Brother Marvin Stonerker is pastor
of the Katie Baptist Church in Fairmont, West Virginia. He's
been a friend for a long, long time. I first met Marvin, he
was living in Louisiana a long time ago. That's what, 37, 38
years ago, 39 years ago. So we've been friends for a long
time. Faithful man, faithful pastor, faithful friend. Come
preach the gospel to us. I consider it an honor and a
privilege to be here. I am so thankful that I want
to be here. I truly am glad when they said
to me, let's go to the house of the Lord, that we would want
to come and hear the gospel. What a miracle of God's grace. I'm gonna ask you to take your
Bibles and turn with me to the book of Acts chapter nine, Acts
chapter nine. All scripture, and we know this,
is given by inspiration of God. If we see not the glory of the
Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation of His people and the honoring
Himself, Father, Spirit of God, we've missed it. The gospel is
concerning Christ. This is the message the Apostle
Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit to say, I'm not ashamed of the
gospel. It is the power of God on salvation. I pray that the Lord be pleased.
Bless it today. It's our comfort, salvation of
His people. I'd like to deal with the passage
of scripture beginning in chapter 9, verse 36 of the book of Acts. It's concerning. Acts 9, 36. It's concerning the Apostle Peter coming to a
place where a woman named Tabitha had died. And in this account,
I would like for us to consider these three things about this
woman, through the means of this woman. And here is the Lord,
now the Spirit of God bringing honor to the Lord Jesus Christ. Three things I'd like to look
at. Number one, the manifestation of one of God's sheep, one of
the elect as being found in Christ. Secondly, the result of that
sheep being born in Adam, and then thirdly, the manner in which
the Holy Spirit calls one of God's own out of darkness. All right, Acts chapter 9, verse
36. Now there was at Joppa a certain
disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas,
This woman was full of good works and alms deeds, which she did. Now, the wording of this scripture,
when it talking about this woman, her name was Tabitha. Tabitha is actually the Greek,
Dorcas. I'm sorry, Tabitha is actually
the Hebrew. And Dorcas, same name. It's just
Greek interpretation, but she was a certain disciple. You know, when you see that word
certain, it's a particular, someone distinguished. This was a certain
disciple in the word disciple there. That particular word,
it actually means a female. It's talking about a female learner,
an imitator, one who is a follower. Well, she was a believer. This
woman was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. And her very name,
Tabitha or Dorcas, this is the interpretation, a roe, a deer,
a gazelle. And it had to do with the gracefulness
of her, the beauty of her. But the particular thing about
it is the beauty of this woman. Beautiful, first of all, to the
Father who chose her in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not for anything
that you saw in her, you know that, but having chosen her in
Christ according to the good pleasure of His will. Predestinated. Almighty God has a people. He set His love and affection
on. Why? Because He chose to. We were all cut out of the same
lump. Beautiful to the Father. Beautiful to the Son. who betrothed
her unto himself in righteousness and judgment, loving kindness,
beautiful to him who loved her, gave himself for her. You go
in the book of Song of Solomon and he's talking about the bride,
his beloved, and he said, you've ravished me. With one of your
eyes, one look, from the bride of faith that
he gave her. Looking to him, he said, you've
stolen my heart. I just, my heart just rejoiced. I think, Lord, that you would
say that about your people. I mean, we could say, you know,
we would say that, but for him to say it? Tabitha. Wounded, beautiful, to the Spirit
of God, who blows upon the garden, the bride herself of the Lord,
that the spices of God's grace, the Holy Spirit, might flow out. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering. Here's what the scripture says
about this woman. This woman was full of good works
and alms deeds, which she did. Now, here's the description of
one that manifested regeneration. One full, abounded, the scripture
says, in works that were wrought in her by the Spirit
of God. Scripture says, Ephesians chapter
two, Ephesians 2, eight to 10. Now listen to this. Ephesians
2, eight to 10. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of
works. lest any man should boast. For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus on two good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Here's the description of a believer. They manifest that which Almighty
God has done. in them. There was no change
in that old nature but there was an infusion of a new nature
in her. Good works. Good works. Alms
deeds that she did. The book of James set forth even
so faith if it hath not works is dead. Being alone. A believer is one that manifests
and adorns the doctrine that they believe and profess. As
we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith. You
know it's beautiful to behold a believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ, walking by faith, child of light, and all the while,
no confidence in their flesh, doing what they do. because Almighty
God has wrought good work in them. So here's a woman, first
of all, manifested life from above. Secondly, about this woman,
we behold the evidence of being born in Adam. Verse 37, 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. Now, she
was found to be, as all men born in Adam, she's a sinner, a sinner. And because of sin, all men born
in Adam are born spiritually dead. And eventually, they're gonna
die physically. They're gonna die. Romans 5,
12, wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death
by sin, for so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. That's what you said last night,
we all sin. Every man sinned in Adam. Thus we are, thus we're gonna
return, and until the Lord comes back, All men are gonna die. If the Lord returns, there's
gonna be some, Paul said, which are alive and remain shall, not
gonna prevent those. Dead in Christ are gonna rise,
then we'll meet them in the air, but lest the Lord comes back,
we're gonna die. She died physically, but that
death physically was a fit picture. of every man's spiritual condition. They're dead. Dead in trespasses
and sin. So in Tabitha, in this woman,
we behold who she was, the evidence. The Lord had done something for
her. Called her out of darkness and manifested. The scripture
says it manifested that she was one that was full of good works,
like good ground, a good tree. Not wrought by herself, you know
that. But that which the Lord had done for her. She showed
herself a pattern of good works. Also, she was a picture of every
man born in Adam. She died. Thirdly, we behold
in the raising of Tabitha from the dead, the miracle. of God's
power and grace in the regeneration of His sheep. Here's a beautiful
picture of how Almighty God is pleased to call His people. out of darkness. The scripture
says in verse 38, 39, And for as much as Lydda was nigh unto
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. But then Peter arose and went
with them. And when he was come, they brought
him into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping.
showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was
with them. Now here's the situation. This woman that was a faithful,
faithful lady. She was full of good works, alms
deed. She died and now here she is.
She's dead. She's physically dead. But again, remember, this is
a picture This is a type of all men spiritually. Her natural
death is a picture. Dead in trespasses and sins and
unable to do anything for herself. Now, what can a dead person do? We've heard that. We hear that.
But we need to be reminded. What can a dead person do? Nothing. Nothing. She can't believe. She can't come. She can't hear.
She can't see. She can't respond. Why? She's dead. She's dead. She can't help herself. And no
one else in her state, spiritually or naturally. What could one
corpse do for another corpse? She's dead. John 1. I'll read John 1, verses 11 to
13. He came unto his own, and his
own received him not. But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name, which were born. Here's the way that
they're born. Not of blood, nor of the will
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. That's how they're born. Here's
a woman and she's dead. What is impossible with man is
possible with God. And though there would obviously
appear to be no hope for this woman to have life again. Now again, let's just don't get
away from the beholding of this spiritually. What hope does this
woman have? Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and
the disciples had heard that Peter was there, and they sent
unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come
unto them. You know the amazing thing about
who they sent for? This woman was dead. And you
know who they sent for? A preacher. They sent for a preacher. And here is a woman in time,
a picture of God's sheep, vessels of mercy, born spiritually dead
in trespasses and sin. And the Lord is pleased to manifest
in this account the means of calling out His sheep. Here's
how God calls out dead sinners. He was pleased to send a preacher. A preacher. Romans 10. Romans
10 verse 13 to 15. Whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they've not believed? How shall they
believe in Him of whom they've not heard? How shall they hear
without a preacher? How shall they preach except
they be sent as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings
of good things. This woman died physically. I know that. But here's a picture
of every one of God's elect dead and trespasses in, helpless.
What can they do? What can this woman do for herself? Take the first step? No. She's dead. You've heard it said before,
she can take the first step, she can take all of them. And
Almighty God is pleased by His Holy Spirit to have Luke penned
this account, and give us my eyes to see God's pleasure in
calling out dead sinners. They sent for a preacher. And
this preacher, he comes into the chamber where the body of
Tabitha lay, and Peter looked around, his scriptures sitting,
and when he was come, they brought him in, and he saw the widows,
Oh, they stood by weeping, showing the coats and garments Dorcas
made while she was with them. And now this man of God is about
to, under the inspiration of God's Spirit, do something that
is a glorious picture of what Almighty God does in the first
resurrection, the regeneration of His people. Verse 40 says,
But Peter put them all forth and kneeled down and prayed.
You know, by faith, we know this. Salvation is of the Lord. This
is a personal matter. They were all put out, mysteriously,
private thing. Almighty God's gonna have mercy
and compassion on whomsoever He will. Spirit of God blows
as He will. I don't know. I don't know what
the Lord might be pleased to do. I have no idea. But I can tell you this, I know
for a fact He's gonna save His people. And I know He's gonna
save them through the preaching of the gospel. I know that. So
what do we do? We're gonna preach Christ and
Him crucified. We're gonna set forth the glory
of God in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. And here's Peter. The scripture says he kneeled
down and he appealed unto the great physician himself, seeking the Lord's will in this
matter. He was moved by the Spirit of
God to do what he had seen the Lord do himself. Look at Luke
8. Luke 8. an account given of the
Lord concerning one that had died. There was a man named Jairus. Jairus' daughter was sick. Jairus came and sought the Lord
to come and help him. As the Lord was coming, there
was a woman, the scripture says, that had an issue of blood. She
spent all of her money on physicians, and she was none better. And
while the Lord was going to see Jairus's daughter, this woman,
by faith, came, touched the hem of his garment. She said, if
I touch the hem of his garment, I'll be made clean, I'll be made
whole. She touched him, and the Lord stopped and asked, who touched
me? He knew who touched him. The scripture says in the midst
of that event, Jairus's daughter died. And then the scripture
says in Luke chapter eight, verse 49, while he yet spake, there
cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house saying
to him, thy daughter's dead. Trouble not the master. But when
Jesus heard it, he answered him saying, fear not, believe only,
she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house,
he suffered no man to go in save Peter and James and John, the
father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept and bewailed
her. And he said, weep not. She's
not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn,
knowing that she was dead. He put them all out and took
her by the hand, called, saying, maid, arise. And her spirit came
again, and she arose straightway, and he commanded to give her
meat. And her parents were astonished, but he charged them that they
should tell no man what was done. Peter saw that. He was there. He was there. Now, here's Peter
in Joppa. And the scripture says he put
everybody out. He's there with this body. He's in this place and the scripture
says, Peter put them forth, kneeled down and prayed and turning him
to the body. He's doing exactly what the Lord
did. He did what the Lord did. He turned to the body and he
said, Tabitha, he's talking to a corpse. Tabitha, arise. This is what the Lord said to
Jairus' daughter. Maid, arise. Here was a servant
of the Lord Jesus Christ that knew this one thing. If this
woman's gonna be raised from the dead, the Lord's gonna have
to do it. For he said, without me, you can do nothing. He sought
the Lord. And the thing that's amazing
is this, he called her by name. Again, he's talking to a corpse. He's talking to a woman that
has no life in her. And he speaks to her, calling
her by name in the authority of him whose voice, the scripture
says, the dead hear. And he, the Lord said, I know
my sheep. How does he call them? Quoted
by name. He called her by name. He said,
Tabitha, arise. He came to the tomb of Lazarus
and he said, Lazarus, come forth. Here's Peter doing the same thing
that the Lord had commanded Ezekiel to do. The hand of the Lord was
upon me and carried me out of the Spirit of the Lord and set
me down in the midst of the valley, which was full of dry bones and
caused me to pass by them round about. And behold, there were
very many in the open valley, and lo, they were very dry. And
he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And Ezekiel said, the only thing
he can say, Lord, thou knowest. You know, again, he said unto
me, prophesy upon these bones and say unto them, O ye dry bones,
hear the word of the Lord. Someone would say, this is ridiculous. Peter is speaking to a dead woman,
calling her by name. But let me ask you this, is that
not what every preacher of the gospel is called to do? Oh, you dry bones, hear the Word
of the Lord. Salvation is by grace, through
faith. that God's going to have to give
you and show you. And until the Lord is pleased
to call out one of His own, they're dead. You can't negotiate with
them. You can't convince them. She
was a dead woman. And Peter did just exactly what
the Lord commanded Ezekiel to do and every other preacher of
the gospel. Tabitha, arise. And in the glorious display of
God's grace, you know what Scripture says? She opened her eyes. She opened her eyes. Almighty
God gave her life. And when she saw Peter, Scripture
says, she sat up. She did physically whatever regenerated
sinner does spiritually. She saw the seeing eye and the
hearing ear. The Lord gives both of them. Here's what happened. One moment
she was dead. Next moment, God gave her life.
She got up. John 5, 25 says, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall
live. God saves dead sinners. Oh, what a beautiful type, picture. Tabitha arrives. And in the day of God's power,
this woman was willing to do what she couldn't do just a few
moments before. She sat up, get up, and she got
up. How long do you think she'd have
laid there until God gave her life? Forever. Always. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them. and they follow me, and I give
unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand. I tell you, when a sinner's
called out of spiritual darkness into the glorious light of the
Lord Jesus Christ, here's the fact. That sinner, dead in trespasses
and sins, by the grace of God has heard the voice of the master. They hear, the dead shall hear. And he gave her, verse 41, he
gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called
the saints and widows, presented her alive. It reminded me of
that parable of the Lord saying there was a lost sheep The shepherd
left the 99 in the wilderness to go and find the one that was
lost. He found it, brought it home, called his friends, and
said, rejoice with me. I found my sheep, which was lost. Even now, do we not rejoice when
the Lord is pleased to call out one of his own unto himself?
We rejoice and thank God that God would save a sinner Luke
15, seven, say, I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repented more than 99 just persons which
need no repentance. Verse 42, it was known throughout
all Joppa and many believed in the Lord. The raising of Tabitha
from the dead was God's witness. That was a miracle that the Lord
performed through a preacher that he had called. The Lord
bore witness that the message that Peter preached was the message
from God, the message he preached. You know, somebody says, well,
I tell you, they saw the miracle, and when they saw the miracle,
that's what caused them to believe, and the scripture doesn't bear
that out. Here's what the scripture bears out. There was a rich man
that fared sumptuously every day, He died, found himself in
the torments of hell's flames, and he asked Father Abraham to
send Lazarus, who had also died and was in the bosom of Abraham.
He said, Father Abraham, would you send Lazarus back to my house
and tell my five brethren not to come to this place? Surely,
he said, they'll believe one is raised from the dead. And
the scripture says that Father Abraham speaking, if they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though
one rose from the dead. Faith cometh by hearing. Hearing by the word of God. This miracle, almighty God was
pleased to have brought through this preacher. gave witness,
bore witness that the message he preached was of God. And it came to pass, verse 43,
that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. You know, graciously, the Lord
brought Peter to the town of Joppa. He had sheep in that place. That's what scripture says. Many
believed in the Lord. There was some sheep there. The
Lord was pleased to send a preacher. Preach the gospel. Preach the
gospel of Christ there. They heard and they believed.
And that man that Almighty God sent, he was a sinner, saved
by the grace of God. And he sent him to a place where
a man was It was a tanner, the lower part of society dealing
with dead animals. But isn't it amazing in the keeping
of God's people, calling of God's people to preach. Almighty God
has declared God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the things that are mighty. And the base
things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen,
yea, things which are not to bring to naught, things that
are that no flesh should glory in his presence. Almighty God
is pleased to teach us something of his mercy and grace to his
people. His people called out of darkness,
they manifest. that life that God's given them,
good works, and they absolutely have no confidence in their flesh. In themselves, they know what
they are by nature. They're dead, dead sinners, born
dead in trespasses and sins. But when the Lord is pleased
to save one of His own, He's gonna cause them to cross paths
with a faithful gospel preacher. And he's gonna call them through
the only message that God's been pleased to bless, the message
of the glory of God in the face of the Lord Jesus, the gospel. And almighty God was pleased,
set forth in this type the raising, the first resurrection, regeneration. God Almighty called her through
the message of that preacher that honored God. May the Lord
bless these words to our hearts for Christ's sake.