https://youtu.be/qTZjqvfoKJg
Be a Walking Testimony Acts 3:1-10 *New Living Translation*
– The reoccurring theme in the Book of Acts is “God’s Holy Spirit power” working through people.
– In today’s verses in the Book of Acts, Peter heals a lame beggar in the power of Jesus’ name.
– “Jesus’ name” is Jesus, himself. His power to heal through Peter, is the same Holy Spirit power that lives inside of every believer.
– This man was completely healed! This miracle is undeniable and was visible to everyone BECAUSE they “… saw him walking and heard him praising God.”
– This man’s testimony is that the power of Jesus healed him, and this is evident to everyone around him because of what he says, and what he does! He is literally “walking out his testimony”!
– Jesus can heal you and change your life, but would people even notice by how you speak and act?
– Rev. 12:11 says the devil will be defeated, “… by the blood of the Lamb and by [our] testimony.”
– You should be a walking testimony of the power of Jesus to heal the broken!
(Read) Acts 3:1-10
Peter and John were a walking testimony.
– The words used to describe these Apostles just one year before would have been: fearful, easily amazed, lacking strong faith, always questioning, and even deserters and deniers.
– Right here we see powerful men of God in words and deeds.
– They preach a hard and straight forward gospel, not fearing the guaranteed persecution.
– Acts 4:13, The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
– They heal people and perform other miracles, doing “even greater things” than Jesus did.
– (read) Acts 5:12-16
– What changed?
– They saw Jesus killed and buried. Then saw Him alive again, and received the Holy Spirit.
– Their lives undoubtedly display the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Ben Franklin once said, “Well done is better than well said.”
– Better yet, “The truth you’re speaking should also be seen in the life you’re living.”
– In other words, “Do well, and say well.”
– Peter and John lived by the power of the blood of Jesus, and is showed in their testimony.
The healed man was a walking testimony.
(read) Acts 3:9-10 …they were absolutely astounded!
– The healed man’s changed life became the reason that people were willing to listen to the gospel.
– Acts 4:4, But many of the people who heard the message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.
– Acts 4:22, For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign, the healing of a man who had been lame for more than 40 years.
– NEW LEGS! Literally a “walking testimony”. What if he had walked the other way though?
– What if he left the temple to fulfill some personal life’s dream? He wasn’t healed to bring him personal fulfillment. He was healed to bring God glory!