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.
...
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.
The healing miracle of Aeneas has the effect of all in Lydda
and Sharon turning to the Lord.
Everything the apostles are doing is for the glory of Jesus and to magnify
His name. To witness for Him. Peter specifically says to the paralytic,
“Jesus Christ heals you.” This is done
for the witness and testifying of Jesus and who He is.
A note about Tabitha is that she helped the poor. In chapter 10, we will read something similar
about Cornelius. This is used to show
that the person was not selfish but sacrificed for others and had a sincere
heart for others. Unlike Saul, who
breathed murderous threats and sought to persecute people, Tabitha was enduring
and kind. It is a stark contrast. Yet both had to be brought to life. One spiritual and one physical. Both type of resurrections can be done by
Jesus.
Peter is at a different level of living in the Holy Spirit
than perhaps anyone in the history of the church. He is able to walk so closely with God that
Jesus is doing miracles through his hands and at his words. Peter is following Jesus and Jesus is doing
the same type of miracles He did when He was physically walking with Peter
through Peter. Jesus heals a man who is
paralyzed through Peter. And Jesus
raises another person from the dead through Peter. A lot is made of Jesus raising Lazarus from
the dead, but this is more significant to me.
Jesus uses a person, a person who has sinned but is saved through belief
in Him, to raise someone from the dead.
Oh, how we are so far from living like this today! We are so far removed from this type of
walking with God that I’m not sure we know how to get there anymore. The church truly needs a revival and a renewance
to find this type of living once again among the body of believers and to be
able to teach leaders how to follow Jesus in this way.
Many believe we live in a time when such signs are
unnecessary because we have the Word of God. At that time they didn’t have the Word of God so sign gifts were very
important to show that the power of God was with the believers. Today the Word of God is with believers and
that is the power of God. I have not
been shown that this is true. In books of martyrs and/or missionaries they give accounts of miracles of escaping prisons and such. I believe
that should a person so completely believe that Jesus is God and they are able
to completely shed all of their life to only live where He leads that such a
person might be able, if God directs to be used as these believers were with
miraculous signs and wonders.
It is incumbent upon the church to pray for closeness to the Holy Spirit; that all obstacles and obstructions be cleared so they can follow His leading and do His work.
It is incumbent upon the church to pray for closeness to the Holy Spirit; that all obstacles and obstructions be cleared so they can follow His leading and do His work.
No comments:
Post a Comment