Acts 9:32-43 Aeneas and Dorcas

Miracles abound in the book of Acts. One of them is the healing of Aeneas, a paralytic who was bedridden for eight years. It is astonishing to read how a word spoken by Peter heals this man after so many years of suffering. It is important to understand that it is not Peter's resources that bring about the miracle. Peter clearly states "Jesus Christ heals you." Yes, Jesus Christ is our healer! Peter is just an instrument in God's hands. Healing is a manifestation gift. God chooses whom he wants to heal and when and how. If we could have healing in our back pocket, we could empty out hospitals, but we can't. The ultimate purpose of miracles is to back up the preaching of the Gospel to have people turn to the Lord.

Lydda and Sharon were very strategic places during this time. Lydda was at the intersection between the road leading to Egypt and the road leading to the Mediterranean. It was a hub for commerce and cultural exchange. Of course, the story of a miracle like Aeneas' would spread very quickly in an area like this. It spread all the way to the Sharon valley, a very fertile and beautiful area on the Mediterranean coast. The preaching of the Gospel must be led by the Spirit. The Spirit is all about being strategic to spread the Gospel. What are some strategic places in our area where we can proclaim the Gospel?

Joppa was also a famous port on the Mediterranean in those days. Talk about strategic! Peter is called to pray for a woman named Tabitha (Hebrew) or Dorcas (Greek) who was very much loved by the people in her town. She was already dead when Peter arrives. Peter's dependence on the Spirit of God is demonstrated by his prayer before he prays for Dorcas. Peter asks people to leave him alone so he can focus on his prayer for guidance and direction. Again, the manifestation of the Spirit in the resurrection of Dorcas brought people in contact with the Gospel and many believed.

It is imperative to seek the guidance of the Spirit in the proclamation of the Gospel. I cannot depend on my own wisdom and resources for a task that has as its ultimate purpose the transformation of people's lives. The signs and the wonders are in God's hands and I should not be concerned with them. I must have faith and believe that God can work wondrous things in people's lives. I must also believe that God could use me as an instrument for his miraculous works. I should be on the lookout for strategic places and strategic relationships that could benefit the spread of the Gospel.

Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit. Teach me to listen and follow his guidance day by day. Grant me a keen sense for what is important for the Gospel proclamation and fill me with faith to believe that you can do the impossible in people's lives. Amen.