Wakeup Call
Today’s Verse
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ~Acts 9:40
Most hotels have a service that gives its patrons a wakeup call in the morning. Wakeup calls are very helpful for people who are very heavy sleepers or for travelers in a different time zone who want to make sure they are awakened at a certain time. A wakeup call also has a special meaning. It implies that we are awakened in our senses about something that is very important. This morning, let us see a wakeup call that that had great spiritual significance.
We see a servant.
“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” Dorcas was a serving member of her church at Joppa. She is described as someone who gave beyond of herself for others. She was substantial: she was full of good works and almsdeeds. She did this selflessly: she was a giver. She did this speedily: her name means “female gazelle,” and the idea pictures for us the speed and grace in which she served others. She made an impact that was felt.
We see a cessation.
“She was sick, and died.” We are not told what her sickness was, but she died from it. Christians must be careful of developing a spiritual sickness that they can die of. Bitterness and a critical spirit are sicknesses that we can die from. Unforgiveness is a sickness that we can die from. Prayerlessness is a sickness that we can die from. Apathy is a sickness that we can die from. Spiritual sicknesses can overcome our spiritual life, weaken us, leave us powerless, and, eventually, take away our spiritual life.
We see a summons.
“And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.” The church felt the loss of Dorcas quickly. This church needed help from a spiritual authority. They heard that Peter was at a nearby city and summoned him to come. When we are in spiritual trouble, we must quickly request help from those who have spiritual authority and capability that we do not have.
We see a supplication.
Peter arrived and was shown the impact that Dorcas had on her church. Peter immediately put everyone out of the room and went to prayer for Dorcas. We talk about prayer, but we know little about prayer. Real praying gets a hold of God. Real praying calls on God to do the impossible. Real praying is faith praying. Real praying changes the lives of everyone being prayed for. Real praying is the only way a spiritual wakeup call can happen.
We see the sensation.
Two sensational events occurred. First, Dorcas opened her eyes, saw Peter, sat up, took his hand, and was presented to the brethren. Dorcas received back her life and immediately went right back into the mainstream of serving others. The wakeup call kept her eyes on God’s power and God’s people. Second, the testimony of this spread through the city, and many unsaved people believed in the Lord. A God-sent wakeup call stirs the conscience of the unsaved and results in many salvations. This could not happen if there was not first a wakeup call in the house of God. As Christians, we should be in a constant state of preparation for a spiritual awakening in our churches. Without this, we will not see the salvation of souls in great numbers as in Joppa. Are you ready for your wakeup call?
Have an awakened God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 24-27