Living Miracles: He is Risen!

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Gary Whitney

Middletown Baptist Church

Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago • Presented 2 years ago • 32:32

Acts 9:31–42

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Acts 9:31–42 (CSB)

31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

32 As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up. 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity. 37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Living Miracles: He Is Risen! The Text In Its Context

Peter seems to be the first circuit pastor, traveling throughout Palestine. In our text he is visiting Christians in the town of Lydda, about twenty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem. Geography is very important to Luke and very important in the study of Acts. You can see that the early church is solidifying the Good News throughout the Palestine.

Previously in Acts, the gospel traveled by chariot to Ethiopia and by a bully to Damascus, so we know that the Good News is spreading to the nations around Isreal. The great commission was spreading outside of Palestine- starting to reach the nations to the ends of the earth.

The growth wasn’t produced by the rock Jesus chose known as Peter, or the former bully previously known as Saul and now as Paul, also picked by Jesus. The growth was because of what Peter and Paul did in the name of Jesus.

Fear The Lord

Remember that

Proverbs 9:10 (CSB)

10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

So we should not be surprised that the Fear of the Lord is the foundation on which the church is built and advanced in the Book of Acts.

Acts 9:31 (CSB)

31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

It is still the way way the church grow today.

The phrase “Fear of the Lord” is packed with meaning. At it’s core it is the awe that a person ought to have before God (Psalm 33:8). Sometimes it is truly being afraid because God is angry. Adam and Eve were afraid of God after they ate the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:8–10). The threat of judgment ought to produce fear (Amos 3:7), but just being aware of God’s magnificence and His overwhelming power (Jer. 5:22, 24) should be enough to bring us to feel the “fear of the Lord.” It can be taught (Ps. 34:11) or chosen (Prov. 1:29). It is also closely connected with obedience to God’s commandments (Job 5:21; Ps. 19:9; Eccles. 12:13), to hating evil (Prov. 8:13), to trusting God (Ps. 40:3), to enjoying friendship with God (Ps. 25:14), to obtaining deliverance and other benefits from God (Pss. 33:18; 34:7; 145:19; Prov. 10:27; 22:4), and to experiencing life in its fullest (Prov. 19:23). In the NT, Jesus contrasts fearing God, who can destroy body and soul in hell, with fearing humans, who can kill the body only (Matt. 10:25). Fear is also represented by the “fear and trembling” with which Paul exhorts the Philippians to work out their salvation (2:12). It describes the piety of the growing church (Acts 9:31; cf. 5:11; 13:26) and accords with recognition that people will be held accountable by God in the judgment (2 Cor. 5:10–11; 1 Pet. 1:17).— Powell, Mark Allan. [“Fear of the Lord.” Edited by Mark Allan Powell. The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated). New York: HarperCollins, 2011.]

Healed In The Name Of Jesus

In today’s text- part of the reason unbelievers found the fear of the Lord were the miracles done by Peter in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:32–35 (CSB)

Jesus Christ heals you, and seeing that the people turned to the Lord.

This miracle is similar to the one worked by Jesus in healing a paralyzed man (Luke 5:18–26), but there are also major differences. No mention is made of friends bringing Aeneas to Peter because of their faith in Peter’s power to heal. Also, Peter does not announce that the man’s sins have been forgiven. If he is a believer, his sins already have been forgiven. Luke gives no indication, however, that Aeneas is a believer, nor does he tell us how Peter learns about him. Also, Aeneas makes no appeal to Peter for healing.

Peter continues the healing miracles of Jesus Christ only through the power and authority of Christ. Peter’s command that Aeneas roll up his mat implies that he does not need to be carried any more but can stand up and walk. Those who witness a man formerly bedridden for eight years ambling about the city respond with awe and also become interested in learning the source of this miracle. They do not believe in Peter as a great miracle worker but put their trust in the Lord in whose name Peter pronounces the man’s healing.

Raised From The Dead

Acts 9:36–42 (CSB)

This miracle also seems to parallel Jesus’s miracle. this time the one where He raises Jairus’s daughter to life (Luke 8:40–41, 49–56). Raising Tabitha back to life after she had died is a far more dramatic miracle than the healing of Aeneas. Luke identifies her as a “disciple,” the only occurrence of the feminine form of the Greek word in the New Testament. Tabitha used her means and skillful needlework to provide material support for the poor, a regular practice among the first believers (Luke 8:2–3).

We don’t know what Tabitha died from, but normally she would not be left overnight without being buried. She was only washed, without being wrapped in linens with the oils and spices. It was unusual treatment, maybe even to the point that they expected what came next.

When Peter arrived, the widows she had served so well surrounded her. They were crying, and they held up the garments that Tabitha had made for them. The idea of expected resurrection takes on further strength in this verse as we see Peter standing by the body, surrounded by widows weeping in their grief and holding up the garments Dorcas had made for them. This wasn’t the normal Jewish ashes and torn clothing that mourners normally wore. I imagine this as the widows were so distraught over Tabitha’s death that they were pleading her case with the Apostle. They were unwilling to accept her loss. She had so demonstrated godliness and servanthood, they desperately wanted her back.

“Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

Peter knew what to do because Jesus had sent the disciples out

Matthew 10:8 (CSB)

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

There is an important difference between being raised from the dead and being resurrected. Those raised from the dead will die again. This is not the same as the biblical hope of resurrection. The resurrection is the end of death. When believers are raised from the dead, they will receive a new, glorified body. This body will never perish. Jesus is the only only example of resurrection in the Bible.

Jesus was able to heal and raise people from the dead because He is God. Peter had no power of his own to do either. But Tabitha was raised from the dead. Peter relied solely on the power of God through prayer.

Peter had a reputation for healing, not for raising the dead. Why did the widows and church believe with so much certainty that Tabitha would be raised? They knew that since Jesus had risen, they would too.

Miracles do not always happen regardless of how righteous persons who are deathly ill might be or how fervently faithful people might pray for them. Miracles depend entirely on God’s power and God’s will, and humans cannot control God’s will nor can they always discern why it is that some are healed and others not.Likewise, miracles, when they do happen, do not always turn people to the Lord. Everything depends on the will of God, which is so often inexplicable to humans.

We cannot insist that God should always work miracles. On the other hand, one also should not rule out that God might work miracles. In this mortal vale, Christians can have faith that God will work the ultimate miracle of resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:54 (CSB)

54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Living Miracles: He Is Risen Contemporary Application

Do you believe in miracles? Most believers will respond with a yes to that question.

Do you believe that miracles happen today? Once again most believers will respond with a yes to that question.

Do you believe that the miracles of being raised from the dead and being healed by God through a believer with the spiritual gift of healing can happen today? Many Christians will hedge their answer to this question. Often along the lines of God works today through the miracle of modern medicine. Some will flat out say that such miracles were limited to the Bible.

What ever position you take on miracles- it is not an understanding that is essential to salvation. Salvation is based faith thru grace, received only on believing and receiving that Jesus is our Lord and Savior through the unearned grace and mercy of God.

But being unwilling to believe in miracles happening today does affect our ability to experience the peace from God that surpasses all understanding.

Philippians 4:4–7 (CSB)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

You don’t need to understand how God works these miracles- or why God chooses to work through the elders of the church and people gifted by the Spirit to provide healing- you just need to acknowledge God is God and that He can do these things as He wills.

James 5:14–15 (CSB)

14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Note that in our text the church called Peter- because he was known for his healing.

Acts 9:37–38 (CSB)

37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.”

Paul tells us that the gift of Healing is given by the Holy Spirit for the common good of the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 (CSB)

4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

The only ministry that has ended is the office of Apostle. The title apostle was used even in the secular realm for those who had the full authority to speak on behalf of a higher official. Jesus' Apostles were His official spokesmen who bore His full authority, so their writings are as much the words of Jesus as any other portion of Scripture. Only the Apostles speak with an authority equivalent to Jesus' during the new covenant era. There are no Apostles today because there are no living eyewitnesses of the resurrection to confirm other Apostles (Acts 1:12–26; Gal. 1:18–2:10). Thus, special revelation ended with the death of the last Apostle in the first century.

Quote: Martin Luther. Luther stated, “Miracles are recorded for us, who are chosen.… We are edified, when we learn and believe by them, that in Christ we have a gracious, meek, loving, beneficent Lord, who is able and knows how to help us.”Miracles and salvation are both the work of God

Classic Sermon: “A Revival Promise,” by Charles Spurgeon. In this sermon Spurgeon pled with his congregation to realize that apart from the Holy Spirit’s work, they were impotent to work true ministry. Preaching from Isaiah 44:3–6, he reminded the congregation of the deep need to seek God’s presence for ministry:I pray that you who teach in the Sunday school, you who visit the poor, you who work in any way for God may acknowledge your impotence for good and look for power from on high. To our hands the Holy Spirit is the force, to our eyes He is the light. We are but the stones and He the sling, we are the arrows and He the bow. Confess your weakness and you will be fit to be strengthened. Acknowledge your emptiness and it will be a preparation for receiving Divine fullness.… Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing!

Points To Ponder

“PRAYING FOR SICK BELIEVERS” by Ajith Fernando

There is considerable controversy in the church today about whether, when someone is sick, we should have special people like Peter pray over him or her. Obviously, this practice is endorsed in Scripture. Yet I have heard people say, “Why should you go to special people? Don’t we all pray to the same God? Why not just go to the people in your own church?”

I believe that we should go first to our own local church (cf. James 5:14–15). If we choose to go to someone else, our church should know about it. It is unfortunate that some church leaders get angry when their members go outside for help, so that it has to be done secretly. This did not seem to have happened with the leaders in Joppa when Peter was called. The fact remains that although all church leaders should pray with their sick, some have gifts of healing and/or faith that enables them to pray in faith that results in healing and glory to God (1 Cor. 12:9).

I have personally prayed with countless sick people over the years. Perhaps there have been some (unspectacular) healings along the way. But I have friends who are able to pray with a faith that I do not have. One of these friends is an illiterate person, whose only way to study personally the Scriptures is to meditate on what he has heard because he cannot read. But when he prays there is great faith, and God answers his prayers wonderfully. We have come to recognize that he has the gift of healing.

I think, however, that we should beware of what may be called “panic praying,” where people go from place to place seeking special prayers. That may be an expression of our lack of faith in the sovereign will of God. I know of people who cannot settle down to any abiding Christian service because they keep going from one prayer meeting to another, seeking prayer for their problems. There are times when we may find that the answer we hope for is not forthcoming. On such occasions we will need to adopt the attitude of Paul, who, after pleading three times for release from his thorn in the flesh, was told to depend on the sufficient grace of God that perfects strength in weakness. Instead of panicking, Paul gladly boasted about his weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

At such times we should affirm that the answer we want has not come because God has something better in store for us (Rom. 8:28). God does not have to answer our prayers in the precise way as we ask. Sometimes he may have a better plan that will take us through what may look like a disaster. Though we cannot understand what we are going through, we can remain at peace, for we trust God and know that he will do what is best for us.

Perhaps a word should be said about the possibility of raising the dead today. There have been reports of this happening in different parts of the world today. I met a missionary working with a tribal group in India who told me that among this group in the past few years, there have been seven cases of bringing dead people back to life. When someone among them dies, the believers pray for about three-and-one-half hours after his or her death. After that, if the person has not come back to life, the elders give the signal to prepare the corpse for burial.

Caring for the needy. As governments throughout the world are cutting welfare budgets these days, the church can once again expect to play a major role in caring for the needy. Tabitha’s care for the needy is presented as a model to the church. I will go so far as to say that a good test of Christian character is how people treat those considered unimportant in society, especially when no one is looking. Those of us who are leaders should not be too influenced by special concern showed to us. The true test is whether special concern is shown to the needy. Many Christian women have distinguished themselves in God’s kingdom by their service to the needy. Some were widows who may have not had much strength and means left. But they did what they could, and they left their mark in the lives of the people they touched.

Such concern may not be known to others because of the Christian principle of not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing (Matt. 6:3). But frequently what they have done emerges at funerals. In Acts 9 the poor were openly expressing their sorrow over Tabitha’s death. While eulogies from the rich and famous are impressive, words of gratitude from the poor and unknown are especially moving. The Earl of Shaftesbury (1801–1885) did much to improve the conditions of the poor and needy out of a Christian concern that was expressed in the arena of politics. When his coffin was being carried out of Westminster Abbey, a poor laborer in tattered garments, but with a piece of crepe sewed on his sleeve, was heard to say, “Our Earl’s gone! God A’mighty knows he loved us, and we loved him. We shant see his likes again.”8

[Ajith Fernando, Acts, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 312–314.]

“PETER’S MIRACLE MINISTRY” by Warren W. Wiersbe

What is the greatest miracle that God can do for us? Some would call the healing of the body God’s greatest miracle, while others would vote for the raising of the dead. However, I think that the greatest miracle of all is the salvation of a lost sinner. Why? Because salvation costs the greatest price, it produces the greatest results, and it brings the greatest glory to God.

In this section, we find Peter participating in all three miracles: he heals Aeneas, he raises Dorcas from the dead, and he brings the message of salvation to Cornelius and his household.

A Great Miracle—Healing the Body (Acts 9:32–35)

The Apostle Peter had been engaged in an itinerant ministry (Acts 8:25) when he found himself visiting the saints in Lydda, a largely Gentile city about twenty-five miles from Jerusalem. It is possible that the area had first been evangelized by people converted at Pentecost, or perhaps by faithful believers who had been scattered far and wide during the great persecution. No doubt Philip the evangelist had also ministered there (Acts 8:40).

We know very little about Aeneas. How old was he? Did he believe on Jesus Christ? Was he a Jew or a Gentile? All that Dr. Luke tells us is the man had been palsied for eight years, which meant he was crippled and helpless. He was a burden to himself and a burden to others, and there was no prospect that he would ever get well.

Peter’s first miracle had been the healing of a crippled man (Acts 3), and now that miracle was repeated. As you read the Book of Acts, you will see parallels between the ministries of Peter and Paul. Both healed cripples. Both were arrested and put into jail and were miraculously delivered. Both were treated like gods (Acts 10:25–26; 14:8–18), and both gave a bold witness before the authorities. Both had to confront false prophets (Acts 8:9–24; 13:6–12). No one reading the Book of Acts could end up saying, “I am for Paul!” or “I am for Peter!” (1 Cor. 1:12) “But it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1 Cor. 12:6).

The resurrected Christ, by the authority of His name, brought perfect soundness to Aeneas (see Acts 3:6, 16; 4:10). The healing was instantaneous, and the man was able to get up and make his bed. He became a walking miracle! Acts 9:35 does not suggest that the entire population of Lydda and Sharon were saved, but only all those who had contact with Aeneas. Just seeing him walk around convinced them that Jesus was alive and they needed to trust in Him. (See John 12:10–11 for a similar instance.)

You can be sure that Peter did much more in Lydda than heal Aeneas, as great and helpful as that miracle was. He evangelized, taught and encouraged the believers, and sought to establish the church in the faith. Jesus had commissioned Peter to care for the sheep (John 21:15–17), and Peter was faithful to fulfill that commission.

A Greater Miracle—Raising the Dead (Acts 9:36–43)

Joppa, the modern Jaffa, is located on the seacoast, some ten miles beyond Lydda. The city is important in Bible history as the place from which the Prophet Jonah embarked when he tried to flee from God (Jonah 1:1–3). Jonah went to Joppa to avoid going to the Gentiles, but Peter in Joppa received his call to go to the Gentiles! Because Jonah disobeyed God, the Lord sent a storm that caused the Gentile sailors to fear. Because Peter obeyed the Lord, God sent the “wind of the Spirit” to the Gentiles and they experienced great joy and peace. What a contrast!

It seemed so tragic that a useful and beloved saint like Dorcas (Tabitha=gazelle) should die when she was so greatly needed by the church. This often happens in local churches and it is a hard blow to take. In my own pastoral ministry, I have experienced the loss of choice saints who were difficult to replace in the church; yet, all we can say is, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

The believers in Joppa heard that Peter was in the area, and they sent for him immediately. There is no record in Acts that any of the Apostles had raised the dead, so their sending for Peter was an evidence of their faith in the power of the risen Christ. When our Lord ministered on earth, He raised the dead; so why would He not be able to raise the dead from His exalted throne in glory?

We usually think of the Apostles as leaders who told other people what to do, but often the people commanded them! (For Peter’s “philosophy of ministry” read 1 Peter 5.) Peter was a leader who served the people and was ready to respond to their call. Peter had the power to heal, and he used the power to glorify God and help people, not to promote himself.

It was a Jewish custom first to wash the dead body, and then to anoint it with spices for burial. When Peter arrived in the upper room where Dorcas lay in state, he found a group of weeping widows who had been helped by her ministry. Keep in mind that there was no “government aid” in those days for either widows or orphans, and needy people had to depend on their “network” for assistance. The church has an obligation to help people who are truly in need (1 Tim. 5:3–16; James 1:27).

The account of Peter’s raising of Dorcas should be compared with the account of our Lord’s raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:34–43). In both cases, the mourning people were put out of the room; and the words spoken are almost identical: “talitha cumi: little girl, arise; Tabitha cumi: Tabitha, arise.” Jesus took the girl by the hand before He spoke to her, for He was not afraid of becoming ceremonially defiled; and Peter took Dorcas by the hand after she had come to life. In both instances, it was the power of God that raised the person from the dead, for the dead person certainly could not exercise faith.

As with the healing of Aeneas, the raising of Dorcas attracted great attention and resulted in many people trusting Jesus Christ. During the “many days” that he tarried in Joppa, Peter took the opportunity to ground these new believers in the truth of the Word, for faith built on miracles alone is not substantial.

It was a good thing Peter tarried in Joppa, because God met with him there in a thrilling new way. God’s servants need not always be “on the go.” They should take time to be alone with God, to reflect and meditate and pray, especially after experiencing great blessings. Yes, there were plenty of sick people Peter might have visited and healed, but God had other plans. He deliberately detained His servant in Joppa to prepare him for his third use of “the keys.”

It is significant that Peter stayed in the home of a tanner, because tanners were considered “unclean” by the Jewish rabbis (see Lev. 11:35–40). God was moving Peter a step at a time from Jewish legalism into the freedom of His wonderful grace.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 443–444.

Question Needing Answers

Who is a Dorcas role model in your church, always helping people in need? How is this role part of God’s evangelism team? Is God calling you to be the Dorcas in your church?

Why do you think Luke recorded these two miracle stories in Acts 9:32–42?2.

What do these two miracle stories teach about Christ and the kingdom?

A Week’s Worth of Scripture

Monday

Proverbs 9:10 (CSB) 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Tuesday

Ecclesiastes 12:12–14 (CSB) 12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Wednesday

2 Corinthians 5:6–11 (CSB) 6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.

Thursday

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 (CSB) 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Friday

James 5:14–15 (CSB) 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Saturday

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 (CSB) 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

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