Will
we come alive in 2005? First we
will have to ask ourselves if we need to be revived? What would you like to see the church become in 2005?
What would you like to see happen in our community in the coming year?
What would you like to accomplish this year in your Christian life?
We can come alive in 2005 if we seek the giver of all life.
Do we see the need of coming back to life?
Within this article I have included the account of the resurrection of
a believer named Tabitha or Dorcas. Dorcas
was a devote women who worked to do good and to help others.
When she got sick there were many who were sad and they wanted to see
her revived. So, they sent for
the preacher by the name of Peter. In
our time and culture there is always a great void of those who would do good.
Everyone is too busy, they don’t want to help someone else, or they
just don’t care. Is there a
need to revive those who would want to do good and help others in the name of
the Lord, Jesus Christ. Don’t
you miss them? I do.
Here is the story of what happened when Peter came to see Dorcas.
Scripture
Text:
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there
was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas{[36] Both
Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek) mean gazelle.}), who was always doing
good and helping the poor.
37 About
that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an
upstairs room.
38 Lydda 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!"
39 Peter
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.
40 Peter 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.
41 He 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.
42 This
became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
43
Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Peter
saw the need. Do we see the need
or do we like things the way they are? Peter
immediately recognized that Dorcas or Tabitha needed to be revived.
She was needed to continue to do the work and the people there missed
her.
Peter
had the faith to believe. Do we
believe it could happen? Mat. 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,
Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible unto you.
Peter
prayed for God to bring about a change. Will
we pray? Peter recognized
that only God could bring the dead to life.
Zech 4:6 … This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Peter
called for Dorcas to wake up and revive!
Will we ask for a change to occur?
Hey, get up! Will
we ask for ourselves to get up? Will
we ask for a change in our lives, our church, and our community?
Peter
took her by the hand and helped her. Will
we be willing to do what we can to help?
Sometimes we need to put feet on
our prayers. Will we go?
Will we help? Will we
work? Will we do whatever needs to be done? Dorcas did good. Will
we?
See
the result!
This will become known and many people will be saved.
Let’s pray for revival! The
giver of life and love urges us to take Him at His word and pray for a
miracle. He wants us to be the
tools in his hand. He wants you to be used by Him to bring new life.
Let God.
Revive
me O’ God.
Revive
our love for you, o god.
Revive
our commitment to you.
Revive
our love for one another. Be kind
to one another.
Revive
our mission. We will become who
we were created to be.
Revive
our stewardship of time, talent, and treasures.
Revive
our submission to God and to one another.
Revive
our life. Breathing, moving,
warmth, reaching, eating, sleeping, working, giving, thinking,
A Disciple named Tabitha. Are you a disciple? A
learner and follower.
See what she did:
By this you know that she was a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The death of a disciple is
the death of a part of the church.
How do you know they are dead?
They are not there any more. What they did is no longer done.
You don’t see them. They
no longer take up space. People
are now without anyone to help to do good.
She was missed for good doing. People
were now hungry because there was no Dorcas to feed them. People were now cold because there was no Dorcas to give them
clothes. She was missed because
she had made a difference to those around her.
She went out to do good. Some
churches and some people will never be missed because they only live for
themselves, so when they are dead there is only their self who will be
missing. Look at the clothes that
Dorcas had made. Look at the good
that she has done. Look at all
the good you have done. The
people you have lead to the Lord. Look
at the people you have encouraged. Look
at the people you warmed with the love of God.
Look at the people who are now enjoying all the good you have done.
Praise the Lord!
There is help near by. There was a disciple who could help them.
Who is it? Could it be
you? They called Peter.
Has anyone called? Do they
know who to call? Do the people
know to call you if they need help? Can
you help them? Will you help
them?