Unspeakable Joy

Peter and John ministering together!

Jesus empowered them and sent them to do ministry (through His disciples)

What are we doing?

Jesus is alive (just as he was then) and he is working through His true followers.

Much is made of direct contact here

First, the beggar has likely been conditined not to look people in the eye when begging, having been downtrodden so many years

Peter demands eye contact (“Look upon us”)

These words are not insignificant; Peter was preparing the way for Jesus to work!

Peter is all the things we need to be wrt Jesus

confident

trusting

expectant

The beggar is

willing

expecting!

Jesus is able to perform this miracle because the faith of Peter and the beggar were both in Him.

Act 3:16 says Peter’s faith combined with mans faith is how healing happened. Act 9:34 too.

When the word/works of God are being manifest, we must have proper focus and attittude.

No looking at phones, or across room, or distracted by thoughts or any thing else.

Something supernatural happened. It appears there was a transfer of transformation of faith when the words “In the name of Jesus of Nzereth, ruse up and walk” were spoken!

How else can we explain that the man lived for 40 years in this condition, until his faith became current, “Now faith”.

This is why it’s so important for us to have faint and for us to be around others with faith, so it can be transfered/transformed!

It’s how mustard seed faith can be magnified!

One source says “These words, uttered with supernatural power, doubtless “begat” in this poor mn the faith that sent healing virtue through his diseased members.”

If there was hope for this man after 40 years there is hope for us!

Why was the man so happy? Why Unspeakable Joy (leaping and dancing)?

Believe Him, Believe in Him, Believe toward Him

Believe Him:

It’s possible to have heard a persons words enough times that you begin to believe them (like the golden rule)

Believe in Him:

As trust and desire toward a person develop, we begin to feel joy towards them; until they let us down, then the opposite occurs

Believe toward Him:

A this level, action is taken, you actively strive towards the persons behaviour

Yes, he was healed

But he was now able to enter the synogougue!

Note that the lame and disformed were prohibited from entering the House of God! Can you imagine?

How different are we?

Christian church today is “come as you are”.

Are we reluctant to enter the House of God at times due to our own conscience/guilt

Are we reluctant to let other enter the House of God who need to come in (because of our perception of them)?

More than the physical healing he received, he was made whole (mind, body, and spirit)! His eyes were opened to the will of God for him and all of Israel.

That’s what God wants for everyone. It’s why Peter demanded full attention.

Ultimately, his joy came from his belief in God’s work, power, and authority through Jesus and the fact that salvation was now available to all of Israel and his desire to make a testimony to that!