Dear Friend,
I believe that by now you have the word of God addressing your need and you are warring a good warfare with them. Continue with it, your breakthrough is around the corner, you’re going to rise. As promised last week, I will continue with the story about the lame man who rose and walked. Enjoy!!!
STUDY TEXT – Acts 3: 1- 10
1 Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].
2 And a certain man that was lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.
8 And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
The feet are the part of the body responsible for weight-bearing and propulsion. Without this very significant part, the body is immobile, unstable, and cannot function maximally.
In the above passage, we see the record of a man lame from birth. It is recorded that this man now forty-plus would normally be carried to the gate so he could beg for alms from the people going into the temple. The scripture does not tell us his name or when this man started going to the temple, however; we know he was well-known for his alms begging. In today’s society, he’d be on a Department of Social Security (DSS) disability allowance.
I could picture him arriving at the DSS office with dial-a-ride on a wheelchair, waiting for his care assistant who’s deliberately wasting time to help him onto the lift. I see tears drop from his eyes as he approaches the counter for his bi-weekly allowance, and perhaps the object of ridicule and discussion. The sight of his fellow men walking around unaided with their wives and kids makes him even more sorrowful.
He may have had a fine face, nice build, and even all the good qualities a sister would desire in a brother, but he was incapacitated, immobilised, disabled, helpless, hopeless, broken, poor, weak, and in short, lame from birth. He was at a gate called beautiful but his situation was ugly. I don’t know about you but I can relate to this man.
Talk about having an ugly situation, it’s like having enough cash to make a down payment for your home but you can’t get a mortgage because of your previous bad credit history. You love the lord and you are called according to his purpose but nothing seems to be working out for your good. You are lame physically, emotionally, financially, socially, mentally, and even spiritually.
We read that one day at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John approached the temple to pray as it was their custom and saw this man. They were looking at him intently to pray for his healing, and he was looking at them eagerly expecting a gift.
Let me ask you; what are your expectations? Would you prefer to be pitied than be healed? Would you rather be given alms than receive your breakthrough? Do you know God’s will concerning your situation? You, who are believing God for a partner, a child, a house, a car; whatever your desire, can you tell me what you know the will of God is regarding your need?
It is crucial you find out because if you know then you will know not to ask amiss. This man would have asked to receive his healing so he could be able to make money only if he knew the promises of God.
I encourage you to seek the will of God concerning your situation today. Next week I will bring you the rest of the story but until then, Remain Blessed.
Related journals:
RISE UP – Part 2
RISE UP – Part 3
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