Dorcas

32 Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.

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This was the setup for another miracle in the town of Lydda.

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Dorcas Dies

Acts 9:36–43 NLT

36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!” 39 So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. 42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.

Lessons From Dorcas

Lesson 1: Believe Something

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Vs. 36, “There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (Dorcas)

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Lesson 2: Perceive Something

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Vs. 36, “She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.”

Vs. 39, “… they took him to the upstairs room... and [showed] him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.”

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Lesson 3: Achieve Something

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Vs. 39, “The room was filled with widow who were weeping...

You know your life is not in vain when there are people who can testify your life has made a difference in their lives.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE DORCAS. BUT BE THE BEST OF WHATEVER YOU ARE!

As Douglas Malloch wrote:

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If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill, Be a scrub in the valley — but be The best little scrub by the side of the rill; Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass, And some highway happier make; If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass — But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew, There's something for all of us here, There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do, And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail, If you can't be the sun be a star; It isn't by size that you win or you fail — Be the best of whatever you are!

1. Believe Something

2. Perceive Something

3. Achieve Something

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