I have been reading about a man called Peter who has been going around talking to those who have battered, bruised and broken by what life threw at them.

We read of this in the New Testament book of Acts, at the end of Chapter 9. I keep telling you where to find it, because some may not know their way around the Bible very well. That is all right, but do read the actual account. Reach out for your copy of the Bible, and if you do not own one, go out and buy one - a modern translation - the New International Version is perhaps the finest and most accurate, and fairly easy to read.

Peter comes to a fellowship of believers at Lydda, (the site of the modern international Ben Gurion airport) and there he found a man called Aeneas, who had been bedridden and totally paralysed for eight years.

Peter says to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and tidy up your mat." He is immediately healed. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon and the surrounding area saw him, and turned to believe in Jesus.

One act of obedience - one miracle - one brave courageous word from Peter, and many turn to Jesus Christ! O that we could see that happening today around the whole world. It is happening in some nations, and it is real.

The Word of God is eternal. It has life. It has power to save and heal. It is inspired. It can create faith and impart healing and strength and wholeness.

Not very far away at Joppa, (beside modern day Tel Aviv) there was a woman named Tabitha. She was always doing good and helping the poor. She was highly thought of in that young fellowship of believers in Jesus. She made coats and clothes for some of the widowed womenfolk.

When Peter was in Lydda, Tabitha took sick and died, and they washed her and laid her in an upstairs room. Why? Some disciples of Jesus heard that Peter was in Lydda, and the fellowship sent two men to call him to come to Joppa right away.

They sent for the man who was recognised as the leader - an elder - a Pastor appointed by Jesus.

Help was required, so they called for help.

It was not God's job to let Peter know of the need in Joppa. It was the job of the caring concerned disciples to get in touch with Peter. Understand the significance of what these believers did!

Peter went off with these two disciples, and when he arrives at Joppa some women meet him. They are weeping. They are wearing some of the clothes which Tabitha had made.

Peter put everyone out. He kneeled down and prayed. Now, he had never done this before, but Peter had been in that room with Jesus when Jairus's little girl had died. Peter had been with Jesus. Peter had watched and observed and learned from Jesus, and he knew that the risen living Jesus was with him.

"Tabitha, get up." Her eyelids begin to flicker, and life begins to flow into her. She opens her eyes, sees Peter, and sits up, and Peter then takes her by the hand and helps her to her feet.

He calls for the other believers in Jesus to come back in. He calls for the widows too - those who had been weeping - and he presents Tabitha to them - alive!

What Jesus did in that room through Peter soon went round the whole of Joppa, and many believed. Many came to believe in Jesus Christ. Many had their eyes opened and their lives changed. Many realised that God was real and alive, and able to do great things.

Our troubled world today is still waiting for these things to happen and our task is to share the love and life of Jesus the Saviour, wherever He places us. More and more ordinary people came to believe in the living God and follow the risen Christ, and become involved in what God was doing.

Peter went to visit the saints and other things happened as well.

Peter was not only caring for the sheep and lambs, as Jesus had called him and commanded him to do, but in Lydda and in Joppa, new lambs were born into the flock.

What a challenge for every spiritual leader and each disciple of Jesus Christ.

Sandy Shaw