Act.9:32 As Peter travelled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

Transcription

1 Acts 9 : 32-43

2 Act.9:32 As Peter travelled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34 "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who 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.

3 Ac 9:38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged 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 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. (NIV)

4 I. The Miracles in Lydda Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, used in founding the first Mega-Church in Jerusalem 3,000 saved in 1 day! Surely running that Church would be a full-time job, Yet in Act.9:32 we find him travelling to Lydda & Joppa In Lydda Peter found a paralytic, bedridden for 8 years! It doesn t say he asked for healing. Peter had compassion The Spirit of Christ was very real in Peter s life! Seeing the need, knowing God s power, he had the faith: Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up & take care of your mat Question: How much faith was required by Peter?

5 When the apostles aske Jesus to increase our faith "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. (Lk.17:5,6) (Mt.17) When the apostles failed to drive out a demon from an Epileptic boy - why couldn t we drive it out? Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. (NIV) Peter applied mustard seed faith & Jesus healed Aeneas! And the second miracle: Act.9:35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (NIV) One miracle & Revival broke out in two towns!!!

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7 II. Awakening in Joppa Ac 9:38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Beloved Tabitha (Dorcas) had died! What did they really expect Peter to do? Conduct a funeral service? Comfort the bereaved? Only the Holy Spirit could ve given Peter the faith to believe for a resurrection no presumption!!! When Peter arrived the women showed him her handiwork robes & clothing! Amazing, the Bible mentions Dorcas work but nothing of the Great Roman Emperors international conquests! To God, the work of a humble saint is more important!!!

8 Jericho Walls prayer request: Median-Persian people groups 173 million from Turkey to Pakistan Militant Muslim regimes Anti-Christian! Determined to establish an Islamic State Involved in much International Terrorism! Sept (911) 2996 killed when twin Towers fell. World focus on terrorism World hears & cares nothing about what God is doing Jesus is quietly appearing to Muslim after Muslim!!!

9 The world focuses on peace through power & control. But the Lord s eyes are on the Tabitha s of the world. Let s learn from Peter s actions: (a) Peter Sent Them Out When Peter arrived & found Tabitha dead He realised the situation was hopeless in human terms! This was a time to get alone with God Only He could change a hopeless situation. How does this apply to us? It is sometimes right to get godly human counsel But surely we should first get alone with God! If God choses humans to help in anything at all, It is His prerogative to do so! He sometimes uses Doctors; Nurses; Lawyers; Financiers; Educators; Mechanics; Architects; Builders..

10 (b) Peter Prayed Act.9:40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed (NIV) It is good to attend Church; to have a quiet time; to read, study & meditate on the Word - but also communicate! If we are going to rely on God in impossible circumstances We must tell Him Pray! Peter prayed! How? Peter got down on his knees! That means Humility! Not so much the posture but the attitude = Humility! Dorcas was dead - there was nothing any person could do If you know the Bible, you know where to turn! The centre verse of the entire Bible: (Psalm 118:8) It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. (NIV)

11 (c) Peter s Faith After humbly praying, Peter Turning toward the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. (Act.9:40b NIV) When we pray for healing, we say Be healed in Jesus name! Is it a formula? NO Simply an act of Faith! In violence plagued Columbia, Gabriel is called to share gospel with guerrilla soldiers hiding in mountains As he approaches a camp site with his bag of Spanish Bibles, a perimeter guard often steps out and sticks his AK-47 in Gabriel s stomach & threatens to shoot him. Pushing the barrel of the gun aside he casually answers, No you won t! You can t kill me until God says you can kill me, and he boldly walks ahead into the camp where he distributes Bibles and preaches the gospel to those who will listen. Gabriel, by the grace of God, is still alive!

12 (d) Many People Became Believers Act.9:42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. (NIV) Amazing how Miracles bring many to faith! Dorcas being raised from the dead was Supernatural! Spiritual Rebirth is one of the greatest Supernatural acts Today, 19 th Aug. to Tues. 21 st. Millions of Muslims flock to Mecca for their Hajj Pilgrimage, perform sacred rituals! Main Purpose: Forgiveness of their sins! Pray that the Lord will miraculously reveal to many that forgiveness is only in Jesus. Peter, filled with Holy Spirit said: He (Jesus) is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12 NIV)

13 When people focus on rituals and people Taking their eyes off Jesus all kinds of errors creep in We ve heard of pastors forcing people to drink petrol To eat snakes and now we see this:

14 It s not just Africa. Jonestown Massacre. Jonestown, Guyana - one of the most harrowing tragedies in American history. On Nov. 18, 1978, charismatic cult leader Jim Jones, caused 907 members of the People's Temple to die from apparent cyanide poisoning, in a revolutionary suicide. In Joppa, Jesus miraculously raised Dorcas from the dead. He knows exactly what is needed in today s world Let s pray expectantly for a Supernatural move by God Errors come about when people are desperate for something new and different - & look to human talent!

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16 Lord, help us to have the faith to believe that you can change our land, and that you are calling your people to true 2Chron.7:14 prayer - South Africa can be healed Heal our land Lord!