Aeneas and Dorcas

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 29th day of October— Thursday— Happy Birthday to Dr. Clay Ballinger & Grace Navarro

Yesterday right here at “The Message” we saw how bold Saul preached the gospel after he was radically transformed following his conversion to Christianity— from being a persecutor to preacher— from killing Christians to saving the lost!

The persecutor became the persecuted— while in Damascus, there was a conspiracy to kill him— he escaped to Arabia and then to Jerusalem— from this real life story of Saul, we learned the following:

I SHALL MAKE PLANS, BUT I MUST ALWAYS YIELD TO GOD’S PURPOSE

FEAR OF THE LORD AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GROW OUR CHURCH

While in Jerusalem, some hellenistic Jews tried to kill him and when the church learned about the plot— they took him to Caesarea where he sailed from going back to his birthplace— Tarsus!

The churches in that region enjoyed a tie of peace, they were strengthened— and while living in fear of the Lord, and encouraged by the Holy Spirit— their number increased!

Now let’s continue with chapter 9 of the Book of Acts— we will be able to finish this chapter today and we will continue with chapter 10 on November 9— chapter 9 ended with another story of miraculous healing by Peter— open your Bible to ACTS 9:32-43— once you get there type, “I’m ready to hear another miracle!”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 9:32-43

BOOK

Acts 9:32–43 NIV

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. 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 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 for the believers, especially 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.

WHAT: Another miraculous healing by Peter

WHERE: The towns of Lydda, Sharon and the city of Joppa along the coastal plain along the Mediterranean coast— [SHOW MAP]

WHEN: After Saul sailed back to his birthplace— Tarsus— still during the time of the early church

WHO: Peter, Aeneas, Tabitha [Dorcas in Greek], Widows, Disciples and Simon [Tanner]

WHY: Peter went around the region to visit the Lord’s people

LOOK

HE FOUND A MAN NAME AENEAS, WHO WAS PARALYZED

Aeneas was bedridden for eight years— Peter called on him and said Aeneas!...

JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU, GET UP AND ROLL YOUR MAT

Immediately, Aeneas got up! — and all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon who saw Peter turned to the Lord

And then on a nearby city Joppa— there was a lady disciple named Tabitha [in Greek her name is Dorcas]— based on her name, she was likely a Jewish believer who also have a Greek version of her name— Dorcas ministry was among the widows— a testimony of her godliness and compassion and her importance in their community

Dorcas got sick and died— they washed her body and placed in an upstairs room— Lydda was near Joppa, and so when they heard that Peter was there— they sent two men and urged him to come right away— Peter went with them and as they arrived, they took him upstairs to the room where all the widows surrounded him crying and showing him the robes and other clothing Dorcas had made when she was still alive— Peter asked everyone out of the room…

HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND PRAYED

Turning to the dead woman, Peter said, “Tabitha get up!”— at once, she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up!— Peter helped her up on her feet and presented her to the believers

THIS BECAME KNOWN ALL OVER JOPPA, AND MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED IN THE LORD

Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner [works with animal skin— leather]— Tanner usually live outside the towns because of the foul smell from the dead animals that they work on

Here we saw another testimony about the healing power of our Lord Jesus— While Jesus was still with them, He said— JOHN 14:12-14

From these words of our Lord Jesus we are told two things today...

TOOK

I WILL DO GREAT THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS

I CAN ASK FOR ANYTHING IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND HE WILL DO IT

SING

Jada Miranda— God of Miracles