How We Shall Serve Him

1 2 THERE IS A STORY ABOUT VLADIMIR NABOKOV • THE RUSSIAN-BORN NOVELIST • HE WAS AN ACCLAIMED AND SUCCESSFUL FICTION WRITER • ONE SUMMER IN THE 1940S, NABOKOV STAYED WITH FRIENDS IN, UTAH • NABOKOV TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENLARGE HIS COLLECTION OF BUTTERFLIES. • HE WAS NOT KNOWN AS A COMPASSIONATE MAN. • HE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING VERY SINGLE-MINDED, FOCUSED. • ONE EVENING AT DUSK HE RETURNED FROM HIS DAY'S BUTTERFLY HUNTING 3 4 • HE SAID THAT DURING A PURSUIT OF A BUTTERFLY NEAR BEAR GULCH • HE HAD HEARD SOMEONE GROANING PITEOUSLY DOWN BY THE STREAM. • "'DID YOU STOP TO HELP' HIS HOST ASKED HIM. • "'NO, I HAD TO GET THE BUTTERFLY.'" • THE NEXT DAY THE CORPSE OF AN OLD PROSPECTOR • WAS DISCOVERED IN WHAT WAS RENAMED, DEAD MAN'S GULCH." (PAUSE) • WHILE PEOPLE AROUND US ARE DYING, HOW OFTEN ARE WE CHASING BUTTERFLIES! 5 6 • IN LIFE WE SOMETIME GET OVERLY FOCUSED ON OUR OWN PURSUITS • JOB, HOBBIES, SPORTS, SOMETHING DRAWS OUR ATTENTION • AND OFF WE GO CHASING AFTER IT 7 • WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT GETTING SO FOCUSED ON THESE THINGS • THAT WE FAIL TO NOTICE THOSE AROUND US IN NEED OF HELP • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT PETER 8 • AND HOW HE RESPONSE TO THOSE AROUND HIM WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP • TURN TO ACTS 9:32 • SAUL HAD LEFT JERUSALEM AFTER • A PLOT TO KILL HIM WAS DISCOVERED 9 • AND THE CHURCH HAD ENTERED A TIME OF PEACE AND GROWTH • GROWTH IN MATURITY AND SERVICE AS WELL AS GROWTH IN NUMBERS • THIS GROWTH INCLUDED THE AREAS OF JUDEA, GALILEE AND SAMARIA ACTS 9:32–35 10 NOW AS PETER WAS TRAVELING THROUGH ALL THOSE REGIONS, HE CAME DOWN ALSO TO THE SAINTS WHO LIVED AT LYDDA. THERE HE FOUND A MAN NAMED AENEAS, WHO HAD BEEN BEDRIDDEN EIGHT YEARS, FOR HE WAS PARALYZED. 11 PETER SAID TO HIM, “AENEAS, JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU; GET UP AND MAKE YOUR BED.” IMMEDIATELY HE GOT UP. AND ALL WHO LIVED AT LYDDA AND SHARON SAW HIM, AND THEY TURNED TO THE LORD. 12 CALLED 2 VISIT PEOPLE • WHEN LUKE SAYS “PETER WAS TRAVELING THROUGH ALL THOSE REGIONS” • HE MEANS ALL THOSE AREAS WHERE THE CHURCH WAS GROWING • REMEMBER PETER IS TRAVELING ON FOOT • THIS IS A PRETTY BIG AREA TO COVER ON FOOT • PETER HAD STAYED IN JERUSALEM DURING THE PERSECUTIONS 13 • NOW DURING THE TIME OF PEACE, HE GOES OUT TO VISIT • THE GROWING CHURCHES • THESE CHURCHES WERE PLANTED BY PEOPLE • WHO HAD FLED THE PERSECUTION IN JERUSALEM 14 ACTS 8:1 15 AND ON THAT DAY A GREAT PERSECUTION BEGAN AGAINST THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM, AND THEY WERE ALL SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES. 16 • PETER IS GOING OUT TO CHECK UP ON OLD FRIENDS • SEEING HOW HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST ARE DOING • THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO BE DOING 17 • CHECKING UP ON OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST • NOT TO BE NOSEY BUT OUT OF CONCERN AND CARE • HOW CAN WE HELP • IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PROBLEMS THEY ARE FACING 18 CALLED 2 SERVE PEOPLE • YOU CAN’T SERVE IF YOU DO NOT FIND • PETER “FOUND A MAN NAMED AENEAS, WHO HAD BEEN BEDRIDDEN EIGHT YEARS, FOR HE WAS PARALYZED.” • DID YOU NOTICE PETER DID NOT WAIT FOR AENEAS TO ASK FOR HELP 19 • PETER SEES THE PROBLEM AND TAKES ACTION • SOME FOLKS HAVE TROUBLE ASKING FOR HELP • WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS AND IN SOME CASES • WE MAY NEED TO START HELPING EVEN IF THEY DON’T ASK • I LOVE HOW PETER HELPS • HE TAKES NO CREDIT WHAT SO EVER FOR THE HEALING • HE TELLS THE MAN “JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU” • HE GIVES ALL THE GLORY TO CHRIST 20 21 • AND THEN PETER TELLS THE MAN TO MAKE HIS BED • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF THIS COMMAND • THIS IS TO ESTABLISH THAT THE MAN IS FULLY HEALED • THIS MAN HAD BEEN DEPENDENT ON OTHERS TO MAKE HIS BED 22 • FOR EIGHT YEARS HE HAD NEEDED OTHERS TO DO THIS • PETER COMMANDS HIM TO MAKE HIS BED TO SHOW THOSE • STANDING AROUND WATCHING THAT THE MAN IS FULLY HEALED • AGAIN, THIS WAS DONE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD COLOSSIANS 3:17 WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS THROUGH HIM TO GOD THE FATHER. 23 24 • WHEN WE SERVE GOD, WE CAN TAKE THE GLORY FOR OURSELVES • OR WE CAN GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD • WE NEED TO BE SURE WE DO NOT TAKE THE GLORY ON PURPOSE 25 • WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WE DO NOT ACCIDENTLY TAKE THE CREDIT • IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE DELIBERATELY & CLEARLY GIVE GOD THE CREDIT • WE DO THIS BECAUSE THERE IS A GREATER PURPOSE • BEHIND HELPING OTHERS CALLED 2 HELP PEOPLE KNOW GOD 26 • WHEN WE HELP PEOPLE THROUGH TOUGH TIMES • OTHERS WHO SEE THIS HAPPEN MAY BE DRAWN TO GOD • LUKE DESCRIBES THIS HAPPENING WHEN HE SAYS 27 • “AND ALL WHO LIVED AT LYDDA AND SHARON SAW HIM, AND THEY TURNED TO THE LORD.” • WE MIGHT THINK THESE PEOPLE TURNED TO GOD BECAUSE THEY SAW A MIRACLE • AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM DID • BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A MIRACLE 28 • WHEN PEOPLE SEE GOD WORK IN EVERY DAY WAYS • THROUGH ME AND YOU • THEY TURN TO GOD AS WELL • THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS TO ME 29 • ABOUT WORKING AT SECOND MILE • WE WOULD HELP SOMEONE, AND A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD COME TO CHRIST • WE DID NOT MIRACULOUSLY HEAL THEM • WE JUST GOT THEM FOOD OR CLOTHING OR HELPED WITH RENT 30 • MAYBE WE GOT THEM SOME LEGAL ADVICE OR COUNSELING • AND THIS SIMPLE.. NON-MIRACLE • WOULD LEAD TO SOMEONE TURNING TO GOD (PAUSE) • HOW WE LIVE, HOW WE HELP OTHERS • HAS MORE IMPACT ON THOSE AROUND US • THAN WE CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE C.H. SPURGEON ONCE WROTE: • A MAN'S LIFE IS ALWAYS MORE FORCIBLE THAN HIS SPEECH. 31 • WHEN MEN TAKE STOCK OF HIM • THEY RECKON HIS DEEDS AS DOLLARS • AND HIS WORDS AS PENNIES. • IF HIS LIFE AND DOCTRINE DISAGREE 32 33 • THE MASS OF ONLOOKERS ACCEPT HIS PRACTICE • AND REJECT HIS PREACHING.” • LIVING THE GOSPEL HAS FAR MORE POWER • THAN PREACHING THE GOSPEL 34 • AND LIVING THE GOSPEL MEANS HELPING OTHERS • AND GIVING GOD THE CREDIT AND THE GLORY (PAUSE) • WE NEED TO NOT ONLY BE OUT LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO HELP • WE NEED TO BE READY TO GO WHEN PEOPLE ASK US FOR HELP ACTS 9:36–38 35 NOW IN JOPPA THERE WAS A DISCIPLE NAMED TABITHA (WHICH TRANSLATED IN GREEK IS CALLED DORCAS); THIS WOMAN WAS ABOUNDING WITH DEEDS OF KINDNESS AND CHARITY WHICH SHE CONTINUALLY DID. 36 AND IT HAPPENED AT THAT TIME THAT SHE FELL SICK AND DIED; AND WHEN THEY HAD WASHED HER BODY, THEY LAID IT IN AN UPPER ROOM. 37 SINCE LYDDA WAS NEAR JOPPA, THE DISCIPLES, HAVING HEARD THAT PETER WAS THERE, SENT TWO MEN TO HIM, IMPLORING HIM, “DO NOT DELAY IN COMING TO US.” ntk BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE 38 • NOW, JOPPA IS A TOWN ABOUT 9 OR 10 MILES FROM • WHERE PETER HAD JUST HEALED THE PARALYZED MAN • AND LUKE TELLS US ABOUT A WOMAN IN THIS TOWN 39 • HE DESCRIBES HER AS; • “ABOUNDING WITH DEEDS OF KINDNESS AND CHARITY WHICH SHE CONTINUALLY DID” • WHAT AN AWESOME DESCRIPTION • SHE WAS SOMEONE WHO SPENT ALL HER TIME HELPING OTHERS 40 • NOT JUST HELPING A LITTLE SOME OF THE TIME • BUT HELPING A GREAT DEAL ALL THE TIME • AND LUKE TELLS US THAT AT THE SAME TIME • PETER WAS HELPING PEOPLE IN NEAR BY LYDDA 41 • THIS AMAZING WOMAN FELL SICK AND DIED • SOMETIMES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO THE BEST PEOPLE • BUT NOTICE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HER DID NOT LOSE HOPE • “WASHED HER BODY, THEY LAID IT IN AN UPPER ROOM” 42 • THE WASHING OF THE BODY AFTER DEATH WAS NORMAL • THAT WAS PART OF THE PREPARATION FOR BURIAL • BUT THE NEXT THING THEY DID WAS NOT AT ALL NORMAL • TRADITIONALLY THE JEWISH PEOPLE 43 • WERE BURIED BEFORE SUNSET ON THE DAY THEY DIED • BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY “LAID HER IN AN UPPER ROOM” • SOME FOLKS THINK THEY DID THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE • NO LONGER FOLLOWING THE JEWISH CUSTOMS • AND THAT IS POSSIBLE • OTHER THINK SHE DIED VERY EARLY IN THE DAY 44 • AND THEY ARE INTEND TO BURY HER BEFORE SUNSET • WHICH IS POSSIBLE • BUT THEN THEY GO AND DO SOMETHING ELSE SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL • THEY SEND FOR PETER 45 BE THERE IN BAD TIMES 46 • THE CHRISTIANS IN JOPPA HAD HEARD PETER WAS IN LYDDA • SO, THEY SENT TWO MEN TO ASK HIM TO COME • THERE IS AN IMPLICATION HERE THAT WE NEED TO NOTICE • I THINK THEY ARE EXPECTING PETER TO DO SOMETHING • THESE ARE CHRISTIANS WHO KNEW CHRIST HAD RAISED • PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD • THEY KNEW ABOUT LAZARUS AND THEY KNEW ABOUT 47 48 • THE DAUGHTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIAL • THEY SENT FOR PETER BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT LOST HOPE • WE NEED TO KNOW PEOPLE MAY SEND FOR US • MAYBE THEY ARE IN A VERY BAD SITUATION • AND THEY DESPERATELY NEED HELP • AND SO, THEY SEND FOR US • NOT BECAUSE THEY EXPECT A MIRACLE • BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT LOST HOPE • WE MAY, OR MAY NOT BE PART OF GOD WORKING A MIRACLE 49 50 • BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY BE PART OF GOD HELPING PEOPLE • WE NEED TO BE READY WHEN PEOPLE CALL US IN TIMES OF TROUBLE • GOD MAY BE ALLOWING US TO SERVE HIM • WE NEED TO BE READY TO SAY HERE I AM SEND ME ISAIAH 6:8 51 THEN I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD, SAYING, “WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US?” THEN I SAID, “HERE AM I. SEND ME!” • D. L. MOODY WROTE THE FOLLOWING WORDS NEXT TO ISAIAH 6:8 IN HIS BIBLE: • “I AM ONLY ONE, BUT I AM ONE. • I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING. 52 • WHAT I CAN DO, I OUGHT TO DO, AND WHAT I OUGHT TO DO, • BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WILL DO.” (PAUSE) • TO DO THIS, TO DO WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO • WE HAVE TO BE READY TO GO • WITHOUT HESITATING 53 ACTS 9:39–43 54 SO PETER AROSE AND WENT WITH THEM. WHEN HE ARRIVED, THEY BROUGHT HIM INTO THE UPPER ROOM; AND ALL THE WIDOWS STOOD BESIDE HIM, WEEPING AND SHOWING ALL THE TUNICS AND GARMENTS THAT DORCAS USED TO MAKE WHILE SHE WAS WITH THEM. 55 BUT PETER SENT 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. AND HE GAVE HER HIS HAND AND RAISED HER UP; AND CALLING THE SAINTS AND WIDOWS, HE PRESENTED HER ALIVE. IT BECAME KNOWN ALL OVER JOPPA, AND MANY BELIEVED IN THE LORD. AND PETER STAYED MANY DAYS IN JOPPA WITH A TANNER NAMED SIMON. 56 CALLED 2 COME WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN NEED 57 • NOTICE HOW PETER RESPONDED RIGHT AWAY • “AROSE AND WENT WITH THEM” • THIS CAN BE MIGHTY INCONVENIENT 58 • I HAVE HAD PEOPLE CALL AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING • I HAVE HAD THEM CALL RIGHT WHEN I SAT DOWN TO EAT • AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN WAIT AND FINISH DINNER • BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE CALL, AND YOU GOT TO GO 59 • RIGHT AWAY, THE SITUATION IS JUST THAT SERIOUS • SO, PETER GOES RIGHT AWAY • AND WHEN HE GETS THERE HE IS • HE IS TAKEN TO THE UPPER ROOM WHERE SHE HAS BEEN LAID 60 • AND THE WIDOWS ARE THERE WEEPING AND SHOWING • HIM THE CLOTHES SHE HAD MADE FOR THEM • WHAT A WONDERFUL TESTIMONY FOR • THE KINDNESS OF THIS WOMAN • SHE HAD CARED FOR THE WIDOWS AND THEY ARE • EXPRESSING THEIR LOVE FOR HER BY TELLING PETER • OF HER GREAT KINDNESS TO THEM 61 • NOTICE THAT THEY DO NOT ASK PETER TO HELP • THEY JUST TELL HIM OF HER KINDNESS • PETER KNOWS WITH OUT THEM ASKING 62 63 NEED 2 TURN TO GOD WHEN HELPING PEOPLE • BEFORE HE TAKES ACTION PETER TURNS TO GOD • HE SENDS THE WIDOWS OUT OF THE ROOM • AND THEN HE; “KNELT DOWN AND PRAYED,” 64 • IT IS INTERESTING THAT ELISHA PRAYED BEFORE • RAISING THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON 2 KINGS 4:33 SO HE ENTERED AND SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND THEM BOTH AND PRAYED TO THE LORD. • JESUS EVEN PRAYED TO THE FATHER BEFORE • HE RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD 65 66 JOHN 11:41–42 SO THEY REMOVED THE STONE. THEN JESUS RAISED HIS EYES, AND SAID, “FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME. “I KNEW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME; BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND I SAID IT, SO THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME.” 67 • I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO PRAY BEFORE YOU HELP OTHERS • PRAY THAT YOU DO IT BY GOD’S WILL AND GOD’S STRENGTH • THAT IT ACHIEVE GOD’S GOALS AND THAT HE GET THE GLORY 68 • SOME PEOPLE THINK AS LONG AS YOU MEAN WELL AND TRY • THEN YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE ANY WAY YOU WANT • BUT THE TRUTH IS WE NEED TO BE SURE WE ARE HELPING • THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO HELP 69 CALLED 2 SERVE PEOPLE GOD’S WAY • AFTER TURNING TO GOD IN PRAYER • HE SAYS; “TABITHA, ARISE.” • WHICH IN ARAMAIC IS “TABITHA KUM” • AND THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING. BECAUSE WHEN • JESUS RAISED THE DAUGHTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIAL • IN MARK 5:41 • HE SAID ALMOST THE EXACT SAME PHRASE “TALITHA KUM” 70 • ONLY ONE LETTER DIFFERENCE • AND VERY MUCH LIKE THE RESURRECTION IN MARK 5:41 • WHERE THE LITTLE GIRL IS HELPED UP AND PRESENTED TO THE PEOPLE • “AND HE GAVE HER HIS HAND AND RAISED HER UP; AND CALLING THE SAINTS AND WIDOWS, HE PRESENTED HER ALIVE.” 71 72 • WE NEED TO SEE THAT GOD HAS A WAY HE WANTS US TO HELP • JESUS IS THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD HELP • AND WE ARE CALLED TO HELP IN THE SAME WAYS CHRIST DID • SO THAT OUR HELP WILL LEAD PEOPLE TO HIM WE HELP & PEOPLE TURN TO GOD • AND PETER STAYED MANY DAYS IN JOPPA WITH A TANNER NAMED SIMON. • PETER HELPS IN THIS TIME OF NEED • AND HIS ACT OF HELPING BECOMES KNOWN ALL OVER JOPPA 73 74 • AS A RESULT; “MANY BELIEVED IN THE LORD.” • THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE PART OF OUR GOAL IN SERVING GOD • HELPING IN TEMPORARY TIMES OF TROUBLE • SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE AN ETERNAL PURPOSE • IT IS WONDERFUL TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED • BUT IT IS FAR MORE WONDERFUL TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED • AND HAVE IT RESULT IN SOMEONE COMING TO • AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 75 GIPSY SMITH ONCE SAID; • “THERE ARE FIVE GOSPELS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, JOHN AND THE CHRISTIAN. • MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER READ THE FIRST FOUR.” • PEOPLE MAY NOT READ THE BIBLE 76 77 • BUT THEY DO WATCH TO SEE IF WE LIVE WHAT IT SAYS • WE CAN DO THIS BY HELPING PEOPLE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE • AND MAKING SURE WE DO IT GOD’S WAY GIVING HIM • THE CREDIT, THE HONOR AND THE GLORY 78 WE CAN SPEND OUR LIVES FOCUSED ON OUR OWN DESIRES • CHASING AFTER BUTTERFLIES • FAILING TO NOTICE AS PEOPLE SUFFER AROUND US • OR WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE DOING 79 • WE CAN HELP EVEN IF THEY DON’T ASK • SOMETIMES BAD THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE • WE NEED TO BE READY TO COME WHEN THEY CALL • MAKING SURE WE TURN TO GOD AS WE HELP THEM 80 • MAKING SURE WE HELP THEM GOD’S WAY • AND GIVING GOD THE CREDIT AND HONOR AND GLORY • SO THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE DRAWN TO GOD THROUGH OUR ACTIONS • BUT YOU MIGHT SAY, PASTOR RANDY • I AM NEVER GONNA MAKE A PARALYZED MAN WALK • AND CERTAINLY, I AM NOT GONNA RAISE SOMEONE • FROM THE DEAD. (PAUSE) • MAYBE NOT, I AM SURE PETER FELT THE SAME WAY 81 82 • BUT WE CAN ALL SERVE GOD • WE CAN ALL GO WHEN WE ARE CALLED • AND EVERYTHING WE DO FOR GOD TO HELP OTHERS (PAUSE) • DRIVING THEM TO THE DR’S OFFICE 83 • BRING THEM SOME GROCERIES • FIXING A LEAKY FAUCET • EVERYONE OF THESE THINGS IS JUST AS POWERFUL, • JUST AS MUCH GOD WORKING AS A MIRACLE 84 • AND CAN CERTAINLY BE PART OF LEADING PEOPLE TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE • THE MESSAGE THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM….. 85