Empowered: Miracles! Aeneas and Dorcas

Key Bible Verses

• Acts 9:32-43

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Sermon Quotes

From Pastor Josh Laxton

“God is still in the miracle-working business.”

“I want us to believe and receive understanding of God still being in the miracle-working business from a Biblical perspective and thus come to expect and believe God to work miracles in our midst and through our ministry.” 

“Here is the definition of miracles. Miracles are observable and unexplainable acts, in terms of human abilities, that point to a supernatural work of God that demonstrably manifests the inbreaking Kingdom of God, thus pointing to who Jesus is and what Jesus ultimately accomplished through His death and resurrection.”

DIGGING DEEPER

Miracles happened in the lives of Aeneas and Dorcas in Acts 9:32-43. 

Aeneas was a paralyzed man bedridden for eight years. Dorcas was a believer who cared for others. When Dorcas died, she was mourned by those she had cared for during her lifetime. 

Both individuals were healed and revived by Peter, but at different points in their life journey. In Dorcas' case she was revived once Peter arrived in Joppa. In Aeneas' case, he had been sick for eight years before he was healed. Peter was able, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to use both Aeneas’ and Dorcas’ healing and revival to preach Jesus Christ, and many came to be believers because of these miracles.

This contrast in the miracles of Aeneas and of Dorcus reminds us that, as believers, we live by God’s timing and not our own. While we might not be revived after dying, like Dorcus, or be healed after eight years, like Aeneas, God’s transformation in our lives can take place at any moment. Our transformation might take a different form. It might not be a physical healing, but it could be an emotional or spiritual transformation. Psalm 27:14 states, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.” 

In all situations of life, there is divine hope for ourselves, our families, and our situations. God loves us and He is at work in the world and in our lives. As God works in our lives, change happens. We mature in our faith. We become more compassionate, humble, generous and loving. Just as with Aeneas and Dorcus, people will recognize that there is something different about us that only God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, could produce. People come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus because of what they see in us and as they hear our story of transformation and healing. 

WHAT NOT TO MISS

Definition of Miracles:

Miracles are observable and unexplainable acts—in terms of human abilities—that point to a supernatural work of God that demonstrably manifests the inbreaking Kingdom of God, thus pointing to who Jesus is and what Jesus ultimately accomplished through His death and resurrection.

Main Point:

Miracles are an “MO” (modus operandi or mode of operating) of gospel ministry that advances God’s mission.

Ten Principles about Miracles and God’s MO (mode of operating)

1. MIRACLES, and the need for them, remind us that everything is not OK. 

• Something supernatural by God is needed in our lives because everything is not OK.
• Because of sin and disobedience things are not OK.

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2. MIRACLES aren’t the only OPTION for advancing God’s mission.

• God also works through teaching and preaching.
• God sometimes works through pain and suffering to accomplish His plan.
• God sometimes works through hospitality, vocation, and prayers of His people.  
• Miracles are not God’s only option.

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3. MIRACLES typically come when you’ve exhausted all OPTIONS. 

• Other options, we surmise, must have been tried in the life of Aeneas and Dorcus but they did not work and a miracle was needed.
• Miracles do not take the place of medicine. Medicine should glorify God who gives the capacity to develop and use medicine properly.  

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4. MIRACLES are an OUTPOURING of the inbreaking Kingdom of God. 

• Miracles reveal a glimpse of the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God.

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5. MIRACLES occur when God’s people OPERATE in faith. 

• Jesus tells us if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains. 
• Do we have faith that God can show up and show off?

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6. MIRACLES might OVERLOOK some people while occurring in others.

• Jesus did not heal everyone. Peter did not heal everyone.
• God chose to do a miracle in these two cases. 

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7. MIRACLES aren’t necessarily prompted by people’s OBEDIENCE.

• God does not require us to perform for Him to work a miracle. 

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8. MIRACLES do have an OFF-SWITCH.

• Miracles have a shelf life. 

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9. MIRACLES are a strategy for OUTREACH.

• Miracles open doors and soften hearts.
• Miracles present opportunities to share faith in Jesus.

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10.   MIRACLES aren’t the OBJECTIVE, JESUS IS!!! 

• Ultimate objective isn’t to be cured, but to know and be known by Jesus.
• When we need a miracle, we need to be cautious not to seek the miracle before we seek the Maker.

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Do you need a miracle in any of these areas? 

• Addiction
• Mental/emotional/attitude
• Family
• Financial
• Vocational
• Relational
• Spiritual
• Other areas

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Pray and ask for God’s deliverance and healing through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Life Application

Consider Aeneas and Dorcus who were miraculously delivered and healed by Peter. In the case of Aeneas, he was healed after a long illness. In the case of Dorcus, she was revived after having just died. Both of their lives were transformed and each had a testimony, as believers in Jesus Christ, that they could share with others that would spotlight the glory of God and the love and care of God for them. 

Reflect on your life. How would you describe and share about God’s care and love for you so that others might come to know Jesus? What significant changes have occurred in your life, after becoming a believer, that would make others want to know more about Jesus and believe in Him?  

As the Easter season approaches, think about someone, maybe a family member, friend or neighbor, who might not know Jesus. Pray about ways you can share your faith with them. Think about inviting someone to one of the four Easter celebration services on Saturday, April 8, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., or on Sunday, April 9, at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m.

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Small Group Discussion Questions

• Describe a time that you witnessed a miracle or that you saw something change or transform before your eyes.  
• How were the miracles that occurred in the lives of Aeneas and Docus similar and different?
• Which of the main characters in this story do you identify with and why? (i.e. Peter, Dorcas, Aeneas, the widows, other disciples, those seeing the miraculous healing) 
• Why do you think that these particular miracles are mentioned in Acts 9:32-43?
• If you were Peter, how might you have shared about Jesus using these two miracles so that those who heard would become believers?

Daily Devotional Bible Passages

• Monday- Divine Hope- Romans 15:4; Psalm 71:5; Jeremiah 29:11;
• Tuesday - Faith in Difficult Situations- Lamentations 3:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Philippians 4:6-7
• Wednesday-Encourage Others-Hebrews 10:24-25; Isaiah 40:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Thursday -God's Power- Isaiah 40:31; John 3:16; John 16:33;
• Friday - Point Others to Jesus-Mark 16:15; Ephesians 4:11; Romans 10:15

Prayer

Lord, we are thankful that you have touched our lives in so many awesome ways. We thank you that you are still in the business of performing miracles around us. Help us have eyes to see people who need a miracle in their lives so that they will experience your love and power and become believers of Jesus Christ. Let us boldly share what you have done in our lives and how we have been transformed, through the power of the Holy Spirit, into your image more and more, day by day. We are thankful that you hear our prayers and heal us, comfort us, and give us peace that passes all understanding. We glorify you as we participate in your mission of redeeming a people from all peoples by engaging neighbors and nations to be fully alive in King Jesus through the power of the Spirit.   

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Additional Resources

–Sign up for the Northland Newsletter.

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–Invite someone to join you at Easter Services on April 8 or April 9th. 

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