Wednesday 1-27-16 (Home in Modesto,
California)
Scripture reading for today: Exodus
17 – 20 Acts 3
S=Scripture O=Observation
A=Application P=Prayer SOAP for the soul.
S. Acts 3:7-9 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping
up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them — walking, leaping, and
praising God...
Vs 11 Now as the
lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together
to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when
Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you
marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or
godliness we had made this man walk?
Vs 16 Yes, the
faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the
presence of you all. NKJV
O. Vs 7 Peter has so much confidence in
Jesus that he takes the initiative, grabs the paralyzed man’s hand and pulls
him up! Peter’s strong arm has stood the man up... only then... suddenly
the atrophied muscles are strengthened and the man starts leaping and dancing
around. NUHV*
Could it be that the man’s faith was slipping a few
minutes later? For now he is hanging onto Peter and John. Or was he
just hanging on them because he thought of them as the source of his
healing? Either way Peter sets him and all the hundreds of wide-eyed
spectators straight.
Vs 12 “Why
are you all looking at us? We didn’t do this. The crucified, buried
and resurrected Jesus Christ did it.” And Peter makes the man release his
grip on them and stand on his own. “Look at this guy! See? He
is completely and perfectly healed!” NUHV*
A. Now it is my
turn: I meet an obviously paralyzed beggar at the church door. He
is looking right at me hoping for folding money, not coins. I left my
wallet in my pickup. So I ask this guy if he has enough faith to be
healed (because I know I don’t). He says, “I think so.” So I gather
all my “apostle-type” friends around me and we make a major scene
praying. The crowd gathers. Now we ask the paralytic, “Can you get
up?” He struggles and collapses in a heap. So we all start praying over
again. And God speaks from heaven, “Hey, boys! Do any of you have
enough faith to grab him by the hand and lift him up?” We look at each
other and decide to come back tomorrow to see if he is better. And Jesus
sighs, “Oh, ye of little faith!”
P. God, why is everybody
looking at me? You never called me to be a “healing” evangelist. I
prefer the inner, invisible miracles that last forever. Are you saying
that is a cop-out? But Lord, I don’t have the faith of Saint Peter.
What’s that you are saying? You are telling me to drop the “saint” in
front of Peter’s name because he was just as big a mess as I am? Oh! You
are the healer and I need renewed faith in You? You are saying I
need to do what Peter and John were doing? You are telling me to get out
of my comfortable stuffed chair tonight and go to prayer meeting? Okay
God! I think I got the picture. Amen.
Ralph
*New Unauthorized Hiatt Version
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