God’s Actions in His Believers

As parents, we say this to our kids about a gazillion times until they become parents who say the same thing…GET UP! There is a ton of meaning in the words, “get up!” They are commands of action, life, motion and activity from just laying in a stupor from a dead sleep. Get up is also accompanied by “get moving!” Do something with our lives that we never thought possible. Awake our souls to better, higher things of God. Get up! And then give God the glory for His actions in us.

The next passage is about Peter, passing through towns, on a mission to encourage the new churches popping up all over the countryside. God acts in the lives of two separate individuals who Peter is led by the Spirit to pray over. One is paralyzed. One is dead.

Acts 9, The Message

32-35 Peter went off on a mission to visit all the churches. In the course of his travels he arrived in Lydda and met with the believers there. He came across a man—his name was Aeneas—who had been in bed eight years paralyzed. Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” And he did it—jumped right out of bed. Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them.

36-37 Down the road a way in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, “Gazelle” in our language. She was well-known for doing good and helping out. During the time Peter was in the area she became sick and died. Her friends prepared her body for burial and put her in a cool room.

38-40 Some of the disciples had heard that Peter was visiting in nearby Lydda and sent two men to ask if he would be so kind as to come over. Peter got right up and went with them. They took him into the room where Tabitha’s body was laid out. Her old friends, most of them widows, were in the room mourning. They showed Peter pieces of clothing the Gazelle had made while she was with them. Peter put the widows all out of the room. He knelt and prayed. Then he spoke directly to the body: “Tabitha, get up.”

40-41 She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. He took her hand and helped her up. Then he called in the believers and widows, and presented her to them alive.

42-43 When this became known all over Joppa, many put their trust in the Master. Peter stayed on a long time in Joppa as a guest of Simon the Tanner.

What we really need to pay close attention to is WHO is praised…and it wasn’t Peter.

“EVERYBODY WOKE UP to the fact that God was alive and active among them.”

In other words, they woke up, too. At the commands and actions of God, the people got it and got up to see Who God is and what HE can accomplish. God’s Word is ALWAYS about HIM!

Awake, awake, awake my soul
Breathe on me, breath of God, breathe on me
Breathe on me, breath of God, breathe on me
I come alive, I’m alive when you breathe on me
I come alive, I’m alive when you breathe on me

Chorus:
Awake, awake, awake my soul,
God resurrect these bones
From death to life, for you alone
Awake my soul

Speak to me, word of God, speak to me
Speak to me, word of God, speak to me
I come alive, I’m alive when you speak to me
I come alive, I’m alive when you speak to me

Chorus:
Awake, awake, awake my soul,
God resurrect these bones
From death to life, for you alone
Awake my soul

(Read more: Chris Tomlin – Awake My Soul Lyrics | MetroLyrics)

Dear Heavenly Father, May we all awake and get up! May we praise You for every detail of our lives that You direct, provide and watch over with relentless, unconditional love and compassion! Thank you, Lord for waking us up with “GET UP” this morning. I love you, Lord, with all that is within me. I praise Your Name and Your mighty works in us and all around us. You are God and we are not. You are alive and active among us, still! Help us to stay awake and alert to Your actions and be ready to move when You say…Get up! In Jesus Name, Amen