Acts 3:6-8 – “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.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk.”

 On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit had been poured upon those who had gathered in the upper room. Through many signs, wonders and preaching of the Gospel, God was adding many to church. The apostles were being used mightily for the Kingdom of God and we can find this in Acts 2.

When we come to Acts 3, it starts off with a specific event where a mighty miracle was done through Peter and John in healing a lame man. This man was lame from his birth and was carried daily to one of the gates of the Temple, which was called Beautiful. He was placed at the gate and his daily routine was to ask alms from those who came to the Temple to worship.

There is beautiful symbolism in this whole picture and the whole restoration provided by Jesus. Few things that lighten up in this scripture are:-

• The feet of a man represent his walk or in other words his inheritance. Abraham was told to walk up and down the land, and wherever his feet touched that would be his inheritance. Man having sinned, lost his inheritance and right to rule by forfeiting it to Satan.
• This man was placed at the temple gates which was called Beautiful. How often it is true in our life, that our experience is a stark contrast to the situation outside. The lame man had nothing beautiful in his experience although the exterior had a different name.
• This man was placed at the gates of a place where there was prayers and worship being offered to the living God. However this lame man was oblivious to the power and healing that the temple represented. Often we are content with sitting at the gates and begging, instead of moving into the very presence of God through prayer and worship.

 

When this man saw Peter and John coming to the Temple, he must have raised his arms in expectation of alms, as was his norm. Peter said, I cannot meet your expectation as I have no gold or silver. However he had something that no gold or silver could ever purchase and proceeded to proclaim healing in the precious name of Jesus. Peter had an assurance on what he possessed and how powerful that was. Through Jesus, our inheritance has been restored to us.

I want to ask a few questions to you dear friend “What is it that you possess?”.

“Is Jesus, your most prized possession and do you have an absolute assurance of that?”

If you can answer yes to this question, then you have something blessed to hand out to others in need. We are the temple of the living God, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. The Jesus in your heart is more precious than the gold in your wallet. Invite Jesus if you still have not and then you can also freely give to others what you received.

Maranatha – come Lord Jesus!