Miracles: Every Nation Prayer & FastingНамуна

Healing

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. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized his as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:1–10

When we read passages like this in scripture, it’s easy to identify with the disciples, but how does the story change if we read it from the perspective of the beggar?

For years, he had been carried by other people to the temple gate to ask for money. Since he couldn’t work, that was his only way of sustaining himself. The law at the time forbade anyone who was “unclean” from fully entering the temple. He couldn’t go beyond the gate.

Imagine what your view of God might be if that were your reality. Does God really exist? Does he see me? Does he care about me? Could he even change my circumstance if he wanted to? For the lame man, each day was the same as the day before. But in one encounter, everything changed.

“Look at us,” the beggar hears as Peter and John engage him in conversation. He likely assumes they are about to give him some money, but little does he know he’s about to get something much better. Peter tells him,

“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!” (Acts 3:6)

Through God’s intervention, he is healed! But this moment of the miraculous does far more than just heal his body.

His physical healing gives him the ability to leap and praise and go further into the temple than he could before. More than that, it reveals to him and to others that God is not only powerful, but he’s also good. He doesn’t forget about his children. He steps into our reality to bring heaven to earth.

Those who recognize the beggar and see the miracle are filled with wonder and amazement, and that’s just the beginning. This encounter opens the door for Peter to preach to a much larger audience, and through that ministry, Acts 4:4 tells us that over 5,000 people come to believe.

As we see in this story, the outcome of the miraculous is always God’s revelation of himself so that the world might know who he is.

Recall a time in your life when you or someone you know was miraculously healed.

What reservations could be keeping you from praying for someone’s physical healing?

Faith Step

Write the names of people you know that are in need of physical healing and pray for them. If God leads you, call them and pray with them over the phone.

Pray

Lord, I trust you as my healer. You are good and able to heal my sickness, pain, brokenness, and hurt. Open my eyes to see the people around me who need you. I ask that you would give me faith to pray boldly for their healing. I pray that you will be glorified and that the world will see your goodness and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.