What About Dorcas?
What about Dorcas?
Last week we studied about the miracle of new life that God gave to Saul (known to us as Apostle Paul). Only God has the power to grant for all life both physical and spiritual. Saul the murderer has been transformed by the power of God. We learned of Paul that “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?” Acts 9:20-21. Saul (Paul) will suffer as Jesus predicted and “the Jews conspired to kill him.” Vs.25.
Today, we learn of another miracle of life for the purpose of prospering the spread of the good news of Jesus. Everything God does have a purpose. Dorcas, a believer in Jesus was sick and died and has been raised from the dead through the ministry of Apostle Peter. God can use us while alive and while physically dead to prosper the Gospel. Dorcas was a case in point.
Acts 9:36-43
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas[b]), 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.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Dorcas was not just a believer but one who put into practice her faith. Her faith was at work; she was “always doing good and helping the poor” and also vs. 39b. James said this is true and pure religion, “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” James 1:27. We are not saved by good works but we are saved to do good works. I know of many Dorcas around me. Are you a Dorcas, putting your faith in action?
2. Sickness and death does not discriminate between believers and non-believers in Christ. All die. Dorcas was sick and died (her body had been washed for burial in accordance with Jewish tradition vs.37). We were not told of the sickness. The Church at Joppa must have prayed but she still died. God will use her death to show his power to raise the dead and bring many to believing in the name of Jesus.
3. Look at those who were crying for Dorcas. “All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him (i.e. Peter) the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them” vs.39b. Would anyone cry for you and me if we were to die today? We must leave a mark here for the good God has deposited in us. Freely we have received; freely we must give to others.
4. Apostle Peter was called and he came from Lydda where he was visiting other believers in Christ. Joppa and Lydda are two towns north of Jerusalem. Lydda is actually in between Jerusalem and Joppa, so God had already positioned Peter for this great miracle. With God, all things are possible and nothing takes Him by surprise. I believe those who sent for Peter must have been listening to the Holy Spirit. I do not think they were in the normal habit of looking for a miracle to raise the dead.
5. I am still wondering why Peter had to send everyone out of the room before praying for Dorcas. Maybe he did not want to confuse emotions with faith. The emotions would have been saying it is over, she is already dead. Peter had also learned from the Master Jesus who in one occasion sent people away before raising a young girl from dead (Matthew 10: 18-26). It says to me that you do not need the crowd cheering in order to step out in faith. Peter did not want the “nay Sayers” around. We must avoid the nay Sayers in our lives if we are going to accomplish God’s purposes. Have you any nay Sayers or faith-quenchers? Politely say no to them and kick them out of the room. Nay Sayers are not necessarily enemies per se. It is just that at this time the nay Sayers are at a different wave length of faith. Let’s be patient with the “nay Sayers”. We have all been in that position at least once before.
6. God raised Dorcas from dead and Peter presented her to the people. “42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord”. The purpose for the healing has been fulfilled. Many people in Joppa (and possibly beyond) believed in the lord Jesus as the Son of God. Do you believe? You do not need another miracle to believe. What are you waiting for? Even Dorcas who was raised from dead later must have died. Dorcas is not physically alive right now but she is still alive. Our physical healing though it is important and sometimes necessary, is still not the ultimate. Have you been healed from inside out?
Jesus said to Martha and to you and me, 25"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26. This is the gospel of Christ. I thank God that though I will die, I will live and never die again. This is worth living for! Is this what you are looking for or are you looking for something else? Let’s give this great HOPE to all mankind. Amen.
Last week we studied about the miracle of new life that God gave to Saul (known to us as Apostle Paul). Only God has the power to grant for all life both physical and spiritual. Saul the murderer has been transformed by the power of God. We learned of Paul that “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?” Acts 9:20-21. Saul (Paul) will suffer as Jesus predicted and “the Jews conspired to kill him.” Vs.25.
Today, we learn of another miracle of life for the purpose of prospering the spread of the good news of Jesus. Everything God does have a purpose. Dorcas, a believer in Jesus was sick and died and has been raised from the dead through the ministry of Apostle Peter. God can use us while alive and while physically dead to prosper the Gospel. Dorcas was a case in point.
Acts 9:36-43
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas[b]), 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.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Dorcas was not just a believer but one who put into practice her faith. Her faith was at work; she was “always doing good and helping the poor” and also vs. 39b. James said this is true and pure religion, “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” James 1:27. We are not saved by good works but we are saved to do good works. I know of many Dorcas around me. Are you a Dorcas, putting your faith in action?
2. Sickness and death does not discriminate between believers and non-believers in Christ. All die. Dorcas was sick and died (her body had been washed for burial in accordance with Jewish tradition vs.37). We were not told of the sickness. The Church at Joppa must have prayed but she still died. God will use her death to show his power to raise the dead and bring many to believing in the name of Jesus.
3. Look at those who were crying for Dorcas. “All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him (i.e. Peter) the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them” vs.39b. Would anyone cry for you and me if we were to die today? We must leave a mark here for the good God has deposited in us. Freely we have received; freely we must give to others.
4. Apostle Peter was called and he came from Lydda where he was visiting other believers in Christ. Joppa and Lydda are two towns north of Jerusalem. Lydda is actually in between Jerusalem and Joppa, so God had already positioned Peter for this great miracle. With God, all things are possible and nothing takes Him by surprise. I believe those who sent for Peter must have been listening to the Holy Spirit. I do not think they were in the normal habit of looking for a miracle to raise the dead.
5. I am still wondering why Peter had to send everyone out of the room before praying for Dorcas. Maybe he did not want to confuse emotions with faith. The emotions would have been saying it is over, she is already dead. Peter had also learned from the Master Jesus who in one occasion sent people away before raising a young girl from dead (Matthew 10: 18-26). It says to me that you do not need the crowd cheering in order to step out in faith. Peter did not want the “nay Sayers” around. We must avoid the nay Sayers in our lives if we are going to accomplish God’s purposes. Have you any nay Sayers or faith-quenchers? Politely say no to them and kick them out of the room. Nay Sayers are not necessarily enemies per se. It is just that at this time the nay Sayers are at a different wave length of faith. Let’s be patient with the “nay Sayers”. We have all been in that position at least once before.
6. God raised Dorcas from dead and Peter presented her to the people. “42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord”. The purpose for the healing has been fulfilled. Many people in Joppa (and possibly beyond) believed in the lord Jesus as the Son of God. Do you believe? You do not need another miracle to believe. What are you waiting for? Even Dorcas who was raised from dead later must have died. Dorcas is not physically alive right now but she is still alive. Our physical healing though it is important and sometimes necessary, is still not the ultimate. Have you been healed from inside out?
Jesus said to Martha and to you and me, 25"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26. This is the gospel of Christ. I thank God that though I will die, I will live and never die again. This is worth living for! Is this what you are looking for or are you looking for something else? Let’s give this great HOPE to all mankind. Amen.
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