Sermon 16

Ministering To Individuals

Acts 9:32-43

In Acts 9:32, the scene shifts from Paul back to Peter, who will again be the central figure in the narrative for the next three chapters. Paul has been converted and has boldly proclaimed his newfound faith both in Damascus and Jerusalem. He has encountered hatred and opposition. He has now gone to his home town of Tarsus. We don't realize the time sequence, but actually several years later, as recorded in Acts 13, Paul's ministry will dominate the rest of Acts.

But beginning in 9:32 and going through 12:25, Peter is the central figure.

We learn from verse 32 that Peter is now engaged in an itinerant ministry, "passing throughout all quarters", that is, traveling from place to place. This is more of the ministry of an evangelist or, in our vernacular, of a missionary. The growth of Christianity as well as the persecution perhaps made it necessary for Peter to be constantly on the move. In the course of his travels, Peter arrives in Lydda - a city about 10 miles southeast of the seacoast city of Joppa. It is strategically located on a crossroads from Egypt to Syria and from Joppa to Jerusalem. Today it is still strategic, the location of Israel's international airport.

The continued expansion of Christianity outside of Jerusalem meant that there were not believers ("saints") and probably a congregation living in Lydda. It is here that Peter "finds a certain man named Aeneas" who had been paralyzed ("palsy") and bedridden for eight years. His paralysis was beyond the abilities of the limited medical knowledge of that day and he faced the prospect of being bound to the bed for the rest of his life.

Before we look at what actually happened here in Lydda, I want to point out that Peter soon after was summons to Joppa (v. 38) in order for him to minister to the needs of the church there are particularly a godly Christian woman named Dorcas.

At the very end of the chapter (v. 43) Peter stays several days with a tanner named Simon and in chapter 10, he is summons to Caesarea to unlock the door to of the gospel to a Gentile named Cornelius (10:5).

There is a simple and practical point to all of these events. It is a point that I need to be reminded of from time to time. It is this - No matter how large someone's ministry may become, God's noblest servants have always taken time to minister to individuals. Moses nearly wore himself out doing that, until his father-in-law rebuke him for mismanaging his time and told him to delegate (Exodus 18:14ff). Despite the crowds that constantly thronged Him, Jesus always had concern and time for individuals.

The Apostle Peter knew what it was to preach to the masses. On the day of Pentecost, he spoke to a huge crowd. He also preached at least twice before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4 & 5). But this passage reveals the other side of Peter's ministry, his personal service to individuals.

The idea of a man of God who ministers only to the large crowds is foreign to Scripture. God expects all Christians, leaders included, to pour their lives into others. II Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

This text shows us a number of elements that enabled Peter to have an effect ministry to individuals.

Element #1 - Peter Was Sensitive To The Needs Of Individuals, v. 33.

The text says that he "found a certain man". The implication is that Peter was looking and was observant and sensitive to the needs of individuals.

It is possible to be so focused on the crowd that we lose our sensitivity to individuals. This is an important reminder to Dearborn Baptist Church. The church is growing. We are concerned about the whole but we must balance that with concern about the individual parts.

Element #2 - Peter Was A Bold Witness For Christ, vs. 34-35.

Peter did not seek to exalt his own fame and fortune, he simply exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not ashamed of Christ. He was simply saying, "I know someone who can meet your need. It is Jesus Christ.

The command to rise and walk was a call to faith. To obey this command Aeneas needed to believe what Peter said. He did and he was. He did believe and he was healed!

Element #3 - Peter Was Available, vs. 36-39.

While Peter was at Lydda, tragedy struck the church at nearby Joppa. One of their most beloved members, a godly woman named Tabitha (Dorcas) died. Her death was a serious blow to the believers. (Women don't have to lead, to provide essential ministry to the church). This woman was an example of the Proverbs 31 woman. Verse 20 - She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Peter was available. Entreated to go to Joppa by some disciples, he arose and went. This availability led to an even more astounding opportunity for ministry. Aenaes was healed, but Dorcas was raised from the dead.

Element #4 - Peter Was Prayerful, vs. 40-41.

The power to heal was not his own. The power that heals is the power of God. It is the power of prayer. While we do not have the specific gifts of healing that the apostles possessed, we can rest in the knowledge that God still heals to answer to prayer. Ministering to individuals certainly means praying for individuals.

Element #5 - Peter Was Free From Prejudice, v. 43.

Verse 43 is a footnote, a bridge to the next passage (Cornelius' conversion). Tanners were despised in Jewish culture because they dealt with the skins of dead animals - unclean occupation. Put Peter is able to hurdle those walls of prejudice that would once have caused him to shun this man.

Peter's effective personal ministry to individuals gave him opportunity to reach the masses, note vs. 35,42.