Acts 9:36-43 (MSG)
29 April 2007
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fort Ord Chapel
Seaside, California
BIG IDEA: Whenever Prayer and the Power of God’s Word is present, there is new life to overcome spiritual handicaps.
References: Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV); Acts 12:1-19 (James Killed and Peter Imprisoned; Peter is Rescued); Acts 9:32-43 (The Healing of Aeneas, and Tabitha Restored to Life); Romans 13:8 (KJV) … Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.; 2 Kings 4:18-33 (KJV) Elisha raises the Shunammite’s son to life; John 14:13-14 (ESV) Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it; John 16:23-24 (ESV) In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Acts 9:36-43 (MSG)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Acts 9:36-43 (MSG)
III. READ THE TEXT: Acts 9:37,40 (MSG) During the time Peter was in the area she became sick and died. Her friends prepared her body for burial and put her in a cool room. Peter put the widows all out of the room. He knelt and prayed. Then he spoke directly to the body: “Tabitha, get up.”
IV. PURPOSE: Motivate the hearers to affirm to others that whenever Prayer and the Power of God’s Word is present, there is new life to overcome the spiritual handicaps.
V. INTRODUCTION:
The Word of God says in Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV):
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
There are many believers, within our Ord Military Community of Faith, that aren’t slacking when it comes to doing Good Deeds and Helping Out the Less Fortunate.
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MOVE 1: In fact, many of you in attendance are affiliated with social agencies such as “I Help” which assist in feeding the hungry;
a. while others are members of agencies which provide shelter for the homeless in Seaside, Watsonville, Salinas, and our surrounding communities.
b. As one of the pastors at this chapel, I am proud to say that many of you have demonstrated, on a regular basis, your love for humankind when opportunities have arose.
c. For instance, next Sunday this chapel will have a designated offering for WATCOM Ministries - a ministry that stretches arms of care across the world into the Continent of Africa.
d. It goes without saying that many of you will voluntarily participate in that designated offering. And on behalf of our Senior Pastor - Chaplain (LTC) Daniel Minjares … many thanks to you in advance!
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MOVE 2: In our text, this morning, we find a female disciple whose Greek name is Dorcas; but her Hebrew name is Tabitha, which is Aramaic for “gazelle” or DEER Everyday.
a. Many theologians believe that Tabitha befriended poor widows who lived in the city of Joppa – the same place from which Jonah fled as he tried to avoid the Lord’s command to go to Nineveh.
b. Many believe that she was wealthy and well-educated. But her real riches were her good deeds.
c. She was full of good deeds and constantly enriched the lives of others through her acts of charity to the less fortunate.
d. Like the Proverbs’ 31 Woman (in Proverbs 31:19-20); Tabitha was an Industrious Woman who puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, …while her fingers took the wheel….(Bible in Basic English)
e. Nevertheless, according to our text, while Peter was nearby ( 10 miles away in Lydda), Tabitha became sick and died.
f. Now, my brothers and my sisters, the Bible doesn’t state the cause of her illness;
g. All we know is that it seems like Tabitha rapidly became worse … and her death was an unexpected shock to her friends and the entire Christian community.
h. So, the believers did the only thing they knew they could do … they sent for Peter – The Man of God.
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MOVE 3: Mother Teresa, one of the great Saints of the Catholic Community once said, “Love is repaid by love alone”.
a. Nevertheless, I submit to you this morning, as Christians, sometime our good deeds and charitable efforts can be interrupted by circumstances beyond our control;
b. our good deeds and charitable efforts can be interrupted by obstacles that we didn’t see coming; and neither did anyone else.
c. One might be spiritually paralyzed, …
d. … while another is spiritually dying and death is inevitable.
e. Good deeds and efforts to help out others are suddenly lifeless and spiritually handicapped!
f. Our once progressive ministry suddenly stops.
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MOVE 4: It’s not quite clear how one has reached the dead-zone; but it’s clear that one is here!
a. In the dead-zone, prayer is just a routine … and isn’t taken seriously enough to acquire a miracle from God on it’s own.
b. Someone else’s prayer, like that of Peter, is needed for a miracle to happen.
c. Everyone around is seemly holding on to … and showing-off what has been done in the past!
d. But, we can’t move forward backing up.
e. What was done in the past was awesome!
f. No one can or should discredit the old works, and the awesome ministry of the old life.
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MOVE 5: But, God has a plan for new works and new life.
a. Resurrection Power and Spiritual Elevation is just a prayer away.
b. Someone said that “Prayer Changes Things”.
c. If we listen to God’s Word … and with the right attitude follow His precepts …
d. … Soon new life and new altitude in God will be evident.
e. Our Spiritual Eyes will be Open.
f. And like Tabitha, we will … under the power of Jesus’ might … GET UP from where we are with refreshed ideas, renewed power, and spiritual vigor.
****************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 6: In her book, “Powerful Sayings To Keep You Praying”, Phyllis Lee Terry says several memorable quotes about prayer – some of which I have chosen to share with you:
a. More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.
b. We stand the tallest when we are on our knees.
c. You can not stumble if you are on your knees.
d. The power of prayer is not in the words you pray, the place you pray, the way you pray nor how loud or long you pray, but in the One to Whom you pray.
e. Prayer is a powerful thing for God has bound and tied himself thereto. None can believe how powerful prayer is and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience.
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MOVE 7: Whenever Prayer and the Power of God’s Word is present, new life emerges to enable us to overcome our spiritual handicaps.
a. For who can ever forget the story of how the Apostle Peter was rescued from prison shortly after James was killed?
b. For don’t you remember, Herod had imprisoned Peter with the intent to kill him after the Passover.
c. But the Bible declares that the church in Jerusalem prayed intensively for him.
d. Believers prayed without ceasing. As a result, when Herod was about to have him brought out … God moved.
e. Peter in his jail cell was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, …
f. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell.
g. He struck Peter on the side and woke him saying, Get up quickly, …
h. And the chains fell off his hands, and the angel said to him, Dress yourself and put on your sandals (Tell the rest of the story).
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CELEBRATION:
Because of prayer and and the Power of God’s Word is present,
there is new life and new opportunity to overcome spiritual handicaps …
and TABITHA is commanded to … GET UP …
