I Am Every Woman

Chapter 2
When God Calls Your Name: Dorcas (Tabitha)
Acts 9:36-42

HER STORY

Dorcas was a well-known disciple throughout Joppa. Her name means gazelle, which is a beautiful, graceful creature. Her inner beauty was exhibited through her outward actions: charity, compassion, love, and kindness. She was the epitome of a selfless, faithful servant who gave herself to the work of the Lord by helping the widows and others in her community.

What characteristics do you possess that would draw people to you?

Is it challenging to maintain those attributes throughout your life? Why or why not?

Your lifestyle is an accurate representation of who you are on the inside. Take a good look at yourself.

Who or what do you see?

One day Dorcas became very sick and died. This was a tragic occurrence for all those who knew her. Immediately upon her death, those around her sought after Peter, who was in the town of Lydda, about eleven miles away.

When Peter arrived, he walked in on the grief-stricken women sobbing profusely for Dorcas. The tunics and garments Dorcas had made were all they had left.

Peter saw their pain but knew he had work to do. After sending them out of the room, he knelt and prayed. Peter turned toward Dorcas’s dead body and called her name. “Tabitha arise!” (Acts 9:40 NASB) No longer a lifeless body, she caught sight of Peter and sat up. (Reminder that Tabitha is Hebrew for Dorcas.)

Gently placing her hand in his, he helped her to her feet, opened the door, and presented her to all those waiting in the other room. God had miraculously come through, and it was known throughout Joppa.

Many times, it takes a miracle to get the attention of others. However, God is in the business of drawing people to Himself, and He will do whatever needs to be done to get their attention.

Has God had to use extreme measures to get your attention? Explain.

APPLICATION

Dorcas was a devoted disciple full of good works and acts of charity. She gave to the needy. Giving must come from the heart. It cannot be conditional. When giving emerges from the heart, nothing is expected in return. That was Dorcas. Serving unconditionally was what she chose to do.

Serving others and serving yourself is critical. One cannot outweigh the other because both are needed. We must learn to balance our lives in a way that will yield satisfaction in all areas.

List some of the ways you have served others and yourself. I have listed two examples.

Serving Others: Listen attentively, without interruptions.
Serving Ourselves: Allow time for mental rest.

What are some good works and acts of charity you’ve contributed throughout your life?

ACTIVITY: Tell a story of how you serve others in the box below.

Widows and other saints benefited greatly from Dorcas’s kindness. Sometimes we do things out of obligation or because it is just the right thing to do. Dorcas served out of love and compassion for others. The tunics and garments she made were evidence and a reminder of her charity and good works.

Who has benefited from your or others’ good works and acts of charity? What evidence can be shown of this?

Dorcas left a lasting impact on others by consistently doing good works and acts of charity.

Discuss a time someone impacted your life.

Ironically, they washed Dorcas’s body and laid it in the upper room. There was no rush to bury her. Their actions displayed their faith. Faith told them not to entomb her. They held her there and summoned the man of God, who could seek Jesus on behalf of their dearly beloved. Their hope in the power of Christ was astounding.

Do you have enough faith to seek God on behalf of someone else? Are you in a position to intercede on behalf of others? Explain.

Before Dorcas could be raised from the dead, all distractions had to be removed. Sometimes we cannot tap into the power of God because of the distractions. God wants our undivided attention. To hear Him clearly, silence is needed. Distractions will always keep you from operating in the full power of the Spirit.

There are many distractions around us, causing chaos and confusion. They keep us busy so that we won’t be able to focus on the task at hand. We must be able to hear clearly when doing the work of God.

He gives us specific assignments to carry out, and if we are not in a place where we can hone in on His voice, we can miss our opportunity to achieve the task at hand.

What's keeping you from tapping into the unlimited power of Jesus?

ACTIVITY: List your distractions.

We must remove all distractions if we're going to hear from God.

Prayer was Peter’s very next step after he removed the distractions. Concentration and meditation are needed when seeking to tap into the power of the living God. We can only do this when we are alone, and our thoughts are undisturbed. Dorcas’s resurrection showed the power of God in a way that could never be denied. When the power of Jesus awakens a dead situation, you cannot help but get up and get moving. God’s power will not allow you to remain in a dead state. So when God calls your name, you will rise out of that lifeless situation and proceed forward.

ACTIVITY: Talk about a time in your life or in the life of someone close to you where you thought a situation or relationship was dead, only to be resurrected later.