Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Acts 3:2, 6. Indeed, we see the power of the Holy Spirit manifested not only in the words of the apostles, but also in their works. In asking Peter and John for alms, the poor lame man sitting at the Beautiful Door of the temple was far from expecting the gift he would receive: a miraculous healing by faith in the name of Jesus. “What I have, I give it to you,” peter said. Because when it comes to giving, we usually think of money first. More rarely to the inexhaustible heavenly treasure, that is, the knowledge of the Savior that we have the privilege of sharing around us.
What a change for this poor lame man! Untilthen, he was “at the door”. He now enters into the presence of God to praise Him. Would one of us still be “at the door”? For the Jewish disciples still recognized the temple as the house of God, a house of prayer, as the Lord recalls in Luke 19:46, until they understood the whole truth about the Church whose formation was seen the week before. For it replaced Israel as a testimony of God on earth.
Later, the Lord taught them to leave Jerusalem and the temple, before they were destroyed by the Romans. As Peter and John arrived, a man, lame from birth, was brought to the temple and placed at the door of the temple, known as the Beauty, to beg. Just as the apostles were about to enter, this cripple addressed his request to them. “And Peter, having with John stopped his eyes on him, said, ‘Look at us.’ And he looked at them carefully, expecting to receive something from them.
But Peter said, ‘I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have, I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk.’ And having taken it by the right hand, he lifted it up; and at the moment the plants and ankles of his feet became firm; and making a jump, he stood and walked; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and jumping, and praising God.”
This healing gave a public testimony to the value and power of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, before those who had despised him during his life here on earth, calling him a Nazarene, rejecting him and putting him to death. In the midst of the people, Jesus had performed great miracles that should have convinced the Jews that he was really the promised Messiah. Now that God has resurrected and glorified him, and made him Lord and Christ, his name has the same power through the apostles who are simply its channel. And all the witnesses of this miracle were filled with astonishment.
With this healing, we see the same effects as conversion. For what characterized this man was poverty and the inability to walk. He was sitting and begging. And after his healing, he walked, jumped, and praised the Lord God. His heart was full of gratitude to the Lord who had delivered him so wonderfully. In his natural state, every man is morally like this cripple, without resources and unable to follow the thought of God. But by the power of Jesus’ name, always at the disposal of faith, he can walk in a way that glorifies God, his heart filled with gratitude, praise, and adoration.
So, if we are among those who possess salvation, let us not forget that, indeed, it was to walk in a manner worthy of God and to praise Him right here, that He delivered us from the sad state into which sin had plunged us all.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- The physical and spiritual incapacity of man
Lek 13:11 And behold, there was a woman there possessed of a spirit that had made her crippled for eighteen years; she was bent, and could not straighten up at all. Jn 5:7 The sick man replied, Lord, I have no one to throw me into the pool when the water is rough, and as I go there, another comes down before me. Jn 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me attracts him; and I will raise him up on the last day. (Jn 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who dwells in me and in whom I dwell bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing.) Acts 3:2 There was a lame man by birth, who was carried and placed every day at the door of the temple called the Beauty, so that he could ask for alms from those who entered the temple. Rom 5:6 For when we were still powerless, Christ, in his time marked, died for the ungodly. Rom 7:18 What is good, I know, does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh: I have the will, but not the power to do good.
- Begging, examples
Mk 10:46 They arrived at Jericho. And when Jesus came out, with his disciples and a fairly large crowd, Timaeus’ son, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the side of the road. Lk 16:20 A poor man named Lazarus lay at his door covered with ulcers; Jn 9:8 His neighbors and those who had previously known him as a beggar said, “Is this not the one who sat down and begged? Acts 3:2 His neighbors and those who had previously known him as a beggar said: Is this not the one who sat down and begged?
- Infirmities of the body
Mt 8:17 that what had been announced by Isaiah, the prophet, may be completed: He took our infirmities, and took care of our illnesses. Lk 5:15 His fame spread more and more, and people came in crowds to hear him and to be cured of their illnesses. Lek 13:11 And behold, there was a woman there possessed of a spirit that had made her crippled for eighteen years; she was bent, and could not straighten up at all. Jn 5:5 There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. 2 Co 12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago was delighted to the third heaven (if it was in his body I do not know, if it was out of his body I do not know, God knows). Gal 4:13 You have done me no harm. You know that it was because of an infirmity of the flesh that I first proclaimed the gospel to you. 1 Tim 5:23 Do not continue to drink only water; but make use of a little wine, because of your stomach and your frequent indispositions. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses; on the contrary, he has been tempted like us in all things, without committing sin.
- Kindness to the poor, commanded
Ex 23:11 But the seventh, thou shat give him a break and leave him resting; the poor of your people will enjoy it, and the beasts of the fields will eat what will remain. You will do the same for your vineyard and for your olive trees. (Lev 25:25 If your brother becomes poor and sells a portion of his property, the one who has the right to redeem, his next of kin, will come and redeem what his brother has sold.) Dt 15:7 If there is some needy one of your brethren in your home, in one of your gates, in the land which the Lord your God gives you, thou shat not harden your heart and thou shat not close thy hand before your needy brother. (Dt 24:12 If this man is poor, thou shat not lie down, withholding his pledge;) Ps 41:2 Blessed is he who is interested in the poor! On the day of misfortune the Lord delivers him; (Pr 14:21 He who despises his neighbor commits a sin, but blessed is he who has mercy on the wretched!) Pr 19:17 He who has mercy on the poor lends himself to the Lord, Who will give him according to his work. (Pr 28:27 He who gives to the poor does not experience scarcity, but he who closes his eyes is laden with curses.) Mt 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, give it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me. Gal 2:10 They only recommended that we remember the poor, which I was careful to do.
- Examples of human sympathy
2 S 15.23 The whole country was in tears and loud cries were uttered as all the people passed. The king passed the torrent of Cedron, and all the people passed vis-à-vis the path that leads to the desert. Jb 2:1 Now, the sons of God came one day to appear before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them to present themselves before Jehovah. Jb 30:25 Didn’t I have tears for the unfortunate? Didn’t my heart have mercy on the needy? Ps 35:14 As for a friend, for a brother, I dragged myself slowly; As if for the mourning of a mother, I bowed with sadness. Lk 23:27 He was followed by a great multitude of common people, and women who beat their chests and lamented over him. Jn 11:19, 35 many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them with the death of their brother. 35 Jesus wept.
From all of the above, we note that the power of the Holy Spirit is manifested not only in the words of the apostles, but also in their works. In asking Peter and John for alms, the poor lame seat was far from expecting the gift he would receive: a miraculous healing by faith in the name of Jesus. And as he held Peter and John’s hand, all the astonished people rushed to them at the portico called solomon.” For if this people had been able to dwell in these feelings of admiration, and repent by recognizing in this miracle the power and grace of the one they had crucified, what blessings they would have received! But this was not the case, and that he persevered in his refusal to believe in Jesus and to receive Him. Our prayers sustain you all in your efforts to recognize the power of the Holy Ghost.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow about “Peter’s testimony and the call to repentance.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.