Dear Friend,
It’s been a while since I sent you my weekly journal and that’s the reason I’m overly excited about sending you this one. I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement. May God bless you!
I trust that God has been doing an awesome work in your life through his word. Before I continue with the story of the lame man, I want to share something with you from Acts 12. Here, we see Peter, the same Peter who helped the lame man up was bound in chains with guards surrounding him. As long as he was bound, he had no control just as the lame man could do nothing about his lameness in and of himself. In verse 7, the Angel of the Lord stood before Peter. Watch this; the Angel was doing exactly what he wanted Peter to do. He stood, he did not squat, he did not lounge, he stood. God sent him to lead Peter out of the prison, but you see Peter had to cooperate with him for that to happen; he did not nag, he wasn’t doubtful, he was full of faith and he obeyed. Then the Angel of the Lord said to him arise quickly; get up fast, rise up! Right after this, the chains binding Peter fell off.
Here’s a word for you: the times of being lame, asking for alms, and bound in chains is over, act on the word that you are hearing. Rise up so your chains could fall off, rise up and be free, rise up and walk into the destiny God has planned for you.
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.
I have learnt by study and experience that God is a God of process who through times, and seasons, would work in steps and stages, or in a sudden and speedy manner as we see him do in this passage.
Most people go through the movement stages of stretching, bending, twisting, shaking, creeping, crawling, standing, walking, jumping, and leaping; yet, we see that the order of movement by this man is not in accordance with this; in fact, it is the exact opposite of what you’d expect from someone who’d never walked. I believe this is mainly because God accelerated his recovery process. I could almost hear God say to him, you don’t have to start from stage one – creeping; this is not the time for gradual progression, Leap! Lift yourself off the ground. Stand. There’s strength in your ankle bones, walk. Exercise your feet, by the way how are you enjoying being able to use them?
I want you to see what this man did, immediately he was able to stand, he headed for the temple. The temple is a place of worship. Standing is an act of praise; it is also a posture that portrays soundness and alertness. Can you picture the transformation? Before he was lame, weak, and poor but now he’s standing, sound, and alert. His expression and attitude were that of appreciation, resounding praise, and a declaration of God’s faithfulness. He knew the reason for his healing
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. That I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalms 30:11-12 NLT
So he praised, the people heard him and knew he was the beggar they had seen so often at the gate. They saw him (in the temple) where he’d never been and doing what he hadn’t done before (standing), and they became amazed – absolutely astounded and in awe at what the Lord had done. This is exactly what God’s going to do in your life. Your breakthrough will ultimately bring him glory.
When this situation started harassing you, God could have easily rescued you then than now, but for his glory, so the world could see, and so that you would be a point of reference, he allowed you to experience the challenges you are facing now.
I want you to know that you are not reading this journal by chance, God’s about to speedily do things on your behalf. I hear these words in my spirit, No more delays, no more lingering. Receive it and believe it
This is the year of God’s favour and when He has favoured you, head for the temple, give him praise, praise him so the world would know what he’s done, let them be amazed, and return the glory to him.
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1 NASB
Related journals:
RISE UP – Part 1
RISE UP – Part 2
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