A breathless Dr. Luke.

Steve Brown:
A breathless Dr. Luke. Let’s talk about it, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
This is Key Life with our host, author and seminary professor Steve Brown, he’s nobody’s guru, he’s just one beggar telling other beggars where he found bread. If you’re hungry for God, the real God behind all the lies, you’ve come to the right place.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. And I hope you guys had a great week-end and I hope your pastor’s sermon was as good as my pastor’s sermon. If you’re just joining us, we’re studying the book of Acts and we’ve been doing it. We started right after Columbus came to America and we will bring it to a successful conclusion just before the second coming of Christ. In other words, this is a long series and I’m taking my time. We’re up to the ninth chapter of Luke, and we’re going to be looking at verses 32 through 43. And you know what we’re going to talk about, we’re going to talk about miracles. That’s what we’re going to talk about cause some really cool things were happening in the first century. And the question is, can they happen in our time? And the answer, so you don’t have to listen to any of these broadcasts for the next two weeks is yes, of course. Before we study, let’s pray. Father, we come into your presence and we ask for forgiveness for sometimes forgetting that this is a supernatural battle, that we live in a supernatural world, we worship a supernatural God, who does supernatural things. Father, remind us of your bigness and your power, but also remind us of your love and kindness. Jesus said we should pray, our Father with all that means love and mercy and forgiveness and kindness and generosity and gentleness and compassion and patience and protection and provision and correction and wisdom and guidance. You’re our father. And we’re so thankful, who art in heaven, but we must remember that you are God and you are big and you can be trusted. Father, you know everybody who’s listening to this broadcast and you know the hard places and the soft places. You know the laughter and the tears. Father, when it hurts and when it’s dark come alongside, stand by me. And Father, when things are going well, and the pieces are coming together and we’re feeling good, stand by me. We praise you and we worship you. And Father, as always, we pray for the one who teaches on this broadcast, forgive him his sins cause there are many, we would see Jesus and him only. And we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Alright, I’m going to start at the 32nd verse of the ninth chapter of Acts. And this is an interesting place in this. This week and probably into next week, we’re continuing with this study in Acts. And now for a moment, before we turn to the subject and to the text, let me give you a general overview. We are in a sense, picking up the story of Acts, which Luke set aside for a few moments to talk about the conversion of the apostle Paul. You know, one of the most difficult tasks God has ever given to a man was given to Luke, the physician, when God told him to write a history of the early church. And to do it in a short book of only 28 chapters. As, you know, he couldn’t say what Steinbeck said to his editor. Where were you when the page was blank? Because after all, this was God, who had given the instruction. As you read through the book of Acts, and I’ve pointed this out, there’s a kind of breathless quality about the book that gives one the impression that Luke was having to run hard, to catch up with it all, so much was happening, so much, so fast. Were it not for the grace of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke’s task would have been impossible. I mean, it was like drinking from a fire hydrant. In my mind’s eye, I can see Luke sitting before the writer’s desk, writing his incredible story of the early church. He’s just finished describing the church at Jerusalem, it’s apostles, it’s deacons, it’s problems, it’s successes, it’s first halting effort at reaching the world, when God interrupts Luke’s thoughts. And in that still small voice says, Luke, aren’t you forgetting something? And Luke said, what? And God said, what about the apostle Paul. But Lord, Luke said, he doesn’t really enter this story until 13 years later, time about which I am writing is now. Yes, the Lord said, but your readers aren’t going to understand his missionary journeys, unless you tell them how he came to know me. And so, Luke agrees and he sits down, puts aside this fast paced story of the early church. And he begins to talk about Paul. And as you know, for the past few weeks, we’ve paused with Luke in his story of the church to look at the apostle Paul, what happened to him and how God brought Paul to himself. And the conversion experience, it’s miracle, the way the early church was hesitant about Paul. He was killing off Christians. You don’t turn around and have a beer. Well, I wouldn’t have that. And they probably didn’t either with the apostle Paul because he was a dangerous man. But beginning at the 32nd verse of the chapter, that’s the ninth chapter, that we’re studying this week and next week, Luke again, having accomplished his task, having done what God told him to do about the apostle Paul, Luke again resumes this story of the church in Jerusalem and the leaders of that church. In this ninth chapter, he describes two miracles performed by Jesus, through big fisherman, the apostle Peter, senior pastor, as it were the church in Jerusalem. Alright, this is the text.

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived in Lydda. And he found a man names Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise up, make up your bed and walk.” And immediately he arose. 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 means Dorcas (or gazelle). She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died, and when they had washed her and laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, showing coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; then 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 lifted her up. Then calling the saints and the 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.

Whoa, boy, if that happened in your local church or my local church, we’d have revival. I mean, things would be popping. I mean, if a dead lady got up after she was dead or a man who had been bedridden for all those years was dancing, we’d take it on the road, write books about it. I mean, get a gigantic tent and see what God would do, now the question before the house, is this, what about miracles? How come, we don’t see miracles today? Are miracles even possible today? Well, I’m out of time. So you’re just going to have to wait until tomorrow to get the whole answer, as we study these two happenings and place them in the context of what could happen today. Meanwhile, we’ll worship a big God. And a big God who still does things that are amazing. You think about that. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
Thank you Steve. Steve Brown there resuming our tour through the dynamic book of Acts. And again, this week and next week we’ll be living in Acts chapter 9. Hope you will join us again tomorrow and for the rest of the week, as well. So, if you listen to this program, then you know, our friend, Pete Alwinson. Right, the guy who joins Steve every Friday and even sometimes teaches here on Key Life. Well, Pete has written a dynamite article called Why is God So Unpredictable? Because let’s face it, God doesn’t always do what we expect him to do, but there is way more to that story. I hope you’ll check out that article. You can find it in the brand new 2022 edition of Key Life Magazine, which by the way, we would be happy to send to you for free. Just call us right now at 1-800-KEY-LIFE. That’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] and ask for that magazine. If you would like to mail your request, just send it to

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