God’s Healing Power, The Holy Spirit

Today’s Scripture

The Holy Spirit produces power: (1) power to work for God, (2) power to worship God, and (3) power to witness for God. Peter and John had God’s power in their lives. The power of the Holy Spirit is of little value unless we use it. The crippled man is a picture of the crippled world in need of help from God.

I. The Prayer for Power—v.

A. The reason for prayer—This is Christ’s command: man must take time to pray.

tells us, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”

1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

Let’s see what Luke tells us in chapter 24.....

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

49“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

B. The rule of prayer—Jesus tells of the importance of secret prayer in .....

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

6But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

C. The results of prayer—There is no limit to the power of daily, fervent prayer, constant prayer......

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

II. The Person in Need of Power—

A. Sin cripples man—Sin left its mark upon Samson, He had fallen into a sinful lifestyle until the day of his death.

Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. 21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.

20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.

21So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.

B. Sin controls man—Man becomes a servant and a slave unto sin and Satan.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

C. Sin confuses man—Sin blinds both the Christian and the sinner to the truth.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

4Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

III. The Power Given to the Person, To Us!—vv. 3–7

A. The plea, Help me, I need something.. (Money, Peace, Food, Strength, JESUS)

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John had something to offer this man. What do we here at SBCC have to offer to the world?

- 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”

5The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

B. The plan—“What we have we give unto you.” You see, they did not have any money. They had something real, they had something worthwhile to offer, Jesus.

C. The power—They told the man, “Rise up and walk.” They met this man’s need through the power of the Holy Spirit. Are we here at SBCC using this Power we have been given?

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.

6But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.

IV. The Praising Because of the Power—vv.

A. Leaping. We accept healing by faith in God. OK, we have faith, are we accepting it, are we leaping?

He jumped (LEAPED) up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

8He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

So......He jumped/leaped by faith, He walked by faith, then He praised God for all of these things. GOT IT? Do we react like this lame man did when we are blessed with miracles?

B. Walking. We practice God’s healing power by working through Him.

C. Praising. We thank God for the healing, hopefully!

V. The People Wonder at the Power—vv.

A. They saw the miracle- When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

10When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! —We should show the world that God can do the impossible by changing lives.

We should show the world that through faith that God can do the impossible.

B. They were surprised at the miracle— They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John. Some accepted this miracle as from God; others rejected it.

11They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John. Some accepted this miracle as from God; others rejected it.

VI. Are you receiving The Preaching Which Explains the Power?—vv. 12–16

A. Why do we Wonder/doubt?— Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? Why wonder? This was God’s power at work!

12Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? Why wonder? This was God’s power at work!

B. Some continue to doubt Jesus— (NLT) 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him......

13For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him.

14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! The people reject both the miracle and Christ.

15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! The people reject both the miracle and Christ.

C. Jesus Did The Work—v. 16. It was Christ who did this supernatural work, the Holy Spirit at work.

“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

16“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

The world is crippled and needs help. As the church and as Christians we must help. We cannot help the world with our strength alone. We need God’s power working in and through us. This power comes only through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces supernatural power. To change the heart and lives of man we must have and use this power.

AMEN