Acts 3:1-11
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
In today’s scripture we see into the lives of two early believers. We see a contrast between what they once were and who they are now. We see the difference between what the average guy without Christ is like and what the born again believers are like. We see the difference between hope and hopelessness, We see the difference between despair and dancing. We see the difference between the perception of others by Christians and the perception of others by the world in general. We see the difference between defeat and victory. We see the difference between action and stagnation.
From this, We can also see that there are five distinct action words that made this miracle possible. Without these action words in our everyday lives, we are not living to the full potential that God has for our lives… We must be in a place in Jesus where we can Look, Listen, Lift, Leap, and Love! Often times we look right passed or right through someone in need of a spiritual healing. It could be a co-work, a friend, a family member, or perhaps even a complete stranger in need of testimony or a simple word of encouragement. But most times we are so busy with our own lives that we do not take the time to even look for those in need.
Much like this man, who from the day he was born was unable to walk. How many people just passed him by on this day? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of Thousands? The bible does not say but I surmise that he had been there for some time, perhaps even years. Evident by the people assisting him in taking his place. As beautiful as the entrance to the temple was, he became a fixture of the landscape. So much in fact that almost everyone looked right passed him, except Peter and John. “Look upon us!” John said. Therefore they were “Looking at him and looking for him!”
Next they Listened. The man had a request, he wanted something from them. He wanted their money. Oh, come on now… We’ve all heard it before… “Hey Brother/Sister have any spare change?” We have all been there before, just as we are leaving the mall or restaurant with full bags or full bellies, in a rush and we sternly reply “No!” “I do not have it!” Peter and John had no money on them at the time. Telling the man “I have neither silver or gold.” But what they did have to offer was far greater! The power of healing as manifested through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The next action you see them take in this story is that the reached out and lifted this brother up!
You see sometimes we are so busy talking about the situation and telling folk what they should and should not do, their natural needs go unmet. If a man has had nothing to eat are they going to be ready or receptive to your testimony? But if you lift them up from their situation maybe you can assist in getting them where they need to be.
Mother Teresa told about an incident that happened to her. She wrote, “There was a big conference about hunger in Bombay. I was supposed to go to that meeting and I lost the way. Suddenly I came to that place and right in front of the door to where hundreds of people were talking about food and hunger, I found a dying man.” “I took him out and I took him home. He died there. He died of hunger. And the people inside were talking about how in 15 years we will have so much food, so much this, so much that, and that man died.” It is our responsibility to reach down and lift others up.
The next action we see is that of the beggar. He went into the temple of his own recourse. Walking, running, LEAPING! In worship to God. He is a man that was transformed right there on the spot! Talk about a testimony, he attracted many others to Christ through his testimony. In short if you want your church or your ministry to grow apply these action words! Look, Listen, Lift, Leap, and Love. Oh yes! You see we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It is through his Love, Grace, and mercy that we have the ability to go out into the world and bring others into the kingdom. The final action word we see in play here is Love. Peter and John took time out to LOOK – LISTEN – LIFT – LEAP because Jesus had taught them to LOVE your neighbor just as you would yourself. Look for someone in need of a miracle this week, Listen to their need, Lift them up in through the word, Leap and rejoice in the lord with the expectation of a miracle. And Love someone this week. Love the most difficult, which ever that may be for you! Call out their name in prayer. Step out on faith and stretch out on God and see what happens.
In closing, I challenge each of you to bring a friend to church with you this Sunday. Better yet, get up and go to church yourself, if you have not been in a while… Maybe its you that God is looking for, God needs to listen to, God needs to lift you up, You need to leap and rejoice for God, or you simply need to feel the love of God! What ever it is in your life remember LOOK – LISTEN – LIFT – LEAP and LOVE! Have a blessed week, In Jesus’ Name… Amen!
By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Copyright 2008 © MinTech, Inc.
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
In today’s scripture we see into the lives of two early believers. We see a contrast between what they once were and who they are now. We see the difference between what the average guy without Christ is like and what the born again believers are like. We see the difference between hope and hopelessness, We see the difference between despair and dancing. We see the difference between the perception of others by Christians and the perception of others by the world in general. We see the difference between defeat and victory. We see the difference between action and stagnation.
From this, We can also see that there are five distinct action words that made this miracle possible. Without these action words in our everyday lives, we are not living to the full potential that God has for our lives… We must be in a place in Jesus where we can Look, Listen, Lift, Leap, and Love! Often times we look right passed or right through someone in need of a spiritual healing. It could be a co-work, a friend, a family member, or perhaps even a complete stranger in need of testimony or a simple word of encouragement. But most times we are so busy with our own lives that we do not take the time to even look for those in need.
Much like this man, who from the day he was born was unable to walk. How many people just passed him by on this day? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of Thousands? The bible does not say but I surmise that he had been there for some time, perhaps even years. Evident by the people assisting him in taking his place. As beautiful as the entrance to the temple was, he became a fixture of the landscape. So much in fact that almost everyone looked right passed him, except Peter and John. “Look upon us!” John said. Therefore they were “Looking at him and looking for him!”
Next they Listened. The man had a request, he wanted something from them. He wanted their money. Oh, come on now… We’ve all heard it before… “Hey Brother/Sister have any spare change?” We have all been there before, just as we are leaving the mall or restaurant with full bags or full bellies, in a rush and we sternly reply “No!” “I do not have it!” Peter and John had no money on them at the time. Telling the man “I have neither silver or gold.” But what they did have to offer was far greater! The power of healing as manifested through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The next action you see them take in this story is that the reached out and lifted this brother up!
You see sometimes we are so busy talking about the situation and telling folk what they should and should not do, their natural needs go unmet. If a man has had nothing to eat are they going to be ready or receptive to your testimony? But if you lift them up from their situation maybe you can assist in getting them where they need to be.
Mother Teresa told about an incident that happened to her. She wrote, “There was a big conference about hunger in Bombay. I was supposed to go to that meeting and I lost the way. Suddenly I came to that place and right in front of the door to where hundreds of people were talking about food and hunger, I found a dying man.” “I took him out and I took him home. He died there. He died of hunger. And the people inside were talking about how in 15 years we will have so much food, so much this, so much that, and that man died.” It is our responsibility to reach down and lift others up.
The next action we see is that of the beggar. He went into the temple of his own recourse. Walking, running, LEAPING! In worship to God. He is a man that was transformed right there on the spot! Talk about a testimony, he attracted many others to Christ through his testimony. In short if you want your church or your ministry to grow apply these action words! Look, Listen, Lift, Leap, and Love. Oh yes! You see we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It is through his Love, Grace, and mercy that we have the ability to go out into the world and bring others into the kingdom. The final action word we see in play here is Love. Peter and John took time out to LOOK – LISTEN – LIFT – LEAP because Jesus had taught them to LOVE your neighbor just as you would yourself. Look for someone in need of a miracle this week, Listen to their need, Lift them up in through the word, Leap and rejoice in the lord with the expectation of a miracle. And Love someone this week. Love the most difficult, which ever that may be for you! Call out their name in prayer. Step out on faith and stretch out on God and see what happens.
In closing, I challenge each of you to bring a friend to church with you this Sunday. Better yet, get up and go to church yourself, if you have not been in a while… Maybe its you that God is looking for, God needs to listen to, God needs to lift you up, You need to leap and rejoice for God, or you simply need to feel the love of God! What ever it is in your life remember LOOK – LISTEN – LIFT – LEAP and LOVE! Have a blessed week, In Jesus’ Name… Amen!
By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Copyright 2008 © MinTech, Inc.
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