August 30, 2022 – Ps 68, Pr 28, Acts 3

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:6 NIV

Have you ever had the right words to direct someone toward God and just known it was the Holy Spirit because afterward you think “where did that come from?” I imagine the disciples had so many of those times that it didn’t even surprise them. This would be one of those times. Look at the difference in Peter. When Jesus was with them and before the Holy Spirit came the disciples rebuked people who were bringing their children for Jesus to lay their hands on them. They also were still caught up in the social attitude of looking down on the crippled and poor. Here we see a complete change in the response. Now Peter has something more valuable than silver or God and he gives it joyfully and freely through the direction of the Holy Spirit and the man is healed.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:9‭-‬10 NIV

Responding with full surrender to the Holy Spirit not only allowed Peter to heal the man physically but it also began the healing process for all those who saw the man. It opens the door.

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:16 NIV

Now that the door is open and their hearts, minds and souls are tuned to hear the truth Peter shares with them who has really healed the man.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:19 NIV

And he shares the gospel with them.

And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’
Acts 3:25 NIV

And reminds them of everything they had been taught about the Messiah so they could see Jesus for who He really is.

God can and does do the same thing through our lives. I have recently been put at the right place at the right time to talk to a woman who shared much of her recent history with me and even some long ago history. I had told her that I would pray for her about a certain situation and she politely said I don’t believe in God but if you believe for the both of us that is fine. God opened the conversation and brought to my mind the story of Ruth. How Boaz her kinsman redeemer had the servants pull some of the wheat from the bundles and scatter them before her so that she might be able to collect more. Boaz knew who she was and that he was her kinsman redeemer and he took care of her before she even knew who he was. I shared the story with her and told her Jesus does the same thing for us even before we believe in Him. He knows He is our redeemer and He will scatter blessings in front of us even when we don’t know who He is or what He is doing. He loves us and wants to provide for us even when we don’t know Him. She stopped by my office latter that day just to talk. We exchanged phone numbers and I look forward to seeing what else God will do.