On the basis of faith in His name (Acts 3:16)

On the basis of faith in His name (Acts 3:16)

Acts 3 records the story of the healing of the lame beggar.

Acts 3:3-8 (NASB)

³ When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. ⁴ But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” ⁵ And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” ⁷ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

Peter was willing to freely give what he had already freely received (Matt. 10:8).  He spoke to the beggar telling him, in the name of Jesus to walk.  Peter had faith in the name of Jesus.  The beggar was also obedient to the child of God.  At the moment the beggar’s action of being obedient to Peter’s command took place, his feet and ankles were immediately strengthened.

It’s not by our might, nor by our power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zech. 4:6).   Simply believe in God, and trust that His Word is true.  Don’t worry about how to lay hands, what to say, because it is the intent of your heart that God will honor.  And, don’t forget, God is more concerned about the sick getting healed, than the way you speak or lay hands on them.   Just release your faith, your belief.

When I am standing in front of someone, or on the phone or emailing a sick person I usually recall the pure facts as stated in God’s own Word.  The following are just some examples:

1. The Scriptures that state that by Jesus’ stripes (1 peter 2:24), by His Scourging, (Isa 53:5) we are healed.

Psalm 119:89  Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

In Heaven God’s Word about the fact that by His Son Jesus’ stripes, we have all been healed – has been settled.  It is finished.  It’s ‘on the books’ so to speak.   As the law of your country is settled, and written down and approved by your government and your courts, it is enforced by various means.  Some of the law is enforced by police officers.

In this case, God’s Word has been settled in Heaven.   On earth it is a different matter, and not everyone is healed.   God wants to use you (man) to settle His Word on earth.  That’s why he told you and I the Great Commission.  We are to abide by it.

So, you are a warrior for the Body of Christ, walking about this earth, being an ambassador for God’s Kingdom, and putting right what is wrong.   Proclaiming the goodness of God by bringing people help, setting them free (Isa 61), all in the name of Jesus, and all by the power of the Holy Spirit working through you.

2. The devil is the one who came to steal kill and destroy. (John 10:10).   God came to bring Life, peace, joy, forgiveness, eternal salvation…… To get rid of sickness, disease, and ALL forms of death.   Remember, we humans were the original cause of sin coming into the world in the garden of Eden courtesy of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and their lack of trust in God’s Word.   Thankfully, Praise God, Jesus came to completely resolve that catastrophic event, and has redeemed us from the curse, and has placed us back into a position of dominion again.

3. Reflect on your life.  Did you go through any illness, did you go through any rejection, torment, pain?  They are all born of the devil and his kingdom.   Isn’t it time you paid him back for what he is doing to others, even though he has no right to afflict sickness upon them?

Jesus wants us to do the same as Him, and Greater things.   If we are to do JUST the same as Him, we should be going about doing good and healing all that are oppressed of the devil.

³⁸ You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

How do we do that?   On the basis of faith in His name!