Scripture: Acts 3:19-20 (NIV)

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

• The Book of Acts is a demonstration of the power of God that was afforded through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, he promised the Holy Spirit. He describes the Holy Spirit as a guide, a compass, a way, an advocate, and a counselor. Through this gift that we have been given, we know we are not alone. God created everything. The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man can come to the Father, but by me.” Jesus said, “My peace I give to you.” But I have another gift I want to leave with you, which is the Holy Spirit. It will lead us into all manners of righteousness and truth.

• After Jesus’ resurrection we find the Book of Acts which demonstrates to us that although Jesus is in heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father and interceding on our behalf, the Bible says the Holy Spirit is the same principle, the same personality that will guide us while we remain on earth until God decides to make all things complete forever in eternity.

• God does not change. This is God’s situation for us to never understand. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. That gives us an opportunity to have this gift called faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. People say the mind is terrible thing to waste. When we find ourselves not in the right frame of mind, our mind can cause our belief structure to go all over the place.

• The person at the gate called Beautiful was begging. The others brought him there. We don’t know why. They might have been tired of him begging them or maybe because that was a better opportunity than what they could give him. This time of prayer, 3:00 p.m., was customary for Jews and the Disciples. Even when hope was shattered, they went through the normal custom.

• No matter what we are going through, we still have to pray. No matter how it seems and things are not working in our favor, we still have to pray. In the meantime, and between time, we believe this faith, this substance of things hoped for. We hope for better days, we hope that life is pleasant, we hope the Lord will make ways for us, we hope that the Lord will provide. And then what we don’t see or understand is how it is going to happen. Man devises the plan, but God orders the steps. Even in our activity to want better and do better, we have to believe by faith that all things come together to work out for our good.

• Here Peter and John were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, his restoration, and his resolve. The disciples’ ability came from their faith. In your faith walk today, maybe you have experienced God doing something in your life. When God does for us, it is our job to share.

• If you are a child of God, it should be evidence, not just by looks or what you say but also how you interact with people will show that the hand of God is upon your life. A great opportunity to witness is being around someone who grew up with you, worked with you, has been in your circle, or has seen how you operate. Many people know that you are a child of God. Never find yourself not demonstrating that the hand of God is on our lives. Watch your character, what you say and what you do.

• James says, “Faith without works is dead.” Even Paul in Philippians said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Silver and gold you may not have but faith is just like the hand of God. When your faith is like the hand of God, it gives an opportunity to take those who may have issues and cannot see their way through their disability, and you can encourage them through your ability. We all have a handicap. It can be organic, or it can be physical. These handicaps come from accidents or those born that way. Some handicaps are spiritual when we can’t understand how God allows bad things to happen to good people. Sometimes we don’t understand how God is working things out for our good. With faith, whether I am crippled or disabled, this is not to downplay on anyone’s disability, we can do a lot of things. We are not quitters. We do the best we can with what we have. We hope this hand of faith helps us show the world just what activity through faith in God can do for ourselves as well as others.

• As we go out today, shake someone’s hand, or give them a nice word, such as, “God bless you.,” “May the Lord be with you.,” “May you have a wonderful day.”

• The hand of God strengthens us, and it gives us the opportunity to share that same power and strength with someone else. I encourage you to make a difference in the life of someone today. Even if we encounter people who are contrary, our job is to be a witness for the Lord.

Let us pray…

➢ Wonderful, Wise God, our Father, we thank you for Acts 3. We thank you that even in the midst of someone’s disability, you allowed two powerful people who you laid your hands on, who you breathe on, who you allowed to walk on water, to be witnesses.

➢ John was the disciple that Jesus loved. We thank God that even with him being the oldest he might have been out of breath when it came to running to the pool, but we know he outran Peter.

➢ We see where your power works on people even when they are at their worst. Even with their disability you give them ability.

➢ Acts 3 is a testament of what happens after the fact. Thank you that after you saved us, after you laid your hand on us, after you gave us your Holy Spirit, it is not for us to keep it. Our job is to demonstrate your power. We pray that you demonstrate your power in us, through us, and for us.

➢ Let our light shine today. Let us shake a hand today. Maybe that will give strength to somebody who may be feeble in their spirit or lame in their mind. Maybe through our witness they may run, jump, or leap through this world praising God for whom all blessings flow.

➢ We thank you for what you have done for us individually, thank you for what you have done for our church. We have seen a turnaround. We pray in the Name of Jesus for us not to be discouraged in well doing. We know that sooner or later it will be a light that shines that no one can dim.

➢ We thank you for Saint Paul. We thank you for each member; those who are far and near. We thank you for those who are connected to our ministry in some kind of way. We are a church known for its faith. May what we do speak for us.

➢ Sometimes it seems like no one is celebrated but we know we have something to celebrate. We ask that you let us continue our ministry that we be a hand of faith to encourage others to try our Lord Jesus Christ.

➢ We pray that throughout the balance of our day, as we go out, that you will bless us to be witnesses to strengthen somebody. This world needs your strength. This country needs your strength. The government needs your strength. Everything needs the strength and power that you have.

➢ We thank you for the phenomenal ability to witness. Whether we are happy or sad, rich or poor, we still have a duty to share our light and share our testimony and to share our victory.

➢ We ask you to allow us the power to shake hands that someone may be strengthen. We pray a special prayer for those who are sick, incarcerated, or hungry. We pray that you will supply all of their needs according to your riches in glory. Give them what they need as you have provided for us. Let us have a helping hand to provide for others. We give you the praise. We thank you for the ability. We know it could be so much worse. We thank you for the faith. Now the hand that you laid upon us, let it now rest on our lives that we may touch someone else that they be encouraged in this day and in their time of need.

➢ We thank you for the hand of faith. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen