27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
03 Acts 09 32-43 THE MINISTRY OF PETER 10 Acts 09 36 Full of good works
📖 Acts 09:32-43
10 – Fri07Jun2024 – *Full of good works* - _Acts 09:32-43_ – THE MINISTRY OF PETER – _I Corinthians 15:58_
_Acts 9:36 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._
We now move to what next took place through Peter. Tabitha (Jewish) or Dorcas (Greek) died, but the Lord raised her back to life through Peter. This was an astonishing event that took place. Before we delve into this incident, let us remember that Peter was an instrument in the Lord’s hands to raise Aeneas from his paralysis to wholeness.
Peter continued in Lydda, while the whole region of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord. This tells us that Peter’s presence at Lydda, with his newly found friend, Aeneas, was causing people to turn to Jesus in the region.
https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/new-testament-churches/joppa-lydda-pella.html
This link will give us more information about Joppa and Lydda. Joppa was 8 miles west of Lydda. Joppa was a profitable port city. Tabitha was full of good works and charitable deeds. She made tunics and garments and gave them to the widows. Tabitha was probably a businesswoman, who was concerned for others.
Tabitha was a disciple of Jesus Christ. As a disciple, she was a blessing to others. She models for us a fruit-bearing life. Fruit bearing is blessing others; as disciples, we are to bear fruit.
_John 15:2-6 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (5) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned._
God has chosen each of us to be His disciples so that we will bear much fruit. _John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but *I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain*, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you._
Fruit bearing is not optional as disciples of Jesus but mandatory. We cannot bear fruit unless we abide in the vine, Jesus.
What is it to abide in Christ?
In Christ, we abide in His habitat. He is our Lord and King. He is our refuge and our fortress. We do not come to Him to meet our needs but our entire life is submitted and sustained in Him. He has full authority over us in all aspects of life. *We surrender our will to His will, willingly and continuously.*
*If we claim to be disciples of Christ but live by our will then we are not abiding in Him.* If we do not abide in Him, we are cast out as a branch, are withered, cast into the fire, and burned.
*Tabitha demonstrates for us a life of discipleship of abiding in Christ, drawing the sap and life of Christ, and bearing fruit.*
Tabitha was full of good works and charitable deeds. A life of good works arises when we see the needs of the people around us. _Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd._
Jesus saw the people and He was moved with compassion for them. His life was full of good works. _Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, *who went about doing good* and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him._
The Lord is showing us that the harvest is plentiful. People around us are hurting. They are weary and scattered. People are lost, in darkness and the grip of the evil one. Therefore, our good work is bringing people out of all the calamity, in which they are, to the place of Shalom. This is the work of the Gospel.
_Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, (3) To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."_
Therefore, the work of the Gospel which is our good work is to demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel. Demonstration goes first followed by proclamation. _Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that *Jesus began both to do and teach*,_
We must follow the pattern that Tabitha has set for us for the Gospel. She was full of good works. ```There is no lack of opportunity for us to be full of good works.```