The Sign (Acts 3:4-8a)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/28/2017 9:47 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                                  Focus:  The Sign

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                          Reference:  Acts 3:4-8a

            Message of the verses:  “4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 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!" 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping.”

            John MacArthur begins his commentary on this section by stating that there are four aspects of this miracle that are noteworthy:  “it was unexpected, it was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, it was instantaneous, and it was complete.”  Now we will look at the first two aspects of this miracle in our Spiritual Diary this morning and then look at the final two in our next SD.

IT WAS UNEXPECTED

            This section covers verses 4-6a which are seen at the top of the page.  What we are looking at first here is the word in the Greek for “fixed his gaze upon.”  This word is Atenizo and MacArthur states that it “is the same word used in 1:10 to describe the apostles’ intense gaze at the ascending Lord.”  This must have been some gaze that they used to look at this man if it is compared to seeing our Lord ascend into heaven.  Next we see that this man was told to look at them (Peter and John).  The beggar though that he was going to get some money from these two men and was probably excited about this prospect, but his excitement would be even more intense after he receives what they have for him. 

            MacArthur concludes this section:  “Like all of God’s works, this miracle was based on God’s sovereign will.  There were hundreds of other beggars in Jerusalem, many of them undoubtedly crippled as well.  But it was this man that God sovereignly chose to receive healing.  Expecting only some money to help momentarily ease his desperate situation, the beggar instead received far more than he would have ever dreamed.”

IT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

“In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk! (Acts 3:6b)

            When I look back at all the people that Jesus healed during His three year ministry I know that there must have been thousands healed from various difficulties and surely not all of them are mentioned as John states at the end of his gospel.  Perhaps this man had heard of Jesus, but had no reason to believe on Him because he was still crippled.  Perhaps this man had heard that Jesus had been executed as being a blasphemer, and so he had no reason to believe on him, but now he will hear His name as Peter uses His name in order to heal this man.  MacArthur writes “In the name of means by virtue of Christ’s character, authority, and power.”  We looked earlier at “Jesus Christ the Nazarene” as we saw it was a common designation of our Lord which was used during His earthly ministry.  We looked earlier also at praying in the name of Jesus when we studied the gospel of John noting that by doing this when we are praying about had to be in His will, and Peter surely knew that it was in the will of our Lord to have this man healed and we will see why as we move forward in this third chapter of the book of Acts.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am coming to realize that the things I pray for have to be in the will of our Lord, realizing also that He is the One who is in control of all things including the things that I pray for.  God is not my personal “Jeanie” but I am His seeking to do what He desires me to do.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  As I begin to prepare for teaching the book of Revelation in our Sunday school class I trust that I will be humble trusting the Lord to show me the things that He wants me to bring out from this wonderful book that will bring glory to my Lord.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The Pharisees” (Luke 11:43).

Today’s Bible question:  “What was Judas paid for betraying Jesus?”

Answer in our next SD.

8/28/2017 10:17 AM