Episode 890
Breaking Barriers: A Deep Dive into Acts 9
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
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- A prayer for your day.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
A profound exploration of Acts 9:32-35 unfolds as we delve into the transformative nature of healing and community revitalization. The narrative centers around the figure of Peter, who, upon encountering Anais, a man paralyzed for eight years, proclaims, 'Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.' This succinct yet powerful declaration not only signifies a miraculous healing but also encapsulates the essence of social justice, wherein physical restoration catalyzes a broader social inclusion. The act of healing transcends mere physicality; it is emblematic of a restoration of dignity and re-engagement with community life. The episode invites listeners to reflect on contemporary expressions of Christ's healing ministry, urging a thoughtful consideration of how access to healthcare and social support reflects the inclusivity that characterized the early Christian movement.
Furthermore, the episode emphasizes the community's awakening to divine activity, as the text reveals that the healing of Anais sparked a collective realization among the inhabitants of Lyda and Sharon regarding the vibrant presence of God in their midst. This communal awakening underscores the notion that transformative change is seldom an isolated event; rather, it reverberates throughout entire communities, challenging collective consciousness and expanding the horizon of what is possible. The simple yet profound act of one person's healing compels the community to reconsider their shared values and beliefs, fostering a more inclusive environment.
Lastly, the discussion articulates the significance of recognizing divine presence in unexpected locales. Lyda, deemed insignificant, becomes a focal point for profound divine activity, illustrating that meaningful change frequently emerges from marginalized spaces and individuals. This serves as a reminder that God's influence is not confined to traditional centers of power but can manifest in the overlooked and the disenfranchised. The episode culminates with a call to action, encouraging listeners to engage with local organizations advocating for accessibility and inclusion, thereby embodying the very principles of justice and community that Peter's actions exemplified.
Takeaways:
- The narrative from Acts 9 highlights the significance of healing as a form of social justice that reinstates individuals into their communities.
- The transformative power of Peter's miracles in Lyda serves as a reminder of how collective awakening can lead to broader societal change.
- This account illustrates the profound divine activity that can emerge from seemingly insignificant places and marginalized people in our communities.
- We are called to examine our own communities for barriers to inclusion and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- The message emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's presence beyond traditional centers of power and religious institutions.
- An actionable step is to become informed about local organizations advocating for disability justice and how we can support them.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Breaking Barriers A Study of Acts 9, 32, 35 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:That's me.
Speaker A:So glad that you chose to join us on this daily reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:Every single day we come to you with a selected verse from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:It's a three year cycle of reading through the Bible.
Speaker A:When you see Easter tide season, we make the reading of the Bible understandable.
Speaker A:We give you some points to ponder.
Speaker A:We use the message version relatable, giving some points to ponder and applicable giving you an action step to take.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:We have a prayer to boot.
Speaker A:So let's get into our reading for today.
Speaker A:It's From Acts chapter 9, verse verses 32 through 35 goes like this.
Speaker A:It's reading from the message Tabitha Peter went off on a mission to visit all the churches in the course of his travels.
Speaker A:He arrived in Lyda and met with the believers there.
Speaker A:And he came across a man, his name was Anais, who had been in bed eight years paralyzed.
Speaker A:And Peter said, anais, Jesus Christ heals you.
Speaker A:Get up and make your bed.
Speaker A:And he did it and jumped out of bed.
Speaker A:And everyone who lived in Lyda and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among them.
Speaker A:A short but powerful passage of scripture about healing, community transformation and the radical inclusivity that marked the early Christian movement.
Speaker A:So let's talk about some points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first one is about healing as a soul.
Speaker A:Social justice.
Speaker A:In ancient times, physical disabilities were often met with social exclusion and economic hardship.
Speaker A:When Peter healed Anais, it wasn't just a physical miracle.
Speaker A:It was an act of social justice that restored someone to full participation in community and community life.
Speaker A:And today we're called to consider how access to health care, accommodations and social support are modern expressions of Christ healing ministry.
Speaker A:The second point is about community awakening.
Speaker A:The text here tells us about something.
Speaker A:It says, quote, everybody who lived in Nida and Sharon saw him walking around and woke up.
Speaker A:Interesting.
Speaker A:This communal awakening reminds us that transformative change is rarely individual.
Speaker A:It ripples through entire communities.
Speaker A:When one person's dignity is restored, it challenges our collective consciousness about what's possible.
Speaker A:The third thing is about divine activity in unexpected places.
Speaker A:Lyda was an insignificant town, yet it became the site of profound divine God like activity and this challenges us to recognize that meaningful change often begins in overlooked places and through marginalized people.
Speaker A:God's presence isn't limited to the centers of power or religious institutions.
Speaker A:Here's your action step for today.
Speaker A:Take time to learn about disability, justice or injustice, perhaps in your community and research the local organizations that are advocating for accessibility and inclusion.
Speaker A:Consider how your faith community might become more welcoming and accessible to people with differing abilities.
Speaker A:What barriers, be they physical or attitudinal, need to be addressed.
Speaker A:We're going to come back and have a prayer about all this in just a minute, but I really did want to just offer to you our free resource.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:It's really simple bullet point process to help you study the Bible every day.
Speaker A:Literally, just like it says, as systematic as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3.
Speaker A:You can do it.
Speaker A:It's there for you at our website voiceofgoddaily.com we hope that you'll take advantage of that.
Speaker A:Here's our prayer for for today.
Speaker A:Loving God, open our eyes to see the ways we've created barriers in our communities.
Speaker A:Help us recognize that your healing through medical science, through policy changes, and through communities committed to full inclusion, give us courage to challenge systems that exclude and marginalize.
Speaker A:Thank you for awakening us to new possibilities of justice and belonging.
Speaker A:May we be agents of transformation in our own lyia, our own neighborhood, that is creating spaces where everyone can fully participate in community life.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:It's always a joy to be with you here, my friend, here on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Hope that you'll join me.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:Your opportunity is to help to do that accomplish that mission by inviting someone else to join us.
Speaker A:We're here every day before 6am Eastern time with a download of the daily reading of that.
Speaker A:Until tomorrow then, friends.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller, reminding you that God's love, loyal love, doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.
Speaker A:Every morning RA.
