4/27 Turning Hardships into Endless Blessings

Acts series 49

Date : 4/27/2025

Title : Turning Hardships into Endless Blessings

Scripture : Acts 9:32-43

Acts 9:32-43

32 At that time Peter traveled through the whole area. Eventually, he went down to visit the believers in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those living in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to urge him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

Turning Hardships into Endless Blessings

It's been a while since we've been in Acts. Before today's passage, Paul's appearance had once again stirred up Jerusalem, and eventually, even the apostles could no longer stay in Jerusalem.

To escape the threat of death, Paul had to return to his hometown of Tarsus. However, as the apostles scattered, the churches in various regions became stronger, and new churches continued to be established.

Also, isn't it a blessing that the miraculous healing and resurrection of the woman Aeneas and the disciple Dorcas, who appear today, came about as a result of the apostles leaving Jerusalem?

There is a wisdom in the world called 'Jeonhwa-wibok'. It's an expression that means misfortune turns into a blessing. It's a Chinese idiom that we often use because we actually experience such things.

The person who first used this expression is known to be Sojin of the Warring States period in China. He led a coalition of weak countries to oppose the powerful Qin state, which was strong enough to unify the whole country at that time, and blocked Qin's advance for 15 years.

The weak countries, threatened by Qin, united and their relations improved, and in the end, they together resisted Qin, it was truly turning misfortune into a blessing.

So Jin originally challenged for a position in Qin but failed, and after that failure, he worked harder to hone his wisdom and eventually became the prime minister of six countries (Zhao, Yan, Qi, Wei, Han, and Chu), wielding great power.

Thus, 'Jeonhwa-wibok' was a wisdom he actually experienced in his life, and that belief led him to that high position.

However, his later years were not smooth. As the interests of each country diverged over time, his position became unstable. In particular, he was falsely accused in the state of Yan and fled to the state of Qi.

In Qi, So Jin was appointed as prime minister, but he was assassinated by assassins sent by other officials who were jealous of his success.

His life's end was not a 'Jeonhwa-wibok'.

Misfortune can turn into a blessing for anyone, but that is not always the case. On the contrary, misfortune can bring even greater misfortune, which is called 'Seolsang-gaseol' (one misfortune after another). This can happen at any time.

Like this, the word 'Jeonhwa-wibok' sounds good and hopeful, but it is not a law of the world that always happens.

However, we Christians have true hope.

Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

In today's passage, Peter, who had to flee far from the persecution in Jerusalem, came to a woman named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years. He said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" With this command, he completely healed her illness.

He made it clear that the one who heals is not Peter, but Jesus Christ. At the same time, he is declaring that it was also Jesus Christ who led Peter, who was traveling around, to Lydda where Aeneas was, and eventually to Joppa where Dorcas was.

The persecution that occurred in Jerusalem became a grace that saved the lives of Aeneas and Dorcas.

Like this, for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, not only good things but also things that seem like misfortunes work together to bring about good.

But Romans goes on to say that there is a purpose in that. He wants us to be conformed to the image of his son, Jesus Christ, who is the firstborn of all Christians! It means that Jesus is the firstborn we should follow, and at the same time, we must also become a brother or sister for someone to follow!

He now sanctifies and glorifies us who have been justified by following Jesus! This is the goal of the Lord who saved us for us. That is the purpose of our lives.

If so, everything that happens in our lives is ultimately heading towards that.

Paul's Turning Hardship into Blessing

As soon as Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he began to preach that Jesus was the Christ in the synagogue. Naturally, he was threatened with death by the Jews in Damascus, and in the end, he escaped by being let down in a basket.

And he tried to go to Jerusalem, but in the end, he had to run away for more than two years, and only then could he enter Jerusalem. Even in Jerusalem, which he barely managed to find his way to, no one accepted him at first, but the apostles accepted him with Barnabas's guarantee.

Paul seems to have stayed in Jerusalem for about two weeks at that time. During that time, he also went to the Hellenistic Jews, who were once his allies, and tried to preach that Jesus was the Christ, but he was threatened with death again.

In the end, Paul, who could not stay in Jerusalem either, fled to his hometown of Tarsus. There, Paul spent nearly 10 years in seclusion, with no one looking for him.

Considering Paul's tendency so far, what kind of time would that have been? Considering his passionate nature, that period would have been a very frustrating and painful time.

But that time, like a wilderness, was the time when the impatient and uncompromising Paul was being refined.

In fact, even when he was in Judaism, he was always a zealous young man. He volunteered to do things that were not asked of him, and he was always active, and he was the one who traveled the farthest to catch Christians.

We have examined in detail the scene where he met Jesus on that road, lost his sight, repented, and was baptized.

But as soon as he was baptized, he again unhesitatingly began to preach that Jesus was the Christ in the Jewish synagogue in Damascus. And after being on the run for more than two years in Arabia and other places, when he arrived in Jerusalem, he immediately preached the gospel there and clashed with the Hellenistic Jews.

On the one hand, I admire his passion and activeness, but was that always right in every situation?

There was someone close to me who I forcibly took to church shortly after I started believing in Jesus, which had a great negative effect, and I couldn't even bring up the topic of church for quite a long time.

It's not that worldly wisdom was more necessary. And it was zeal for the Lord, so I believe that it would eventually lead to good results.

However, that was not the best. When that intense passion was not covered with love, it could hurt roughly, so careful attention was needed.

Paul's strong character remained even after 10 years of seclusion. It was Barnabas who brought Paul, who had been in seclusion in his hometown of Tarsus, back to the stage of history. Do you remember Barnabas, the son of consolation and encouragement?

He invited Paul to be the co-pastor of the Antioch Church. At that time, the church was spreading throughout the Roman region, so the most important ministry was church planting and visiting the planted churches to help them.

However, when they were on their second missionary journey, Acts records the incident of a major dispute as follows.

Acts 15:37-40

37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Paul vehemently opposed taking the young man Mark, who had irresponsibly left during the first missionary journey, and Barnabas, who wanted to give him another chance, did not change his mind, so in the end, the two went on separate missionary journeys.

Mark was the son of Mary, the owner of the house where about 120 believers gathered and prayed on the day of Pentecost, and he was Barnabas's nephew. At that time, a house large enough to accommodate about 120 people was virtually the same size as a synagogue.

Mark was a young man who grew up in a wealthy Christian family. He went on a missionary journey with his uncle and his colleague Paul, but he suffered a lot and gave up halfway and returned.

Paul could not accept such Mark, and Barnabas wanted to give him another chance, so they had a big fight and eventually went on separate missionary journeys.

These records prove how faithful the Bible is to the truth. The people who appear are clearly exemplary in many ways, but it also shows their less than perfect characters without any exaggeration.

By the way, if you were in Mark's position, wouldn't you have been greatly hurt by Paul's stubborn attitude of not giving him another chance?

Or if you were in a position to decide whether to take Mark or not, would you decide like Paul? Or would you make a decision like Barnabas to give him another chance?

If I were in Mark's position, I would have been hurt by Paul. I think I would have had similar feelings not only for Paul but also for Jesus. So in the end, it seems like it would have been a big event that could have led me to a path away from the Lord.

But when Barnabas accepted him, when he gave him another chance, like Jesus gave Peter a chance after he denied him, Mark was able to recover.

In fact, didn't Paul also get found and accepted again by Barnabas?

I used to have a attitude like Paul, but now I think I would make a decision more like Barnabas. I would give him another chance.

Like this, the Bible does not hide the fact that the person named Paul also needed a process of maturity.

The apostle Paul is the person who wrote a total of 13 books in the New Testament and established the doctrine of Christianity through Romans and other books.

In his letters, he constantly emphasizes that he is an apostle sent by Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle—sent not from people nor by a human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead"

Ephesians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God"

What is the reason for this? Unlike the other apostles, he was not with Jesus when he ministered with his disciples on earth, but in fact, he was on the opposite side.

Although there is no record in the Bible, considering that he, who was second to none in religious zeal among the Pharisees, could not have been absent from Jerusalem on the Passover when Jesus was crucified, he must have been among those who shouted to crucify Jesus.

Of course, he was not included in the twelve disciples of Jesus, and he did not participate in the first church in that upper room where the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, but at that time, he was on the opposite side, preparing to become an extreme persecutor.

Therefore, he continues to emphasize at the beginning of his letters that he is a legitimate apostle sent by God and Jesus.

The book of Galatians was the first of Paul's letters and was written around the time of the first missionary journey when Paul took Mark with Barnabas. And Ephesians and others were written about 10 years after Galatians, after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd missionary journeys.

Do you see the difference?

In Galatians, he says, 'Paul, an apostle—sent not from people nor by a human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,' emphasizing at length that he is qualified as an apostle.

Sent not from people nor by a human agency.. What is the difference between these two phrases? Why did he have to write such a long introduction on such precious paper at that time?

But why does he simply mention God and Jesus Christ in all the letters after Ephesians 10 years later?

It shows that there was a continuous change in him as well.

And he writes this in a letter to the saints in Colossae.

Colossians 4:5-6

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Isn't this a very different from Saul, who rushed in unconditionally as shown in Acts 9? When dealing with people who do not yet know Jesus, he says to always speak graciously, little by little, step by step, like seasoning with salt.

Saul, who used to clash head-on, has now become someone who deals with others wisely and warmly in grace. Paul has gone from an apostle who was only burning with passion to an apostle of love who embraces that passion.

Kulan's Gospel of John

Do you remember that I gave Kulan, a high school student from Mongolia, a Bible reading assignment a few weeks ago? She really did the assignment of reading John 1:1-18.

I asked her what she felt new after reading it. She replied, "I knew Jesus was wise and wonderful, but in the Bible, Jesus was the Word who existed from the beginning, and he was God who created all things."

I felt a thrill. Compared to the insignificant sincerity of about two and a half years that I had put in, it was a feeling of receiving too much reward already.

While teaching English to that kid who did not know Jesus, I have been doing it according to Paul's teachings... Because I am the only Christian this kid meets... I have always been gracious, like seasoning with salt. I have been patient without forcing my faith, and now I am experiencing something is happening is Kulan.

And there are also family members who I only pray for and continue to show love by treating them kindly. I am trusting in the Lord and being patient. That time of waiting will also use me for the Lord as an eternally beneficial and glorious time.

This is the writing of the most famous letter written by Paul in the process of change. Let's read it together.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The best, with skills and passion that no one could match, but rough and hurtful, what Paul needed was the warm and loving character like Barnabas, and such a change of character was also taking place in Paul who lived in the Holy Spirit.

When we become someone who is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, does not keep a record of wrongs... Then we too can show Jesus to someone!

That is the only way to evangelize those who are close to us - ‘love’.

By the way, what happened to Mark in the end?

Philemon 1:23-24

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Philemon was also written by the apostle Paul. He calls Mark "Mark, my fellow worker."

The warm second chance that Barnabas gave, as well as Paul's stern admonition, all worked together under God's providence to make Mark a wonderful fellow worker.

1 Peter 5:13

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.

The apostle Peter also regarded Mark as his son, and he became a fellow worker who was a strength to the apostles.

It was this Mark who recorded the 'Gospel of Mark', which best summarizes the life of Jesus in chronological order.

The life of Mark, who loved God and was called according to his purpose, is a true story of endless ‘Jeonhwa-wibok’.

Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

The Lord who renewed Mark and the Jesus who shaped Paul into a person of love is alive in us.

Like the ‘Trencadis’ that I showed you last week, he sometimes leaves us broken and shattered, but he does not leave us broken.

Into the image of Jesus, who is more beautiful, more generous, and deeper in love... He is now crafting us, who have been justified, even more glorious.

So we have hope even when we are broken and when we collapse. Because we know that all things work together for good.