“PLUS, PLUS Panhandling !”
Text: Acts 3:1-16
Subject: What do we learn about healing from Acts 3?
Complement: we are to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit
Big idea: healing happens when God speaks and his people obey.
INTRODUCTION – HAVE YOU EVER TRIED PANHANDLING?
Have you ever given money to a panhandler at the corner of Kelsey Drive or Prince Philip Drive?
...Have you had the conversation in your head of (1) he’s poor (2) he should be working!
Feeling conflicted perhaps... but then the light turns green – and off we go... And away goes the problem...
In Acts 3 we meet a beggar who got way more than he asked for! I call that “plus, plus panhandling”
Acts 3
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.2 Now a man who was lame 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 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. 11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 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? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 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.
1. Peter And John Are Used By God To Heal A Lame Beggar
• This miracles Immediately Follows Pentecost and parallels miracles of Jesus
• Read (for context) Acts 2:43. “many miraculous signs...by the apostles...”
In Acts 3 we see the manifestation of three of the gifts of the Spirit: faith, gifts of healing, and working of miracles. The three belong together. The latter two are really part of the first. Closely intertwined, they equal a daring faith given to the Spirit-filled believers for ministry to people. The need before us brings forth the gift from the Spirit within us. And Christ in us continues to do through us what He did as Jesus of Nazareth. The same power which dwelt in Him is ours. And it’s for the healing of the lame of the world—in body, mind, and spirit. The power of Pentecost faith is for people in need. It is for our joy, but never our private enjoyment. Rather, it is so that the things Jesus did for people, we can do.
• Pentecost means transfer of the Spirit to disciples
• Jesus told them: “you will do what I have been doing...”
John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
• Temple has 12 gates – this one is called “Beautiful”
• Main eastern entrance from the court of the gentiles
o 75 feet high
o Brass columns ... huge double doors
Man’s identity;
• Lame from birth
• “carried”
• Begging...
• He’s there everyday – he’s 40 plus years old.
• Recognized by the locals
• It's now the time of prayer - 3 PM
May I ask you today...What is your lame-ness? Your brokenness? Your paralysis? What’s keeping you in neutral? Where are you stuck? Are you living on the crumbs from the table? Let’s identify what paralysis of body, mind, or spirit we may have!
The healing:
• Peter says something very interesting – “what I have I give you.”
• What did Peter have?
He says... “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk.” (v. 6)
***“Peter is an “authorized agent of Jesus” – we are too!
L Olgivie writes: These two Spirit-filled disciples sensed a stirring within them. Faith surged in them as they came eye to eye with the lame man. The gift of faith was given.
In other words - The Holy Spirit spoke!
• The Beggar shows no sign of faith – he only wants money to survive/
• Peter takes his hand – as did Jesus with Jairus’ daughter
• Instantly he became strong and agile!!!
• First time walking - in his life!!!
• His Walking is mentioned 4 times in the narrative.
Healing is a sign of the messianic age! (Kingdom of God)
***Messianic Prophecy – Isaiah 35:5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
The gifts of the Spirit were being manifested,... the power and passion of his presence was given to them for a needy, paralyzed world. Notice that Peter is quick to point out that he did not heal this man – Jesus did – and Peter (merely) acted in obedient faith to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
v. 16 “it is Jesus name and the faith that comes through him...” says Peter.
Excursus - A survey of Healing in Acts.
Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. (16) Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
Acts 6:8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 8:7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
Acts 9:34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
Acts 14:9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed
Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
Acts 28:8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
One more verse from Galatians;
So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Galatians 3:5
2. The Healing Leads To A Preaching Opportunity: v 11-26
**This makes perfect sense since the permanent healing is salvation.***Physical healing is temporary! Healing is not an end in itself – it points us to Christ.
So Peter preaches a very Christ-centered message using several tiltes to refer to Jesus and he moves toward a call to repentance.
• Jesus of Nazareth (by the God of Abraham...)
• God’s servant
• Holy and righteous one
• Author of life
• Prophet
• Stone/cornerstone
We all need Jesus – and healing of our broken relationship with him.
Peter’s Invitation - v. 19 – The Call to repentance! ...exactly the same as Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost ( 2:38!)
v. 19 “repent and turn to God that your sins may be wiped out that times of refreshing may come”!
Peter also mentions 3 blessings of repentance:
1. Sins wiped out
2. Times of refreshing
3. Return of Christ – v. 20
3. Healing Has Many Mysteries - Why Him And Not Some Others?
• Why now?
• Why not me ... or my loved one?
• In NT many/most are healed...
Also, Healing occurred throughout church history and Healing still happens – but not always.
Professor, Dr. Craig Keener has written 2 volumes on Miracles. He married a lady from Africa; he heard many miracle stories... and he began to do research. It's the “best book ever written on miracles.” says Dr. Craig Evans.
• May our faith be increased today...May our hunger be increased today
May we be reminded to seek him and walk with him – we are on mission with God!
4. Healing depends upon God speaking a healing word ! (that’s the first half)
...Because he is the healer, and, God depends on us (1) walking in the Spirit (2) being obedient .
Peter said... “what I have I give you”! What did Peter have?
• Faith – not just hope.
• What is Faith – Faith taking God at his word.
• Jesus stated in John 8:28 “I do nothing on my opwn – I only do what pleases him.”
(F. MacNutt) Page 201 “it is only when God calls us to be instruments of healing that our prayer will be successful.”
Acts 3:16 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.
• “the faith that comes through him” = a word from the Spirit!!!
• It is Jesus name!
• Why does this surprise you asks Peter. * Don’t be surprised when a miracle happens!!!
Big idea: “Healing happens when God speaks – and his people obey.”
...all this man wanted was money, but he soon discovered that he really needed Jesus. After receiving the name of Jesus in his life, his immediate reaction was to sing praise to God.
Application: ***The best healing ever is healing of the heart! ? Salvation!
This beggar found salvation in Jesus - That’s plus, plus panhandling!
What about...
• emotional healing?
• Forgiveness?
• bitter roots?
• Wounded relationships can cause sickness!
• “confess your sins to one another that you may be healed.” (James 5)
Yes, healing comes in many forms
Story (Cindy Riches), from Pray! magazine (January/February 2006), pg. 24
Healed of cancer; ...It was a phone call one never wants to get. A friend called from Ohio to say that our mutual friend, Debbie, was dying of leukemia and was at a cancer center in Seattle.
Later, Debbie's husband called, telling me that Debbie had slipped into a coma. The doctors had given her two to three days to live. He invited me to come and pray.
... I asked a friend to go with me, and we set out for Seattle. As we drove, John 14:12–14 ran through my mind: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
...At the hospital, we introduced ourselves to Debbie's family and then approached her bed. I silently asked the Lord what to pray.
Luke's account of Jesus rebuking a fever came to mind (4:38–39). Debbie, however, was a sad sight. By all outward appearances, what I was about to pray seemed impossible.
I prayed, "Lord, I come to you based on the authority and power you have given me because of Jesus. Jesus, you said we would do even greater things because of your power in us. You told me in John 15 that if I abide in you and your words abide in me, I can ask anything and it will be granted. So, right now, in the name and authority of Jesus in me, I rebuke the cancer and death. In Jesus' name, I pronounce healing and abundant life."
My prayer was simple, based on Scripture, and spoken in faith and in the authority of Jesus' name.
Nothing happened at the moment, though, so my friend and I said good-bye.
Debbie continued to be on my mind, but I also knew the Lord had heard my prayer. It was all in his hands.
A week later, my phone rang. It was Debbie. She had awoken from her coma and asked the medical team to unhook her life support! She had heard that I had visited her several days before and had prayed for her. "Would you please come back?" she asked. So the next day, I drove back to Seattle to see with my own eyes what the Lord had done.
What an amazing time that was. Debbie—alert and smiling—told me the story. For three days after we prayed for her, while still in a coma, she sensed that an angel was standing by her bed. On the third day she woke up and knew in her heart that the Lord had completely healed her. The doctors' tests showed no sign of any cancer whatsoever. We rejoiced!
We were then able to share the gospel with her family. As a result of Debbie's healing, her son and his wife received Christ and are now joyfully serving him. And, to this day four years later, no cancer has returned.
May I ask a question - Do we see medicine as “hidden (divine) healing”
Modern medicine is based on order – and order is from God’s design
We are called to subdue the earth – understand and harness it. This is scientific endeavour... the Corona virus vaccine is a great example of how far medicine has come.
Do we partner with God in healing?...yes, we partner with God everywhere as a result of creation.
The Gift of healing - it seems to reason also requires a “partnership” – a learning process... it's not just instant and no commentary necessary.
*Also... our promised “resurrection” is an expression of healing.
o Yes... therefore we have hope and even joy.
Eternal life is ultimate healing – no more sickness – no more death.
Conclusion:
Fred Buechner – “If your approach to healing is empirical, you can always give it a try. Pray for it. If it's somebody else's healing you're praying for, you can try at the same time laying your hands on him as Jesus sometimes did. If his sickness involves his body as well as his soul, then God may be able to use your inept hands as well as your inept faith to heal him. If you feel like a fool as you are doing this, don't let it throw you. You are a fool of course. ... If your prayer isn't answered, this may mean more about you and your prayer than it does about God. Don't try too hard to feel religious, to generate some healing power of your own. Think of yourself as a small-gauge, clogged-up pipe that a little of God's power may be able to filter through if you can just stay loose enough. Tell the one you're praying for to stay loose, too. If God doesn't seem to be giving you what you ask, maybe he's giving you something else. Source: Frederick Buechner (Wishful Thinking)
