Page 78 - Fundamentals Ebook

said, ‘Look at us!’ He began to give them his attention, expecting
to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I do not possess
silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!’ And seizing him by the right
hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were
strengthened. And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk;
and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and
praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising
God...”

This is the wonderful miracle with John and Peter at the beautiful
gate but they got into a lot of trouble for that story. I want to read
part of the prayer at the end of the story in Acts 4:29-31, “’And now,
Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants
may speak Thy word with all confidence, while Thou dost extend
Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the
name of Thy holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the
place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God
with boldness.”

I want to take that scripture and put it in my own words. It’s easy
to picture in your mind because this man was lame from the time he
was born. It appears that a courtesy was taken and somebody helped
this man in front of the temple. We know from Acts 4:22 that he
was more than forty years old. Year after year picture him sitting
there begging for alms for money. That’s all he got every day. Up
until this point, all he had ever received had never helped him. He
was crying out for something that kept him in the same condition.
It did not cure him. That’s a tragedy; a man full of sympathy and is
born crippled and he sits in front of the church as God’s people are
walking by.

It’s very sad if all we have to offer is something that keeps you like
you were before you heard. Thank God that one day God interrupted
that picture! That lame man expected to be lame that night, as he
was all his yesterdays. Everybody was filing by and then Peter and