Acts 9:36-43 Here comes The Rock, aka Peter

Good evening y'all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

   Today has been a great day of fellowship and seeing how God takes care of potentially dangerous and ugly situations.  May tomorrow be a day filled with praise and glory for GOD.

  Acts 9: ³⁶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.

  Now remember, Peter had just cured a man of palsy and the Glory went to GOD, as it should.  However, now there is a damsel named Tabitha, aka Dorcas, who was full of good works and alms deeds for the LORD.

  Well, she is working away and then, and then.........she becomes ill.  Acts 9: ³⁷ And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.   And not only did she become ill, but she died.  What a tragedy to lose such a worker for GOD. So, what to do now but plan her burial. But, wait----there is another possibility.

Acts 9: ³⁸ And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.   The people heard about this man Peter and that he was near by-----well-----he just healed a man with palsy.  Hmmmm, wonder what he can do with a dead woman.  Let's get him and give it a go! Now understand these are disciples, NOT APOSTLES. There is a difference. We are disciples of Christ.

Acts 9: ⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.    When Peter arrived Tabitha had been washed in accordance with the Jewish custom of "purification of the dead" and prepared in the upper room.   Peter, doing as Jesus had done, sent the widows and other mourners out of the room.  Peter said, "Tabitha qumi (Tabitha arise).  The end result of the Holy Spirit being in Peter was that Tabitha (Dorcas) opened her eyes, sat up, gave her hand to Peter, and he presented her alive to all the saints and widows who waited outside.

  Because of GOD using Peter to perform this miracle, many throughout the region around Joppa believed in the LORD.

  Acts 9:⁴⁰ But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
⁴² And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Once Peter had done this Simon, a tanner, took him in showed hospitality to him. Acts 9: ⁴³ And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
You can perform these same miracles when you are right with God and it will bring honor and glory to God.  May you see the miracles in your life. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Acts 9: 32-35 Peter - what are you doing?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!

  So, Saul went back to Jerusalem, the disciples were fearful of him, UNTIL, they heard him preach the word of Jesus Christ the Messiah.  Yes, this would be a big BIG HUH??

As Gomer Pyle would say, "surprise, surprise, surprise."  Saul is now off to a new world he would never have dreamed about.  Verse 32 takes us to Peter.

  Acts 9: ³² And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.   The last we heard of Peter was in Acts 8:25 when he and John returned from Samaria.  Peter seems to have been ministering to the Christian communities of Judea.  He travels to Lydda, a city in ancient Philistine country, to minister to a Christian congregation there.  One of the believers of "The Way" was a man named Aeneas.  ³³ And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.   When Peter came upon this man he spoke saying:           Acts 9:³⁴ And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.³⁵ And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

  Peter, being full of faith, had no problem saying this to Aeneas.  Why did this happen?  All we do should bring honor and glory to God.  Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, walking with God each step of each moment of each day, and being in tune with God he knew what God wanted him to do.

  After Aeneas was healed notice what happened----- "all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron did what????????   They turned to the LORD.  This was in a plan of God and the miracle worked to change peoples hearts.  Wow!!

    So, why can't we just go into hospitals and heal each person?  The question that would rest here is:  Would this bring glory to God or.....to YOU??  Yep, God knows what is to be done at the exact moment.  We have to be open to be the messenger that God wants us to be at the time HE dictates.  Are you open to God?  Be still and know that I AM!!

  Peter is going to continue on. As he is in Lydda, well, let us do this tomorrow.  Have a GOD filled day. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Acts 9:26-31 Come on, Saul of Tarsus, NO WAY--- A DISCIPLE!?!??

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN. 

  Hey, if any of you have special prayers please email me and we can start a pray chain, oh, I know, no another one.  This would be one of our family and friends.

   Okay, let us get back to Saul of Tarsus.  He escaped being killed in Damascus by being lowered in a basket on the outside of the wall.  Now he is in Jerusalem and goes to the disciples.  But, wait,  caution on the side of the disciples.

   ²⁶ And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

  Why are they afraid?  Because he was the main persecutor of the members of The Way, Christians.  This man, how could you believe him; it is a trick.  Now understand, here walks a man, Saul of Tarsus, a man of whom The Way (Christians) are fearful.  Saul tends to be a loner in his mission for God, however, whenever a friend was needed God provided this man.  In this case, the cause for fear and hesitation on the part of the disciples, God steps in sending a man named Barnabas. Acts 9: ²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

  Exactly who is Barnabas?  “Barnabas” wasn’t his birth name (Joseph was), it was his nickname meaning “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). He was always encouraging, thus his name. Wow! What a legacy to leave.  Anyway, Barnabas presented Saul to the disciples as one who had truly been saved and did preach the word of Jesus the Messiah. Acts 9: ²⁸ And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

  When we speak of boldness we must think of Saul.  Why?  He left Jerusalem with papers from the High Priest to gather and imprison all the Christians.  Now, he is back in Jerusalem, not triumphantly with Christians going to prison; but preaching the good news of Jesus Christ the Messiah.  Yeah, he was not well received by the powers in the synagogue.  Saul speaks out boldly against the Grecian Jews and they plotted to have him slayed. 

  Saul, a new Christian, seems to jump from one hot bed of coals to another. Acts 9: ²⁹ And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

  Now, the disciples heard of the rumors and took action.  Acts 9: ³⁰ Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

  Now Saul is going back to his native Tarsus.  The churches probably heard Saul was coming, but something was different. Huh?  What is going on here? Acts 9: ³¹ Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

  When this says the churches rest throughout all Judaea, Galilee and Samaria it simply means they were not going through the persecution that Saul had once brought on them.  Jerusalem had not replaced him at this time.

   The churches had weathered this storm (others would follow) and they were edified.  Edify means to improve morally and/or intellectually. Soooo, these churches were growing, they feared the LORD, and had the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 

   Wow!! What a change!  We'll keep an eye on Saul (who doesn't become Paul until Acts 13) while watching another bold believer named Peter. (Yes, the one who denied Christ 3 times before the crucifixion) 

  Hope you are enjoying the study.  I am lovin' it!  Let me know your thoughts. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Acts 9:20-25 Saul does an about face, making people wonder, angering the Jews in the synagogue

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN.

    The eyesight was returned to Saul.  He ate, gained strength, and then began to preach in the synagogues.  Acts 9: ²⁰ And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

   What is going on here?  Here is the man who persecuted people for speaking of Jesus Christ, and now IS HE PREACHING JESUS?  Is he mad?  Has he lost his mind?  What is going on?  This had to be some of the thoughts of the Jews he persecuted.

  The people who heard him stood amazed, if not a bit confused. Acts 9: ²¹ But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

  This vile and evil man is switching sides?  Is this a trick?  What political group is paying him?  This is not the man we heard about!

  Acts 9:  ²² But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. ²³ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
  Saul increased the more in strength - I cannot help but believe not only did his physical strength become greater, but his spiritual strength grew greatly.  This did confuse the Jews and you would think they did not trust him.  Obviously this is true in v. 23 when the Jews took counsel to kill him.  He was not a silent cell trying to corrupt, he was vocal and probably, the Jews, thought polluting the minds of others.
  How do they silence him?  Kill him - that's the easy way.  So, what comes next in Acts 9:
²⁴ But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
²⁵ Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
It appears that a new convert alerted Saul of the plot to kill him.  Some commentaries say that a convert's home was on the wall and they lowered him down via a basket on the outside to escape the wrath and vengeance of the Jews.  Here is what one commentary says of Saul's conversion. In v.22 and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, now - "One can imagine the astonishment of those Jews in the synagogue at Damascus when they heard the man, whom they all respecte and to whom they looked for leadership in quenching the spreading flame of Christianity, stand up in their midst and proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as God.  The Damascus Jews were completely taken back; they could not believe their eyes or ears.  But Paul proved that his conversion was real." (King James Commentary, Nelson Publisher, Page 1351).
  God can do anything; God can do the impossible; God is limited by what we believe.  Do you truly believe, or know that it is the right thing to say in Christian circles?  Time to soul search. Love you all.  May you be as bold as Saul.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Acts 9:17-19 Ananias goes to Saul, a conversion occurs

Good morning all. It is a God morning. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN1

  Remember, GOD speaks to Ananias, tells him to go to Saul.  Ananias is leery as this man, Saul, is a persecutor of "The Way" - the Christians.  However he is obedient.  I do wonder though if what God said in verse 16 didn't help to sway Ananias some: 16 "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."  If you think about this, Paul had a "thorn in his side" of which never left. Hmmm!  Interesting.

   Okay,  Acts 9: ¹⁷ And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

   Woweeeee!  What a conversion.  Also, how many days was Saul blind and did not eat?  3 days!  Jesus returned after crucifixion in what?  3 days.  Coincidence?  Hmm!

  Now here is a man, a persecutor of the Jews who has had a revelation, a Come to Jesus meeting, and is totally reversing his belief.  Ananias understands now what God wants him to do, he does and knows the Holy Spirit will fill Saul.

  Ananias laid hands on Saul, and Acts 9: ¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

  Notice, God is involved and a key word here is IMMEDIATELY he, Saul, was blind no more, he got up, and was baptized.  Saul, after being baptized, regained his strength and spent time with the disciples at Damascus.

  Acts 9: ¹⁹ And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

  Wow - what a conversion.  Many of us need this come to Jesus meeting and a reminder of for whom and for what purpose are we here on earth. God is good.  Jesus called us to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Acts 9: 10-16 Saul is in Damascus, now a man named Ananias has a vision

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN.  Okay, a brief commercial for PRAYER!  God wishes to communicate with YOU, how often do you take just a moment in a quiet place once, twice or more a day and visit with YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN?  Think about this, if your family communicated with you as you do God would it be a good relationship?

   Okay, Saul is in Damascus, blind and has not had food or drink for 3 days.  What is to happen to him?  Can you even begin to imagine what you would be thinking if you were in his shoes?

   Acts 9: ¹⁰ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

   This man is in tune with God who speaks to him and he responds saying I am here Lord.

  Acts 9:   ¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, ¹² And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
  Now imagine this is you, you are Ananias.  God tells you to go to Saul of Tarsus. WHAT?  Have you lost your mind Lord? I am supposed to go to a man who seeks us out to destroy us? But, but, but...........
  Ananias, a man of God, but not a stupid man responds to God with: 
¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
¹⁴ And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
   Ananias knows of Saul, knows of the evil he has done, has authority from the chief priests, and yet, you, LORD, want me to go to this man?  Can we talk, please?  God speaks:  ¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
¹⁶ For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
   Now, here is the time of obedience or disobedience for Ananias.  We find ourselves in this situation often.  He knows the LORD is speaking to him, he knows what Saul of Tarsus has done and is capable of.  Imagine you being in this situation; God is speaking to you, you know GOD is all powerful, but you are living in the world and know the authority that Saul of Tarsus has.  God said he is a chosen vessel, yet, from the worldly view how is this possible?  It isn't, UNLESS, you are GOD, then we know HE can use anything for HIS good. This is what he is telling Ananias.
  The problem arises here is that we may take our eyes off GOD, and look at the world.  By doing so, a big fall in waiting in the shadows; yet, by being obedient I know GOD will bless me some way, some time, some how.  Soooooo........
   Who do I trust - GOD - or what I know of the world? We know what Ananias will do, but, - Where do you stand right now, today?  Trusting God or relying on what you know of the world?  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny 

Acts 9:6-9 Saul is trembling and astonished

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Thank you for your prayers for Erin Gerometta.  She is home recovering at this time.

   Okay, remember, Saul has a letter in hand, going to Damascus to "squelch" the "way", the Christians, bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.  Suddenly, on the road this brilliant light comes forth,  This light blinds Saul and SPEAKS to Saul.  The brilliant light asks, "why doeth thou persecute me", yes, Saul is trembling, astonished and asks who this is. The light speaks and says, "I am Jesus ......"

   Acts 9: ⁶ And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

  Now, Saul is scared, almost to death, and asks what would Jesus want him to do.  Jesus only gives him a command - get up, go into the city and instructions will follow.  Wow!!! What a "COME TO JESUS MEETING THIS WAS!!"

  ⁷ And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

   The other men with Saul were speechless.  Now here is says "hearing a voice" but if you will study the Greek this is the verb akouo , which means to hear something. In Luke 22:9 he says they heard not the voice.  The men with Saul heard something, but did not understand it.  Basically it would be just sounds they hear, but did not understand what was being said.  You might compare it to our hearing Vietnamese, we hear sounds, but understand nothing. :)

  ⁸ And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

  When Saul got up off the ground, opened his eyes, he was BLIND.  The men with him led him into Damascus (where he was on a mission to eliminate "The Way").  

   ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Can you imagine the fear that was within Saul, being 3 days unable to see and so distraught that he did not eat or drink?  Wow!  In 2 Corthinians 12:1-4 Paul mentions this experience.  Saul is probably thinking what is happening, what did I do?  I am only doing God's work.  Why am I blind?  OR, maybe, the experience caused him to re-evaluate his position and what he thought he was doing was in God's will.  

   A good lesson for us. Am I doing God's will, or gods will?  Yes, there is a difference - one being spiritual and one being secular (of the world).  Do you truly love your neighbor or just tolerate them? Are you doing God's will or your will?  Food for thought. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny