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July 30, 2010 "He Got Down on His Knees and Prayed" | | Scripture: Acts 9:36-42 | 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" 39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40Peter 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. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. | | Meditation: What great faith we see in the disciples. When Tabitha had died they send for Peter from Lydda with an expectation that he could do something for her.
Where do they get this type of faith (being sure of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see)? The strength of the disciples faith was based on the PROMISE of Jesus who said, "I tell you the truth anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:12-14) Jesus promised that the disciples would perform miracles just as he did, by his power and according to his name in order to glorify the Father. Faith is not mustering up some supernatural awakening of the spirit in us but rather our spirit coming in line with the Spirit of God which has granted us the revelation of the truth of God in Christ and being able to trust his certain promises. What is your faith based on? Your sheer will power or in the trusty promises of God in Scriptures? Go to the Word today and claim, by faith, a certain promise of God.
"Lord Jesus, make may faith authentic and real as I claim the Word of the God as truth and expect your promises (in Scripture) to come true and not rely on my own strength to muster up great faith." |
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