Sunday 21 September 2008

Acts 9 : 32 – 42. Aeneas and Dorcas.
Introduction. Acts 9 : 19-31. Paul lives out Acts 1 : 8 in Damascus and Jerusalem.
The power of the Holy Spirit is seen through his preaching, talking and debating.
Reaction – negative. The Jews tried to kill him.
Acts 9 : 32-42. Peter lives out Acts 1 : 8 in Lydda and Joppa (Jaffa)
The power of the Holy Spirit is seen through miracles – healing and resurrection.
Reaction – positive. All / many people turned to the Lord / believed. See v 35, 42.

Imitation. In both miracles Peter copied what he had seen Jesus do.
Disease defeated. Mark 2 : 10-11. Jesus gave a command.
Jesus said to the paralyzed man “I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home.”
Acts 9 : 34. Peter gave a command. “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and tidy your mat”
The focus is on the present power of Jesus. Jesus Christ heals you.
Death defeated. Luke 8 : 49-56. Jairus’ daughter.
Jesus sent the people out of the room except the parents, Peter, James and John.
Jesus spoke a command to the dead girl – “ My child, get up.”
Acts 9 : 40. Peter sent people out of the room.
They knew she was dead – Peter did not want any unbelief in the room with him.
Peter got down on his knees and prayed. He expressed his humility and faith.
Peter spoke to the dead woman – “Tabitha, get up.”

The Now / Not Yet Tension of the Kingdom of God.
We all live in both a material world and a spiritual reality. The spiritual affects the material much more than we realize. There are both spiritual forces of good and evil. The powers and principalities of evil seek to dominate life on earth – individuals and whole societies. We live in a materialistic society and materialism lives in us.
As Christians we are citizens of two kingdoms – this world and the kingdom of God. A different force is shaping us.
The Future Age. Heaven will invade earth. See Revelation 21 : 1-4.
A day will come when everything will come under the perfect rule of God. This future age will begin when Jesus comes again. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.
The Present Age. The blessings of the “age to come” have invaded the present by the first coming of Jesus. His life, death, resurrection, ascension and his pouring out of the Holy Spirit have pulled God’s perfect future reign into the present. God’s power can be accessed now.
Gordon Fee writes of the Holy Spirit as “ the experienced, empowering return of God’s own personal presence in and among us.” ( Paul, the Spirit and the People of God, p xv.) When men, women and children put their faith in Jesus and submit to his rule today they become citizens of the future age while living in the present.
God’s kingdom has come so disease and death can be overcome. However, it has not come in its fullness so we wait for the days of Revelation 21 in hope. People still die. Dorcas is no longer knitting cardigans for her friends.

What are the keys to the door between here and now and the power of the kingdom of God?
1. Faith. See Peter’s clear faith in Jesus. v 34. He had faith in the authority of Jesus’ name.
See the faith of those who sent for Peter. V38.
Taking a step of faith is always dodgy. Will it work? Will I look stupid? What will they think of me?
Respond to needs in people we meet with faith. Express love. Offer to pray for them.
2. The Holy Spirit. He is our source of power. He was the source of Jesus’ power – see Isaiah 61 / Luke 4.
Read Acts 1 : 8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. This means YOU / ME.
The key is having the Holy Spirit come on us. He plugs us in to God’s power which then works through us.
This “coming on us” is both once off and continuous. An experience and a relationship.
Expect to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Expect dreams, visions, being in the right place at the right time --
3. Imitation. We should copy Peter who copied Jesus.
4. Be a Witness. The promise of power is linked to being Jesus’ witnesses. Witnessing activates God’s power.

Robert Duncan, 28/09/2008