Encouragement

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THE HEALING WORD
ACTS 3:1-10

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

This is a familiar passage of scripture for many. It is a wonderful account of how Peter and John, the close friends of Jesus were instrumental in bringing a great miracle into the life of a poor beggar, who had been physically challenged from birth. He was completely helpless, and had to be carried daily to the temple gates, where he received a livelihood from the charity of devotees entering or leaving the temple premises.

This is an awesome miracle, and there is so much we can learn from this account, but I really want to focus on the power of the words that were spoken by Peter and John. The man at the gate looked to the disciples for financial help, but what he received was something far greater – the healing power of God upon his life, salvation, and a whole new life! Friends, there are people who are brought into our lives for many different reasons, in relation to work, services we require/provide, or through social interactions. They may have a specific agenda when they meet us, but if we are open to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we can be guided to help them meet the real needs in their lives. So many may be ‘crippled from birth’ in the sense that they may have never known the glorious freedom that is only possible in the Lord Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood. There are hurting people out there, and if we allowed our hearts to focus on doing the will of God, we could be instrumental in changing the course of another person’s life, and bringing them into the ‘temple courts’.

Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Too often, we focus our conversations on the negative, painful circumstances around us, speaking about them (which glorifies the darkness behind them) and perpetuating the ugly or unhappy by speaking out ‘death’ instead of countering the negative with ‘life’. There is power in the spoken word, and we reap the harvest of what we speak. Many people see the very things they feared taking place in their lives or the lives of their children, because they spoke those unpleasant fears out repeatedly and their negative words were brought to pass by the powers of darkness.

Peter said to the crippled man “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you….” God is calling us to pour forth generously what He has given to each of us. Stop feeling sorry for yourself or focusing on what you do not have! Start to bless someone with what God has given you – His Spirit, His Word, His name, His power! Everything you could ever need are found in Him! Begin to speak words of blessing over whoever God sends your way. Jesus said “My Words are Spirit and Life” (John 6:63). As you speak the Word of God over the lives of those around you and those you meet, (and even over your own life) the angels of heaven are swift to bring those positive words to powerful fulfillment. You will see radical healing, and transformation of broken relationships, financial difficulties etc. There is a world of abundant potential sitting in your mouth! You can speak forth the blessed future that God has already released for you and those around you.

As the disabled man obeyed Peter and fixed his gaze upon the disciples, he anticipated a blessing (albeit a financial one). He expected something good. As his eyes met Peter’s there was faith released; his heart was opened to receive, and receive he did. As Peter released the power of the name of Jesus, and commanded him to rise up and walk, those words became a living force, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and healing virtue began to flow through the muscles, bones, nerves and joints that had never hitherto been used. God did a creative miracle as Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. We are told that not only was the man able to stand up and walk, but his feet and ankles became ‘strong’. In no time, he was jumping and dancing and praising God, rejoicing in what he had received.

So let me encourage you today, precious people of God, that you are the Johns and the Peters of today. We are God’s hands and feet. We are His mouthpiece, empowered to release creative, life giving power through the spoken word, in the same way God spoke the Word into being in the first chapter of the book of Genesis. We can replace curses with blessings. We can reverse sickness and bring health. We can close the door to death and usher in life and love and joy into the lives of those around us. God has empowered you!

Let me leave you with a few points to remember from this passage of scripture;

1) The miracle happened at the time of prayer. The anointing for miracles comes as we fellowship with God and experience His presence.

2) The words that Peter spoke released supernatural power into the life of the man, which reversed a seemingly irreversible situation. The same power lives in you!

3) Paul accompanied his words with appropriate faith filled actions – he helped the man up.

4) The miracle brought the man into the place of prayer too – he went with them into the temple courts praising God. Signs and wonders are released so that those outside will enter in.

5) The name of the Lord was glorified when those who did not believe saw and believed.
Just as this man experienced the miraculous power of God as he sat at the gate called ‘Beautiful’, there are many who are awaiting a miracle, and God wants to do something beautiful in your life, and through your life. You may have been waiting a long time, but your season is now. Receive His life giving word into your life today, and hear the Lord say “Rise up and walk”, in Jesus’ name. “He sent forth His Word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20).

May the power of the Holy Spirit flow through you, and may you touch lives, and do great things for the glory of the name or the King. Speak the healing Word – life and death are in the power of your tongue!

Minoli Haththotuwa, 06 September 2010
www.wingslikeeagles.info

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