Sunday Worship Service January 11, 2026

Prelude
Call to Worship Ezekiel 2:1
Hymn JBC # 16 To God be the glory
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #493 God sent His Son
Offering
Scripture Acts 9:32~43
Prayer
Sermon “Get up”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 134 Sing them over again to me
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction

　Today's Scripture passage is from Acts 9:32 through the end of this chapter (Chapter 9).
　The first half of Chapter 9 depicts the dramatic transformation of Saul, who encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ and was fiercely persecuting Christians, into a passionate evangelist for Christ.
　Saul (later called Paul) became a believer in Christ, and then, despite facing persecution and even the danger of losing his life, he was transformed into an evangelist who proclaimed Jesus Christ.
　Through biblical figures like Saul, we are shown that people can be truly transformed by experiencing a genuine encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
　Because by encountering the Lord Jesus Christ, believing in Christ as Lord, and welcoming Christ into the center of our lives, the power in Christ becomes ours as well.
　Therefore, through the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ dwelling within us, we can receive the hope that people can be strengthened and transformed.

　And through the examples of Christ's disciples and apostles, such as Saul and Peter, who appears in today's passage, we desire to grow in our conviction that the power of Christ, which worked through them, is also given to us today.
　　In today's passage, Peter, a disciple of Christ who was also called an apostle and held a leading position among the disciples, appears.
During Jesus' lifetime, Peter was one of His first disciples and could be considered His foremost disciple.
　Today's Scripture passage recounts how Peter healed a man who had been ill for many years, and also tells of another occasion when he raised a dead person back to life.
Through this passage, let us listen together to God's message.
In today's first passage, verse 32, it is written, “Peter traveled about the country (traveled from place to place).” The city of Lydda, mentioned as “he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda” was located about 40 kilometers from Jerusalem.

After (Peter, as well) meeting the risen Lord and being guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter did not remain in one place (Jerusalem) but went here and there, journeying to the “holy ones” (in English, “the Lord's people”) from his side.
“The holy ones” (in English, “the Lord's people”) does not mean people who are sinless, unblemished, and pure.
“Holy ones,” or “the Lord's people,” refers to Christians who believe in Christ as Lord.
Then, in what sense can Christians be called “holy ones”? It is because they have been made pure by Christ, and their sins have been forgiven by Christ.
It is not that we have been recognized by God as excellent through our own efforts or achievements. It is not that we became pure by our own power.

A Christian is one who, by God's mercy alone, has been chosen to be Christ's own, made a child of God, one who believes in this great grace and has simply been allowed to receive it.
Christians believe that God works within our hearts, that God chose us, that God called us, and that God sanctified us through Christ.
I believe that those who hold this conviction are inevitably compelled to be just humble before God and before others.
　Remembering the grace by which we have been made Christ's own and God's own, we desire to be those who boast not in ourselves but always in the Lord God.
Peter met a man named Aeneas in Lydda who had been bedridden for eight years due to paralysis, a condition where, for some reason, the body becomes paralyzed and unable to move freely.
Peter said to Aeneas, ““Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.”
Then Aeneas immediately got up. This is the first healing event performed by Peter that occurs in today's passage.

Peter told Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you.” The importance of these words cannot be overstated.
Peter did not say, “I heal you.” Peter said, “Jesus Christ heals you. So, Get up and roll up your mat.”
In another town called Joppa, Peter said to Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas (gazelle)) whom he met in the town “Tabitha, get up”, who had already died, and she was brought back to life.
“Tabitha, get up” as Peter said at that time carries the faith in Christ that “Jesus Christ will raise you to life.”

When we hear such stories, I think our interest and attention inevitably turn toward the miraculous healing of the sick or the reviving of those who had died.
The healing of Aenea's illness and the resurrection of Tabita, who was beloved by all, both are truly wonderful events.
It is only natural for those suffering from serious or painful illnesses to wish for healing. Likewise, when we ourselves, or our family or loved ones, are afflicted by illness and suffering, we pray to God for their recovery.
However, today's passage is not saying that if you believe in God, miracles like curing difficult illnesses or raising the dead will definitely happen.
If we say that visible, concrete miracles will always occur in response to our wishes and prayers, that would be placing ourselves in God's position.
So what message of faith can we hear in today's passage?

It is not I, a human being, who heals you (giving life and hope), but rather, “Jesus Christ heals you.” “Jesus Christ alone is the Healer and the source of life.”
　And it is that faith is given to people, faith that trusts the Lord so completely, to the point where Peter could say to someone who had died, “Tabitha, get up,” and entrust everything to the Lord God.
　Peter learned this attitude of faith entirely from the Lord Jesus. He learned many things directly from Jesus during His earthly ministry.
　Peter's actions in today's passage reflect very well what he learned from Jesus and the image of Jesus that Peter actually saw.
　In particular, Peter's behavior when Tabitha was raised from the dead closely mirrors Jesus' actions when He raised the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, from the dead as described in Mark 5:40.
Peter clearly remembered what Jesus had done at that time and can be said to have imitated His actions as faithfully as possible.
I believe there is meaning in starting with imitation. I think it is possible that imitation eventually grows into a faith that carries substance and meaning, one that is truly grounded.

For example, even something like praying, praying in public might be quite difficult at first. Even long-time Christians often hesitate when suddenly asked to pray in front of others.
At such times, it can be meaningful to start by imitating someone else's prayer, to simply recite prepared words, like a model prayer.
If you contemplate the meaning of that prayer, seek it earnestly, and pray sincerely, even if it begins as mere imitation, it is possible for it to be transformed into prayer accompanied by the substance of faith.
Let us actively emulate the attitudes of faith that we can learn from.
When Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, Jesus heard the news before reaching the synagogue official's house: “the daughter has passed away. There is no need for you to come any further.”
But Jesus said, “Do not be afraid. Just believe.” Saying this, Jesus did not stop heading toward Jairus's house, but entered the house.

Jesus sent everyone out of the house, then took the child by the hand and said, “Little girl, I tell you, get up!” And the child came back to life.
Peter recalled how Jesus had been at that time, thinking, “Even when the Lord heard the news that the girl had died, He never said, ‘It's over now; going there would be pointless.’”
That is why Peter too did not give up. Having personally witnessed the Lord's healing and even His power to raise the dead, he followed the Lord's example and never gave up.
Though Tabitha had died, this did not mean everything was over and all hope was shattered. The conviction that God's work would surely come to pass even from here was given to Peter even more strongly at that moment.
So Peter, as Jesus had done, sent everyone outside, and he knelt down and prayed.
“May God's work be done. May God's will be done,” Peter earnestly prayed, humbly offering his supplication to God.
Peter spoke the words, “Tabitha, get up,” almost identical to those Jesus Christ had spoken to Jairus's dead daughter. It was the faith to speak those words that had been given to Peter.

The faith that if it be the Lord's will, so it shall be was given to Peter. We desire not to be captivated by the superficial aspects of this miraculous event, but rather to fix our hearts on the greatness of the Lord God who bestowed such faith upon Peter.
　As we continue to grow in our faith experience, as we continue to experience the grace of Jesus Christ, our trust in the Lord deepens.
The Lord God is faithful and always true; He is the One who keeps His promises. As we come to trust Him more and more, we increasingly rely on Him.
　And many weary, wounded, and broken people come to church. Even among us today, there are surely those who are utterly exhausted and wounded.
Many people seek God's healing. I too seek God's healing. I also seek the strength to stand on my own.
　At such times, we long to share this message with those who are weary and seek God's grace, power, and healing: “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up. (For Christ gives you the strength to stand up).”
　Even when we think we are dead, it is never the end. God's work will surely come to pass. We can always receive from Jesus the hope that God's grace continues to be given to us.
　　We also desire to be a church where we can encourage one another with such words of faith.
Christ lifts us up day by day. Christ gives us life day by day, moving us forward step by step. Let us walk in faith each day, relying on Christ.