In The Name Of Jesus
I was on my way to church one Sunday. A woman approached my car to ask for money. I gave her a few dollars, but as she walked back to the sidewalk she turned and asked me to pray for her. The reality is that she needed the power of Jesus even more than the money. In her song Break Every Chain, Tasha Cobbs Leonard sings “There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain”. Please take a moment to listen to it. In this week’s scripture (Acts 3:1-11), Peter and John demonstrate their faith and belief that, in the name of Jesus, people’s lives can be transformed. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they physically healed a man lame since birth. Then as people are drawn to them because of the miracle of that physical healing, they offered them the gospel of Jesus Christ and spiritual healing for their lives which have been crippled from birth by sin. I pray that we will see the opportunities God presents to us to offer people what they need most… the good news of salvation and a life of favor eternally with Him. Amen
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 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. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 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.”(Acts 3:1-6). A man who had been lame his entire life was brought to the temple to beg for money from those going in, when he encountered Peter and John. Peter did not look away from the man, but looked directly at him and called the man to give them his attention. Peter didn’t have money, but He had something much more valuable supporting the man’s current condition …. Faith in the power of God to transform his life!
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized 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 3:7-10). The miraculous healing that Jesus did through Peter had tangible and immediate effect. For 40 years (since birth) the man had been lame, but in an instant his limbs and joints received the strength to not only walk, but to jump. The man immediately began using what God had given him (walking and jumping) and he joyfully gave God the praise. The healing of this man and his praise of God had the effect of filling all the people there with wonder and amazement at his transformation. Do people see you giving the Lord praise for what He has done in your life?
While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. (Acts 3:11). The man refused to let go of Peter and John and the people came running to them. The power of the miracle caused an attentive audience to rush to Peter and John. Peter in the subsequent verses used the opportunity to share the gospel with all those who were there. Peter drew their attention away from the miracle and put it on Jesus, the one who could miraculously transform their lives.
Because of their faith in God, Peter and John took the situation they encountered, of a lame man begging for money, and turned it into an opportunity to bring the gospel to everyone at the temple. They didn’t take the credit for the miracle of the man’s physical healing and they didn’t focus people’s attention on the miracle. Instead they told everyone about Jesus, who came to heal everyone from the devastating condition that crippled us all since birth…sin. As God’s people, we too have something much more valuable to offer the world than silver and gold. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to transform people’s lives with the good news of salvation. You will encounter people in situations who stand in need of more than your support of their condition. They really need transformation. Just remember, Peter and Paul didn’t offer this transformation in their own power, and neither do we. But in Jesus’ name…. all men and women can receive the power to be healed and made new again!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
