Sermon Number: 01-16-00

Text: Acts 3:1-1-26

Topics addressed in this lesson

(A biblical view of the gift of healing, Man’s impotence and responsibility, God’s sovereignty in salvation.)

Healing of the lame Beggar

(Acts 3:1-10 NASB) “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. {2} And a certain man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms (charity, i.e., a handout, money, food etc.) of those who were entering the temple. {3} And when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. {4} And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, "Look at us!" {5} And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. {6} But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE TO YOU: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- WALK!" {7} And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and IMMEDIATELY his feet and his ankles were strengthened. {8} And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, WALKING AND LEAPING and praising God. {9} And all the people saw him walking and praising God; {10} and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Some may find it strange that the apostles did not completely abandon worship at the Jewish temple when New Church was begun. But we shouldn’t find it strange at all. Jesus was one to frequent the temple. He went there to teach and no doubt the apostles had the same intent. The truth of this proposed motive will be seen shortly. At approximately three in the afternoon Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. Just outside the gate they encountered a man begging alms, asking for money. This man was crippled but he had not been injured or damaged by some disease, rather, his problem was a, so-called, birth defect. He had been lame, or, unable to walk, from the time of his birth till now. Therefore, he had been unable to earn a living by the sweat of his brow, so, he became a beggar. With a little help from his friends he would position himself each day in strategic locations suited to begging. The temple gate was a good one, for obvious reasons. There was a great deal of traffic there and those coming to the temple were most likely in a giving frame of mind. They had come to worship, to show their love, devotion, and obedience to God. Both the beggar, and the worshippers, knew what God had said about helping the poor. Consider some texts that might have come to the worshipers minds as they approached this crippled man. Proverbs 3:27 ¶ “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.”(Our gifts of charity are due those who cannot provide for their own needs.) Proverbs 3:28 “Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.” With these truths in their minds how could the worshippers enter the temple to worship having left the hungry in need just outside the door?

The New Testament also has much to say on this subject. 1 John 3:17 “But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” Remember the words of James, “Faith without works is dead.”

So much for the circumstances surrounding this event. Now lets look at what actually happened. {4} And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon him and said, "Look at us!" {5} And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. {6} But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE TO YOU: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- WALK!" {7} And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and IMMEDIATELY his feet and his ankles were strengthened. {8} And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, WALKING AND LEAPING and praising God.”

There are four characteristics of this miracle that we need to discuss. First, it was unsolicited and, therefore, unexpected. Second, it was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Third, it was instantaneous, and, fourth, it was complete.

Given the climate in today’s Christian world, saturated with tales of miracles, we must pay attention to the details recorded in the scriptures. So-called healers today say that their ministries are based on the book of Acts and what it records about the apostles. Some even claim to be apostles. So we need to look closely as we move through the book to see if what is said to be “apostolic”, in our day, really is.

The first thing we see is that this miracle was unsolicited and, therefore, unexpected. The lame man was not in attendance at a healing crusade. He had not sent in an offering with a request for a prayer cloth. He did not ask to have hands laid on him, rather, he was asking for money. I believe he was like most people born with an infirmity such as this. He was resigned to his lot in life and determined to make the best of it. He did what he could and must to survive. For him this included daily begging for money.

I can’t help but believe that this man was disappointed with Peter’s statement, “I do not possess silver and gold but what I have I give to you”. If I am right, he wasn’t disappointed for long. For in a moment, with a word, the man was healed! Peter, fixing his eyes upon the man, spoke saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- WALK!" {7} And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and IMMEDIATELY his feet and his ankles were strengthened.” The healing was unsolicited and unexpected, and it was done in the “name of Jesus Christ”.

What does it mean to do something in the name of Jesus Christ? It means that you do what you do in a way that is consistent with His will. It is to do what He would do in the same situation with the same motive. It is to do what He has told us to do. In Peter’s case, he acted with Christ’s authority, His direction, His delegated power, and he did it for the right reason, to bring glory and honor to Christ’s name. All of the apostles had this unique power given to them. Listen to the words of Matthew 10:1.

“And having summoned HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, He gave THEM authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, AND TO HEAL EVERY KIND OF DISEASE AND EVERY KIND OF SICKNESS. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: (The above power was given to the twelve, not to all the disciples of Christ, but only to the twelve.) The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.” Save for Judas Iscariot, the twelve exercised the extraordinary power given to them in the name of and for the honor of Christ.

The apostles preached, taught, advised, wrote, and spoke infallibly. They even healed the sick with the delegated power, and imparted faith, given to them by Christ. They did it for the same reason Christ would have done it, the glory of God the Father. Their meat and drink was to do the will of God. We also do things in Christ’s name when are seeking to accomplish the will of God. We pray in Christ’s name when we pray for what He would pray for. We go forth each day resisting sin, the flesh, and the devil, in Christ’s name, meaning, by His power and strength for His and, the Father’s glory.

The apostles lived, day-to-day, in the same way we do, by the strength and imparted grace of Jesus Christ. In that sense we are just like them. But we were not intended to be, and cannot be, like them in many other respects. They were gifted in unique ways like no other men have been gifted since. Many today would argue with me at this point, but think about it. They had unqualified authority over “every kind of disease”. Which means there was no case, however difficult, horrible, or humanly hopeless, that they could not cure, at will, with a word! In addition they had complete, unqualified, authority over the forces of evil. They could, as Jesus did, simply tell the demons to get lost. This brings us to the difference between the apostles, that Jesus appointed, and those who call themselves apostles today. We talked about this in an earlier lesson. The, so-called, apostles of today do not have the gifts that go with their self-imposed title. No man on this earth can heal every earthly disease or cast out demons at will, with a word, in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene! Fact is, in reference to any and all human infirmities all any man can do today is make a request of God, in Jesus name, for the healing of a person. Sometimes God chooses to heal and sometimes He does not. Sometimes He heals by miraculous intervention. Most of the time He heals through medicine. It makes no difference what gyrations one puts himself through, how much oil is rubbed on the sick, or whether or not they have great faith. Sometimes, God chooses to heal and sometimes He does not. One thing we know for certain is that the “gift of healing”, as it was given to the apostles, DOES NOT EXIST TODAY.

On that day, however, it did exist and the healing called for by Peter in Jesus name did come to pass and, it was instantaneous. Acts 3:7 “And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened”.

The genuine gift of healing, in contrast to the alleged healings of today, resulted in immediate, identifiable, verifiable, obvious, permanent, cures. Which is the third point to take note of. The Savior’s healings were instantaneous. Take note of the following texts. (Matthew 8:13 NASB) And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed." And the servant was healed THAT VERY HOUR”. (Luke 5:12-13 NASB) And it came about that while He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." {13} And He stretched out His hand, and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And IMMEDIATELY the leprosy left him.” (John 5:7-9 NASB) “The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." {8} Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your pallet, and walk." {9} And IMMEDIATELY the man BECAME WELL, and took up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day".

In the New Testament healings were instantaneous. Further, no one was ever told to say they were healed when they weren’t. You may be surprised at such a statement. I only mention it because the practice is common today. When a person prays for healing, or is prayed for, and the affliction does not go away he is told to continue confessing that he has been healed in spite of evidence to the contrary. You won’t find support for such madness in the Bible. One is either healed or he is not. Case in point. A friend of mine has been discussing the scriptures with a brother who believes this very thing. When asked why he was still sick even though he had prayed for healing he insisted that he was healed and would continue confessing that “non-fact” even if his sickness continued. There is no example of such self-deception being recommended in the scriptures. One is either healed, immediately, and all the symptoms disappear, or he is not healed at all. The man, in our text, had been unable to walk from birth. Suddenly, unexpectedly, he was healed, he was leaping, walking, and shouting praises to God. The healing was immediate and complete. “And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping.” (3:8)

It is important to note that this healing had nothing to do with the lame man’s faith or lack of the same! True, the texts cited earlier mention the patient’s faith but “this” healing proves that personal faith was not a critical prerequisite for healing. It was the healers, the apostles, that had the faith necessary to heal the man. He was nothing more or less than the recipient of God’s mercy. He was healed because God willed it. He was healed in spite of his lack of faith. This has something to say about those who claim to have the “gift of healing” today. These often say, when a person is not healed, that it is due to the patient’s lack of faith, not theirs. But the fact of the matter is this, if you have the apostolic gift of healing, the gift that Peter had, you can heal a total unbeliever with a word. This miracle, the healing of the lame man, was unsolicited, unexpected, done in the name of Jesus, instantaneous, and it was complete.

Now we turn to the reason for the miracle. I have pointed out a number of times that the miracles, so noticeable in the early church, were sign miracles. They were used to call attention to the apostle’s words and works. The miracles and signs were God’s stamp of approval on these men recommending them and their teaching to the people. The healing of the man in our text joins with all the other miracles recorded in the book for the purpose cited. By these miracle God validates all that the apostles said and did. They were all by design with this purpose in mind.

Therefore we must say, this man was born lame by the decree of God to be healed by Peter and John, at this time, in this place, for these reasons. No other place would do for there must be many witnesses, Jewish witnesses. This miracle secured the attention of the worshippers and gave the apostles an opportunity to preach the gospel to those who had murdered Jesus. The man was not there by chance but by design! In the gospel of John there is a similar incident, the explanation of which can be applied, without qualification, to our text today. Look with me at John 9:1.

¶ “And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; BUT IT WAS IN ORDER THAT THE WORKS OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED IN HIM. John 9:32 "Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." God gave this man’s so-called, “handicap”, to him. Why? So that Jesus could come along and heal him in front of witnesses for the display of the power of God. It was a sign, a stamp of authenticity from the Father. The “Works of God” that Jesus performed proved Him to be the Son of God, the Messiah. Likewise, the miracles the apostles performed proved them to be sent from God.

The lame man was not lame because his parents had sinned. Nor was it some form of punishment. It had nothing to do with anything but God’s intent to display His power before the people on that day giving His apostles the opportunity to preach the gospel to the Jews. Which is exactly what happened. Lets continue with our text.

Acts 3:9 “And ALL THE PEOPLE SAW him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as BEING THE ONE who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 And while he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? (He doesn’t want them to think that they did this great thing in their own strength. The lame man instinctively knew that God was the cause and praised Him for it. Peter wants all present to get it straight.) 13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, (by this miracle) the one whom YOU delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 "But YOU disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to YOU, 15 but (YOU) put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16 "AND ON THE BASIS OF FAITH IN HIS NAME, IT IS THE NAME OF JESUS WHICH HAS STRENGTHENED THIS MAN whom you see and know; and THE FAITH WHICH COMES THROUGH HIM (Peter declares that the faith he exercised in the performance of this miracle came from God, not him.) has given him this PERFECT HEALTH in the presence of you all. 17 "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "REPENT therefore (in light of your awful crime) and return, that your sins may be wiped away, (even the sin of murdering the Son of God! Repent . . .) in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (One convicted of his sin against God and the judgment due him needs something to refresh his cast down spirit. Repent, says Peter, that this refreshing might come . . .) 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ APPOINTED FOR YOU, (This is refreshing indeed! He speaks of Christ the Messiah promised and sent by God for the salvation of His people. Yes He had died and had risen to the Father but He comes, in the person of the Holy Spirit, to all repentant persons. He is the only appointed Savior of sinners. Peter also speaks here of the second coming.) 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22 "Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED in everything He says to you. 23 'And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet (Jesus) shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 24 "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25 "It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED. '26 "For you first, (the Jews) God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways."

This last phrase brings something of the wonder and mystery of salvation to our attention. God sent Jesus to bless you, says Peter, by turning every one of you from your wicked ways. Back in verse nineteen he called on his listeners to repent, to consciously, intentionally, turn from their wicked ways to Christ. My point is this, men are called to repent of their sins, however, they are dead in sin and cannot repent or believe. (See Romans 3:10 ff, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 6:35 ff, I Cor. 2:14) But God, in mercy, sent His son to save His people from their sin. He will turn us from our wicked ways to Christ, He will effect repentance and faith in us for the salvation of our souls. Men are commanded to and responsible to believe but He is the one who brings it to pass. It is part of my job to demand that those dead in trespasses and sins come to Christ. I must say to the lame, the impotent, “Rise and run to Jesus”! I have done this for years and think nothing of doing so for the God who commands is the God who enables. Therefore, again today, I say to you, repent, turn from your wicked ways, right now, for God has determined to bless you by turning you to His son Jesus Christ.

The lessons of the day are these, at least. First, we must not accept everything done in the “Name of Jesus” as being true, real, and honoring to Him. When you hear the claims of healers today you must ask yourself, “Does what I see and hear qualify as being from God? We must ask, “Does what I see and hear bring glory to Jesus or would He be embarrassed to have His name associated with such a, so called, ministry?” Search the scriptures, beloved, the answer will be found in the scriptures.

Second, we must not despair when we see the impotence and disinterest of our loved ones as concerns Christ. They, like us, were born lame, unable, and unwilling to go to Christ, concerned with nothing but this world. Indeed it is worse than lameness and disinterest, we were all born spiritually dead. Men cannot make themselves alive. But God sent Jesus to save His people from their sin. He came to turn those who could not and would not turn themselves. He came to give life and strength to the dead so they could, and would want to, obey the command with a promise, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved”. When God, by Christ, turns the sinner he or she will, without fail, repent and believe in Him. These will have eternal life. Then they will rise and go leaping into eternity praising and thanking God for His grace and mercy.