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.

“Stare” Tactics.

While the man was hanging on to Peter and John, all the people, completely astounded, ran together to them in the covered walkway called Solomon’s Portico. When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. (Acts 3:11-13)

Have you experienced this?

Maybe you interceded for someone, and then God answered your prayer quickly, dramatically and publicly.

Or maybe you were prayed for by someone, and God’s provision of the answer caused you to behave in a way that made you don’t normally behave. Maybe you shouted, or cried, or laughed, or jumped, or ran.

Or, maybe you were a casual spectator—a person neither devoted to prayer nor to the God who answers prayer, but a person who is found talking about either the intercessor or the behavior of the person who was prayed for.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy spoke on the phenomenon of spectators focusing on the wrong thing. Our Christian life does not revolve around the people who pray, nor does it revolve around the people whose prayers have been answered. Christians focus on Christ. We are exhorted in the book of Hebrews: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2a)

In the Acts 3 narrative, Peter and John asked a question of the spectators that surrounded them. It’s a question that is just as important today:

“Why are you staring at us?”

Friends, let us commit to stop staring at people. Let us commit to fixing our gaze on the Lord.

Authorization Cleared.

Are you an “authorized dealer”?

Not everyone is authorized to conduct kingdom business. On Sunday Pastor Andy briefly referred to an incident involving the sons of Sceva, men who were not authorized to use the name of Jesus:

God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) But the evil spirit replied to them, “I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. (Acts 19:11-16, NET)

At a local store, a couple of people in the checkout line had an in-depth conversation about a celebrity. The conversation was peppered with the phrases “I heard that…”; “I read that…”; but there was no indication of an intimate relationship. They had never met the person, so there was no personal knowledge. It was all hearsay. This was the hard lesson learned by the sons of Sceva. These seven men were overpowered and defeated by an evil spirit. Why? Because, though they were trained in exorcism, they had no personal relationship with the Lord whose name they attempted to invoke during the deliverance ministry.

Authorized dealers have more than just training in what to say; these specialized dealers have intimate knowledge of the brand and product they carry in their store. In the case of Peter and John, their use of the name of Jesus was backed by their relationship with Him.

When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money. Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (Acts 3:3-8, NET)

As we pray on behalf of those who need the power of God to touch their lives, let us remember that it is not enough to merely be trained.

God, as we grow in our relationship with You, please commission us as authorized dealers of Your mercy and grace.

Petition Condition

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. (Acts 3:1-2, NET)

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Andy shared with us from Acts chapter 3. In the first two verses, we are given information about three men.

-Peter and John, two of Jesus’s disciples, went to the temple to pray.

-An unnamed third man, who was born lame, was brought to the temple courts to beg.

These men were in the vicinity of the temple at the time of the evening sacrifice. It was a time of the day when it was common for the people of Israel to offer prayers to God. We see this alluded to in Psalm 141:2: “May my prayer be established, rising up like incense before You; may the uplifting of my hands be like an evening offering.”

Peter and John had established a routine of petitioning God.

The lame man had established a routine of petitioning people.

What is our routine? Who are we petitioning for help? Who do we expect to supply the needs we have every day?

Lord God, You are the only One who can supply all that I truly need. As I go through my days, for every day that You give me life, please grant me the grace to look to You and to petition You in prayer.

Prayers Versus Expectations.

So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him. (Acts 3:5-10)

Peter and John did not say to one another, “Let’s go pray for the lame man who sits at Gate Beautiful.” The men were simply going to afternoon prayer with the rest of the community.

It seems that no one in the faith community was expecting the lame man to be healed. In Acts 3:8-10, we read that when the healed man walked into the temple courts with Peter and John, the crowd responded with amazement and astonishment. The only recorded praise in the chapter is attributed to the three people involved in the miracle: Peter, John, and the lame man.

How sad to see a praying community, in the face of a miracle, offering no word of thanks to God.

In Acts 3:11 through 4:22, we see that Peter and John had to explain their actions to both the praying community and the religious leadership. Even more disturbing is the fact that the leaders’ response was to tell Peter and John to stop healing people in the name of Jesus. As Pastor Sam noted in Sunday’s sermon, it seems there was a preference for maintaining “structural dependence on the religious system”—Stay sick, you lame man. Stay dependent on us. We don't expect you to improve.

I wonder if we, in spite of our prayer life, walk through our days with no real expectation of participating in the miraculous works of God.

I wonder if we, in spite of our alleged love for worship, fail to give praise and glory to God when we see a demonstration of His power.

I wonder if we, in spite of our knowing our own need for God’s healing, will not be His agents of healing to others who are “lame” according to the world’s system.

Lord, You have shown us a praying community in Acts 3, but it seems they were caught off guard when You acted. Help us to live our days expecting to experience Your Presence and Your power. Order our steps! Re-order our schedules! We, like Peter and John, will always be available to You. We pray. We expect.

Brother, Can You Spare Some Time?

When the lame man saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money. Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. (Acts 3:3-5)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared (paraphrased here) that the modern and ancient myth was that problems are solved only by those who have money.

In some instances, it is easier to write a check than to go through the rigors of spiritual service. In Acts 3, the lame man at Gate Beautiful had become accustomed to getting donations of cash. But Peter and John came along with a donation of attention, conversation, and Divine healing.

Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” (Acts 3:4) Our pastor noted that the response of Peter and John was not just a response of “simple relief”. Simple relief throws coins and moves on. But when believers see human need, 1) money does not have to be part of the equation and 2) time is taken for genuine interaction.

Pastor Sam, in saying “You are an extension of the presence of God”, gave us the key to our interaction with those in need: “Look at us” mirrors the response of our God, who has called us to “Look and live.”

The ministry of Peter and John is a reminder of God’s mercy towards us. In Numbers 21:4-9 we have the account of the ancient Israel’s grumbling, and the resultant curse of poisonous snakes in their camp. Moses, under God’s instruction, made a bronze snake on a pole. The people (bitten by poisonous snakes) that obeyed God by looking up at the cast snake would live.

Our Lord Jesus, in describing His own saving power, made reference to this event: “Even as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him will live forever.” (John 3:14-15) Today we can say to the disenfranchised and needy, “Look at us!” Not because we can offer anything on our own merit, but because we carry the presence of Christ, the One whose compassion and power far exceeds the value of any donation we could offer in our own strength.

Lord, we look to You! And Lord, we point others to You. May they always see You in us.

Working The Works.

The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. (Acts 3:1)

Today, let's reflect on a few of Pastor Sam's points (paraphrased here) concerning the role of prayer in the Christian's responsibility to "respond compassionately and practically to human need in the name of Christ."

• Three o'clock was prayer time for the community, not just for Peter and John.
• Peter's intent was to participate in the core function of the community: prayer.
• In our focus on prayer, we must not miss the man at the gate.
• If you don't see need, you can't respond to it.
• God hears groans and sees needs; the people of prayer must share His perspective.

What does it mean to have a heart of compassion? Ultimately, it means that we have the heart of God. The things that interest Him interest us. The things that He does, we do. As we draw near to God in prayer, we are able to discern His desire not just for ourselves, but also for our community. As we commune with Him through the priestly act of regular times of prayer, we are then empowered to do the social act of community care.

Perhaps this is where some of us fall short. We are engaged in the social work of service, but have neglected the priestly work of prayer. But our desire is not merely to provide for needs. Our desire is to demonstrate compassion as we meet human needs. As Nazarenes we believe this can only be accomplished by the person and work of Jesus Christ, whose Spirit lives in us.

After the miraculous healing at Gate Beautiful, a group of religious leaders questioned Peter and John (see Acts 4:5-20). As their dialogue progressed, the leaders' focus shifted. The issue was no longer the miracle; the issue was, "these men had been with Jesus."

Lord, that is what we want! Give us hearts to engage in corporate prayer and compassionate care: not for personal acclaim, but so that people will recognize Your Presence working in, with, and through us.

I Give My Dime, He Serves My Line.

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam yanked the covers off a most insidious Christian habit: the act of giving not because of our love for the person(s) in need, but because we want other people to see and laud us for our "generosity".

Some of us are engaging in what Jesus specifically warned us to avoid. Here is what He said:

Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4)

I have seen the "photo opportunity" version of charitable giving. Perhaps you've seen it too. Pastor Sam gave a wonderful description of this phenomenon: if there are no cameras available to record the good will, then no gift is given. The needy are left in need until some sort of public accolade can be derived from the gift.

Here is the formula behind the phenomenon: Every time I (the consumer) give a beggar (the facilitator) ten dollars, he helps me to get high on the drug of recognition. He clearly needs help beyond my little donation, but he won't get more help. I need him to stay enslaved, so that he can continue to make me look generous. And, if no one is watching the transaction, I won't give a cent.

But is it worth losing heaven's reward?

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. (Acts 3:1-2)

The lame man in Acts 3 is not on a side road fifty meters away. He is seated at the entrance to Gate Beautiful, the gate with the most traffic, where all the religious people can watch as other religious people give him alms. His placement there is an open invitation for the community of faith to disobey the directive of Jesus in Matthew 6.

What shall we choose? The attention of men, or the accolade of God?

Lord, give us pure satisfaction in knowing that You see our secret works, and that Your commendation is the only one that matters. You love us. You warn us. We are grateful.

Examen Nation.

In yesterday's English-language services, Pastor Sam spoke on a phrase from Bronx Bethany's mission statement: Responding compassionately and practically to human need in the name of Christ.

Our pastor made reference to the beginning of Acts chapter 3. Today, let's take a look at the passage and consider the following questions:

• Am I too busy to make time for daily prayer?
• Am I so busy praying that I fail to be compassionate and practical in meeting others' needs?
• How do I "pray without ceasing" (First Thessalonians 5:17) while still being sensitive to the needs of those around me?

Acts 3:1-10

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.