WEBVTT - Bedridden

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<v Speaker 1>Let us pray. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus

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<v Speaker 1>Christ maketh thee whole. Arise, and make thy bed. And

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<v Speaker 1>he arose immediately. Acts 9.34 I want to thank you, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>for all the years that you've loved me and guided

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<v Speaker 1>me to get me to where I am now. As

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<v Speaker 1>I stand before others, May my testimony serve as a

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<v Speaker 1>badge of honor to your goodness and faithfulness to those

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<v Speaker 1>who love and serve you. Don't let anyone for one

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<v Speaker 1>moment doubt your faithfulness and goodness when they look at

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<v Speaker 1>all that you've done in my life. Like Tabitha and

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<v Speaker 1>Aeneas in today's reading, I acknowledge that you have given

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<v Speaker 1>me the power to speak life into people who have

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<v Speaker 1>been bedridden and sidelined in life. When I come face

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<v Speaker 1>to face with these situations, I will activate the same

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<v Speaker 1>faith that Peter used to heal all those he came

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<v Speaker 1>in contact with. I will not doubt whether or not

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<v Speaker 1>it will happen. Instead, I will put my faith in

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<v Speaker 1>you and watch as your spirit fills them so that

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<v Speaker 1>you can get the glory. In Jesus' name.

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<v Speaker 2>Amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for

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<v Speaker 1>an incredible Bible story brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.

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<v Speaker 2>Bedridden. In our last story... The evil intentions of Saul

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<v Speaker 2>the persecutor were thwarted by the presence of Jesus himself.

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<v Speaker 2>As Saul was on the road to drag Christians out

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<v Speaker 2>of their homes and imprison them, Jesus threw him off

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<v Speaker 2>his horse and blinded him. For three days Saul wept

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<v Speaker 2>in darkness, but his sight was restored and he could

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<v Speaker 2>see the true light of Christ. Now we follow Peter

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<v Speaker 2>on his journey to Lydda and Joppa. There he visits

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<v Speaker 2>the bedsides of two specific peoples. People who would walk

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<v Speaker 2>again to experience joy everlasting, inspired by the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 3>Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible

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<v Speaker 3>in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want

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<v Speaker 3>to let you know about a unique e-book that's yours

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<v Speaker 3>to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress.

0:02:46.639 --> 0:02:48.990
<v Speaker 3>And my prayer is that it will help you conquer

0:02:49.050 --> 0:02:52.389
<v Speaker 3>the daily tasks and pressures and burdens that bring stress

0:02:52.430 --> 0:02:56.109
<v Speaker 3>in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free

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<v Speaker 3>from Stress today by visiting jackgram.org slash stress. That's jackgram.org

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<v Speaker 3>slash stress. In our previous episode, we heard of Saul's

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<v Speaker 3>amazing conversion experience on the Damascus Road. He was on

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<v Speaker 3>his way to persecute Christians, to take Christians' lives, But

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus arrested him and took him himself as a brand

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<v Speaker 3>new believer and follower of the Savior. When Saul came

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<v Speaker 3>face to face with Jesus, the very one that he

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<v Speaker 3>was persecuting, Jesus changed his life forever. And this man

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<v Speaker 3>then embraced his calling to take the gospel to the world.

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<v Speaker 3>He was a chosen vessel. Today we'll hear how the

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<v Speaker 3>Apostle Peter then journeys to take the good news of

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<v Speaker 3>the risen Savior around the world. Filled with God's power,

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<v Speaker 3>he will bring physical and spiritual healing to the sick

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<v Speaker 3>and the hurting and the lame and the broken, even

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<v Speaker 3>restoring one life that had died. In all of it,

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<v Speaker 3>God's name, the name of Jesus, will be glorified as

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<v Speaker 3>more and more people, multitudes, are embracing the message of

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus Christ. So once again, let's hear our reading from

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<v Speaker 3>the book of Acts.

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<v Speaker 2>Peter walked the streets of Lydda with purpose. The small

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<v Speaker 2>city was filled with people who were not close to

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<v Speaker 2>the ministry of Jesus on earth, therefore in need of

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<v Speaker 2>hearing his gospel. There was a small community of believers there.

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<v Speaker 2>They ministered among the people, feeding the poor and preaching

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<v Speaker 2>liberty from the shame of sin. Yet there was a

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<v Speaker 2>specific need that drew Peter there. A man named Aeneas

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<v Speaker 2>was in the city. He was a man in need

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<v Speaker 2>of a miracle. Aeneas sat up in his bed looking

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<v Speaker 2>out the window. The sun peered in through the small space,

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<v Speaker 2>causing rays of afternoon sunshine to fill his bedroom. It

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<v Speaker 2>was the greatest part of his day. For eight years

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<v Speaker 2>he had been paralyzed and bedridden. Month after month, Aeneas

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<v Speaker 2>would relive the same nightmare of pain and purposelessness. That

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<v Speaker 2>was until a stranger peeked in through the door. The

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<v Speaker 2>man was tall and broad. He held the holy and

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<v Speaker 2>quiet demeanor of a caring priest, but he wore the

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<v Speaker 2>tattered clothes of a fisherman. Aeneas... he asked. Aeneas gave

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<v Speaker 2>a curious nod. I am Peter, sent by Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>It is him who heals you at this moment. Rise

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<v Speaker 2>up and make your bed. And immediately Aeneas dangled his

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<v Speaker 2>legs over the side of the bed. With a small

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<v Speaker 2>leap of faith, he stood to his feet. He leapt

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<v Speaker 2>for joy and ran outside, and all the citizens of

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<v Speaker 2>Lydda rejoiced and came to know Christ. Meanwhile, in the

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<v Speaker 2>city of Joppa, there was a disciple by the name

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<v Speaker 2>of Tabitha, Her devotion to the character and ministry of

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus was staggering, and the whole city was blessed because

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<v Speaker 2>of her. She cared for the sick and lonely. She

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<v Speaker 2>ministered to the brokenhearted, and she did so with joy.

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<v Speaker 2>She reflected Christ in her city and set an example

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<v Speaker 2>for what it meant to follow Christ. However, even the

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<v Speaker 2>pure can be sick. Even the strong can become weak.

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<v Speaker 2>In the prime of her ministry, Tabitha became ill to

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<v Speaker 2>the point of death. Her friends washed her lifeless body.

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<v Speaker 2>Tears filled the upper room where she lay. They could

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<v Speaker 2>not believe that this beautiful soul would be taken from

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<v Speaker 2>them so quickly. They closed the door to the upper

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<v Speaker 2>room where Tabitha lay and went downstairs. They wept all night.

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<v Speaker 2>There was no ceasing to the heartache of death. Even

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<v Speaker 2>though Jesus had ridden the final sting of death, they

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<v Speaker 2>were still filled with sorrow over their loss. That was

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<v Speaker 2>until a stranger peeked in through the door. The man

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<v Speaker 2>was tall and broad. He held the holy and quiet

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<v Speaker 2>demeanor of a caring priest, but he wore the tattered

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<v Speaker 2>clothes of a fisherman. Is this where Tabitha lays? the

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<v Speaker 2>man asks. The friends nodded, skeptical of the man's intentions.

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<v Speaker 2>I am Peter, and I have come to see Tabitha.

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<v Speaker 2>So they led Peter into the upper room. They had

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<v Speaker 2>heard of Peter, the apostle of Jesus. They knew that

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<v Speaker 2>God was active in his life. They knew that a

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<v Speaker 2>miracle was not only possible, but probable. Peter closed the

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<v Speaker 2>door to the upper room. The room was filled with

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<v Speaker 2>incense to mask the smell of death. Its musk made

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<v Speaker 2>Peter's lungs feel heavy. Under the dimly lit candlelight, Tabitha

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<v Speaker 2>could be seen lying on a bed. Peter took a

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<v Speaker 2>few steps forward and knelt down slowly at her side.

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<v Speaker 2>He held her hand. It was cold and callous. No

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<v Speaker 2>doubt she was a woman well acquainted with hard work.

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<v Speaker 2>From what Peter had heard, her hands were used to

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<v Speaker 2>the glory of God. Peter squeezed her lifeless hand tightly

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<v Speaker 2>and whispered Tabitha, arise. The hand Peter held began to

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<v Speaker 2>squeeze back, and color was restored to Tabitha's face and limbs.

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<v Speaker 2>Her eyes slowly opened to see Peter's smiling face looking

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<v Speaker 2>back at her. Peter laughed, and Tabitha wept with tears

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<v Speaker 2>of joy. The two exchanged a few words, but it

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<v Speaker 2>was brief, since an excited mob of widows and believers

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<v Speaker 2>stormed the room. They hugged and kissed her. Words of

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<v Speaker 2>her healing spread everywhere. And Tabitha wore her testimony like

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<v Speaker 2>a banner of God's faithfulness.

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<v Speaker 3>We begin today's reading in the city of Lydda, many

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<v Speaker 3>miles to the north of Jerusalem. Despite increased persecution and

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<v Speaker 3>danger for the believers, Peter had not ceased to go

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<v Speaker 3>from place to place with the gospel message. In Lydda,

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<v Speaker 3>he found a man named Aeneas who had been confined

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<v Speaker 3>to his bed for eight years. Eight years of pain

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<v Speaker 3>and sufferings. He was stuck in his home with little

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<v Speaker 3>hope of being made well. But the Lord guided Peter

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<v Speaker 3>to his house. Peter entered the house and spoke to

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<v Speaker 3>Aeneas saying, Jesus heals you and told him to get

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<v Speaker 3>up and make his bed. If you've ever lived in

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<v Speaker 3>a small town, you know how fast word spreads. And

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<v Speaker 3>that's exactly what happened in this little town. Everyone knew

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<v Speaker 3>Aeneas was paralyzed and confined to his bed. So when

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<v Speaker 3>they saw him walking around completely healed, They were amazed

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<v Speaker 3>and glorified God. Through one physical healing, God then opened

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<v Speaker 3>the door for spiritual healing, salvation for many people. Listen

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<v Speaker 3>to what Acts 9.35 says, And all the residents of

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<v Speaker 3>Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

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<v Speaker 3>Not just one city, but two. All who lived there

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<v Speaker 3>turned to the Lord. We then heard of a woman

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<v Speaker 3>in the nearby town of Joppa named Tabitha. Tabitha was

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<v Speaker 3>a believer who was busy going about the work of Christ.

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<v Speaker 3>We're told that she was full of good deeds and charity, generosity.

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<v Speaker 3>In other words, she cared for the needs of people

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<v Speaker 3>around her. Tabitha lived out the Lord's command to love

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<v Speaker 3>her neighbor. And yet she became sick and died. Following

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus does not automatically mean that the will of God

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<v Speaker 3>is easy with life and health and prosperity, or even

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<v Speaker 3>a long life. And so this woman died. Her friends

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<v Speaker 3>were not ready to say goodbye to Tabitha, however. So

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<v Speaker 3>they cleaned her body and laid her in an upper

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<v Speaker 3>room and then sent word to Peter, who came right away.

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<v Speaker 3>When he arrived, he went into the home to the

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<v Speaker 3>upper room where Tabitha lay. Just as Jesus had done

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<v Speaker 3>when he went to the home of Jairus to raise

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<v Speaker 3>his daughter from the dead Peter spoke to Tabitha, telling

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<v Speaker 3>her to arise. Peter was carrying on the healing ministry

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<v Speaker 3>of Jesus, even raising the dead to life. Peter then

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<v Speaker 3>presented Tabitha to her friends and family, and many turned

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<v Speaker 3>to the Lord as a result of her resurrection. Today,

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<v Speaker 3>we are reminded that God's miracle-working power has the ability

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<v Speaker 3>of drawing people to himself. God still cares for those

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<v Speaker 3>who are hurting. We saw the compassionate heart of Christ

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<v Speaker 3>going about doing good and helping those who were hurting

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<v Speaker 3>and healing the sick and even raising the dead. And

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<v Speaker 3>in the same way, there is a desire in the

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<v Speaker 3>heart of those of us who follow Jesus to help

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<v Speaker 3>hurting people, to bless those who need the blessing of God,

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<v Speaker 3>and especially those who need to hear the witness of

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<v Speaker 3>the gospel and to turn to Christ. Our mission as

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<v Speaker 3>the followers of Jesus is to preach the gospel and

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<v Speaker 3>to help people know and follow our Lord. We, like

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<v Speaker 3>the Apostle Peter in this case, need to be attentive

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<v Speaker 3>and alert to opportunities all around us to share the

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<v Speaker 3>good news of Jesus. Let us always be available to

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<v Speaker 3>help people discover the power of God in their lives.

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<v Speaker 3>Let's pray. Dear Jesus, we know that you have come

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<v Speaker 3>to bring healing and wholeness to the world. May your

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<v Speaker 3>message of hope and salvation go to the ends of

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<v Speaker 3>the earth through your witnesses. May we as your followers

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<v Speaker 3>keep our eyes open for the opportunities to obey you

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<v Speaker 3>in sharing this good news. For we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

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<v Speaker 3>Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

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<v Speaker 3>Before we go, I want to let you know about

0:12:02.710 --> 0:12:07.240
<v Speaker 3>a unique e-book that's yours to download absolutely free today.

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<v Speaker 3>It's called Breaking Free from Stress. And my prayer is

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<v Speaker 3>that it will help you conquer the daily task and

0:12:13.880 --> 0:12:17.740
<v Speaker 3>pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download

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<v Speaker 3>your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by

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<v Speaker 3>visiting jackgram.org slash stress. That's jackgram.org slash stress.