God Wants Us To Know, We Need Each Other

INTRO: Are you a loner? Like going it alone? Accomplish things by yourself better than having to depend upon a helping hand? Well cut it out. God wants us to lean on one another.

Acts 9:1-43 KJV ¹And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
²And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
³And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
⁴And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
⁶And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
⁷And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
⁸And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
¹⁰And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
¹¹And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
¹²And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
¹³Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
¹⁴And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
¹⁵But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
¹⁶For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
¹⁷And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
¹⁸And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
¹⁹And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
²⁰And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
²¹But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
²²But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
²³And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
²⁴But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
²⁵Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
²⁶And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
²⁷But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
²⁸And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
²⁹And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
³⁰Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
³¹Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
³²And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
³³And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
³⁴And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
³⁵And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
³⁶Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
³⁷And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
³⁸And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
³⁹Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
⁴⁰But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
⁴¹And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
⁴²And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
⁴³And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Paul’s time of need

Separated from God – 1-5

Separated from man – 8-9

Touched by man – 10-18

Touched by God – 6,

Stopped him in his tracks- 6

Sent hope - 12

Sent help – 10-12

Sight returned – 17i

Saved him – 17j

Spent time with other believers – 19

Strengthened others – 20-22

Strengthened by God - 22

Sought by angry men to kill him – 23-24

Helped by his fellow believers – 25

He sought fellowship from those he once hated – 26

Wanted their fellowship – 26

They feared a ruse on his part – 26

Held up or supported by a friend (Barnabus) – 27

Helped by those who once feared him – 28-31

We can learn from this that God has friends along the way who will help us help others help us. Kind of like the commercial they show on TV.

Peter’s help given in a time of need

Aeneas had a rough time in life – 33

Peter introduced Jesus – 34

Jesus touched Aeneas – 34

Others saw Jesus in Aeneas’ life - 35

Peter meets Tabitha/Dorcas the helper – 36-39

She was a special person – 36

She touched other’s lives – 39

Those she touched needed her

She needed those she touched

Peter helped her, her friends, her town, her Lord – 40-41

We can learn from this that God has a way of sending the right person at the right time.

Acts 12:1-17 KJV ¹Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
²And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
³And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
⁴And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
⁵Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
⁷And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
⁸And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
⁹And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
¹⁰When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
¹¹And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
¹²And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
¹³And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
¹⁴And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
¹⁵And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
¹⁶But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
¹⁷But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Peter given help in a time of need

Arrested, jailed, doomed! – 1-5a

Prayed for – 5b

So how was he handling it? Sleeping – 6

Worrying seldom brings the help we need

Besides where could he go? He was chained.

Help sent from God – 7

Light shone better than had ever been in that prison

Bonds released

Peter was given his walking orders – 8

His help was just fine! – 9-10

In fact Peter realized it was great – 11

Peter knew his help was in response to his friends – 12

Praying – 12d

Some of them praying expectantly

Prayers answered – happiness ensued

We can learn from this that God has a way of answering prayers

Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 101208pm