What Do We Really Have?

The crippled man in Acts 3:1-10 was probably not a whole lot different than some of the street-people we see sitting on the streets of most world cities – except that this man did not have the use of his legs. Verse 2 tells us that this man was “crippled from birth” and that he had to be “carried to the temple…where he was put every day to beg.” Day in and day out, from morning till evening, this crippled man sat in the roadside dirt and begged for a living. With filthy clothing and matted hair, he was a picture of those who had been rejected by humanity.

Everyone who passed through the temple gate knew this crippled man, for he had probably been begging there for many years. Having lost all sense of self-worth, he likely had no problem saying, “Hey mister, can you spare a quarter for a cup of coffee?”

But Acts 3:1 says, “One day…” In the midst of what seemed like a never ending cycle of days, there came a special day for this crippled man – a day like no other. “One day” the Day of the Lord dawned for this crippled man in the form of Peter and John, and as a result, everything changed!

During those times when it seems like nothing will ever change, or when you are faced with what appears to be an impossible situation, suddenly that “one day” breaks upon you and everything changes! “One day” the crippled man asked Peter and John for money and instead, he received something far more valuable than mere silver or gold. They simply said, “Look at us!” (v. 4).

1. Why look at Peter and John?

All of us as Christians should be able to say “Look at me! Look at my life. Look and see if what I am telling you really works.” Inside of Peter and John was the Answer for the crippled man’s situation. Inside each one of us is the Answer the world needs, if only we could believe in ourselves enough to know that this is true.

Inside of every born again, baptized in the Spirit believer is a power that is so extraordinary, so magnificent, so dynamic, that nothing should be impossible for us. The same power that created the universe lives inside of you! In fact, the apostle Paul said that “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you” (Rom. 8:11).

Perhaps this is why Paul could write, “By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope” (Eph. 3:20, NLT, italics added).

We can be forever thankful that Peter and John didn’t simply give the man a handful of money, for his life would never have been so dramatically changed. We can also be thankful that they were not overwhelmed by the man’s disability or need. Instead, they reached into God for miracle! Simply stated: Real faith is always about looking to God for the Answer.

2. What did Peter have?

In verse 6, Peter says, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you” (italics added). The KJV says, “but such as I have…” This was the confident declaration of a man who had spent much time with the Lord Jesus. It was also the confession of someone who had received the Holy Spirit and was now living in His presence – indeed, this verse could be translated as “but such as I possess…” Peter had the Person of the Holy Spirit living inside of him and that Person has the power to heal. At that moment, Peter was completely yielded to the Holy Spirit.

As Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (v. 6), he took the crippled man “by the right hand” (v. 7) and began to pull him to his feet. It was in this point of contact that suddenly a rush of supernatural, Holy Spirit power was transferred to the crippled man. As a result, “the man’s feet and ankles became strong” (v. 7) and he “jumped to his feet and began to walk” (v. 8). Simply stated: It is those who are willing to take a risk of faith that are most often used by God.

3. What do we have?

The same Holy Spirit who was living inside the apostle Peter almost two thousand years ago is also living inside each one of us today. This Holy Spirit still has the power to heal today just as He did at the Beautiful gate nearly two thousand years ago. The challenge we must face is whether or not we will be as open and yielded to the Holy Spirit as Peter was. Simply stated: The path to real change is not found in trying to receive more of God; it is found in giving Him more of me.