Text: Mark 16:15-18 (KJV)
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” ( * Note- These are the words of Jesus.)
Text: Acts 1:1 (KJV)
“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach….”
Text: Acts 3:1-8(KJV)
“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being 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 of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, ” Look on us.” And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
Dear Friend:
Imagine! Two ordinary people being told that they could minister healing to sick people all around them.[1] Wow! It is one thing for Jesus, the Son of God, to minister healing, but now we see His larger plan; the church (believers) ministering divine healing to the sick and afflicted. Watch out world, miracles are still happening! What Jesus began to both do and teach is still continuing through Christian men and women who with childlike faith, “only believe.”[2]
In Acts 3, Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray. They probably had passed this same beggar time and again, but never once did they stop to pray. However, this particular morning something inside them said, “Stop, pray and help this man.” Christianity is awesome! It is not a lifeless religion but a relationship with a real Person living inside of each believer. This person lives His life through us, talks to us, communicates with us and tells us what to do.[3]
Thank God that Peter and John were sensitive and yielded to the gentle prompting of the Christ who lived in them. They boldly ministered the power of God that was within them and immediately this lame, afflicted man jumped up and began dancing, leaping and praising God![4] I am sure that man was happy that day. We see the church in action just like we see Jesus in action! Miracles still happen! Healings still happen! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.[5] He cares about hurting people.
Wherever you go today, expect an opportunity to minister healing to a sick person, expect someone to say, “My back hurts or I have a headache or I wish I could get rid of this limp”. That’s your cue. Ask them if you can pray for them, reach your hand out and minister healing in the name of Jesus. Command the pain to go, rebuke the devil and watch Jesus do through you what He did thousands of years ago. God is the miracle worker!
Bible miracles are still happening today through the body of Christ (the church). A woman in my discipleship class just testified Sunday night that when she came to the altar for prayer, the Spirit of God began to move upon her. She began to experience deliverance and freedom on the inside. When prayer was finished, she was stunned when she saw that her hand that she could not close or use properly because it had limited movement was completely loosed and made whole. God gave her a new hand! Bible miracles are still taking place today in the name of Jesus.[6] We thank you, Father!
Believer, you have Jesus Christ in you. Power is in you, courage is in you. “Only be strong and very courageous to do all that the Holy Spirit prompts you to do.[7]” Lay hands on the sick, minister healing to the afflicted, take a chance, believe. One may say, “Well, what if it doesn’t work? I say, “Well, what if it does?” Start somewhere, take a chance. You will not be disappointed.
We were born to be the church in action! We were born of the Spirit of God to be a company of people moving out into a sick, afflicted world, carrying the power, love and compassion of God, ministering miracles and healing power in the name of Jesus.
His,
Pastor Scott Stanek
[1] Mark 16:15-18, Acts 3
[2] Acts 1:1
[3] 1 john 2:20
[4] Acts 3
[5] Hebrew 13:8
[6] Philippians 2:10
[7] Joshua 1:9