Acts 3 - 10.05.23
SCRIPTURE -Acts 3:12, 16 NIV
“When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us—as if—by our ‘own power’ or ‘godliness’ we had made this man walk?
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.
It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through HIM that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”
“… many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”
(Acts 4:4 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Peter and John are heading to the Temple for afternoon prayer.
Something they likely did many times.
They encounter a man who was lame from birth being carried to the Temple gate called Beautiful.
He was laid there every day so he could beg for money from those going into the Temple courts.
The Gate Called Beautiful
the word beautiful here is not how we would typically translate it’s meaning.
It’s something SO much greater. hóraios is taken from a Greek word meaning ‘beautiful in timing’—the time of fulfillment. And surely it was.
Peter and John stopped as they heard this lame beggar’s cry for money.
But it wasn’t money he would receive that day At the Gate called Beautiful—God’s timing of fulfillment had come…
“Peter looked straight at him, as did John.
Then Peter said, “Look at us! Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do 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.” (Acts 3:4, 6-7 NIV)
This man who had been lame for over 40yrs was instantly healed.
BUT there is MORE!
This man was laid at the gate every day as we are told. (Acts 4) So Jesus Himself along with the disciples must have passed him many many times.
Why did Jesus not heal him—Why— Today?
APPLICATION:
Trusting God for horaios—Beautiful in Fulfillment—
We may never fully understand all of the reasons in our waiting…
But in this one story there are a couple of key encouragements that I am holding onto.
First-
Jesus knew HE would heal this lame beggar using Peter and John to do it. The Day was planned long before the world was formed—at the gate called Beautiful.
—Jesus would be teaching Peter and John to Step out in Faith as HE released HIS power to equip them to be HIS witnesses.
Peter was given supernatural Faith that day. And I’m marveling at it today…Here was a man he knew was lame and had probably seen many times. Peter didn’t just pray from a distance and say “be healed” and let the cards fall where they may. Peter took this lame man by the right hand and helped him up—AS he did this—the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8 NIV)
Second-
This miracle became the catalyst for Peter’s second opportunity to Share about Jesus Saving Grace as thousands gathered at the Temple Courts marveling at this man’s healing— leaping and jumping—who they ALL recognized as the lame beggar!
5,000 men were saved that day—at the Gate called Beautiful—which means the number was higher—because they weren’t counting the women.
Trust God for His Beautiful—Timing in Fulfillment!
His Timing is Perfect!
PRAYER:
LORD Jesus,
May I pray without ceasing. When I get weary, May I press in all the more. Draw me closer to You. Draw me deeper. You Alone know YOUR timing in everything. You Alone know the Beautiful that awaits…FILL me Lord, I pray with Supernatural Faith for All you purpose to do—to bring YOU Glory!
“Now to HIM who is able to carry out His purpose AND do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think—infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams—according to HIS power that is at work within us, to HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP)
Tina L Kudelka