent of that and make a commitment to him that today is going to be a new day as you are going about the lives that he has called you to live.

It's going to be with a purpose To point people to Jesus.

Maybe this morning you need to come and you need to kneel on these steps We'll use them as an altar and you need to confess before God and you need to repent before God and you need to repent and make a commitment to bear witness about Jesus wherever you go.

Maybe this morning you're looking for a church home.

I say it every week, I'm biased.

It's a good place here.

We encourage you, we invite you to come, because here's the thing While we are supposed to be telling people about Jesus and bearing witness about Jesus, that call has never been for us to do that by ourselves.

God has gifted us with the church so that we can do that together.

So if you don't have a church home, we invite you to come this morning, and may we together bear witness about Jesus Christ.

Listen, if God is leading you in any way this morning, as we pray, after we pray, as we sing this hymn of invitation, we invite you to come.

Let's pray together, god, thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity that we have this morning, right now, in this moment, as we have turned our focus to you, god, to follow you in this time of decision.

God, for those who are here, who have never trusted, who have never believed in you, we pray that today will be the day of salvation for them.

God, for those of us who have but God we have, we have been lacking in our pointing people to you.

May, today, we repent of that and make a commitment that, as we are going, that we make disciples, god Move, as only you can Give us the faith that we need this morning To trust, to follow and make the decision that you have called us to make.

Jesus, it's in your name.

We pray, amen.

Thanks for listening to this week's sermon.

If you have any questions for our pastor, feel free to reach out at desotohillscom.

You.