A True Miraculous Healing

 MARCH 6, 2022 STUDY NOTES ACTS 3:7-10 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES A TRUE MIRACULOUS HEALING INTRODUCTION There are churches today who advertise a "Miracle Healing Service" The pastor will lead the service which includes laying on of hands, anointing with oil and prayer The prayer is identified as the prayer of faith (James 5:13-16; Isaiah 61:1-3; Mark 2:1-12) It is emphasized that the one who is to be healed must have enough faith to be healed If the person is not healed, the blame falls on them, it is because of their lack of faith There are Bible scholars who say there is no mention of the faith of the lame man in this account Claiming that the lame man did not exercise faith, yet he was healed We will cover that subject in more detail when we get to, Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Did the lame man have faith? From our study we will probably conclude with the answer of "yes" There is no doubt that Peter and John exercised faith in the Person of Jesus, Act 3:6 Then 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. Without their faith in the name of Jesus they would not even have stopped to talk to the lame man Throughout the history of the church the subject of "Divine Healing" has been a controversial subject Scripture records many accounts of God healing the sick and the lame But there are also accounts when God chose not to heal (2 Timothy 4:20; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9) Scripture is telling us that regardless of laying on of hands, anointing with oil, or a prayer of faith Which is not always identified with all the healing accounts in scripture, such as in Acts 3 Scripture reveals that the healing power belongs to God, it is His choice, if-and when He wills to heal There is no doubt that we find a true miraculous healing, the healing power of God in Acts 3 Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. We are not told that the lame man jumped up believing what Peter said The lame man did not get up before Peter "took him by the right hand Peter had faith in Jesus to heal or he would not have reached out for the hand of the lame man Peter exercised faith when he took him by the hand and lifted him up "And lifted him up," describes that his position changed from laying down to standing up Verse 8 will help us to understand exactly when the healing occurred Here we are not told that the lame man had faith at the time Peter took him by the hand But by the time his hand reached Peter's hand he believed that a miracle had occurred He was "immediately" healed, which could have been nothing other than a miracle from God "Immediately" means suddenly, at that very moment, right there on the spot, he was healed From the time of birth there was no strength in his feet or ankles, he had never walked before in his life The man who couldn't walk leaped up and began walking The human author of Acts is Dr. Luke, Luke was a physician, I am sure he thought like a doctor Which may be indicated in his original words describing the miracle allowing the lame man to walk The word translated "feet" is a peculiar, technical word found only here in the New Testament The word translated "ankle bones" is also a technical term, a word found only here in the NT In verse 8, the original word translated "he leaping up" is another medical description Another word found only here in the NT, so, we have 3 medical terms describing this miracle Words that only a medical man would use and fully understand, Dr. Luke understood them A modern-day medical doctor explained that modern medical procedures would correct his problem Today's surgical procedures would allow the lame man to walk, there was no such procedure in that day But in today's successful surgery procedure, you could not use the word "immediately" to describe it In Jesus' day, or in our day, only the "Great Physician Jesus" can "immediately" heal "Immediately" is the term used in scripture to describe a "True Miraculous Healing" It is used when Jesus rebuked the fever in Peter's mother-in law, Luk 4:39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Jesus told a paralyzed man to "Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house" (Luke 5:24) Luk 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. (Notice that he was "glorifying" God) A woman's hemorrhage stopped immediately after she touched the fringe of Jesus' garment, Luk 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. Jesus laid His hands upon a woman who was bent double and immediately she stood erect, Luk 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. A blind man immediately received his sight when Jesus said, "Receive thy sight," Luk 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. The woman who stood straight "glorified" God and the man who received his sight "glorified" God All-of the above accounts were written by Dr. Luke who knew a medical miracle when he saw one Today the word "miracle" is often used in reference to that which is wonderful, but not "immediately" "And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength" "Received strength" describes that which "immediately" took place "Received strength" identifies the miraculous healing that took place, immediately he could walk His feet and ankles received strength allowing him to walk, something he had never done before The evidence that the lame man was "immediately" healed is found in the next verse Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. The man had been carried to the temple gate because he could not stand up or walk The lame man was healed at the time Peter spoke, "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" The lame man immediately received the power to do what Peter told him to do, "rise up and walk" It was at that moment that his feet and ankle bones received strength and he "leaped up" At that very moment the lame man had the physical power to "leap up" and "walk" The miraculous healing had already occurred before Peter took him by the hand He could "leap up" and "stand up" and "walk" because he had already been healed The original reads that he was continually leaping, he was leaping, leaping, and leaping He was excited because of what Jesus had done for him, which is a foretaste of the future for believers There will be excitement at the time of the return of Christ because of what Jesus will do, Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35 is a glorious Millennial passage, the context is the future earthly Kingdom of God Scripture references to our salvation experiences of today are a picture of our future state with Christ What God does for us today physically and spiritually are only the beginning of life "in Christ" The manifestation of God's power today tells us what God can and will do in the Millennial Age Miracles of healing in the body and soul will occur at the time of Christ return and the Millennium, Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (The lame will leap like a deer) The lame man who was healed at the temple gate is a picture of those who will leap like a deer Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray, he "entered with them into the temple," He wasn't going to let Peter and John out of his sight, but he was the "sight," everyone saw him He had the attention of all that were in the temple, they all knew that he was the "lame man" He entered the temple, "walking, and leaping, and praising God," continually praising God It's interesting that Jesus used the same word "leaping" to describe a salvation experience, Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. "Springing up" is the same word translated "leaping" in Acts 3:8 The excitement of the healed man was because of physical healing and spiritual healing There was physical power in his feet and ankles that had never been there before Not only could he stand up he could walk, and he could walk or run up the stairs of the temple Notice the direction he went you would think that he would have run home to his family But he now had the same desire that Peter and John had, to pray and worship God He wanted to be with Peter, but his praise was to God, he knew "Who" had healed him There was something in his heart that had never been there before, and he was praising God "And praising God," the word translated "praising" is found 9 times in the NT Every time it is found the reference is praise unto God, the only way it is used in the NT The healed lame man's voice was shouting out praise to God and not to Peter He had heard the words of Peter, "in the name of Jesus," and in his heart he had experienced Jesus Those in the temple saw him and heard him, those who witnessed it called it a miracle, Act 4:16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. "Notable" means they all knew "A TRUE MIRACULOUS HEALING" had occurred There was no doubt about it, Act 4:22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. We can see a parallel between the physical healing and the spiritual healing of this man Sinners are spiritually lame from birth and need spiritual healing, they can be healed immediately, Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Salvation is a spiritual miracle that happens instantly and brings about complete healing, Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (What a miracle) The lame man was immediately new man, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (A miraculous change) He was lifted-up, he praised the Lord, just as David did, Psa 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psa 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psa 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. The world will pay attention when they see a true salvation experience The lame man immediately had a personal testimony which others could see Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: He was a new person with new power to do new things and people were paying attention He had a new mind, a new heart, and a new will, he really was a new creation "In- Christ" Physically walking was new to him, but he could also now walk a spiritual path In his new spiritual path, he walked with God, our walk with God must be a worthy walk, 1Th 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. The word "walk" refers to the daily path of life, the way that we conduct ourselves daily Our "walk" is our lifestyle, the way we are living our daily life Our "walk" is the activities of our individual lifestyle, our thoughts, and our actions Our "walk" is the outward expression or visible expression of who we really are In classical Greek the word "worthy" had the meaning of "bringing into balance" It identified with the tipping or balancing of the scales, each side of the scale having equal weight On one side of the spiritual scales is our position in Christ, who we are because we are saved Who we are according to God's Word is on one side of the scale, who we are "In-Christ" On the other side of the spiritual scales is our daily lifestyle, the way we are living our daily life For the Christian the spiritual scales should balance, to "walk worthy" is to live a daily Godly life The NT uses the word with the meaning of living an earthly life "worthy" of our heavenly calling Christians are not considered "worthy" based upon their talent or social position in life A worldly evaluation of our life is not that which should balance out the scales of life The "worthy" Christian is the one who is a living testimony of true Christian character They witnessed the lame man praising God, they knew who he was before he praised God They were amazed at the man they now saw, amazed at who he was now Act 3:10 And 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. The people knew that something had happened to this man, and they knew that it was good He was no longer a lame man he was now a healed man, and he didn't care who saw him or heard him Our daily life should cause others to be amazed, our salvation should not be a secret People should see and hear that we are now spiritually healed, a sinner saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) Are people amazed at you because you live like a Christian? (Ephesians 2:10) Does your language say that you are a Christian? What are your habits, what do they tell others? What about the company you keep and the places you go, are you representing Christ? Are people "filled with wonder and amazement" at the life you are now living for Christ People "filled with wonder and amazement" should be the result of our personal testimony A testimony that directs the attention of people to Jesus, Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Jesus is the one who makes the difference) Revealing the Person and Work of Jesus was the purpose of healing miracles performed by the Apostles, Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. The working of miracles was to attract attention to their message, Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. The message they preached was, Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. CONCLUSION Our world needs followers of Christ like Peter and John, Spirit filled and ready to serve God Christians who recognize God's divine appointments and walk through the open doors of opportunity A "divine appointment" is God putting you in the right place at the right time before the right person It was the right time for the lame man, it was the right time for Peter and John, it was God's timing Peter was ready to say to the lame man, "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" Peter was ready to take the lame man by the hand and lift him up, are we ready to serve God? Are we ready and willing to tell the world what we know about Jesus? The lame man thought that the answer to his problem was money, our world thinks the same way But Peter said to him, the one who can solve your problem is Jesus, He can solve all problems Peter presented to him Jesus and he received the riches of God's grace, Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Peter and John had been touched by Jesus, Jesus touched the lame man that day How meaningful is the "Touch of Jesus" upon your life today? Can others see the miraculous "Touch of Jesus" upon your life? Listen to the song! Page 5 of 5