Speaking Words of Life

May 5

(Acts 9:40b NIV) “Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.”

(Luke 7:11-16 NIV) ““Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. {12} As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. {13} When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." {14} Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" {15} The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. {16} They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people.””

(John 6:63-68 NIV) ““The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. {64} Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. {65} He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." {66} From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. {67} "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. {68} Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.””

When Peter confronted death in the house where Tabitha’s body had been placed, he prayed first. But then he spoke words of life to her, telling her to rise up. Prayer should come first, but at some point we are called to speak words of life into those around us. Words of life can be as simple as telling the story of what Jesus has done for you. They can be spoken when we ask another if we can pray for them. They can be shared when we explain the gospel to someone and ask if they would like to receive Jesus. Prayer is a great calling and should never be forsaken, but speaking words of life is of equal importance. One should not replace the other -- they work in tandem. When we fail to speak the words of life, we deny our full calling, and foolishly attempt to defeat the enemy with one hand tied behind our back. Pray, and speak the words of life into those dying around you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Power of Prayer

May 4

(Acts 9:40a NIV) “Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed.”

(Mark 9:25-29 NIV) ““When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." {26} The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." {27} But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. {28} After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" {29} He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer.””

(John 11:41-44 NIV) ““So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. {42} I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." {43} When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" {44} The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go.””

Before Peter did anything for Dorcas, “he got down on his knees and prayed”. Before he spouted off to God, or asked God for anything, he prayed. He had learned from Jesus that big miracles require prayer. Resurrection and healing take place where people pray -- really pray. The genesis of healing and resurrection in our lives, and in the lives of those we love, is prayer. Have you prayed for a resurrection in the life of that one you love? We cannot defeat death in this world unless we unleash the hounds of heaven on it. Most of us would say that we want our friends, relatives, and neighbors to be saved. Have you prayed for them today? Prayer calls on the Lord of love and power to intervene where we are powerless. It asks God to do things that we could never do by ourselves. Whether death is physical or spiritual, only the power of God can raise the dead. Pray! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Asking for Help

May 3

(Acts 9:38 NIV) ““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!””

(Matthew 15:21-22 NIV) ““Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. {22} A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.””

(Matthew 17:14-15 NIV) ““When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. {15} "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.””

(Luke 8:40-42 NIV) “Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. {41} Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house {42} because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.”

Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, had some friends who were very wise. When she got sick and died, they appealed to Peter for God’s help. It’s always good to ask God for help. Why then, is that so hard for us to do? Where did our “I can handle it myself” attitude come from? It starts early in life. We hear kids who are barely three years old saying, “I can do it myself.” It is an innate flaw. It is part of our fallen human nature. And it’s a killer. It isolates us from others and weakens us. It also denies others the joy of helping us. So we must fight against our tendency to not ask for help. If we don’t, we set ourselves up to fail, and eventually, we will even push God out of our lives. Tabitha’s friends asked for help. They did the right thing. Be wise and do the same. Learn to ask for help. It will change your life! It may even save your life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Good People Die Every Day

May 2

(Acts 9:36-39 NIV) ““In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor. {37} About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. {38} 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!" {39} 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.””

(John 11:23-27 NIV) ““Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." {24} Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." {25} Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; {26} and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" {27} "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.””

(John 11:38-45 NIV)  ““Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. {39} "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." {40} Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" {41} So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. {42} I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." {43} When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" {44} The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." {45} Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.””

Dorcas and Lazarus were kind and generous people who put others ahead of themselves, but they got sick and died. Good people get sick and die every day. Being sick and dying has little to do with how good you are. Many good people got sick and died while Jesus and his disciples walked this earth. Healing and raising the dead were indeed miraculous, but they were not the high water mark of Christ’s or Peter’s ministries. They were not the end game. There came a day when Dorcas and Lazarus died again, and their decayed bodies await the final resurrection. Their healings were temporary miracles that did not exempt them from eventual death and judgment. The same is true for us. The only lasting miracles are Christ’s resurrection and ascension, and His promised return for those who belong to Him. These miracles top them all, and provide our only real hope for eternal life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day