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The Essential Christian Life
Acts 9:32-43
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Grayson Baptist Church - March 5, 2017
INTRODUCTION:
*The average person breathes about 12 to 18 times a minute.
Of course, we do that all the time.
And if you're like me, you almost never think about it.
But when it comes to our physical health: What could be more essential?
*Years ago, Alan Jackson had a popular song called: “Way Down Yonder on the Chattahoochee.”
That song reminds me of home, because the Chattahoochee is a real river that runs through Atlanta, and that’s where I almost stopped breathing 47 years ago.
*The Chattahoochee has a few rapids, so it’s fun to go down in a tube or a rubber boat, and we used to do it when I lived in Atlanta.
But one of those times I got trapped under a huge rock.
The rushing river was pushing me deeper and deeper under the water, and I couldn’t get my breath.
I almost drowned, and I believe that I would have drowned, if God hadn’t helped me get free.
*For a few moments, I didn’t think I was going to make it.
What a terrible feeling it is to be running out of air.
Breathing is essential in life.
And today's Scripture shows us some things that are just as essential in Christian life.
1.
The first essential today is our going.
*Peter shows us this vital function in vs. 32: "Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda."
Peter was going for Jesus Christ, and God wants us to go.
[1] We cannot follow Jesus' example without going.
*In Mark 1, Jesus was doing a great work in Capernaum, but vs. 35-38 say:
35.
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
36.
And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
37. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You.''
38.
But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.''
[2] We can't follow Jesus' example without going.
And we can't follow the Lord's teaching without going.
*In Mark 16:15, Jesus told His disciples: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
And in John 20:21, Jesus said to them: "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
*Somehow, we have got to go for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
But understand that going is more about passion and purpose than it is about a place.
Lord willing, four of our youth will get to go on the youth choir mission trip to Cincinnati this summer.
And the rest of us will get to help send them on their way.
*But Pastor Duane Brooks said we should look at every day of our lives as a short-term mission trip for the Lord.
We can be on mission at work, in school, at the ball park, or at the grocery store.
(1)
*One way or another, we can be on mission for the Lord everywhere we go.
And Peter is a great example for us.
But there is another great example of going in today's Scripture: It's the two nameless men who went after Tabitha died.
Please listen to this part of the story vs. 36-39:
36.
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.
This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
37.
But it happened in those days that she became sick and died.
When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
38.
And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39.
Then Peter arose and went with them. . .
*In vs. 38, those two faithful men walked the 6 to 10 miles to Lydda to find Peter.
They didn't have a miraculous gift of raising someone from the dead, but they found the man who did.
Tabitha probably would not have been raised from the dead without the help of those nameless, faithful Christians.
They were on the go to help their hurting friends.
-- And God surely wants us to go for the cause of Jesus Christ.
2. One essential in Christian life is our going.
-- Another essential is our gathering.
*God’s Word reminds us of this truth in vs. 32, where Peter "came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda."
Peter gathered with the saints.
He gathered together with God’s people.
And that is something all followers of Jesus Christ need to do!
*Christians: We are "the saints," and God strongly desires for us to gather together.
Our gathering is one of the main ways we can get the strength and support we need.
That’s why Hebrews 10:25 in the NLT says: "Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near."
*There are many people around us: good people, Christian people, who have made the terrible mistake of dropping out of church.
*Church dropouts remind me of a 3-year-old in a story by Ron Hutchcraft.
Ron said: "Our good friends were visiting us with their precious, 3-year-old daughter, Tanya.
She has captivating dark eyes, a charming smile, a high-energy personality, and a mind of her own.
*One day, Tanya's dad was crossing a very busy street with his daughter, and he said, "Now, hold Daddy's hand."
Tanya didn't like that idea.
She looked up at dad and said: "That's okay, Daddy.
I'll hold my own hand."
(2)
*That's not a good idea for a 3-year-old, and it's not a good idea for Christians.
But that’s what Christians are trying to do when they drop out of church.
*Why do they drop out?
-- Maybe a bad habit keeps them away, because they can’t seem to overcome it.
Other people are so successful that they don’t see the need for God.
That's why God's Word gives us this very wise prayer in Proverbs 30:8-9:
8. . .
Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food You prescribe for me;
9. Lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the Lord?''
Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
*People drop out of church for all kinds of reasons.
We can be sure that the devil will do anything he can to keep people out of church.
And we must be sure we don’t do something to drive someone away from church.
*Many people have been hurt in church by Christians acting in cruel, unchristian ways.
That's sad to say.
But even if you do get hurt in church, don’t let anything keep you away from God’s people.
3. Don’t let anything keep you away from God's church, because gathering is essential in Christian life.
Another essential is our giving.
*Our God is a giver, and He wants us to be givers too.
That's why God's Word gives us some great examples of giving in today's Scripture.
For example, in vs. 33-35, we see Peter use his God-given gift of healing to help a man who was desperately ill:
33.
There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.
34.
And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you.
Arise and make your bed.''
Then he arose immediately.
35.
So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
*Of course, we don’t have the same gifts that Peter had.
If we did, then Citizens Hospital would be empty by lunchtime every day!
Peter's miraculous gift of healing was one of the ways God gave credibility to His Church, the cross, and the Lordship of our Risen Savior.
*John Phillips explained that Peter instantly healed this man in the name of Jesus, and Phillips said: "That is how it was with the miraculous gift of healing: Find the most difficult case.
Seek him out.
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