In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 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!" 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. 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. 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. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Questions:
- As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
- What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
- What is the main point of this story?
- Can you imagine what Dorcas looked like?
- Can you imagine the work she did with her hands?
- How can such work begin a way to influence others?
- Can you imagine the thrill of her resurrection?
- How does passage fit with this statement? We are baptized believers participating in the life of God for the sake of others.
What else is on your mind this week??
26 comments:
Oh, what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day...
Don’t you wish you could hear me singing?
When I read this passage, I remember Paul saying "to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord" and I wonder how Tabitha felt about being resurrected. I kind of picture her opening her eyes, looking around and thinking "Yeah, thanks for nothin'!"
Donna
Yeah, Donna, that is a good point. So this resurrection is not for the benefit of Tabitha, right? I often wondered about Lazarus too. He was raised, like Tabitha, only to die again. In fact poor old Lazarus became a target for assassination (John 12:9-11).
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
So what is the point of this resurrection of Tabitha?
I often wonder what Lazerus and Tabitha told about the time they had died and what their experience was. Knowing they were going back must have given them hope and encouraged other believers who may have been near death or who where being threatened for spreading the Word. Tabitha was well known for her humble service and for her to tell others what she saw and for others to see that she was truly dead and came back by God's power through Peter caused excitement and the need to tell everyone what happened. Today we see God's power that man cannot explain during illness that the doctors diagnose as having no hope of survival. Then something happens that cannot be explained other than the power of God. Even though healing does not happen as it did in the beginning of the church, healing does happen every day and miricles of His presence are all around us if we but open our eyes to it. Sherron
Sharren, I think your right. I think we americans miss the Godly happenings in our lives many times for many reasons. I wonder if we opened our eyes, ears and hearts more if "crazy" things like tabithas resurrection would still happen around here?
I know Jesus works in many different ways and I think he is in the process of growing our church to do some mighty things. I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks, months and years!
I would think that anyone that is raised from the dead or has had an illness that is designated terminal and then finds the illness has gone would have to wonder what GOD wants them to do with the remainder of their life. GOD must have an important task for that person to perform.
Ralph
I think Tabitha must have talked as much as she sewed after her resurrection. I would love to have heard her stories and her excitement. I can tell you from experience and so can Brent that when you do have a close call it does wake you up to why God has you here. You look hard for your place and you are more keenly aware of the brevity of life. You appreciate each day and even though each day is not an 'up' day you rest at the end of it thankful for what He has given you and you look harder at each experience and acquaintance as an opportunity to share Him with others. I often get aggravated with myself when I look back at the happenings, the people I have encountered and think of something I wish I had remembered to say or do when in their presence and alot of times will contact them again and try to relate that to them. I feel more of an urgency now than I did before. I think the Kingdom is built one relationship at a time. Sharing our faith in large and small ways spreads the word. That is why our influence and interaction with others is so important. God wants us to be salt and light. Leavening, flavoring, preserving and lighting His world. Have a wonderful day. PS: The moonflowers are blooming. Sherron
Hey, good thoughts everyone! Sherron, the moonflowers at church had three big blooms last night. I think Kedra got a picture. They are awesome! There should be some action tomorrow evening about the time class get finished.
Sherron’s post made me think of Sunday’s sermon about God placing us in the right place at the right time to help people and to share the good news. It also made me think of David Lavender, my friend Earl’s father. I think it was the day before David died, he spent as much time as his dying body would allow on the phone calling people urging them to get right with God. He was that deeply concerned about other’s souls. Inspirational.
I wonder if Tabitha heard the things that Paul heard when he was caught up into the third heaven. He said those things were “inexpressible.” Interesting that chooses hearing instead of seeing...
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
Have you ever noticed that people who are very involved in helping others, as Tabitha was, radiate a certain joy in living their lives? I believe that Tabitha had this "joy of living" and was probably grateful to God for the opportunity to continue in her work. She was such a blessing to others that they couldn't bear losing her. Sometimes when we lose a loved one we think we are being selfish to want that person back, but evidently Jesus doesn't judge us so harshly,because he was only too willing to bring people back to their loved ones.
I have decided to share my book that I am writing so I will be posting a story each week from my book. I hope all enjoy it because I enjoyed writing it.
On the back of one of my t-shirts I have the word holy bible written on it.
H. He (which is Christ)
O. Only
L. Left
Y. You
B. Basic
I. Instruction
B. Before
L. Leaving
E. Earth
I got this saying from a chaplain in Los Angeles and it has stuck with me from day one. I have people at church, at work and on the streets ask me, “ what is written on the back of your shirt, is that true” and my answer to them is yes it is. Think about it for a few minutes. Everything on the face of this earth has a how to do this and how to do that manual to it but when it comes to people and our problems, there are no real books to tell us how to really fix our problems. Sure you have books that are written by shrinks, by doctors and other people but lets get real, are these books for everybody? Are these books for you? What may work for one person may not work for someone else. For example. I went out and bought a book written by doctor Phil cause I was having major problems at home and was desperately trying to save my marriage. I read the book three times. Did what the doctor order and guess what happened. Let’s just say, on a cold and lonely night, the book had turned into firewood. If you really want to know how to fix any problem you have, go read the bible. You want to know how to live right, read the bible. You want to know how to raise your children, it’s in the bible. Whatever you need to learn about yourself, it is written in the word. If you can put your trust in man manuals, just imagine what joy you can get out of God manual. I know what some of you are thinking. Gino I tried the bible reading, I even prayed but for some reason, God seem to be to busy for me or he isn’t answering my prayers. From the age of ten to thirteen, I did a whole lot of praying because of the abuse that was happening in my life. I prayed in the morning when I woke up, I prayed when it was time for me to come home from school. I would pray at bed time but I think I prayed more when the abuse was going on. Imagine trying to pray while your skin is being stripped from your body. When I first saw the Passion Of Christ, I wondered if Jesus prayed when he was getting flogged. After three years of abuse and no change, I gave up on God completely. I stopped praying shortly after my thirteenth birthday. I stopped believing. I became my own God. I started doing my own thing. The only time I ever turned to God afterward was when I really needed him, and you know what, not once did he not show up for me. God answers prayers even when we think he doesn’t. Today I am forty years old and I can tell you that God answered my prayers back then when I just thirteen years old. Look at the news today. Children steady dying from abuse. God answered my prayer because I am allowed to write about it today. God answered my prayer because Today I get to take my story, my testimony and his word to people who are lost. God answers prayers and they may not come in the order, the fashion or the time we expect it to come but it does come. In Provide 3:5 it is written Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Did I trust in the Lord when I was thirteen years old? No I didn’t. I stopped praying and went in a different direction not knowing that God was there protecting me and letting me know, Gino I am here beside you. Every day I read the word and I learn something new from it. You can learn from it as well, but first you have to read it, learn from it, learn about it and apply it to your life. In Acts 8:26-40 it reads. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
For a long time, I was that eunuch needing a Philip in my life to help me understand the word of God. If you need A Philip in your life, God will direct that Philip into your life. If he has done it for me, I am sure he will do the same for you. All you have to do is trust in God and he will bring a Philip into your life.
Here’s a kinda cool, interesting thing. When Jesus raises Jarius’s daughter, he says, in Aramaic, “Talitha koum!” If Peter spoke Aramaic, and he likely did, then when he calls Tabitha back from the dead, it would have been “Tabitha koum.” Only one letter difference. That strikes me as interesting. In fact comparing the two stories is worth doing. You can read the Jesus story in Mark 5:21-23, 35-43. Can you imagine? Amazing!
We have kinda been thinking about the value of a resurrection back into this life, even asking essentially, “Is this a good thing?”. The girl in the Jesus story was 12; Tabitha was a mature woman. Is there a difference? It then raises the question, for me at least this afternoon, what is point of living after becoming a Christian? Wouldn’t we be better off dying immediately? No, you say. When should we die then? And if God doesn’t “bring us home” upon becoming Christians, then why does he leave us here?
Holy smokes, Holy Smoker!! your digging for the obvious answer. why are we here after becoming Christians? I think we're here to accomplish things similar to the churches mission statement. HELP create other believers in Christ For God. Not that God can't do it, but he chooses not to do it based on he won't mess with our human will, or the altering of our human will, unless we give it to Him willingly. So he's looking for those folks those believer fish folks that are willing to submit thier own will for the good of His will. So he needs the willing to be the beacon (not bacon) of His light hoping to save as many of His children as possible before he finally sends the end our way. Of course this is my opinion. Third Day sings a song that folks could take a lesson or two on I don't know all the words but the meat of it goes like this.
""how many times have i turned away, the number is the same as the sands on the shore.
but every time you've taken me back and now I pray you do it once more.
Please take from me my life when I don't have the strength to give it away to you.
(second)
and how many times have I gone astray the number is the same as the stars in the sky.
but every time you've taken me back, and now I pray you do it Tonight.
Please take from me my life when i don't have the strength to give it away to you, please take away my life when I don't have the stregth to give it away to you Jesus.""
I think and have seen first hand God gives us chance after chance after chance to submit our lives/will to Him. and gives us ample time and oportunity to find Him. my 1/2 cent worth.
Jon Goller Later Ya'll..
He leaves us here to teach those who are unbelievers, atheist, backsliders and those who do not know God or do not understand the word. Look at the eunich, he knew how to worship God but he did not know anything about God or Christ. So we as Christians are suppose to go out and allow God to witness to people through us just like he did with Philip. I am happy that God directed the church to Philip and the eunich story because I believe that God was letting us know, church is about bringing people who are trying to recieve God into their life because in all honesty, if service was mainly about worship and praise, what would we need church for. I do that when I am showering, when I'm in bed getting ready to go to sleep, when I am driving down the street listening to 4Him or some other musician. Another thing, if service is mainly about worship and praise, how would a unbeliever get saved, especially if he can't read? If that was the case, what would be the point of God sending Philip to witness to the eunich after he left worshiping? our reason for being here as Christians is to bring those who aren't Christians to God.
Hey Jon I believe that God is using you in the blog so don't think of it as your opinion or as giving your two cents but think of it as God using you. You make a lot of good points there and I have learned a lot from your blogging and I do pray that God will continue to use you on here. Whenever I read your blogs, it puts a smile on my face. Keep up the good work and I will continue to pray for you and your love ones.
Service tonight was interested. I never thought about dying and then coming back to life again. The only way I would want to come back to life again, is if I was walking toward the light and that light would be leading me straight to hell, then bringing me back to life wouldn't be a problem. At least it would give me a second chance to get my act right. I wondered if anyone ever face that situation before. You hear of people dying and going toward the light to heaven but you never hear of anyone dying and heading toward hell. What would really be messed up, you come back from meeting Jesus and you figured, hey I am in the door so you come back and you start messing up intentionally and you die again just to be cast into the lake of fire. Now that would be messed up. Especially trying to convince those in hell that you once saw Christ. Don't ask me where this came from because it just came to mind, and no this will not be added to my book. Laughing really really really hard.
So, to live is Christ and to die is gain? See Philippians 1. We stay here to live for the sake of others.
Just like Tabitha.
Maybe Tabitha’s work wasn’t finished and this, in part, is why she was raised?
Last night’s class was interesting and very helpful to me (as usual). We wondered a little bit about what Tabitha saw/experienced while she was dead.
I saw this interesting news item this morning. Weird. It’s about a cat who shows up in a nursing home shortly before people die. What do you think of that?
I came across this book review this morning. I think it fits with what I see in Tabitha. The book is Keep House - The Litany of Everyday Life.
Couple things about the cat article. I think it's strange that the cat can sense that. But since I have little love for cats, I'd say the cat kills the folks and acts all inocent after the fact. But I do know if I was a person in that place and that cat even started to set next to me, or came in my room, he'd get the boot right now.. ha ha.. (p.s. no animals were harmed during the making of this blog.)
And as for Tabitha all I can say is WOW. I can see God in a humorous way telling her "ohps sorry about that, gotta send you back for a little while longer, I see an opportunity for a miracle. ok Peter Now.." ha ha
And thanks Gino for the thoughts and prayers.
On a serious note, Saint Therese of Luix (I'm not sure of the spelling), Whom was a nunn way way back in France, wrote that if within her life she wasn't suffering for God then she wasn't Living for God. She felt/wrote that suffering for God meant basically in my hilljack terms "Do it till it hurts, and give the glory for the whole journey to God".
Have a good day folks, Jon Goller.
Hm, not specially keen on suffering, myself. If memory serves, (and, that's a big "if"), most of the talk of suffering for the sake of Christ was directed at folks who were being persecuted. Contrary to popular belief, we're not being persecuted. Disrespected by the liberals and the mainstream media, but not truly persecuted. Believers in China and the Middle East are being persecuted, but us--not so much. In essence, we shouldn't avoid suffering for Christ, especially if it will glorify God. Going out of our way to look for opportunities to suffer is ridiculous. Catholics (especially mystics) were and are particularly keen on suffering. They can have my share, if they want it.
On a lighter note: the cat story is ridiculous. I read it and, although I like animals and think they're a tremendous benefit to mankind, I think the "cat as mystical harbinger of death" is a bit goofy. I prefer not to take seriously the predictive powers of an animal who licks its own butt.
And, this may not be the right forum, but does anybody know of a good cubscout troop in the area Tyler could join?
Thanks,
Donna
Sorry Donna but can't help but to clarify my intentions, don't get so hung up on the terminology suffering or persecuted so much. in my opinion suffering can be anything from Bleeding for and in the name of Jesus to stepping out of our human comfort zones and simply doing a good deed for and in the name of Jesus, suffering doesn't always have to mean living like the apostle paul in jail. How many folks out there have a comfort zone about simple things like talking to people about Jesus. Gary's sunday morning class the challenge is to do a good deed and verbally proclaim it to be "in the name of Jesus" and you'd be surprized at how many people in that class alone have trouble saying it. be it due to nervousness, shyness, or anyother ness's that it might be. So to suffer can also mean simply doing it whether it's within your comfort zone or not. that's a small small form of suffering. no your right it's not setting in prison for years because of proclaiming His name, but it's still the point I was trying to get across.
and as far as being persecuted as Christians if you don't think that persecution still happens to this day go to any public state or local government building and try finding the 10 commandments to read. then try going into a public school system and praying without getting sued, or arrested. then talk about persecution. Again in my opinion it's all the same, and I see little difference between the pharases way back when trying to Stop people from proclaiming the name of Jesus, than most of our goverment today trying to stop us from praying in public or letting us say God, or Jesus, or for that matter Christmas is now called "winter holiday".. Come on if that's not being persecuted because of being a Christian then you got me.. and again yes your right it's not being stoned to death in the courtyard for whispering "Jesus" but yes it definatly is persecution. Thank you for letting me ramble. Please don't take offense to any of my rambling. I'm just typing out loud.. ha ha... You all have a great day. Jon Goller
I don't take offense, Jon, and you're as entitled to "ramble" as I am. And, I hope you won't take offense when I disagree with you strongly. I think we agree that there are degrees of suffering, and we must all step outside our comfort zones and stir ourselves to obey Jesus' commands that we see to the needs of others and spread the gospel. But, I'm afraid I still don't call most of what you described "persecution." No, we can't use public funds to erect a monument to the 10 commandments. That is against the Constitution, at least the way many understand it. I, personally, don't mind it; if I were Buddhist or Hindu, I might. Personally, I think it's a non-issue that the devil uses to distract us from more important work. Unfortunately, when Protestant Christianity was the dominant social influence on our culture, we took for granted that expressions of our faith in public would be well-received. For the most part, they still are. But,the change in political climate has emboldened secular people who resent Christian influence on society to organize and speak out. Well, okay; they have a right to be heard, too. But, even when the ACLU and Supreme Court say we can't have public prayer in state-run schools or post copies of the 10 comm's on gov't property, I don't think that amounts to persecution. I think there are segments of the public who really resent and disrespect us, but it still doesn't amount to persecution. We've had our way for decades, now, but no more. That's all. Christians in other parts if the world who have to worship in secret for fear of their lives, wouldn't call this persecution. Jews from Hitler's Germany wouldn't either. Calling Christmas "winter holiday" is an over-reaction to post-modern, pc-ness, and an obsession with multi-culturalism. Not persecution.
Sorry if I'm like a dog with a bone, Jon, but I've heard so much complaining about how Christians are being persecuted in this country, and we're not. Yes, we need to push ourselves to reach out to others in the name of Jesus, and obey His commands, and stop griping about how bad we've got it. I think these are distractions from the Evil One that take our eyes off what we're supposed to be doing.
Donna
Thanks Donna, Gosh you use big words when your trying to get your point across.. ha ha.. J/K.
All your points are well taken but this old dog also has his bone. So I think we'll have to lovingly agree to disagree on these points. ha ha.. our views are for sure similar if not the same but it's just the context and thickness of the words in questoin. But I do thank you for your ramblings too. it's kinda quiet on here this week.
Take Care, Jon Goller
In the name of Jesus and with Love:
Donna Please read what you have written as though you haven't written it and step away; be objective. I too have choosen in the past to be passive and not see what is really happening. If we choose to not call it persecution then we excuse ourselves from the truth. There are varying degrees of persecution as there are varying degrees of suffering. Just like a sin is a sin no matter what degree and persecution is what it is no matter what degree. As Christians, I would hope we don't get caught up in the feelings caused by persecution or arguments about persecution, but take it in stride and seek out ways to glorify GOD! I chose to respond not to argue, but to bring awareness that we choose to see what we want to see. God has placed me in day to day living where persecution happens in smaller degrees. It's a daily discipline that I acknowledge (it is more than acknowledgement I just can't find the words.) It is a daily discipline to see beyond what I want to see and not minimize the impact that God wants us to have with Non-Christians here where we are now. This is the first time I have Blogged and it was insightful. You made me stop and think. Thanks and have a Blessed Day!
One more thing,
I don't really like cats either, but I would really like it if a cat could some how tell me a loved one was about to die. I would be able to possibly give that loved one just one more hug. :)
I've read and re-read my post, and we're going to have to agree to disagree. I don't think we have it so bad in this country, I think we simply had it so good for so long that it's made us complacent. For years, we've had a sympathetic and uncritical forum for our ideas, and that's not the case anymore. I agree that the tide of popular opinion has turned against us, to a certain degree. I've heard the jokes made at our expense, and the criticisms levelled at us by those outside the church. I'm not being willfully stupid. I just don't think it amounts to persecution. And, I think we haven't always put our best and kindest foot forward, either. There were times we allowed some pretty obnoxious people step into the political arena and claim to speak for us, and we did little to rebuke them. I believe we've lost some of our moral authority, and it will be a while before we regain that.
When the rubber hits the road, I don't think secular people or militant atheists or even the aclu will be the biggest threat to our religious freedom. I think multi-culturalism and post-modernism will.
Hope I haven't seemed too contentious. If I did, I certainly didn't mean to. Just felt the need to explain my position.
Donna
I think if you watch much NASCAR, you'll find it has less to do with morals and more to do with business, sponserships, etc...
As far as cussing in general, I don't do it and it's not allowed in my house, but mostly because I think God expects me and my family to present ourselves in a manner that others will know who we belong to - God.
As far cussing being a sin, I'm not so sure sometimes. Jesus actually used some words every now and then that in anger, that if translated, had some direct coorelations with some of our current curse words.
I think the language that we're warned about has more to do with gossip, slander, lies, dirty jokes etc... These are much more destructive and anti-Christ-like than cursing.
I do believe cursing is used excessively and as an adjective for anything. There again, I think speaking like that shows how intelegent you really are.
The one curse that is not acceptable is using God's name in vain. I think God's name is used sometimes long before anybody would even utter some of the "biggies". Read about how the angels approach God and the fact that they won't even utter his name due to respect/fear. Makes you wonder how we throw his name around sometimes, don't it.
Yeah, I've heard some folks curse that I didn't expect it from. Is it my place to condemn them ,no. Is it my place to not conform to the way they're speaking and continue to be a good influence. Yes. I have many friends and family that used to curse around me that no longer do, because they know I don't. Did I ask them not to, no.
The thing that disturbs me the most right now is the flood of poor language that our kids are exposed to every day. Go stand in a school hallway and listen, the profanities are running rampant. Kids cuss, teachers cuss, parents cuss more freely, the list goes on. Go ask your kids what video games their playing. I guarantee you if it is rated T for Teen, there's cursing it either from the music playing or the characters that they are playing. Listen to the music. Look at some of their Myspace pages (that will really blow some of your minds PARENTS!) Can we guard them against it. I would like to say so, but we can't. They live out in the world. What we can do is make sure that they aren't exposed to it at home and understand what the standard code of conduct is for the home. They also need to undersatnd that they (and we)represent our church family with our speach. You're not going to influence them with words and rules, only your good example will make the difference.
Sometimes it's best to close our mouths to avoid showing our ignorance instead of opening them and removing all doubt.
My $0.02. Kinda long, Sorry
Brent
Post a Comment