We have watched as Peter stepped up and took on the leadership role that Jesus had prepared for him. He boldly preached to the Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem about Jesus - who He was and what He had done. In that preaching, Peter did not shy away from declaring what THEY had done to Jesus. Of course, their personal hands had not driven the nails in ... but that's not the point, is it. It was the human rebellion against God that necessitated that colossal sacrifice. It was then ... still is! The response was staggering. People were coming to Christ. People were being baptized by the hundreds.
There was another way in which Peter was following his Rabbi ... stepping into those shoes through the Holy Spirit.
Read Acts 3: 1 - 10 and 5: 12 - 16
Peter became a "healer". The Holy Spirit in him worked the miracle of healing for so many. Physical ailments and trauma ... demonic activity ... the sick ... the tormented. Did you notice that people brought their sick into the streets in the hopes that Peter's "shadow" would pass across them? (5:15) What incredible power! This is our Peter, remember. This is the same man who took a few steps on water and then began to sink. The one who ran. Our Peter ... transformed. We are amazed at the transforming power of the Spirit of God on a life. Don't ever miss the fact that the same Spirit desires to do transforming work in your life as well. You most likely will not become a "healer" like Peter ... but you can become courageous. You can become faithful. You can become strong. You can walk wherever you need to walk ... because of the transforming power of the Spirit of God.
A few observations for us from Peter's healing of the crippled beggar in chapter 3:
First, this man was lame. So are we if you are talking about walking as Jesus walked - crippled from birth. Born of the first Adam and prone to our relentless sin nature ... we, too, are lame. We cannot walk as righteous. We cannot walk into the presence of God. We, too, require the Spirit of God to heal our lameness.
Second, this man was poor. So are we if you are talking about anything of real, eternal value. Our pitiful love affair with money and stuff will end at the end of our earthly lives. "You can't take it with you" is actually very true. So in reality, we are bankrupt. We have nothing to hold up before the eternal God and say, "Hey, I'm important! Pay attention to me. Treat me with deference." We are bankrupt. We, too, require the Spirit of God to provide for us.
Third, this man was outside the Temple. Remember the Temple represented the presence of God. This bankrupt cripple couldn't get in. Neither can we. We cannot walk into the presence of God. We are "outside". We, too, need someone to carry us "in".
Never forget Paul's powerful explanation to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 2: 1 - 6:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus ...
If you belong to Christ, you have been healed! Any physical ailments you carry cannot be compared to the glorious wholeness you possess in Christ.
Did you see what Peter used to heal this cripple? It's in verse 6 ... "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." There was power in the name of Jesus. My friends, I believe with everything in me, there still is. Whatever your struggle right now ... call on the NAME of Jesus. Whatever hardship ... call on the NAME of Jesus. Whatever challenge ... call on the NAME of Jesus. And when He reaches down and strengthens you, or delivers you, or heals you ... follow the example of our man in Acts 3. Do as he did ...
He went into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Let excitement and emotion and praise of God the Healer exude from you! In the NAME of Jesus ...
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