ACTS 5: Healing of a Lame man

Turn to Acts 3

This morning in our text we are going to get into a section of scripture that is amazing to look at and even holds an amazing truth at the end

Read ACTS 3:1-10

This morning again like a running commentary we are going to go through this portion of scripture and stop look at things and keep moving

So first in verse 1 We find that Peter and John are going up to the temple for the hour of prayer.

and its when they come to this temple there is a gate which was called beautiful they had to pass through

and this gate quoted by The Jewish historian Josephus described this gate on the temple mount; made of fine Corinthian brass, seventy-five feet high with huge double doors, so beautiful that it “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.”

and it is at this gate we meet a man asking alms of those who came in to the temple.

The lame man simply wanted to be supported in the condition that he was in. God had something better in mind; Jesus wanted to completely change his condition.

In addition, the man had good reason to believe that begging at the Beautiful gate could support him. There was (and is) a strong tradition of alms-giving (giving to the poor, especially beggars) in Judaism, and doing it as an act of righteousness.

See God wants to cleanse and completely change this mans condition and its amazing testament to when we met Christ in our life that God got in our mess and completly changed our condition from being spiritually dead to more alive than we ever were

Then come to verse 4-5 read

Notice the phrasing here he fastened his eyes upon him

The man must have been happy and encouraged when Peter and John looked at him intently. Most people who want to ignore beggars are careful to not make eye contact with them. When they looked at the lame man so intently, he probably thought he had a big gift coming.

Truly what this man didnt know is the life changing event which was about to take place

Look at verse 6 now read

Im sure that this must have been dissappointing for the lame man because he thought he was going to get some money but little did he realize that God had a greater gift in store for this man

Peter didn’t have any money, but he did have authority from Jesus to heal the sick (what I do have I give to you). Peter knew what it was like to have God use him to heal others, because Jesus had trained him in this (Luke 9:1-6).

Lets look over at Luke 9:1-6

read

See Jesus had trained his men to be used by God to heal others and it wasn't by any means that Peter could have done it was all through Jesus’ power used through Peter.

See God can do miraculous things when he empowers us

but look now again at verse 6 its through whos power?

Jesus Christ of Nazareth see in life being a nazarene got Jesus made fun of but Peter here is almost boasting it like waving a flag of stating its only through Jesus Christ and in his power he commanded the man to rise up and walk

now wait a minute this is a lame man who has been so since birth he has no idea how to use his legs or what it feels like to walk

but in faith believing the man stands up and look at verse 7

the Bible states immediately the bones in his feet and ankles received their strength

Strength did not come to the lame man until Peter said “rise up and walk,” and not until Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up.

but now as this man was healed there is amazing things which happen now

look at verse 8-10

As soon as he was healed, the formerly lame man did three good things.

First, he attached himself to the apostles (entered the temple with them).

Secondly, he immediately started to use what God had given him (walking, leaping).

Finally, he began to praise and worship God (praising God).

Lastly when he comes in to the temple the people recognize him and as we will see later when we get into the book of acts this man was 40 years of age we find this in chapter 4:22

but not only that he was a familar sight he has been seen at this gate several times

and all of this to come to this here is the amazing thing about this

we said this man was 40 years old right?

Therefore, Jesus must have passed him by many times without healing him.

We can say that one reason why Jesus didn’t heal him is because God’s timing is just as important as His will, and it was for the greater glory of God that Jesus heal this man from heaven through His apostles.

See God’s timing is a whole lot better than our timing is and Jesus may have passed this man many of times but it was all a part of his plan and His will because this man is now praising the Lord for what he has done

so if today you are waiting on God to do something in your life I beg you hold on Gods fulfillment is a whole lot better in his timing not ours

pray