WHAT A GIFT!

After Pentecost the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly preached the gospel. They even performed miracles in the name of Jesus.

Today we are going to look at what happened when Peter and John encountered a lame man at the gates of the temple This was a place they would have visited every afternoon for prayer.

But I wonder what was different about this day that made them stop and take notice of this man.

LET'S EXPLORE THIS STORY FURTHER

BIBLE READING

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’

7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3:1-10

This short video is a brilliant portrayal of today's story.

THINGS TO NOTICE ABOUT THE STORY:

LAME FROM BIRTH - The man was "lame from his mother’s womb" as Luke describes it. And he was more than 40 years old. All his life, from the day of his birth, his feet and lower legs were crippled and useless. He had never walked, or ran or danced. He relied on other people to move him from place to place. This day all that would be changed, but he didn’t yet know it.

LOOK AT US - Peter took a careful look at the man. Not every beggar is genuine. The man was not looking at Peter however, perhaps because his eyes were downcast. But Peter, seeing an opportunity to work a miracle, wanted the man to look up, and see them working in Jesus’ name.

MORE THAN SILVER OR GOLD - The man would have been delighted enough with a silver coin, but Peter didn't have one. Instead he had something priceless to give.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS - In this case, the word “name” means authority, power and glory. Peter possessed healing power, but only as a gift from Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It was really Jesus’s healing power, not Peter’s. Peter knew this, and was anxious for others to understand it clearly.

IMMEDIATELY - This truly miraculous healing was instantaneous. He started walking immediately, even though he'd never learned to walk before. He even leapt and danced. How amazing is that!

PRAISING GOD - The man might not have understood how he was so suddenly whole, but he knew what power had done it. It was God’s work, for nobody else could have done it. So he gave God the glory and gratitude.

It is likely that none of us has miraculously been cured of paralysis.

* However, when have you been close to being this thankful for something?

* What are some things that you can thank God for in your life?

Peter used the opportunity not only to heal the lame man but to tell him about Jesus.

* Are we always ready to help those in need, and to tell them about Jesus because after all He is better than anything else that the world has to offer.

FINAL THOUGHT

Remember that when the crippled beggar saw Peter, he wasn’t expecting much. He had been carried to this same place every day to beg and he certainly wasn’t expecting a miracle. The most he was hoping for was a few pennies.

But God had other plans for this man’s life, and that day he was healed and his life was transformed.

Can you imagine what he would now have been able to do that he’d never done before?

God wants to give good gifts to us, his children. He is much more interested in our lives than we probably think.

SO LET'S EXPECT GOD TO DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR LIVES

HE MAY SURPRISE US!