The following article with adaptation is based on what Pastor Wu Yuzhuang of City Harvest Church had preached during the 3 p.m. service on 2 September 2017.
"One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.
Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.
The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing." -- Acts 3: 1-10 (MSG)
The gate where the man crippled from birth sat begging for alms was named Beautiful. Yet, the man's life was anything but beautiful; he had to beg for a subsistence life.
After all these years he could have resigned himself to the fact that the beautiful life was for all the people going into the Temple; it was not for him -- can see only but not touch. Perhaps he didn't even venture into the Temple because he was disheartened by his physical constraint. He didn't feel blessed or thankful and might well be wallowing in self-pity day in and day out.
Today was just another humdrum day, he thought. As usual, he was begging. But, he asked right today! He asked for alms from Peter, the apostle of faith, who was accompanied by John, the apostle of love, while they were coming for prayer meeting. Faith + Love + Prayer = Power of God.
He asked for a handout. But, Peter gave him something exceedingly far better than money. Peter invoked the name of Jesus Christ and unleashed the healing power of God to heal the lame man.
Sensing the strength in his legs, the man "jumped to his feet and walked" and went into the temple with them "walking, leaping and praising God" Acts 3: 8b (NKJV). Indeed, like what has been recorded in Isaiah 35:6a (NKJV) on the future glory of Zion (the church of Jesus Christ), "Then the lame shall leap like a deer".
In life sometimes we do need people to help or carry us when we have a physical impediment, face setbacks or meet with adversities. But, people can only carry us so far to the brink of our breakthrough, destiny or miracle.
The lame man had people who were faithful to carry him to the Beautiful gate. The key to the blessing of God is showing up. Back-sliders might reach a stage where they analyse or question why they need to go to church. Is it because of praise and worship, giving of tithe and offering, prayer, hearing the Word of God, partaking the bread and wine during Holy Communion and/or receiving the benediction given by the pastor at the end of the service?
By focussing on the doings, we miss out on the essence of Who -- why we do what we do or who are we honouring and acknowledging by doing what we do. King David, a man after God's own heart, declared in Psalm 122:1 (NKJV), "I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
Also, our approach to God must be reverential and honouring, as preached by Rev Bobby Chaw recently when he reminded us on what the LORD has said in Leviticus 10:3 (NKJV), "By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified."
When Jesus was in the wilderness, the devil put Him through three tests with the evil intent of rattling His identity:
1. Performance-based Identity (I am what I do)
'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.'
2. Popularity-based Identity (I am how many followers I have)
'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: "He shall give His angels charge concerning you."'
3. Possession-based Identity (I am what I have)
'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.'
Back to our condition in life. Don't stay down and wallow in self-pity. You don't need to succumb to an identity crisis because of wrong thinking which leads to negative emotions and warped (carnal) mindset which is out of alignment with God's Word concerning you. You don't have to seek validation from other people in order to feel good about yourself. If God be for you, who can be against you?
Being carried and lifted up is an experience. But, God wants to give you more. He wants to take you on a journey to the beautiful life. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (NKJV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Cor. 5:17 (NKJV)
Jumping up and walking is the journey. The crippled man moved from dependence to independence! Man, he was ready for his breakthrough and he seized it without hesitation when God touched him. Get ready for your breakthrough/destiny/miracle today!
Click here to watch a snippet of the sermon.
Click here to watch a snippet of the sermon.
For your further encouragement, click here to watch and listen to CityWorship: Miracle // Teo Poh Heng @ City Harvest Church.
