1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: Christ maketh thee whole arise and make thy bed, and 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: he arose immediately Acts nine thirty four. I want to 4 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: thank you, Lord for all the years that you've loved 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: me and guided me to get me to where I 6 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: am now. As I stand before others, May my testimony 7 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: serve as a badge of honor to your goodness and 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:38,480 Speaker 1: faithfulness to those who love and serve you. Don't let 9 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: any one for one moment doubt your faithfulness and goodness 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: when they look at all that you've done in my life. 11 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: Like Tabitha and Aeneas in today's reading, I acknowledge that 12 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: you have given me the power to speak life into 13 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: people who have been bedridden and sidelined in life. When 14 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: I come face to face with these situations, I will 15 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: activate the same faith that Peter used to heal all 16 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: those he came in contact with. I will not doubt 17 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: whether or not it will happen. Instead, I will put 18 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: my faith in you and watch as your spirit fills 19 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: them so that you can get the glory in Jesus name. Amen, 20 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me to day continue listening 21 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: for an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible 22 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: in a Year dot com bedridden. 23 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: In our last story, the evil intentions of Saul the 24 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: Persecutor were thwarted by the presence of Jesus himself. As 25 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 2: Saul was on the road to drag Christians out of 26 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: their homes and imprison them, Jesus threw him off his 27 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: horse and blinded him for three days. Saw wept in darkness, 28 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 2: but his sight was restored and he could see the 29 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: true light of Christ. Now we follow Peter on his 30 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 2: journey to Lida and Joppa. There he visits the bedsides 31 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 2: of two specific people, people who would walk again to 32 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: experience joy everlasting, inspired by the Book of Acts. 33 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 34 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. But before we began, I want 35 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours 36 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. Is called Breaking Free from Stress, 37 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 3: and my prayer is that it will help you conquer 38 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 3: the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress 39 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 3: in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free 40 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 3: from Stress today by visiting Jack Graham dot org slash stress. 41 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot Org Stress. In our previous episode, 42 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 3: we heard of Saul's amazing conversion experience on the Damascus Road. 43 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 3: He was on his way to persecute Christians, to take 44 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 3: Christians lives, but Jesus arrested him and took him himself 45 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 3: as a brand new believer and follower of the Savior. 46 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: When Saul came face to face with Jesus, the very 47 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 3: one that he was persecuting, Jesus changed his life forever, 48 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 3: and this man then embraced his calling to take the 49 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: Gospel to the world. He was a chosen vessel. Today 50 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 3: we'll hear how the apostle Peter then journeys to take 51 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 3: the good news of the risen Savior around the world. 52 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 3: Filled with God's power, he will bring physical and spiritual 53 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 3: healing to the sick and the hurting, and the lame 54 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 3: and the broken, even restoring one life that had died. 55 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 3: In all of it, God's name, the name of Jesus, 56 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 3: will be glorified as more and more people multi dudes, 57 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 3: are embracing the message of Jesus Christ. So once again 58 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 3: let's hear our reading from the Book of Acts. 59 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: Peter walked the streets of Lida with purpose. The small 60 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: city was filled with people who were not close to 61 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: the ministry of Jesus on earth, therefore in need of 62 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 2: hearing his gospel. There was a small community of believers there. 63 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,679 Speaker 2: They ministered among the people, feeding the poor, and preaching 64 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: liberty from the shame of sin. Yet there was a 65 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: specific need that drew Peter. There a man named Eneus 66 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 2: was in the city. He was a man in need 67 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: of a miracle. Eneus sat up in his bed, looking 68 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 2: out the window. The sun peered in through the small space, 69 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 2: causing rays of afternoon sunshine to fill his bedroom. It 70 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: was the greatest part of his day. For eight years, 71 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 2: he had been paralyzed and bedridden. Month after month, Eneus 72 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: would relive the same nightmare of pain and purposelessness. That 73 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: was until a stranger peeked in through the door. The 74 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: man was tall and broad. He held the holy and 75 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: quiet demeanor of a caring priest, but he wore the 76 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: tattered clothes of a fisherman. Eneus, he asked. Eneus gave 77 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 2: a curious nod. I am Peter, sent by Jesus Christ. 78 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: It is him who heals you. At this moment, Rise 79 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 2: up and make your bed, and immediately Eneus dangled his 80 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: legs over the side of the bed. With a small 81 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: leap of faith, he stood to his feet. He leapt 82 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: for joy and ran outside, and all the citizens of 83 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 2: Lyddah rejoiced and came to know Christ. Meanwhile, in the 84 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 2: siny of Joppa, there was a disciple by the name 85 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 2: of Tabitha. Her devotion to the character and ministry of 86 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: Jesus was staggering, and the whole city was blessed because 87 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: of her. She cared for the sick and lonely. She 88 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: ministered to the broken hearted, and she did so with joy. 89 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: She reflected Christ in her city and set an example 90 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: for what it meant to follow Christ. However, even the 91 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: pure can be sick, even the strong can become weak. 92 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 2: In the prime of her ministry, Tabitha became ill to 93 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: the point of death. Her friends washed her lifeless body. 94 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: Tears filled the upper room where she lay. They could 95 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: not believe that this beautiful soul would be taken from them. 96 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: So quickly they closed the door to the upper room 97 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: where Tabitha lay and went downstairs. They wept all night. 98 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: There was no ceasing to the heartache of death. Even 99 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: though Jesus had ridden the final sting of death. They 100 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 2: were still filled with sorrow over their loss. That was 101 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: until a stranger peeked in through the door. The man 102 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: was tall and broad. He held the wholy in quiet 103 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: demeanor of a caring priest, but he wore the tattered 104 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 2: clothes of a fisherman. Is this where Tabitha lays? The 105 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 2: man asks. The friends nodded, skeptical of the man's intentions. 106 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: I am Peter, and I have come to see Tabitha. 107 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 2: So they led Peter into the upper room. They had 108 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: heard of Peter the apostle of Jesus. They knew that 109 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 2: God was active in his life. They knew that a 110 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: miracle was not only possible, but probable. Peter closed the 111 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: door to the upper room. The room was filled with 112 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: incense to mask the smell of death. Its musk made 113 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 2: Peter's lungs feel heavy. Under the dimly lit candlelight, Tabitha 114 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 2: could be seen lying on a bed. Peter took a 115 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: few steps forward and knelt down slowly at her side. 116 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: He held her hand. It was cold and callous, no doubt. 117 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 2: She was a woman well acquainted with hard work. From 118 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: what Peter had heard. Her hands were used to the 119 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: glory of God. Peter squeezed her lifeless hand tightly and whispered, 120 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: Tabitha ariyes. The hand Peter held began to squeeze back, 121 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: and color was restored to Tabitha's face and limbs. Her 122 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 2: eyes slowly opened to see Peter's smiling face looking back 123 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: at her. Peter laughed and Tabitha wept with tears of joy. 124 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: The two exchanged a few words, but it was brief 125 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 2: since an excited mob of widows and believers stole to 126 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 2: the room. They hugged and kissed her. Words of her 127 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 2: healing spread, and Tabitha wore her testimony like a banner 128 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: of God's faithfulness. 129 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 3: We begin today's reading in the city of Lida, many 130 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 3: miles to the north of Jerusalem. Despite increased persecution and 131 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: danger for the believers, Peter had not ceased to go 132 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 3: from place to place with the Gospel message. In Lida, 133 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 3: he found a man named Aneas who had been confined 134 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 3: to his bed for eight years, eight years of pain 135 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 3: and suffering. He was stuck in his home with little 136 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 3: hope of being made well, but the Lord guided Peter 137 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 3: to his house. Peter entered the house and spoke to 138 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 3: Aneas saying, Jesus heals you, and told him to get 139 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: up and make his bed. If you've ever lived in 140 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 3: a small town, you know how fast word spreads. And 141 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: that's exactly what happened. In this little town. Everyone knew 142 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 3: Aneas was paralyzed and confined to his bed, so when 143 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 3: they saw him walking around completely healed, they were amazed 144 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 3: and glorified God. Through one physical healing, God then opened 145 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 3: the door for spiritual healing salvation for many people listened 146 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 3: to what Acts nine thirty five says, and all the 147 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: residents of Lydda and Charon saw him, and they turned 148 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 3: to the Lord. Not just one city, but two, All 149 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: who lived there turned to the Lord. We then heard 150 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 3: of a woman in the nearby town of Joppa named Tabitha. 151 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 3: Tabitha was a believer who was busy going about the 152 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 3: work of Christ. We're told that she was full of 153 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 3: good deeds and charity generosity. In other words, she cared 154 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 3: for the needs of people around her. Tabitha lived out 155 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 3: the Lord's command to love her neighbor, and yet she 156 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 3: became sick and died Following Jesus does not automatically mean 157 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: that the will of God is easy with life and 158 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 3: health and prosperity, or even a long life. And so 159 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 3: this woman died. Her friends were not ready to say 160 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 3: goodbye to Tabitha, however, so they cleaned their body and 161 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 3: later in an upper room, and then sent word to Peter, 162 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: who came right away. When he arrived, he went into 163 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 3: the home to the upper room where Tabitha lay, just 164 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 3: as Jesus had done when he went to the home 165 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 3: of Jyris to raise his daughter from the dead. Peter 166 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 3: spoke to Tabitha, telling her to arise. Peter was carrying 167 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 3: on the healing ministry of Jesus, even raising the dead 168 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 3: to life. Peter then presented Tabitha to her friends and family, 169 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: and many turned to the Lord as a result of 170 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 3: her resurrection. Today we are reminded that God's miracle working 171 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 3: power has the ability of drawing people to himself. God 172 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 3: still cares for those who are hurting. We saw the 173 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 3: compassionate heart of Christ going about doing good and helping 174 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 3: those who were hurting, and healing the sick, and even 175 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 3: raising the dead. And in the same way, there is 176 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 3: a desire in the heart of those of us who 177 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: follow Jesus to help hurting people to bless those who 178 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 3: need the blessing of God, and especially those who need 179 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: to hear the witness of the Gospel and to turn 180 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 3: to Christ. Our mission as the followers of Jesus is 181 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 3: to preach the Gospel and to help people know and 182 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,839 Speaker 3: follow our Lord. We, like the apostle Peter in this case, 183 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 3: need to be attentive and alert to opportunities all around 184 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 3: us to share the good news of Jesus. Let us 185 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 3: always be available to help people discover the power of 186 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 3: God in their lives. Let's pray. Dear Jesus, we know 187 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 3: that you have come to bring healing and holness to 188 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 3: the world. May your message of hope and salvation go 189 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 3: to the ends of the earth through your witnesses. May we, 190 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 3: as your followers, keep our eyes open for the opportunities 191 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 3: to obey you in sharing this good news. For we 192 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 3: pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening to 193 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 3: today's Bibleing of Year podcast. Before we go, I want 194 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours 195 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress, 196 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 3: and my prayer is that it will help you conquer 197 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress 198 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 3: into your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free 199 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,559 Speaker 3: from Stress today by visiting jaggraham dot org slash stress. 200 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 3: That's jagraham dot org slash stress.