The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
August 12, 2008
Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. "People of Israel," he
said, "what is so astounding about this? And why look at us as though we had
made this man walk by our own power and godliness? For it is the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of all our ancestors who has brought
glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed
over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate's decision to release him. You
rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a
murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him to life. And we are
witnesses of this fact!"
Acts 3:12-15
Don't you just love Peter? He has to be one of my all time favorite people. He was so real! One of the most awesome things about Peter was the dramatic change in him once the Holy Spirit took over. We are talking about total transformation here!
Although I can't prove it Biblically, I believe Peter enjoyed doing things in the flesh. I believe when He saw Elijah and Moses standing with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration he was in the flesh. He wanted to build a monument to the experience.
However, at the time he spoke the words we are focusing on today, he was a spirit-filled man. He wanted all the glory to go to God for everything. I don't believe the words he spoke that day were words of anger, but words of compassion and understanding. He wasn't condemning these people for what they had done to Jesus – Peter was speaking the truth in love. Peter was sharing a testimony about what was taking place in the life of this healed man. He was using him as an example of what Jesus could do for them – the same Jesus they had killed.
When God gives us an opportunity to minister to a hurting or lost person the Holy Spirit will often use our testimony or the testimony of someone we know who has been where the person we are talking to is.
I'll never forget when Roger and I discovered that our daughter Cindy was using crack cocaine. Now, neither Roger nor I knew what it felt like to be addicted to crack. Yet, we had two very close friends who had dealt with their addictions and were walking free at that time. So, we called them to get advice on how to deal with Cindy. We never really had to use their stories with Cindy, because she knew them. God dealt with Cindy on a personal basis. She now has her family back and is doing well.
In any event, the healing this man experienced is available to each and every one of us. The opportunity to share about miracles in other people's lives is also available to us. However, if we are going to be used we must first know the person who will use us intimately and He is always available. Are you available to Him?
Father, I thank You and praise You for the miracle working power that You provide. Help us to be so close to You and so in tune with the Holy Spirit that we operate in that power consistently. Free us to be ready each and every day to share what You have done for us! We are aware that we can only do it through Your power!
