Aeneas’ Standing
Acts 9:31-35; 7/30/2023; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
The Bible often records some nameless people, such as the maid of General Naiman, who is nameless but used by God to accomplish great things. Or their names were recorded but unknown, such as Aeneas in today’s scriptures, is the one with the name recorded but unknown person. let’s look at the first point:
Churches were established everywhere
The author of the Bible puts a small person into an era of great church growth that has never happened in a thousand years, laying the foundation for all the small people used by God to become precious vessels in any era. First, the leap of time and space. When does “then” appear in the scriptures? Judging from what Luke said in Acts 1:1: “ Theophilus, (Theophilus ben Ananus, the new high priest), I have written the first epistle…” It can be seen that this time should be between A.D. 37-41. At the same time, the new Roman emperor Caligula and the newly appointed governor Marullus were emperors and officials during the same period. Including Herod Antipas (Herod Antipas), the tetrarch king of Galilee who has crossed time and space, has the same views as the above-mentioned three, that is, he does not approve of the Jewish persecution of the New Testament church. In this way, when we read the scriptures at 9:31, we will understand why “then Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and the churches everywhere were safe”, right?
Second, the church has peace. Peace in the church is not for enjoying a comfort zone. If it’s just for survival, it’s easiest to be in the church, agree? Not only is it easy, but it can also be very comfortable and reassuring. The peace mentioned in the scriptures refers to a comparison. It is compared with the previous years, that is, when Jesus Christ was crucified and the following years, the persecution was more severe. As it says in Chapter 9 verse 1, “Saul still spewed threats and murders to the disciples of the Lord, and went to see the high priest…” The situation in China is also the same in these decades. In the era of Deng Jiang and Hu, the political atmosphere was relatively relaxed. The church also seemed to have a feeling of “peace, peace”. As a result, towering churches were built one after another, and various eye-catching activities and ministries continued.
Finally, be comforted by the Holy Spirit. But the purpose of the church’s peace is for the church to be established. Note that it is not churches that are built. The establishment of the church refers to people, the people in the church are established. When a person is established by the church, he must be a person who fears God in everything. The so-called fear of God in all things means doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, what does it mean to serve the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in everything? It is to behave in accordance with the words of the Bible in all things, and to honor the Lord. This is the confusion of the Israelites for thousands of years. They added the Ten Commandments to the Jewish law. They found out that it is up to me to aspire to do good, but it is not up to me to do it. What to do? Paul said: “What a wretched man I am!” Then, Paul said: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The so-called relying on the Lord Jesus Christ means relying on the Holy Spirit, and being comforted by the Holy Spirit! Let’s look at the second point:
Peter meets Aeneas
Finally, we got to see the protagonist in today’s sermon, and it was this little man named Aeneas. First, cherish freedom of movement. The Bible says that at that time Peter could travel around, how precious! This is also a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity! I believe that God made the Roman emperor, governor, and King Herod 3 to 1, and they all disagreed with the high priest’s persecution of the New Testament church. This is the same as the Deng Jiang and Hu era in the first 30 years of China’s reform and opening up. The party, government and army were three to one. They unanimously opposed Ding Guangxun’s attempt to persecute house churches, and also brought opportunities for the development of home churches. History sometimes repeats itself. Therefore, people of God should learn to cherish any loose opportunities God gives, spread the gospel more and spread the gospel widely, and devote our time, gifts, money, etc. to the Lord while we can travel around. Thank the Lord, in the first thirty years, Christians all over the world were moved. Many small people used by God have their own names, but they may not be big people. During this rare window period, do more work for the Lord, regardless of the time or season spread the gospel all over the land of China.
Second, there is God’s will in the encounter. The Bible says that Peter met a man in Lydda, not by chance. Because with God there are no chance encounters, He is in control of all things! The Bible does not explain what the name Aeneas means. Archaeological excavations in Palestine have excavated stone inscriptions with this name, which means “worthy of praise”. What is there to admire about the man who “was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years”? Lydda, the place where he is located, means conflict, strife. The Bible does not explain the reason, but it provides room for our imagination. Just imagine how a paralyzed man could become an “admirable” person in Lydda which was full of conflicts and strife?
Finally, imitate the Lord’s deeds. In fact, there is really no need for great achievements, just simply not complaining, not being bitter, and living a peaceful life is enough to make people feel admirable and appreciated. Perhaps it was because of his quietness, his ability to speak words of kindness, and giving thanks in everything, which became a blessing to many people and attracted Peter’s attention, so grace came to him in this way. Before Peter went to see Aeneas, the Holy Spirit reminded him of how the Lord traveled all over the cities and villages, healing people and casting out demons. Then, before Aeneas requested Peter, when Peter saw Aeneas, he said: “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” The source of Peter’s ability was to imitate the Lord, and even the sentence structure was from the Lord. Let’s look at the third point:
Seeing and believing in the Lord
The purpose of all the miracles in the Bible is for the gospel and for people to receive Jesus Christ. First, there is grace in conflict. Lydda is a conflict, which should be related to the persecution promoted by the high priest in previous years. Sharon refers to the “Sharon Road” along the coast, and in fact Lydda is also on this plain. The biblical writers put these two places together to illustrate the truth of the Bible that there is a time of persecution, a time of peace. Don’t look at today’s antichrists who seem to be very powerful and persecuted very cruelly. Yesterday, crosses were torn down and churches were destroyed. Today, servants of God are arrested and believers are abused. Tomorrow, religions and livelihoods may be destroyed. Rest assured, God knows everything that happens to us. He will let us see His glory and authority, and He will let everyone know that God is not to be mocked! People of God, if God’s time is not coming, no one has the right to take our life without the Lord’s permission!
Second, the effect of publicity. How did that happen? How come people in the main plains of Palestine knew? It is possible that after Aeneas stood up, he traveled across the entire plain of Palestine, from Mount Carmel at the northern end to Joppa along the coast. I think that at that time, the believers walked out of the church in Jerusalem and headed for the whole land of Judah and Samaria. This is a whole picture of the mission! It is to follow the road map of the mission statement in Acts 1:8, coming like a galloping horse. When the church acted, “All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him”, it became possible. This is the power of the church’s testimony! In fact, the church does not need great men, but humble and insignificant people, just like Aeneas, who testified and spread the word about the Lord Jesus Christ in his life!
Finally, the power in the Holy Spirit. For a person to profess that Jesus Christ is Lord, it must be of the Holy Spirit. When people call Jesus Christ Lord, it means that it is no longer I who live now, but Christ lives in me. From now on, I am a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! Where is the new creation? One is to repent, return, forsake your sins, and focus on Christ. The second is a change in the way of life, that is, to conduct oneself in everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Specifically, it is to use the Bible as the standard in everything and not leave any breach for Satan. The power of the Holy Spirit is not only to make us more moral and better, but to center everything on Christ and please Him.
Conclusion
Well, thank the Lord! Little people, big times, the Holy Spirit leading, the church being established, God started a magnificent mission of the Gospel in the early church. This mission is also in our calling today!
Let us pray……
Acts 9:31-35
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
