Pastor Donald Menga takes us to the New testament book of Hebrews and the Old testament book of Psalms to tell us exactly why God loves mankind. God’s Reason to love you and I is clearly made manifest in sacred scripture – The Holy Bible.
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Created In God’s Image
Gen 1:27 – So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Mankind has a unique status in creation. None of God’s other terrestrial creatures (though often very fascinating ) are said to have that unique status. Being made in God’s image, mankind is destined to have a special relationship with Him. Man has attributes such as rationality, morality, and the ability to have a relationship with God which sets him apart from all earthly created things. Man has a very special dignity and worth.
Messenger Marcus starts with Our Lord and saviour’s passover meal with his disciples and the time he inaugurated the glorious New Covenant. Marcus explains why the New Covenant was needed and the eternal blessings we receive when we enter it.
Pastor Israel preaches on a woman who served God faithfully. Her name was Tabitha and we read of her in Acts chapter 9.
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SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 9: 36 to 42 –
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was occupied with works of kindness and charity. 37At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”
39So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.
42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Dorcas – A Woman of Good Works
In Joppa there was a lady disciple of the Lord Jesus named Tabitha; her Greek name was Dorcas. Dorcas was a woman who served God and was well known and famous for her good works. Joppa where she lived, is today known as Jaffa, an ancient port city on the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the oldest functioning harbours in the world and in early church times was historically significant as a gateway for trade and travel. The city’s location made it a melting pot of cultures and a strategic location for the spread of the Gospel.
The Character of Tabitha
Her Christian faith was not only real, but eminent. She “was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.” This precious lady had a real dynamic faith in Our Lord. Some members of God’s household are truly and eternally saved – but in their service for the Lord they are satisfied with low and common attainments.
Dorcas “was full” — not just of hearing biblical sermons. Not full of going to church and Christian conventions. All these things are excellent, but without true faith and love they can be a mere “form of godliness.” Hers was the true dynamic faith of the heart and life. A life so “ grafted into Christ” that abundant fruit always poured forth.
Dorcas Work
Dorcas being a woman who served God, was exceedingly charitable to ”Widows”. She tried to make sure that the widows had adequate clothing. God’s care for the widows and the fatherless is demonstrated in scripture often. This may not be our “ particular service” for the Lord. But brothers and sisters, let us always be “ ready to show mercy. The apostle instructed his son in the faith Timothy, to teach the disciples of Jesus to “do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,”(1 Tim 6;18).
Dorcas did not just get the clothes made. She made them herself. That means here “ alms” were not only her gifts, but were also her deeds. There are some who are willing to give but are not so eager to do anything. My brothers and sisters, if God leads us deep into Christ, we may come to a place ( like the apostle Peter) who said “ “Silver and gold have I none”, (Acts 3:6).
But especially in this ” poor” situation we can offer strong prayers of mountain moving faith. May God grant us the gift of tears. God will help us empathise with others in Jesus’ love. And LET US EARNESTLY SEEK SPIRITUAL GIFTS so that we can command in Jesus mighty Name, sicknesses, bondages, oppression, depression and other works of satan to be destroyed
The Untimely Death of Dorcas
Suddenly Dorcas died. Peter was sent for and came. To some it may seem a useless thing to call Peter after she had actually died. Perhaps at first Peter himself did not know that God would at this time raise her from the dead. But anyway Peter knew it was his duty to Christ to be “ready to every good work”, (2 Titus 2:21).
No doubt The Wonderful Jesus filled heart was full of the desire to comfort the weeping friends of Dorcas. Peter also knew that, “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God”. He had seen his beloved Master intervene and brought life to many dead situations and persons!
No sooner was Peter arrived than a scene was presented that was sufficient to melt a heart much less tender than Peter’s (ver. 39). Though it is distressing, it is also very wonderful to see genuine grief in a Christian heart. Perhaps Peter can do more than “weep with them that weep” but Peter is manifesting that the supernatural love of Jesus Christ is flowing from his life!
Dorcas Resurrection
But now, Peter heard in his spirit the will of God in this situation, was indeed to bring Dorcas back to life. “He put them all forth”. His heart was full of faith! Those around him were not! We need to beware who we join in prayer with. Some Christiams will boost our faith as they pray with us – even though their words are few. Others who make “ noises of faith” and speak many words may actually have little real faith and will “ dull “ the power of our prayers.
Peter prayed and Dorcas arose; and then Peter “gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and presented her alive.” This is a wonderful end to a very sad story. I believe that every Christian should have the knowledge that if God will, that Christian can utter the command to raise the dead! God is a miracle working God!
Why, as we pray, are not ALL healed? Why are some of God’s most powerful faith filled persons taken to a premature death? We can never know. But let us remember that as one godly skilled Christian writer has said ………
….. He takes pleasure in those who, like Himself, delight in mercy; and that “He is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love, in ministering to the saints”? In a word, does He not say, “Them that honour Me, I will honour”? But you ask, was this a privilege to Dorcas? — to be brought back into a vale of tears, and again to have to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” after she had happily passed it? — I answer, Yes! It was a marvellous distinction conferred upon her; and it added to her usefulness as a woman who served God and added to her reward. The saints on earth have one privilege above the saints in heaven. It is in the means and opportunities of doing good.
Paul The apostle Paul prayed for the Colossian Christians that they would walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being filled with the knowledge of His will. Pastor Donald Menga preaches powerfully on how we can make secure steps pleasing God.
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Unto All Pleasing God
The scriptures tell us a lot about pleasing God. Probably the greatest statement is found in the Book of Hebrews Chapter 11.
Heb 11:6 – without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
The scriptures also point out to the devotional practice of doing everything unto all pleasing God SHOULD BE the Christians natural breath. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Colossae telling them…….
Col 3:9, 10 – since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
It is of course perfectly natural for a born again Christian who has the life of God within to want to please God. In 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 14 tells is an amazing truth! The born again Christian has a spirit which is actually “ ONE” with the Spirit of The Lord Jesus.
First Cor 6:17 – He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
A DIVINE COMPASSIONATE HEART
The Lord Jesus had a truly a divine compassionate heart for the sinful and the broken. He saw men and women as sheep lost and lonely without having a shepherd. The burning desire of his compassionate heart was that broken men and women would be gathered into the Loving embrace of the Father.
Our Lord and saviour spoke these words as recorded in John’s Gospel chapter 6.
John 6: 37 thru 40 – Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. 39And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Since, he ( or she) in Christ is ONE SPIRIT with The Lord, it follows that every born again believer should have a burning heart of love for the lost and broken.
DO YOU KNOW GOD’S WILL?
This “knowledge of God’s will” ( 1 Cor 1:9), is very important . Firstly there is a knowledge of God’s plan for His church through eternity. Next there is a ‘ general knowledge we can know of our ‘individual’ ‘ calling’ which will align with our God given temperament and ministry gift during our earthly life. God also wants us to understand our ‘ short term’ calling. We can develop s sensitivity to God’s moment by moment leading, since, ” as many are led by the Spirit are the sons of God, (Romans 8:14). Its a very important question to ask ourselves, ” Do you know God’s will?
Sister Jemima powerfully explains the relevance of God’s Word on powerful evangelism. Secrets she has learned by life experience and from sacred scripture
Evangelist Marcus speaks on the untold blessings of living by Justification grace through faith. The bible tells us emphatically that a man or woman is saved by grace through faith. And the amazing thing is that this is a wonderful gift.
Eph 2:8, 9 – by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Rev Donald Menga skilfully expounds how Christ’s mighty victory an Calvary and His glorious resurrection has made us to be set gloriously free to serve God
