What God Has Cleansed

Sometimes, it is good to gain perspectives about our own faith by observing the faith of others and comparing or contrasting ourselves to what we learn (getting to know missionaries and Christian workers, spending time with them, praying for them, learning about them, having them in your home).

We reintroduce a fifth personality as Peter takes it upon himself to begin traveling throughout the regions where God’s work is spreading. In chapters 1 and 2, Peter is with all the first disciples. In chapters 3 thru 8 Peter is seen with John and other believers, but he is not too far from the twelve. Peter, seemingly without any from the twelve, now travels 25 miles NW to Lydda (today it is called Lod). God uses Peter in Lydda to heal a man who had been bedridden for eight years.

Peter’s gaze then turns to Joppa, about 15 miles NW of Lydda; Joppa is located on the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Peter is asked to come quickly, for a disciple of Christ, a woman who was instrumental in promoting acts of charity, had died. Nothing specific is mentioned about Tabitha’s ministry in these verses, but when Peter arrives in verse 39, the widows show Peter a sampling of clothing that Tabitha makes.

Peter, as a leader in the church, begins to travel to see where God is working outside Jerusalem; he is witnessing firsthand the move of God from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and now the uttermost parts of the earth.

Tabitha: 9:36-39

• Doesn’t take a spiritual gifts analysis.

• Doesn’t attend a conference on learning your spiritual gifts.

• What she seems to do is have a talent for making clothing. The Holy Spirit prompts Tabitha to ask, “How can God use my skills to further His Kingdom?”

• What skills, professions, or abilities do you possess? Have you asked God how He might use what you have? Turn to Ex. 4:1-2, 14-17.

• God directs us only when we are moving in His direction…when we are following Him.

o Look back at verse 32. Scripture does not say that God told Peter to go to Lydda.

o Nothing in verse 36 that says God told Peter to go to Joppa. Some disciples from Joppa heard Peter was in Lydda and they went and asked him to come.

o It’s not until Peter settles in at Joppa and God is about to show Peter his next steps

o “God hasn’t shown me what I’m supposed to do yet.” What are you doing? What’s in your hand?

• God prepares us for the task He is bringing to us.

o Peter’s hangups v13-15

- I’ve never ministered to people like this before.

- “I don’t feel called.” What is the need that is before? There’s you calling!

- Sometimes God has to use circumstances to humble us.

- We are living in a time right now when there is no telling what God will bring our way. Are we prepared?