SATURDAY November 19, 2022 

Miracles Do Happen

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Acts 3:1-3

The secret to a healthy church is found in Acts 2:42, where we find believers continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. People were being saved daily as God added to the Church. This was a powerful Church in which miracles and wonders become strong witnesses of how God was continuing to move. 

In Acts 3, we witness the first miracle that happened after Pentecost, although we are unsure of how long after the Holy Spirit came that this miracle happened. Peter and John went to the Temple at the hour of prayer––the ninth hour. Interestingly, the ninth hour was when Jesus cried out from the Cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). God had not forsaken the crippled man. 

The Jews worshiped the Lord in the Temple. There was an outer court––a place for women and Gentiles. In Israel, poor beggars would often sit at the gate of the Temple with their hands extended out for money to buy bread. 

This is exactly what the crippled man was doing. He was crippled from birth, but spiritually he was crippled, too. He was dead in his sin, and he needed Jesus. When he begged for money, God spoke to Peter, and he was moved by faith to do the miraculous. With God, miracles do happen. 

When you encounter a person asking for money, I believe, before you give them anything, first minister to their spiritual needs. Give them the Gospel of Jesus Christ with your tokens of love. Many are bound by addictions to alcohol or drugs; it is wise to buy food for them rather than give them money, because they will spend it on their sinful habits. 

To be spiritually dead is to be diabolically alive.
~R.C. Sproul~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!