68 HEALING AND PREACHING F O O T ================================

• H O L D

READING

68 HEALING AND PREACHING

PRAY Teach me today Lord, so that I may be useful in your service.

READ Acts 3:1-16.

THINK How did Peter use the healing miracle in his preaching?

FOCUS The story of the church so far – as given in 2:42.46,47 – could have made a book. All Luke does is to select a few highlights. But here we have one incident in great detail. Peter and John were following their normal custom of going to the Temple to pray (1). Walk with them in your imagination and listen to the cry of the lame beggar (3). The man was hoping for money, but he received much more. Peter had no material wealth to share, no worldly power, but he did have great faith in an all-powerful Lord! ‘In the name of Jesus’ means ‘with the authority of Jesus . . . ‘ ie. with the same authority over disease that he had shown when he was on earth. So the man, who had been lame all his life, became able to walk and jump. No wonder a crowd came running (11)! This was the ideal moment for a sermon. A wonderful event had happened; a cripple had been healed. Everyone was ready to listen, and Peter was quick to seize the opportunity. Once more he talked about Jesus, God’s servant (13), ‘holy and good’ (14), ‘the one who leads to life’ (15). Peter maintained that ‘it was faith in Jesus that has made him (the man) well’ (16). He said that if Jesus Christ was really alive again, they should expect them to work miracles. The really surprising thing was that God should have continued to have anything to do with those who murdered his son (15). but the love of God is always surprising – he never gives up! —————————————————————- PRAY Ask that God will help you to show others that Jesus is alive. Pray for confidence and caring love.