Acts Ch 3
“1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 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; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Peter and John were helpless and uneducated. They had no college education, they were just simple fishermen. Just like simple farmers. But they had been with Jesus! And to them had come a wonderful revelation of the power of the name of Jesus. They were there handing out the bread and fish after Jesus multiplied them. They had sat with Him for a few years and John had often gazed into His face. Jesus often had to rebuke Peter, but He loved him through it all. Jesus loved Peter, the wayward one.

Such a transformation these men had when filled with the Holy Spirit! From timid folks to men that would turn the world upside down. There’s nothing this world has to offer that’s greater than what God gives those who, “only believe”. Just believe, what a simple concept!

The book of Acts is one of my favorite parts of the Bible, the ushering in of the Church Age. Simple men and women changed, huge acts of faith, confusing the wise. There’s so much in that one book of the Bible it’s incredible. And it’s no different today, not one bit different! Man can turn away from God with religion, but God is still here, the same as He was in the beginning of the Church Age. Every act preformed then, is available now to people of faith.

Just writing this just gets me so exited I’m ready to just run out and shout it! It’s still here, it’s never left! Oh, thank you Jesus!

How Peter was so scared in the courtyard during the trial of Jesus, how he denied knowing Jesus, how he wept when he realized what he had done. It happens to many that start on the path of following the Lord, the denying and the realization of it. The being timid about it in front of other people and the bitter tears when one realizes it. Many, including myself have been in the courtyard.

But God loves us when we break and will pick us up and give us strength to carry on like Peter did in the book of Acts. Thanks be to God for such love! What Peter said to the crowd after healing the man is pure and powerful faith.

“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. “