The Physical Reveals the Spiritual

Sunday, August 3, 2025
Pastor Jojo Ma

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

These miracles are spiritual lessons of the power of the gospel to save sinners.

I.          Sickness and death reveal fallen man’s grave and depraved condition
II.        Sickness and death are no match for the sovereign power of Christ
III.       Sickness and death do not have final victory over believers

I.         Sickness and death reveal fallen man’s grave and depraved condition
By nature, we all are born as helpless sinners, spiritually paralyzed and dead in our sins.

Total depravity (or Radical Corruption): In Adam, we are corrupt in every aspect of our nature as sinners and we can do nothing to please God by our own efforts.

Scripture teaches that the decisive factor in salvation is God’s will, not man’s.

Jn 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jn 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

Jn 6:65 This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.

Jn 8:43 Why do you not understand what I am saying?...It is because you cannot hear my word.

1 Cor 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Rom 8:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

1 Cor 1:29-30 so that no flesh may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus.

II.        Sickness and death are no match for the sovereign power of Christ
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.

40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Mk 5:37-40 37 And [Jesus] allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.

Mk 5:41-42 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

If physical death is no match for the power of Jesus, then we also know spiritual death is no match for the power of Jesus --- that Jesus alone can heal the spiritually broken and raise the spiritually dead.

J.I. Packer: “God saves sinners.”

III.      Sickness and death do not have final victory over believers
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?