INTRODUCTION
The marvelous example of the healing of a lame man which we find in Acts 3:1-11 is by no means a mere miracle for the display of power. Rather even this event is a powerful fulfillment of Prophecy in the Messianic Age: Isaiah 35:1; Mic 4:6; Zeph 3:19
Miracles in the Messianic Age: We considered last week "Counterfeit Miracles" by Dr. B.B. Warfield, and how miracles attested to revelation from God. In a larger we in this instance we see that the NT miracles are proof that the Messianic age has come in the power of the Holy Spirit, just as the prophets said it would. And thus the miracle leads directly to the proclamation of the Word, both the Law and the Gospel.
Remember John the Baptist - Luke 7:22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
23 "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
OVERVIEW AND OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 3
1. The Healing of the Lame by Peter 3:1-8
2. The Response of the People 3:8-11
3. The Spontaneous Message of Peter 3:12-26
a. It was Jesus, who You killed
i. Names for Jesus: The Holy One, the Just, Prince of life, His Servant
b. Repent
c. Because of the Covenant
THIS MESSAGE - A STRUCTURE FOR LISTENING
HEALIN’ POWER: THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT
HEALIN’ POWER: A FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE
HEALIN’ POWER: RELEVANT APPLICATIONS FOR US
Principle One:
John (who was there) would later write: 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
This is basically what Peter said, I don’t have money, but I do have Christ! How do you treat those God brings into your life? Do you meet their needs to your capacity? Do you withhold Jesus from them, the word of the gospel?
Principle Two: In the very actions of the Man healed, he reminds us of our need for Christ. We are like him, powerless, unable to stand, to walk, - then comes Christ and we must by faith act! And when Christ heals he praises God. Now we who have the truth, even the Reformed Faith, so rich in God’s Word, we should be more lively, more obedient, more verbal, more like this man who was healed. We should Respond to Our Healin’ Power with (as the song says) "walking and leaping and praising God" in our obedience each day, in our worship, being vigorous, and our gathering others to hear the Word of the Gospel.
