GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Acts 9:36-42 NKJV
36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
One of the beautiful things about the scriptures is how alive they are. You can read a passage for years and think that you have seen it all. And yet the Holy Spirit can show you new things from that same passage that you have never seen. It is similar to the scientists continuing to find species of fish and living things in the oceans. But God’s Word is even more inexhaustible.
Reading this chapter today, I saw something that I have never noticed. Maybe you have already seen this, but if we stay open and teachable, the Holy Spirit can continue to reveal light from God’s Word. What struck me about our verses for today was what the believers in Joppa did after Tabitha had died. Tabitha was a well-known blessing in the Joppa area. She was known for her good works and acts of love. When she died, they washed her and put her in an upper room but did not bury her. The Jews were known for burying their dead quickly. When Ananias and Sapphira died, they were buried the same afternoon. But they held on to Tabitha.
The reason they did not bury Tabitha was because they heard that Peter was nearby in Lydda. So they sent for Peter to come to them. Not because Tabitha was sick. Tabitha was dead, and they sent for Peter to come quickly. But the believers in Joppa were not thinking that Peter would handle the funeral. They were thinking that Peter would raise Tabitha from the dead. That is some outstanding level of expectations. God had used Peter to do amazing miracles, and these disciples in Joppa must have believed that anything was possible with God. When miracles are taking place, the faith and expectations of the people rise.
We see Peter put all the weeping widows out of the room when he shows up to pray for Tabitha. Peter was with Jesus when He raised a little girl from the dead, and Jesus put everyone out of the room. Peter learned from the best. Peter prayed and obviously heard from the Lord as to what to do. He turned and spoke to the body, making me think when he was praying, he was not looking at a lifeless body. Smart move on Peter’s part. He needed to focus on the Lord. When he commanded Tabitha to arise, she opened her eyes and sat up. When Peter walked out of the room with Tabitha, the place must have erupted. And because of this miracle, many people received the gospel and turned to the Lord.
APPLICATION
God is still in the miracle business. I personally know a man, a missionary to Bolivia, who was used of God to raise at least two people from the dead. This man was a truck driver from Texas who never went past the 9th grade. I have known him for years, and he is very humble and has never tried to monetize the miracles. He prayed for me 20 years ago when I was having intense cluster headaches, and the Lord healed me. But one thing about this humble man is that he believes God can do great things. He expects great things from God.
Raising the dead may seem a bridge too far, but what are you expecting from our great God? All of us, me included, could stand to raise our level of what we believe God can do. Raise our expectations. I don’t suggest we start with raising the dead, but what about raising dead dreams and goals? Raising our expectations to things God may have whispered to our hearts, and we never made them our own. Don’t get your hopes up is not a scripture. We need to get our hope, our expectations up, way up!
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, please show me where I have lowered my expectations of what You can do in my life. There are some things in my life, like Tabitha, that need to be raised from the dead.