Miracle At Beautiful Gate

“The Miracle at Beautiful Gate”

Acts 3

The 3rd chapter of Acts is a very special chapter; it is where we find the 1st miracle performed by the apostles after the ascension of Jesus Christ. We must look at the entire 3rd chapter to get the full impact of this miracle which took place at the gate called beautiful. This gate which is called beautiful is named such because it was made of solid brass and was believed to be 31 feet high x 62 feet wide. So you can see why this gate was called Beautiful.

Verse #1 says “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” There is something very important about this 1st verse and that is the word together. There must be unity in the body of Christ, for a house divided will fall. Peter and John going to the temple together fulfilled the scripture in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Together means unity it is the minimum requirement necessary in order to do the Will of God. By Peter and John being together they fulfilled the minimum requirement for God to be in the midst of them and lead to the healing of the man at beautiful gate. The ninth hour was 3:00 in the afternoon.

Verse #2 says “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask of alms of them that entered into the temple” As we have stated the gate was called Beautiful because of how it was made and the grandeur of it. The Jewish people did not look upon this man as some kind of beggar or transient as many people, even so-called Christians, look upon those that are less fortunate then us today. However they understood the law and knew that it was a commandment of God to take care of the poor among them. Deuteronomy 15:7 says “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brotheren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.”

Verse #3 says “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked of alms.” This verse shows that we must realize that we have a need and not be ashamed to seek God for an answer to our problems. Many people feel that they are in such disarray that God will not even have anything to do with them, but this is just a trick of the enemy, God loves who’s with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, when you are broken it is then that God will put the pieces back together.

Verse #4 Says “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John said look on us.” They focused on the lame man. When we focus our attention and desires on God he focuses His anointing and deliverance power upon us. However we must me the requirements and that is portrayed in what they told the man “look upon us”. We cannot be entangled with the affairs of this world, we cannot try to do the things of the world and have God pour out His miracles upon us. We must be obedient to His Will and focus on Him. If this lame man would not have been obedient to what Peter and John said to him, he would not have received his healing. Maybe the reason some of you have not received what you desire from God is because you have not been obedient to His Will.

Verse #5 says “And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.” This is the key ingredient to receiving anything from God. How many of you remember the saying “prayer is the key but faith unlocks the door”? Well here’s this one “Obedience is the key but expectation unlocks the door.” “Expecting to receive something from them” This is called the Spirit of Expectancy. You must understand that when you ask God for something you must expect for that which you asked Him for to happen. Jesus said ask in my name and my father in heaven will give it to you. We must expect it to manifest itself in our lives. This is the concept of taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Asking something to be done in the name of Jesus, but not expecting it to happen is taking His name in vain. Realize that to use the word god followed by a curse word is utterly repulsive, but is not the meaning of taking the name of the Lord in vain. First of all His name is Jesus, God is what He is, Jesus is His name. The power of whatever you ask is manifested because of His name. When we ask in His name, that wonderful name of Jesus and we expect for that to happen then God will do as my favorite scripture says, in Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” When we expect for God to do what we ask, He not only does that, but He does beyond our expectations. The man at the gate called Beautiful expected something, but what he got was more then he expected, WHY because God will do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think if we follow His will and expect the results.