Acts 9:31-43 (ESV)

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 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.” 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. 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Here, Peter performs two great miracles of healing – but notice what that means. Peter didn’t actually do the healing; God did. In the first case, Peter made this clear when he said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.”

In the second, Peter didn’t just walk in and heal Tabitha, he knelt down and prayed. Then knowing that his prayer had been granted, he said, “Tabitha, arise.”

So, the difference between what Peter can do and what you and I can do is that he has a better connection. His prayers are often granted exactly as he wishes, plus he gets inside information about what’s going to happen next (he knows that God said, “yes.”)

That’s what the spiritual gift of healing is – a better connection. Actually, “a better connection” pretty much describes all the higher spiritual gifts (as per 1 Corinthians 12:28-31). This explains John 15:7. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)

When you have a great connection with God whatever you wish will conform to whatever He wishes.

1 Corinthians 12:31 says to earnestly desire the higher gifts. But how? By seeking communion with God. Our goal in prayer should be to seek His will, not to get Him to do ours.

Today, pray for better communication with the Lord. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. His response may not come immediately. Just keep watching. This can turn into a life changing exercise.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies