March 30, 2014

Holy Spirit Heals! 

Acts 3: 1 - 11

Luke

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service.  As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in.  Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!"  The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift.  But Peter said, "I don't have any money for you.  But I'll give you what I have.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up.  And as he did, the man's feet and ankle bones were healed and strengthened.  He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk!  Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.  When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!  They all rushed out to Solomon's Colonnade where he was holding tightly to Peter and John.  Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.

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Thoughts....

Praise God!  The beggar was healed!  And you can be, too!  Hallelujah! 

The Jews prayed 3 times a day, at dawn, at 3 pm, and at sunset. 

How often do you pray? 

What does prayer consist of?

Prayer consists of seeking God, Jesus, Holy Spirit; asking forgiveness (a full vessel cannot be filled); thanking and praising them; praying for others' needs; asking questions....seeking help for yourself; LISTENING; thanking and praising them; commitment on your part to go forth as directed by them; thanking and praising them as you go....forth.

Luke tells us that as Peter and John approached the Temple, a lame man from birth was being carried in and that each day he was put beside the Temple Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.  Presumably, we understand this man could not work, nor were there disability funds to support this man, hence the need to beg for money to feed, house, clothe, and provide medical care.  The Beautiful Gate was one entrance into the Temple.  Again, presumably, we 'gather', that the Beautiful Gate was for the elite of the time, hence the term 'Beautiful' named for their adornment and finery.  Being beside the Beautiful Gate provided a better opportunity that the beggar would achieve his goal of seeking funding.  The Jews felt it a godly thing to do to provide for 'the least of these', for those homeless and with affliction.

When the beggar saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.  Here's what I don't get exactly.  If Peter and John were 'on the road' preaching, teaching, healing, casting out, etc. how were they dressed in finery and allowed to enter through the Beautiful Gate?  Perhaps because of their godliness?  It is not important to God how you dress, if you are one of his, so much as how you present HIM through how you wear HIM, and show HIM to the world. 

There is a history in the American churches and Anglican as well, I cannot speak for others, having no experience, that folks dress up, get fancy in their attire, to prove they are 'someone' in/with God.  They are not some ONE in GOD unless they KNOW HIM.  They are sometimes 'something' by the way they dress.  Hats of fine millenary adornment, and gold jewelry do not make a person godly.  Nor do they show they are someone important to God....only to themselves.  HOWEVER, I must say, that God does not want us to be unclean inside or outside.  And I can tell you from experience also, that if you are not driving a fancy car, not receiving a huge salary, not a TELE-evangelist, nor have a large ground based church around you, you may not be taken seriously by others.  GOD will know....JESUS will know....HOLY SPIRIT will know how godly, important, special, and clean you are for and to them and the Kingdom, and THAT matters most.  But it also matters if you cannot open a door for God, be fruitful, multiply the Kingdom.  So do be careful as you 'go forth' how you present yourself.  It is imperative that you do so humbly, but that does not mean poor, if he has not called you to that.

Carrying on....Peter and John looked at the lame beggar and Peter said, "Look at us!"  I'm guessing they looked pretty 'ruffled around the edges' and dirty after being on the road so long.  I think Peter was trying to say, "If we look wealthy, you need to look again."  If you read enough of the New Testament, you will find Paul preached on tithing and paying the person preaching a lot.  I'm guessing again, that Peter and John had similar financial woes of not being paid what they were worth in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I, for one, am a prime example of being a poor preacher.  Yes, I, too, need to be paid for the job I do, but you who listen, read, have not chosen to pay me, so I preach on, praying, hoping.  I'm being honest, humbled, and, though you may see it as begging, it is what I am to do according to scripture....ask....and you are to respond with thanksgiving to God (by paying those preaching) for being taught the Gospel by me, a chosen servant....and all other chosen servants who preach and teach and obey.  We all love you either way.

It is interesting how folks, including me, want to follow 'all' the commands of the Lord, 'all' the directives in walking the walk, but when it comes to money, everyone balks and withdraws.  God gave you/us the money, it is HIS, we are to be good stewards of such.  Shame on all of us for our greed, not giving back to him in thanksgiving, and for our fears....it means we do not trust God for our future.  Time to pray....more.

So Peter gave the lame man what he needed, not what he wanted.  He healed him (!) by the power of the Holy Spirit so he could walk, opening MANY doors to go forth and help himself, while helping God!  Peter said, and I quote, "I don't have money for you.  But I'll give you what I have.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"  Take this lesson to heart :  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and by the power of the Holy Spirit, you, too, can raise people up, help them walk, 'heal the lame, help the blind to see', heal the infirm in body, mind, and soul, etc. 

'Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up.  And as he did, the man's feet and ankle bones were healed and strengthened (!).  He jumped up (!), stood on his feet (!), and began to walk!  Then, walking (!), leaping (!), and praising God (!), he went into the Temple with them.'

'All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God (!).'  ['Faith is the evidence of things hoped for.']  It was faith that caused people to praise God.  It was faith that allowed the man to be healed.  It was faith that allowed Peter and John to go forth.  It was faith that caused Peter to tell the man to get up and walk.  It was faith that caused the man to seek help.  It was by faith that evidence came for things hoped for.

'When they [the people] realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!  They all rushed out to Solomon's Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John.'

Lest you get confused, it is clear that the lame man entered the Temple.  But if you were just healed and could walk the first time from birth, would you just walk into the Temple as it happened and hang out, and then just walk out calmly?  I would run in, and run around, and run out, all the while praising God!  I'd be a crazed person running around and praising God!  I'm guessing this is why one moment the lame man is in the Temple, and then at Solomon's Colonnade where the people rushed out to see him.  Little else would probably dissuade the godly from leaving God's feet in worship.  But think how praise would go up to God after the revelation of the healing!  Why can't you just see, like Orville Redenbacher says his popped corn would do?  The praise would blow the top right off the popper/Temple.  What an event of praise!  So much praise would 'go up' it would 'raise the rafters'!  That, in and of itself, would bring people to Christ.  Why aren't more of us doing as Peter did?  John did?  Paul did?  JESUS DID?!   We are all  CALLED to do as he did....and MORE!

Are you going forth for God allowing Holy Spirit to heal through you in Jesus' name?  If not, why not?

Can't you see the lame man, in your minds eye, holding tightly to Peter and Paul in an embrace of thanksgiving enough to squeeze the mere life out of them?  Major hug time.  How much gratitude he must have exhibited and given to God!

Are you grateful to God? Have you shown him your gratitude?

Has Holy Spirit acted mightily in your life?  If not, why not?

Have you received Holy Spirit into your life yet?

Have you experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

OHHHHhhhhh, you must!  You will miss so many blessings and healings by not having him in your life....and being baptized by him.  Don't you, too, want to be healed, have pain from bad memories be lifted, be released from all that keeps you from being and doing all you can for THE Lord Jesus Christ, Father God, and Holy Spirit?  For yourself and for your loved ones?

Ladies and gentleman....it is the hope of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and it is my hope, that you, too, will stand in awe of the wonderful things that WILL happen if you just believe, and have faith to receive.  Won't you believe today?  Do you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed?  It's okay!  God can heal you today!  Today, you can receive all he has to give you!  Just open your heart and mind and pray with me.....

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I am a sinner.  Please forgive me of my sins.  Please heal me and make me whole, mind, body, spirit and soul, financially, economically, in all ways.  Help my unbelief, my disbelief....remove it as far away from me as heaven is from hell.  Make me a new person in and with you.  Baptize me with the fullness of you, Holy Spirit, that I WILL BE filled to overflowing with all the fruits and the gifts you have to give, to help me be a better witness, as I go forth, of who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are to the world.  And who you can be....should others choose to believe, accept, receive, honor, obey.....God, Jesus, and you, Holy Spirit.  Thank you.  I love you.  Amen.    

Ladies and gentlemen, if you've prayed this prayer today, even if it is a renewal of hope and promise for you, we want to hear from you.  Praise God a LOT (!), and then give me a call, or email me, so that I may pray and praise God with you!  I will be believing for your forgiveness, healing, and future with you, while I praise the Trinity with you, also!   Alleluia!  Our God Saves!   And Heals!  And gives life abundantly!  Alleluia!  Amen!

May you, as the lame man, overflow with joy!  And don't forget to hold tightly in thanksgiving those responsible for helping you.  May everyone around you stand in awe of the wonderful things God, Jesus, Holy Spirit have done and will do in your life!  Thank them mightily!

Thank you God, Jesus and Holy Spirit!  Amen!

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 Let Us Pray

Dear God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the world so needs you.  Only through you, Jesus, can anyone receive forgiveness of sins, enter heaven and have eternal life.  There is NO other way.  My prayer today is that all who read this, and all Scripture, will accept who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are, and, believe in a way they have never believed before....with the whole of their heart, their mind, their body, and their soul.  That they will believe in you, and believing, accept, and accepting, be willing to receive all you have to give them....and go forth obeying you....sharing with all who you are and what you have to offer.  God, I pray this for all in the world.  In Jesus' name, by and with the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and would like to do so, and you would like to be forgiven of your sins, pray the following, or any prayer from your heart:

God, I believe you created the universe....and me.  Please forgive me of my sins, especially of unbelief in you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  I believe in you now.  I believe that you, Jesus, lived and died for me, so that I would have the opportunity to be forgiven of my sins and receive eternal life, and, that you lived again on earth and now live in heaven eternally.  Holy Spirit, I believe in you, that you were sent to help me know how to live my new life, and help me understand the importance of obeying you, God, and Jesus, so that I can receive eternal life and live in heaven.  I want to receive all the gifts and fruits you want to give me, Holy Spirit.  I want to make Jesus the Lord of my life.  I come to you now, Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit in humble prayer with thanksgiving for everything you have done for me.  Please heal me and make me whole.  Show me your way, your truth, your Light.  Thank you.  I'm learning to love you.  Amen.      

I pray everyone will now make you, Jesus, LORD of their lives.  Amen.

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Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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