Acts 3:1-10 (ESV)
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 him 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.
The above passage gives us several insights into our ministry in this world.
1. We should be engaged in corporate worship and prayer. Peter and John were headed to the Temple at the assigned hour of prayer. Yes, they were still acting more Jewish than they would later in the book of Acts, but coming together for worship and prayer in a community is God’s way, no matter what Testament and no matter what ethnicity.
2. They didn’t let their call for worship interrupt their need for service. They saw service as part of their worship. The man in the road was not in their way. That man in the road was their way. He was the purpose Jesus sent them. We should never let worship hinder our service. We must realize our service is our worship.
3. The world doesn’t know what it needs, they only ask for what they think they need. The lame man was not wrong to ask for alms (money). That is all he knew. They knew what he needed. He only knew what he wanted. In our service for humanity we are the ones who are to know the difference.
4. Peter knew about the power of God as compared to the power of financial gain and independence. Peter knew that the power of the Holy Spirit had just dropped on them (chapter two). He was not afraid to use the Spirit, immediately. More than likely, at least in most evangelical circles, if the pastor were to say from the pulpit, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give you,” he would be looked at not only strange but also with extreme doubt. Yes, this is the beginning of the church age. Yes, sign gifts were used for a “sign” and later were not the staple of the church. But, no, that doesn’t mean we don’t ask for and rely on the Holy Spirit in our ministries.
5. The man believed and right in front of everyone a miracle happened. We don’t see miracles in our church of any kind, much less healing miracles. I would agree that the “gift” of healing is probably not a “gift” as widely distributed in the church today, based upon the doctrine of spiritual gifts. But, that does not mean we should not pray for, ask for and look for miracles in the lives of the world around us.
6. People outwardly praise God when God inwardly does something in their lives. There is no such thing as a “secret Christian.” Nicodemus was secret but when Jesus was killed on the cross he had to come out with his faith. The disciples all ran and and hid when Jesus was on the cross. But, after His accession to heaven they realized public testimony was now the most powerful tool in their ministry. Note what they will say in the next chapter:
Acts 4:18-20 (ESV)
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
7. When the people saw the previous lame man dancing and praising God they took notice. God uses what He does in our lives to attract others to Himself. He wants the good work in us to be a demonstration of the good work He will yet do.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
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