God Knows…When I Want to Get Ahead – Part 2
A handicapped man was begging for money at the Temple gates one day as Peter and John came to worship. The 40-year-old man had been crippled since birth. “Look at us,” said Peter. The man looked up hopefully and held out his hand. He was disappointed when Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have.” But Peter was connected to a Power that could put strength into helpless muscles and dead nerves. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter took him by the hand and helped him up, and “immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Walking, jumping for joy, and praising God, he went into the Temple.
Onlookers were amazed. The disciples were performing miracles similar to the ones Jesus had performed! As people gathered around to see the healed man, Peter saw a chance to talk to them about Jesus. He reminded the people of how Jesus had been rejected and killed, and told them that Jesus was alive again. He assured them that through faith in Jesus their sins could be forgiven. Many believed.
Jailed
The religious leaders refused to admit that Christ had risen from the dead. They arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. The next morning the two disciples were marched into the judgment hall—the very place where Jesus had been tried. What memories, especially for Peter! But Peter was different now. With the Holy Spirit giving him power, guidance, and courage, Peter resolved to honor the name he had once pretended not to know.
“How did you heal this man?” demanded on of the judges. “Where did you get your power? Whose name did you use?” “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole,” Peter boldly replied. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Right beside Peter stood the healed man. What could the religious leaders do? They threatened Peter and John and command them to stop preaching. Peter and John knew they couldn’t obey such a rule. With great courage they said, “We can’t stop telling everyone what we have seen and heard.” Muttering warnings, the rulers let Peter and John go.
. . .
It’s obvious that the way to have power, the way to get ahead in the “human race” is to connect with power. God is the power source and the Holy Spirit conveys this power to us. We don’t fully understand electricity, yet we plug in and use it every day. Similarly, though we cannot explain the Holy Spirit, this power is real and available.
Your Story Hour
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