Series: New New
Acts 3:1-8 ESV
Luke 18:35-43 ESV
John 14:12-14 ESV
When I do lesson planning a big part of my plan is to pray as I plan, pray as I prepare to write, and pray as I write that the right words will come from the Spirit. That’s because even though I’ve been a writer most of my life God knows the big picture plan.
This particular passage means a great deal to me personally because healing is a main focus of the ministry God has laid on my heart. Several years go I had the privilege of leading a group of prayers who had the gift of healing.
I learned a lot from that team of healing pray-ers. I also found that there are others who do not believe we are in an ‘age’ of healing. They don’t believe healing is possible now.
In Acts 3:1-8 we see the marvelous healing God did then and (I believe) still does today. “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”
The man lame from birth was in a desperate situation. Because he could not do manual labor to support himself he sat at the Temple Gate daily to beg for a few coins so he could eat. That was all the man expected.
He did not believe healing was possible.
He WAS faced with an impossible situation.
The man expected the gift of a few coins but Peter didn’t have any coins. Instead God through Peter gave the man who was lame from birth something he did not think was possible.
That’s because God is God of the impossible.
We are told in Luke 18:35-43 Jesus healed a blind man. “As he (Jesus) drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he (the blind beggar) inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.”
Then we read in John 14:12-14, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me[e]anything in my name, I will do it.”
What I notice here is that Jesus healed.
Jesus told the disciples they would do greater works.
In Acts 3 after Jesus ascended to heaven Peter and John healed the man who had been lame from birth in Jesus’ name.
Nothing in scripture stipulates anything about believers not being able to heal in the name of Jesus two thousand years later.
We are not given a timeframe.
We are told whoever believes will do greater works in the name of Jesus. That healing includes spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical healing.
Spiritual Practice: Pray
Pray in the name of Jesus for someone who needs healing.
In God, Deborah
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