"FIRSTS” IN THE CHURCH. The Book of Acts is the record of the “first” experiences of the Church. We have studied the first Gospel sermon preached by Peter, the first invitation given, the first salvations experienced, the first baptisms, and the first commitments of the Church. All of this is being accomplished in and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the first believers, in accordance to God’s perfect purposes in the earth, as they continued the ministry Jesus began during His earthly ministry.
As we turn our attention to the third chapter of the Book of Acts we are going to find the first detailed miracle of the early Church. In the previous message from Acts 2:42-47 we find that many signs and wonders were being done by the Apostles and I believe that Luke’s intent as he records this encounter is to give light as to what some of these “signs and wonders” he spoke of previously actually looked like.
ACTS 3:1-10(26)
Peter, John and the 9th Hour The Church, mainly comprised of Jewish people at this point, has not completely separated itself from the religious practices that took place at the Temple. This is why we see John and Peter going up to the Temple for the 3:00pm time of prayer. Many have wondered why it was that Luke included the particular time they were going up for prayer and some have noted that it was at the 9th hour (3:00pm) when Jesus cried out “It if finished!” from the cross and breathed His last. Maybe this hour was special to the early church as they recalled all that Jesus endured on that Cross knowing that it was all necessary should forgiveness of sins be experienced so it very well could be that the early church held dear the 9th hour of the day and devoted themselves to worship through prayer at the same time of day that Jesus died to accomplish the victory over sin.
The Lame Beggar. As Peter and John made their way to the Temple for prayer they encounter a man who had a need that they could meet. Notice some of the details provided for us by Luke about this man. First, do not overlook the irony that this man was placed at the gate called Beautiful to beg for money. This gate was called Beautiful and the man who was placed here that day would have been considered the “ugly” of society because of his condition. Those born with physical conditions like this were considered to be under a curse by God and living under the consequences of some sort of sin their lives. Secondly, it is revealed to us that this man did not sustain an injury that resulted in his present condition but this is the way he had been his entire life. Thirdly, he had accepted his condition as his reality. It is revealed that every day he was brought to the path that led to the Temple in order to ask for money from those who were passing by. It is probably the case that he had tried the various medical professionals and therapists and it was determined that nothing could be done to help his situation so he had succumbed to his situation and accepted it as “all that would ever be” in his life. It is clear that he had determined in his heart and mind that this was all that he would ever be because rather than seeking prayer from those passing by he was simply asking for money.
Eyes to See. Peter and John would have likely been two among a crowd of people making their way to the Temple for prayer. It is noted by 1st Century historians that the 3:00pm prayer service was the most popular among the Jewish people of the day. The lame man was used to people avoiding making eye contact with him so he did not even seek to look at the crowd as they rushed by him. He simply sat there with a downcast countenance asking for “alms” (money). For some reason, however, it is noted for us that he noticed Peter and John amidst the crowd and directed his begging towards them. By the time Peter and John get to him his gaze is focused on the ground again as he simply asks, “Alms for the poor?” as Peter and John approach. Unlike the many others who probably looked the other way in order to avoid eye contact with the beggar, Peter and John not only see the man in need but take notices of him. Unlike many others as well Peter and John are moved by his situation and rather than pass him by stop. Peter and John stand out from the crowd in the sense that their hearts are different than others because they are not comfortable to simply pass by one who is in need but seeks to see what it will take to meet the need.
Healing in the name of Jesus. The lame man is asking for silver and/or gold. Peter and John are offering something far greater than silver and/or gold. They are offering him the gift of wholeness through healing. Peter tells the man to look at them and then tells him “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” The man is instantaneously and completely healed. The feet and ankles that never formed properly from birth were instantaneously and completely made whole. The went jumping for joy at his healing into the Temple with Peter and John—the place where he had not been able to enter his entire life—and filled the place with joyful praise for what the Lord had done for Him and those in the Temple recognized him as being the lame beggar who sat at the Beautiful Gate and were astonished at what they were seeing with their eyes and hearing with their ears.
My Call As A Pastor. A couple weeks ago I introduced the sermon by saying that one of my responsibilities as a pastor/shepherd is to “feed the flock” that Jesus has entrusted to my care. Another responsibility I have as a pastor/shepherd is to “protect the flock” from false teachers, false teachings, attacks and deception in general. With that being said, I want to speak on the issue of miraculous healings.
TWO “CAMPS” REGARDING MIRACULOUS HEALINGS. Many have asked what role miraculous healings have in the life of the church today. There are, generally speaking, two different trains of thought in this area. One camp believes that there are some who are given the gift of healing and thereby are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring about healing in the lives of the lame and sick through the laying on of hands, anointing of oil and/or prayer. The second train of thought believes that the gift of miraculous healing does not exist today but ceased when the apostles, including the Apostle Paul, died.
MARKS TO LOOK FOR FROM “HEALERS.” Many, not all, who are in the first camp (healing is a gift given to some) refer to themselves as faith healers and usually make circuits through churches who agree to host them or operate through events planned at public venues like the YUM Center, Papa John’s Stadium, etc… I will admit to you that I am immediately doubtful of those who claim to have this particular gift. Some of my doubt stems from the false teachers who say they have this gift and financially benefit from people who are sick and desperate for help. Another reason for my doubt is because I have never personally experienced miraculous healing come through one individual who has made claims to have this gift. There are many, including some here today, who have had experiences that I have not and rather than argue over this issue let us hear what the Bible has to say about it. If somebody claims to have the gift of miraculous healing then here is what we know we can expect as verification:
1. When a healing is performed it is immediate not progressive.
2. When a healing is performed it is complete not partial.
3. When a healing is performed it is objectively verifiable not subjectively unverifiable.
4. When a healing is performed it is not dependent upon the measure of faith the one who is being healed does or does not have. Many faith healers use this excuse as their “out” because if the recipient is not healed then it is because their lack of faith not the healers lack of power.
5. When a healing is performed there is not a “charge” to the one being healed. Peter and John did not tell the lame beggar to give them what he had collected that day in exchange for the healing. All spiritual gifts are given for the common good of the Church not for the personal financial gain of the one given the gift.
a. i.e. Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-20) tries to buy the power of the Holy Spirit for his own personal gain.
My View: Healing Through The Church. When we think about the ministry of healing today in the church I think a more prescriptive text of Scripture is to be found in JAMES 5:13ff. Here James instructs the sick of the church to seek out the elders so that they may anoint the afflicted with oil and pray over him/her for healing. This instruction falls within a passage of Scripture that deals with the faith behind our prayers and that is why the elders are called upon to pray over the sick and afflicted. It is assumed that the elders will be great men of faith who pray faithful and faith-filled prayers. Ultimately, however, the responsibility for healing lies not with the elders and their prayers but with and in the will of the Lord in that particular instance.
The Purpose of Miracles Healing. While there is personal benefit to the one being healed (obvious) and potential notoriety for the one through whom the healing comes, let it be known that the primary reason for any miracle that Jesus performs in and through His Church, whether it be miraculous healing, provision, protection, etc.., is to attest to those who are yet to believe in Him of who He is and what He has done. Peter’s first sermon reveals that the “mighty works” done by Jesus were done so in order that it might be revealed to people who He really is. The same is true here. The “signs and wonders” performed by the apostles early on in the life of the Church was for the purpose of attesting to the world that Jesus is the Messiah and that His Church may be established according to His good and perfect will.
Therefore, when Peter notices that a crowd begins to gather he sees this as ample opportunity to begin preaching to them. His sermon is recorded in ACTS 3:11-26 and ACTS 4:4. His sermon is not about the man but the man is used as a witness unto the person and power of Jesus. His sermon is not about he and John but about the One whom they have been empowered by to heal and preach. His sermon is about Jesus and the salvation that He accomplished by way of the Cross. He understands that the greater purpose of the miraculous healing is for the purpose of making much about Jesus before this crowd of those who have not experienced His salvation.
This brings me back to the list we developed previously that gave us the markers we can look for when someone claims to have the gift of healing:
6. Any miracle, healings included, is for the purpose of exalting Jesus and proclaiming His message of salvation to those who do not know Him.
As we reflect upon what the Lord is saying to us in this passage of Scripture there are two points of application that I want to close with.
This is a picture of salvation. In a very real sense we all find ourselves in this story. We do not find ourselves in the story by way of John or Peter but in the lame man. The lame man was born with a condition that he could do nothing to rectify or overcome. There was no amount of effort he could put forth or no amount of money he could pay in order to overcome his situation. His situation was debilitating and left him in a state of helplessness and hopelessness. That is until he had an experience with Jesus. Jesus was able to do what the man was unable to do for himself. Jesus was able to do that which the world was unable to do for the man. Jesus alone was able to heal him. Jesus alone was able to make him whole. Jesus alone was able to fix his problem. Jesus alone was able to give him a new life.
In the same way, we are all born with a condition that has left us spiritually debilitated. The condition is sin and its effects touches every area of our lives and leaves us in a condition where we are unable to stand before God with any hope for eternity. There is nothing that we can do to overcome or rectify our situation but Jesus has done all that was necessary to deal with our sin and bring us into a relationship with God now and forevermore in heaven with him for eternity. Some of you hear today are on the healed side of your sickness and you know that it is only because of Jesus so let us praise and adore Him with our lips and with our lives. Some of you are in your sickness and need to be healed. Jesus and Jesus alone is your answer.
Jesus heals. Likewise, we learn from this passage that Jesus can and does heal in accordance to His good and perfect will for our lives. There are times when He will heal people of their afflictions but there are times when He does not and whether we can explain it or not whichever situation unfolds in our lives it is for our good and for His glory. Remember Paul, in 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7ff, desired to be healed of some sort of physical affliction that he perceived to be a hindrance to living but Jesus told him know. The reason why Paul was not healed is because it was in and through his affliction that he experienced more fully the grace of Jesus in sustaining him through his affliction.
Therefore, if you are here today and would request prayer for healing as outlined in JAMES 5:13ff then I invite you to come forward. We will anoint you with oil; pray over you and request healing in concert with and according to Jesus’ good and perfect will for our lives.
