God does His work through people. When people see that work, they are surprised or amazed. Because our God is amazing. People were amazed when Peter did John’s work here in the life of a man who was lame from birth. In these ten verses we find seven important spiritual truths. We can learn these through the lives of Peter and John. Let’s see what they are.
1. Time for prayer :
(3:1) “At three o’clock in the afternoon, when Peter and John were going up to the temple…”) We need to arrange a time and place for our prayer life. They are going to pray in the temple at three o’clock. In Acts 10:9, Peter is praying on a table about twelve o’clock in the day. In Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas were praying in prison at midnight. Similarly in Mark 1:35 the Lord Jesus gets up and goes to the wilderness to pray. Beloved, as we observe in these verses they set a time to pray. And arranged the place. And when Isaac’s life is observed in the Old Testament, Isaac goes to the field (place) in the evening (time) to pray. What a great experience dear child of God Laura. We must have this spiritual practice if we are to be blessed. Stay and stay.
2. Ascension for the Holy One :
“3:1 Peter and John were going up to the temple”. It is said that every bird goes to that nest. It means that they are going to the holy place for the sake of the saint because they are saints. (Be ye also holy, as I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16) A bird has the nature of flight. Thus the Holy Scripture compares us to a bird. “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They spread their wings and fly up like a king of birds. They run without wavering, they walk without money. (Isaiah 40:31). This is what Prophet Isaiah is experientially telling all the saints. Who can climb the holy mountain? King David declares, “Lord, who is worthy to be a guest in your tent! Who is worthy to dwell upon thy holy mountain? He is honest in his behavior and honest with his heart. Psalm 15:1-2. David’s devotee explains why we should look to the holy hill. “I lifted up my eyes to the hills. Where can I get help from? I am helped by the Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. (Psalms 121:1-2), that’s why Caleb wanted the place of the hill (Joshua 14:12) Let’s test if we have the experience of climbing the holy temple, the holy mountain, the holy hill.
3. Seeing God through us :
(3:4 “Ask Peter and John and look to our side”) Our side is not to them but to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Lord Jesus Christ said in John 14:9 “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” means that those who saw Jesus can see the Father in Jesus, and when people see us, they should be able to see Jesus in us. That is why the Apostle Paul tells us that we are the messengers of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3) where Peter and John are reducing. That is why they are exalted in their ministry. And John the Baptist said of the Lord Jesus, “That which he shall increase, I shall decrease.” (John 3:30) So beloved, when we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, people can see the Lord Jesus through our behavior and our life.
4. Help of Lord ‘s servants :
A common man begs for the help of others but God’s people are givers. Here Peter and John were able to give what they had (the Lord Jesus) to that man. Scripture reminds us that God blesses us and makes us givers. “Jehovah will make the rain fall on your land in its season, and the heavens will open their good treasure. Thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not lend (Deuteronomy 28:12). God appoints us to be the head but not the tail. He will keep those who are above but not those who are below (Deuteronomy 28:14). But for us to be this way we must follow all His commandments in every way and have them experientially. Not only that, but the psalmist writes, “I do not see the righteous being spared, nor their children poor.” It is our God who nurtures God’s servants and their sons. But if we are righteous, it is good for us, but not good. And our children are a blessing, not a curse. So let our righteousness nurture our children..
5. There is no time limit for the Lord’s ministry :
Although it was prayer time for Peter and John, they were able to preach the gospel to a man and heal and save him. Helping hands are better than praying hands. It means that many times we raise our hands and pray very easily, but we stretch out our hands and turn our backs to help others.. That is why the apostle Paul informed in this way in 2 Timothy 4:2. “Preach the word, labor in season and out of season, exhort, rebuke, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering” Apoc. In 20:7 Paul is speaking at midnight. Not only that. It must be declared that now is the most opportune time (2 Corinthians 6:2). Because the incision is wide. (Matthew 9:37 Beloved, are we able to proclaim the brightness of the Lord? Are we able to spread it? Are we able to turn to the Holy One?
6. Helping the Lord in His ministry :
(3:7 “He took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankles received strength”) Peter and John preached spiritually and healed physically. Even the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 14:13-21 opened his mouth and gave the word spiritually. And with outstretched hands he fed physically. God cares about the salvation of our souls. Not only that, he also takes care of our physical nutrition. And as we notice in Mark 2:1-12, there also the Lord Jesus Christ healed the leper physically and spiritually forgave the sins. Our body is the temple of God and He wants us to dwell in it. Is there a place for God in your body? The Spirit of God guides us like a lamp…
7. People identify the born lame :
(3:10 “When the lover realized that he was the one sitting at the door of the temple asking for alms, he was amazed at what happened to him.” People recognized the change in the lame man. In the same way, people should recognize the change in us, change of mind, salvation, growth, spiritual development. Apoka| In 4:13 it is written like this. “They knew that Peter had seen the boldness of John”. People need to know that we are walking like Christ, that we are holding the word of life in our hands, and that we are shining like lights in the world. When Jesus was walking, John saw him and said, ” God, take away the sins of the world.” Gottipilla(John 1:29) addressed. In the same way, when we walk on our path, what do people see us and recognize? Shunammite recognized Elisha as a pious man of God. (2 Kings 4:8).
Beloved in the Lord, so far as we have examined the life of Peter and John we have meditated on some pearl-like spiritual experiences in him . They made time for prayer, made time for God. He gave time for the physical and spiritual needs of others, he gave time for service. Their lives are shaped to be a blessing to others. What a blessed life they had. That is the life the Holy Spirit wants us to have. Is it like that?
