Acts 3:1-8 declares:
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being 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 of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 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.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Peter and John well knew the value of prayer, They were consistent in its practice. They had a daily designated time, and location. They also understood the prayer of agreement principle and the two went up together to pray.
They went up indicates a purposeful effort and one that was toward a higher pursuit. Even the temple was in an elevated position so as to raise the thoughts as one approached it.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he directed them upwards. “Our Father which art in heaven.” Prayer is an upwardly directional exercise. Look up when you pray.
Something happened on the way to prayer. A crippled beggar was at the gate of the temple. He did not ask for prayer. He asked for money. He was about to receive better.
Peter and John were prayed up. They were bold in faith. They spoke healing with authority, in the name of Jesus. And the lame man was healed.
Be on the lookout for someone in need. Your prayer is preparing you to bring healing to those in need. Your intimacy with God will result in outward manifestation. “Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6b.
Imagine if you encountered a sick person on the way to church, spoke healing into their life, and you all ended up in the church testifying about the miracle done in the name of Jesus. The service would not be the same as usual.
The prayer meeting Peter and John were going to never took place. There was too much praising going on.
The story continues in verse 10: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
Then the praying meeting turned into a preaching meeting. People gathered. Peter preached. And as he preached they were arrested by the temple chiefs and the Sadducees. And they were thrown in jail.
Chapter 4 verse 4 gives us the great report.
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
And so the church grew.
Would to God our meetings would be so interrupted.
Purpose! Ministries
A Praying Church - A Healing Church - A Holy Spirit Church - A Preaching Church
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