Jehovah Rapha - The Lord Your Healer Series

Acts 9: 32 – 43

JEHOVAH RAPHA - THE LORD YOUR HEALER

32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. 35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

I have learned in live that there are two important contacts we need in life –a competent auto mechanic and a good doctor. In considering our physical needs we have to stop and realize that we have access to the best and greatest doctor Who ever lives. He was given His recognition before the world began as The Great Physician. The blessing that I have witnessed is that this Great Doctor is Alive and well and He still makes personal house calls. In His Mercy, Goodness, Kindness, and Love I have seen people have miraculous recoveries.

Scriptures tells us that He Is the same yesterday, today and forever. The apostle John in whom we are reviewing his Gospel and was a traveling companion of Peter wrote this in his first letter chapter 3, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

Yet, today many are not willing to ask the impossible of our Holy Great Physician. The question I ask is ‘why’? I think the answer is that mostly people are afraid that asking such a request because if it goes unanswered, it makes us look powerless and foolish to all those who hear our prayer request to our Master and King Lord Jesus Christ.

When our Holy Lord Jesus went back to Heaven He promised us The Holy Spirit. Paul writes this to us in his first letter to the Corinthians, “12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

So, as you know our Precious Holy Spirit was given to Peter as Pentecost. As he went forth proclaiming the Good News as we will look at today, some amazing miracles occurred. However, the key point we all need to understand is that no human has the capacities to do the miracles. Peter tells us that Jesus Is Alive and still working at the prayer requests of His people – ‘And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you.’