It became known all over... and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 9:26-43 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible (link on links page)

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. ³⁰ But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

³¹ So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

Peter’s Ministry

³² Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. ³⁵ And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. ³⁷ And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” ³⁹ So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter sent them all out 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; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³ And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

As we read all scripture, but in particular as we read these accounts from Acts let's do it in light of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which says:    All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.    It says all scripture. The first word "all", is key. It is the Greek word paj(pas). It means: individually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything, collectively .  So it is not just that each and every verse is good for these things, but it is the whole, collectively.  The entirety of the Bible is good for teaching, for correction and for training. The Bible and so these accounts we read in Acts are not there for historical purposes. They are written for our teaching and training as 2 Timothy 3:17 says:  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Equipped for every good work. Jesus says:  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.(John 14:12) Some will say that Jesus was speaking only to and for His own group of disciples at that time. Remember all scripture, Jesus also says:     “Have faith in God. ²³ Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.(Mark 11:22-24)     I will gladly identify myself as a whoever in the kingdom of God. Jesus also says:     “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷ These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”(Mark 16:15-18)    Why is it that so many in the church will easily accept vs 15's call to speak the gospel but believe that the truth of vs 17 is not for them or for this time at all?

These accounts that we read are there for our teaching and training. What Peter did is not recorded so that we would glorify Peter. It is there so we can learn from it,for us to be trained and equipped to do good works ourselves. The text says:  There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. ³⁵ And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.      Peter walked in the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. He, like Jesus, saw and heard the things the Father was doing. This sign, this miracle he performed was not for his glory. Neither was it only for this man Aeneas, but it was to confirm the word of God, to confirm the power of the name of Jesus Christ, so that:  all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 

The text continues:  Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. ³⁷ And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”.... Peter sent them all out 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; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

I don't know and can't explain why so often we don't see the results we hope to see when we pray for healing for those we love. I don't believe that it is that we don't have enough faith. In Matthew 17:20 Jesus says:  "truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."     I also don't believe that God has changed His mind and no longer wants to do the things He said He would do. I believe: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(Hebrews 13:8)

Again, I don't know for sure why we don't always see the results we hope for, but this I do know. I will continue in all scripture, to seek God's wisdom, His instruction, His training and I will continue to believe that what He has said He will do and what He has done before He will continue. I will continue to yield and submit to the Holy Spirit, desiring that I hear and see clearly the things the Father is doing. I encourage you to do the same.

One thing I see in these accounts from today's text is that there was no personal attachment for Peter to those he prayed for and ministered to. Sometimes we tend to pray the hardest when the need is the closest to our heart. Please understand what I am saying, it is good and right that we pray and intercede for those we love, asking God to work miracles in their lives. The ultimate goal, the ultimate end result of all of our prayers for healing and deliverence though should be that:

Thy will be done, Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven. Our prayer should be not that the life of the one we love is spared or changed, but that through that, it would become known and many would believe in Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit, I know of so many who are suffering and hurting today from all sorts of afflictions but in particular from the curse of cancer. I confess today that I have prayed with a personal motivation, wanting to see the healing and deliverence of those I love.

 But, I also profess and proclaim that You Heavenly Father and You Lord Jesus love them more than I do. You knew them before they were formed in their mother's womb. You went to the cross for their sins and BY YOUR STRIPES YOU HAVE HEALED THEM.

I will not stop asking and believing. In Your name Lord Jesus , Your will be done, Your kingdom come, all glory and honor to You, heal and deliver those who are afflicted today, that many will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.    Amen