And Peter arose… Commentary on Acts 9:32-43

In this portion of text, Peter is found in Lydda some eleven miles from the ancient city of Joppa. He heals a man who had been paralyzed for eight years. All the people of Lydda knew the man and his condition given the close nit communities of first century Israel. Seeing his healing, the people become convinced of Jesus. The news of this event spread all around so that when Tabitha dies in Joppa, her friends knew that if they could get Peter to come to Joppa then he could pray for Tabitha and heal her. They ask him to come immediately.

Now for the striking part of the story… the text records, “And, Peter arose…”! He arose and went with them to do the unthinkable, pray for a dead woman. In the text she had already been prepared ceremonially for burial and was laid in a room. No mistaking her death. However, the daunting task of praying for the dead to be raised isn’t even the striking statement.

You may be thinking, “Wow! What faith to go pray for a dead person to live!” But, it was something else. Peter went! Peter was available to the people who needed Christ!

Okay, so now you’re scratching your heads asking well, that’s what he was supposed to do, right?

In today’s ministry climate ministers are so inaccessible. Given the fact that there is a vast population on the Earth and the availability of the internet, no man could keep up with the requests he would receive to come and speak. I understand that. I’m good on that point. But, what irks me is the super-star culture of ministry that has developed and run amuck today.

Have you ever tried to book a super-star to come speak at your church? I dare you to do it just for fun. It’s impossible unless you meet mega church status. I looked at booking one individual who has a powerful presence on the stage and in certain circles is heavily sought after to speak. If I mentioned his name no one would probably recognize it. His “application” to reserve him to speak gave specific directions that he is to have a private hotel room and that the room be stocked with… get this… bottled water at room temperature. I was looking to make sure there wasn’t some clause in the fine print that would guarantee that I would have to massage his back and rub his feet after he was finished speaking.

Today there is a shortage on servants and a surplus of celebrities, or celebrity “wannabes”. I bet if it sickens me then it sickens God. What do you think? Oh, believe me to ask or confront these people on these issues they would totally legitimize their “need” for star treatment. And, it’s not that we should want to take advantage of God’s ministers. But, it’s the society of preachers that has spawned this type of legitimization for such demands. Room temperature bottled water, a list of certain foods that must be in a “green” room before they go on stage to perform… I mean preach. On and on we could go and what’s worse, I think, is that they don’t display the type of true spiritual power that Christ had given Peter. Yet, we treat them like messiahs.

Peter’s availability to the people, even after the healings and popularity that he had gained, did not inhibit him from stopping what he was doing and going to Joppa. Oh, how God’s heart longs for men and women who serve for His Name’s sake and not our own. When will the ministry arise like Peter?