Perhaps It's Not Too Late, Baby...

"For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old." (Acts 4:22)

In Sunday's sermon Pastor Sam noted that the experience of redemption is life-giving: the consequence of the disciples' ministry work was edifying to people and glorifying to God. Our pastor used a passage from Acts as an illustration: a man who had been lame from birth, and had spent over forty years as a beggar, experienced a healing that caused people in the community to give glory to God. (See Acts 3:1-4:22) The Holy Spirit, working through Peter and John, brought deliverance.

I wonder if any of us are dealing with a challenge we have encountered, every day, for over forty years. I wonder if any of us are dealing with an issue that has, literally or figuratively, crippled us from birth. I wonder if any of us have spent a few decades as spectators, glancing at people who are sick in body or mind or spirit, passing them by on our way to worship, and having nothing to offer apart from sympathy... or words of dismay... or pronouncements of hopelessness.

What does it mean when a Christian has given up on God's power to change lives? What if Peter and John had assumed that because the lame man had been lame for forty years, it was therefore 'too late' for God's Spirit to intervene in his life? We are blessed to have the Acts 4 narrative as a proof and a reminder of what the Holy Spirit is able to do, and as a proof and reminder of the consequences of divine action, and as an encouragement to believe God is not bound by time, and as an impetus to move us to hear and obey the Holy Spirit's direction in regard to prayers for healing and deliverance.

Pastor Sam, from time to time, has shared a few words that I've paraphrased (below) for us to reflect on today. We can consider it a creed of sorts. We can memorize it, or not, but perhaps the better thing is to pray that it be our lived reality.

The Holy Spirit has come and has made Himself available to us.
The Holy Spirit is present to accomplish God's desire in us.
The Holy Spirit is able to manifest His works through us.

My prayer for us today is that we, like Peter and John, will experience the fullness of God's Spirit, and that His presence and power will overflow as a healing agent to those around us.

Lord God, cause me to see life through the eyes of Your Spirit. Give me the grace to engage prayers for healing and deliverance. Cause me to be prompted not by what I see, but by what You say. Holy Spirit, fill me again, so that You can use me as a worker in Your kingdom. Amen.