Christian, YOU Can Have Power to Do Healings and Even Miracles

Summary:  The apostle Peter said to a lifelong crippled man, “Such as I have give I thee.” Then he ministered miraculous healing to the man. What did Peter “have” to work such a great healing? You’ll see that God makes those same things available to you.

Acts 3:2-8, NKJV  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… [6] Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:6, KJV  “..SUCH AS I HAVE GIVE I THEE…

The man begging at the temple gate had been lame from birth. As Peter and John walked by, the man asked for alms. Peter replied, “Silver and gold I don’t have.” In other words, sorry, I don’t have money to offer you.

But Peter replied that he had something far better to offer the lame man — “Such as I have give I thee.” Then he ministered God’s instant, miraculous healing to the lame man, who immediately rose and walked, then began leaping and praising God. Picture it! What a scene! Others nearby knew of this man who had lain there lame day after day to beg, and they “were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (vs. 10).

And that is our intention today—to see what “had happened to him” and how. Let’s summarize:

1) The lame man was begging at the temple gate.

2) The apostles Peter and John happened by.

3) The lame man begged for alms.

4) Peter replied that they didn’t have money.

5) But Peter said they did have something to give (“such as I have”).

6) The man was instantly healed and began to walk and leap.

What was behind this great healing miracle? The answer lies in Peter’s “such as I have.” Let’s investigate in the Scriptures. We’re going to see a pattern there, showing that what Peter “had” is available to any Christian believer! Yes, the source of power to see the sick healed, the lame walk, demons cast out, and many other supernatural spiritual gifts and ministries is available to all believers.

You have the opportunity to receive all that Peter meant in his “such as I have.” Let’s see.

1. You can and must be born again

John 3:3-7  Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again … [6] “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’ … [8] “So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Titus 3:5, NLT  He saved us … He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”

Peter had spent 3-1/2 years with Jesus during Christ’s public ministry. Just before Jesus’ crucifixion Peter and the other disciples heard Jesus prophesy of the Holy Spirit, “He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17, NKJV).

Exactly as prophesied, after His resurrection from the grave Jesus appeared to them and “breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'” (John 20:22). Theologians are generally in agreement that this was the moment when the Holy Spirit entered into those believers in Christ and gave them new birth, the “born again” experience of which Jesus had spoken, and by which they did (and we can) enter the kingdom of God as “sons and daughters” of God (2 Corinthians 6:18).

This being “born again” (what theology books call regeneration) is the very starting point of everyone’s new life as a Christian and child of God. Peter and John had that, and so can you and everyone on earth who chooses to obey God and to “turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). As the closing chapter of the Bible says, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17, KJV).

2. Pray and minister in the irresistible power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Mark 16:15-18  [Jesus said] “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation… [17] And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues… [18] they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Peter had heard the Lord give these commands in what is called The Great Commission for all believers throughout the Church Age that we are in. Peter obeyed, saying to the lame man, “such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6, KJV). And the man did!

The Gospels had already shown the awesome power of Jesus’ name. For example, some disciples returned from ministering, exclaiming to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Luke 10:17). Peter knew quite well the immense power of ministering in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he put that power into action, invoking that name over the crippled man and seeing him immediately healed.

My fellow believers, you too have that wonderful name of Jesus in which to pray and to minister. The Lord's name is one of the great sources of divine power for God’s people to call upon. And that leads us to another indispensable source of power for ministry.

3. Receive heaven-sent power in the baptism with the Holy Spirit

Luke 24:49  I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

Acts 1:4,5,8  “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… [8] you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 2:1-4  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place… [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Just before Jesus ascended back to heaven (Luke 24:50-53), He instructed His apostles and disciples to wait in Jerusalem (also commanded in Acts 1:4) “until” they received something more that they needed: “power from on high” — not from their natural abilities. Keep in mind that these men had already been trained extensively by Jesus. They were already born again, as we saw in #1 above (John 20:22). But Jesus still told them to wait for the reception of power from heaven. Not the new birth by the Holy Spirit (which they had already received), but power by the Holy Spirit anointing.

That Holy Ghost-given power came on that first New Testament Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), exactly as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8. Those born-again, highly-trained followers of Jesus were baptized with/filled with the Holy Spirit of God. And just as the Lord had promised (1:8), they received dynamic, God-given power to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ, even “to the ends of the earth.” We 21st-century believers are still fulfilling that Great Commission to the ends of the earth. And we, like Peter and John, still need that power-giving baptism of the Holy Spirit today. It is part of Peter's “such as I have” that every Christian should be receiving from the Lord and using in ministry to others.

4. Do all ministry by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the power & authority of His Name

Acts 3:16-17  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

When the lame man, now healed, was leaping and praising God, a crowd came together. Peter took that occasion to speak to the crowd about how the man was healed: “By faith in the name of Jesus … It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him” that brought about the healing.

Look closely at the wording of Peter’s inspired statement. 1) the healing came in the name of Jesus. 2) It came by faith in that name. And 3) that very faith itself “comes through Him [Jesus].”

Each of you, born again by the Holy Spirit … and filled/baptized with the Spirit … and calling upon the name of the Lord … will find the Lord Jesus Himself (vs. 17) putting sufficient faith in your heart to see powerful healings (or other ministry needs) happen. You don’t have to search around to stir up faith. Just look sincerely and directly to Jesus and His Word the Bible for “the faith that comes through Him.” He will gladly and graciously grant it to you.

IN SUM:

Peter knew he had some things which would enable the lame man to be healed. You likewise, you followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in our 21st century, can have the same things for ministry that Peter had. His “such as I have” can be yours too.

1) Born again by the Holy Spirit through repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ

2) Praying and ministering in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ

3) Empowered by the mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit

4) Doing it all by faith in the name of Jesus

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Check out our related sermon: Jesus Said We Can Perform the Healings and Miracles He Did

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