One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:1-10 (ANIV)

In today’s passage, Peter and John discovered that they had become carriers of the Spirit’s Power. The events of Pentecost were not a one-off experience. They were now walking constantly in the anointing as carriers of God’s Presence and Power. They were, in this instance, used by God to heal a lame beggar. In the days of the Temple, the Jewish people went there to pray 3 times a day - morning  (9 a.m.), afternoon (3 p.m.) and evening (Sunset). It was at the time of the afternoon prayer when Peter and John were going to the temple. 

They would have passed the lame man many times before, as would have been there every day. However, this would have been the first time Peter and John would have met him since the day of Pentecost. By this time, they were carriers of the Spirit's Power. So when Peter said to the man, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." By saying "in the name of Jesus Christ" Peter was stating that they were operating in the authority of Jesus Christ. The Apostles were not operating in their own strength but through the authority of Jesus and in the Holy Spirit's Power.  So, when we are praying for someone to be healed, it is crucial that we pray in the Name of Jesus, because through His Name we have the authority. 

The secret to moving in signs, wonders and miracles is becoming a carrier of the Spirit’s Power. When we become believers in Jesus, we become ‘temples’ of the Holy Spirit.  When we become filled with the Spirit, we become carriers of His Power. It’s not relevant where you are, wherever you go you will carry the Spirit’s Presence and Power with you. We can infect those around us with the Power of the Spirit as His Power can ‘leak’ out of us and touch other people (Mark 5: 27–34).

Sometimes when the Holy Spirit touches us we might experience ‘manifestations’ of the Spirit such as shaking, jerking, falling over or laughing etc. Even if you do not experience any of these things; however, you are still a carrier of the Spirit's Power. Manifestations are just ways in which the natural person reacts to the supernatural Presence of God. 

All you have to do to be able to spread God's Power and Presence to others is to ask Him to fill you. We need to be filled continuously (Eph. 5:18). As we leak or give out of the anointing when we pray for others, we need to continue to be filled on a regular basis. In order for us to be continuously filled we have to be open to receive more of God.  The more you receive of the Spirit's Presence and Power in your life, the more you can spread the fire to others.
 
The purpose of being a carrier of His Power is so that as many people as possible will develop a passion for Jesus, and desire to see mighty works done in His name.  When you ask the Lord for more of Him, you're giving him the right to having more of you.  This is the key to becoming a carrier of His Power.  When Jesus has more of us than the world has. When the Lord has more of you, then you will have less desire for the trappings of the world, and you will grow in leaps and bounds in your walk with God.

Do you want to be a carrier of the Lord's power?  Then ask him to fill you afresh with more of Him.  Keep asking the Holy Spirit to fill you every day.  If you ask, you will receive because the Lord loves us and He wants to give us good gifts.


Prayer:

Father God, I am hungry for Your Presence. I ask you to fill me afresh every day with Your Presence and Power. Lord, I want to be used by You in signs, wonders and miracles, just like the Early Church. I want to be a carrier of Your anointing and infect those around me with the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The tongue has the power of life and death.-  Pov 18:21 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Hebrews 4:12


The mind is a powerful thing, it can make or break you. If you consistently put yourself down, guess what, the words you speak over yourself will become reality and chances are you won’t achieve anything. It’s vital to speak positive things over yourself and what better way to do this than from God’s word.

Did you know that the words that you speak over yourself actually become a physical manifestation in the spiritual realm? That’s why the bible teaches us that if we speak God’s word over our circumstances it will not go out void, meaning that God’s word holds power and the ability to change whatever circumstance or situation you’re going through.  Isaiah 55:11

Check the scriptures for yourself; when Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he responded to life’s difficulties with the word of God and defeated the evil one. Jesus knew that the word of God was the final authority on every subject the enemy tried to tempt him on.  The enemy could not retaliate on any point! –  Mathew 4. Our words hold power, we can see this when Jesus spoke to the fig tree and told it that it would not bear fruit again, when Jesus and the disciples passed the fig tree in the evening, it had withered up and died.

You have the power to speak life or death into whatever situation you’re going through today and it only takes faith as small as a mustard seed! so dare to believe and see what God can do! If you’re struggling with finances, keep speaking his word over your accounts, for example; ‘My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory’- Php 4: 11.’ If you’re struggling with health problems, I encourage you to grab a hold of God’s word relating to healing; ‘ by his stripes we are healed’- Isaiah 53:5.’ Commit your job to God and the works of your hand, proclaim that; ‘whatever I do will prosper.’ Psalm 1:3.’ For protection, ask God to command his angels concerning you to guard and protect you in all your ways’- Psalm 91:11.

Did you know that reading God’s word is also the best medicine against worry, fear and anxiety? just reading about God’s faithfulness and love for us will build trust and melt away fear. I know it gives me a peace that passes all understanding.

The enemy is prowling around like a roaring lion, be sure to arm yourself with the tools you have been given to defeat him in Jesus name and never underestimate the power of speaking life over yourself and into your circumstances.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus I thank you for your word and the power that it holds, I pray that you will speak to me through it and help me to speak your word into whatever situation I face, knowing that it never returns void, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No-one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:12-14 (ANIV) In these days there is an increase in signs, wonders, and miracles in many places around the world. Many people are being healed, receiving creative miracles, seeing angels, receiving gemstones from Heaven and even having visitations from Jesus!

So what exactly are signs, wonders and miracles?
Signs, wonders and miracles are supernatural experiences which God uses to get our attention. If you’ve ever watched a Biblical epic like ‘The Ten Commandments’ and seen a miracle like the parting of the Red Sea reproduced by special effects, well I’ve got news for you, it happened in real life! Signs, wonders and miracles are acts of God’s power. The word miracle means ‘an act of power’. 

In this passage from Acts 5, many signs and wonders were done among the people through the Apostles. When the Church was holding meetings in Solomon’s Portico, some people were afraid to join them. Despite this, multitudes of men and women were still coming to faith in Christ. Such was the anointing on the Apostles that people were bringing the sick out on beds and couches into the street so that they would be healed by Peter’s shadow falling on them! A signs and wonders revival was beginning to take place. The news spread to the surrounding cities outside Jerusalem and a multitude of people were flocking into Jerusalem. They brought with them sick people and people who were possessed by demons and they were all healed and delivered. 

In his Acts commentary: ‘The Acts of the Holy Spirit,’ C. Peter Wagner defines signs and wonders as:

• Signs of the presence of the Kingdom of God.
• Expressions of God’s compassion to alleviate those who are sick, in pain or demonized.
• Signs pointing to the power of Jesus Christ and His cross to save unbelievers, as Luke reported in Acts 5:14.  

The purpose of signs and wonders are for glorifying God, spreading the Gospel and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We should never use signs and wonders for entertainment purposes, like a stage hypnotist. We also should never use them for making our name famous. It’s not about making us famous, it’s about making God’s Name famous. Just as a road sign points the way to where we want to go, signs and wonders point the way to Jesus.

‘Spiritual Power Dressing’
The term ‘power dressing’ is used to describe the wearing of exceptionally smart dress to show that the wearer has a certain level of authority or credibility. The more an expensive-looking suit you wear; the more you give the appearance of having authority, power and credibility.

However, ‘Spiritual power dressing’ has a very different concept. It means being ‘clothed’ with God’s power. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained to them that when the Spirit came that they would be “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). What it means to be clothed’ with God’s power is that when we become empowered by the Holy Spirit, He gives us spiritual gifts to equip us. Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities given to us by God for His service. The list of spiritual gifts as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 are  prophecy, extraordinary powers of healing, discernment of spirits (the ability to see in the Spirit), wonder-working faith, miracles, word of wisdom, word of knowledge,  tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

Being filled with the Spirit is not just a one-off experience.  The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:18, “… be ever-filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit” (Amplified Bible). This means that there is always more. We can ask the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh every day.  We need to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit, in a similar way to how we need water to drink.  Just as a plant needs water to grow, we need a fresh drink of the Holy Spirit. As we are continuously filled with the Spirit, we will be empowered to do the works of the Kingdom, which includes signs, wonders and miracles!

The woman left her water jar and ran back into town. She said to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Could he be the Messiah?" Everyone in town went out to see Jesus.  John 4: 28-30, CEV

If we’re talking about making friends and influencing people, this Samaritan woman was, on the face of it, entirely the wrong candidate.

This woman was a moral pariah and a social outcast.  Her sordid life had been a disaster.  The fact that she came out to the well to draw water in the heat of the day, when everyone else would have been sitting in the cool of their houses, demonstrated how unpopular, how ashamed of herself she was.  I don’t think she had any real friends in the town, and was unwilling to meet and talk to her neighbours, let alone a Jew passing through her town.  I guess she hesitated and very nearly didn’t make it to the well at all when she saw Jesus.

But what a transformation after a couple of minutes conversation with – as she correctly surmised – the Messiah!  No shame or self-abasement now; the news was too good, too exciting, too life-changing!  What must the neighbours and townsfolk have thought of her now, suddenly wanting to introduce them all to her new-found friend? 

People who were definitely not her friends could not help but be convinced by her sincerity.  Boy, did she evangelise!  No training here, just white-hot joy!  See verses 39-42 for the results of this unskilled testimony.

It’s all we’re required to do.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I am so thankful for your undeserved love.  May I overflow with it so much that it attracts others to you irresistibly.  For your Name’s sake, Amen.

Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! James 2:17 But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.  Matthew 5:44, CEV.

We have a faith in a wonderful Saviour, who has redeemed us and enriched our lives.  He has given us a purpose for living and a hope of eternity.  So wouldn’t we want to share him with others, to rejoice with fellow-believers and to recommend him to non-believers?

You’d think.  Then why am I so reluctant, so fearful, so small that I tend to keep my faith to myself?  James reminds me that a faith that sits on its hands and contents itself with a sincere belief but doesn’t express itself in doing good deeds is empty.

Among other things, then, I ought to be seeking to make friends and sharing Jesus.  I do this more comfortably with people who already know him or with whom I have a lot in common – but what about the rest, the people I don’t naturally take to, those who are not at present interested in Christian things?  Jesus words from the Sermon on the Mount also remind me that it’s not enough just to love those who love me, I have to love the other lot as well.

So I should be treating the unlikely, the unlovely as my friends too.  Real friends that is, not just my projects for conversion!  Friendship evangelism is far and away the most effective and doesn’t mean I have to preach mercilessly to them!  I just have to be a real friend to all those the Lord puts my way.

Consider again the people we’ve looked at his week – none of them particularly heroic, but simply using their ability to befriend and share not only to bless others, but actually, as it turned out, to make a significant contribution to God’s plan for his Kingdom. Let us take heart from these people and expect the Lord to open doors of opportunity and when He does, ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in out thoughts words and deeds.

Prayer:

For your sake, dear Lord, let me be a good friend – a real friend – to others.  Let my actions, words and deeds be the demonstration of my faith, for your glory.  Amen.

A part of the product of man’s interaction with his environment is the realisation that some things happen in nature with regularity and recurs irrespective of man’s actions. These observations are defined as physical laws. For example, the saying ‘Whatever goes up must come down’, is a common allusion to the existence of the pervasive law of gravity. Experience has taught mankind that you break this law at your peril. Even a baby understands the consequence of a fall despite not understanding the cause.

According to Wikipedia, Physical laws are typically conclusions based on repeated observations over many years and which have become universally accepted. They are characterised by these following attributes – they are:

(i) True (at least within their regime of validity. By definition, there have never been repeatable contradicting observations.),
(ii) Universal (They appear to apply everywhere in the universe),
(iii) Simple (They are typically expressed in terms of a single mathematical equation),
(iv) Absolute (Nothing in the universe appears to affect them),
(v) Stable (Unchanged since first discovered.),
(vi) Omnipotent (Everything in the universe apparently must comply with them), and
(vii) Generally conservative of quantity (a particular measurable property of an isolated physical system does not change as the system evolves.)

In a nutshell, all physical laws apply irrespective of human endeavour. They exist and are constantly at work irrespective of whether we recognise or defy them. So, having established that physical laws exist, our quest is to see if there are spiritual equivalents of these physical or natural laws, as we seek to define and explore their implications for our lives.

All the attributes of the physical laws as stated above also apply to spiritual laws in that they are true, universal, stable etc. Nevertheless, the one notable difference between physical and spiritual laws is that while physical laws exists and applies independent of human choice, the benefits that accrue from the operation of the spiritual laws can only be appropriated as a result of premeditated human choice – unless you opt in to it, you can’t benefit from it.

Spiritual laws are timeless principles that govern the operation of the spiritual realm in much the same way as physical laws influence our natural existence. Therefore, for us to operate and succeed in any one of these realms, we need to appreciate and obey these laws so that we can get the best out of life. As spiritual beings temporarily living in a physical world, Christians have to simultaneously operate and succeed in both realms.

Lastly, there exists a hierarchy of operation between these two realms where the spiritual always takes precedence over the physical realm and can thus impose its will or override physical laws. Whenever this occurs, we call it a miracle.


Prayer:

Lord, give me a hearing ear and discerning heart that understands your laws so that I can be all that you created me to be to the glory of your name.

"Israel I will make you my wife; I will show you constant love and mercy and make you mine forever. I will keep my promise and make you mine and you will acknowledge me as Lord.  (Hosea 1:19-20)

These words from the prophet isaiah show how God thinks of marriage. It is meant to be a permanent estate, a holy covenant just like His relationship with His chosen people Israel.

In fact Hosea's wife Gomer, after having four children for him became unfaithful and turned to prostitution just as the Jews many times in history have turned to pagan gods.

God however kept his part of the bargain and accepted his unfaithful people just as he commanded Hosea to take back his unfaithful wife as an illustration of God's fidelitry to unfaithful Israel. Now we as the church, Christ founded, have the honour to be his Bride.

Sadly there are so many broken marriages today that anyone can see that the disturbed children and angry young men and women who cause so many problems in our society, as a direct result of the lack of Christ like parenting in thier early and formative years. Marriage is indeed the cornerstone of society and a stable family life the foundation for the lives of our children.

I look back on my own childhood and realise how fortunate I was to have the same two parents throughout my young life as well as two sets of grandparents, aunties and uncles.

It certainly added to my sense of security and the memories enshrined in it are precious to this day. My parents must have had their bad times as well as good as on one occasion when I was still quite small I remember my mother asking me how I would like to leave my father and just live with her.

My reaction was such a physical shock that I actually felt as if the ground was breaking up beneath me like an earthquake. I cried out in dismay and was quickly reassured that I had nothing to fear. How thankful I am that whatever thier difficulties, my parents decided to wortk throught hem and stay together as God intended.

Prayer:

Father please help me to sustain my marriage and when I feel less than loving, just make me a channel  of Your love for my spouse. I realise that nothing is more important in my life than to serve you where I am and in the lives of my children. Amen

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4: 10)

To say that the human body is incredible would be an understatement.  The way in which it is made and the ways in which it functions are amazing.  For a start I seem to remember from my schooldays that I learnt that the human body consists of about 208 bones, a huge number of muscles, ligaments, organs and blood vessels, amongst a lot of other things! Despite their variety they all work together efficiently in a healthy person.  Every part of the human body is important and we would notice if part of it malfunctions or is missing.

Yet in 1 Cor. 12:27 each Christian is likened to being part of the Body of Christ – with Christ as its Head …… “Now you are the body of Christ with Christ as the Head”.  The same chapter in 1 Corinthians explains how just as the human body comprises many specialised parts, each with its own role, so the church is made up of many individuals, each with a particular task to carry out.  Just as every part of the human body is important so it is with the Body of Christ. No one is left out – everyone is of equal importance in building up the church and expanding God’s Kingdom on earth.

Paul in his letter to the Christians in Corinth goes on to say that within the church, God gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to set up and promote His work amongst the fellowship and take the Gospel to those who need to hear the Good News of Jesus.  The spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Cor.12: 28 – 28 include apostles, those who prophesy, teachers, workers of miracles, those with the gift of healing, those able to help others ….. and others spiritual gifts are listed in Rom. 12: 6 – 8.

In order for a church to function well nowadays it is likely that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are present amongst its fellowship although they may not all be seen at the same time!  As we saw yesterday, some people are blessed with a ministry or spiritual gift throughout their lives; others possess a gift just for a short time for a particular reason.

If you are uncertain about the spiritual gift which God has for you, then continue to ask Him in prayer …… “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives …..” (Luke 11: 9 – 10).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, today I reach my hands out to you in order to receive that gift with which you want to equip me today.  Often it is said, “Use it or lose it” – I want to use it well and in doing so be a blessing to those you place me alongside.  Amen

kindness, patience, trust, humility and never failing (1 Cor. 13: 4-7

Visiting a hospital one day in order to see a friend recovering from an operation I noticed a young lady visiting an elderly patient.  I could not help but notice the way in which this young lady chatted not only to her friend but also to several other neighbouring patients who did not appear to have any visitors.  She certainly had a gift which I do not possess – that of a good bedside manner!  Possibly without realising, she conversed easily with each, gave encouragement, displayed cheerfulness and before she left prayed quietly with her friend.

I came away thinking how many gifts that young lady had but above all she possessed the gift of love.  Not the slushy, sentimental love which seems to fill our magazines and TV screens but a sincere, deep caring love that radiated from her very being.  I felt that she had the greatest gift that God can give.

1 Cor.12 describes many spiritual gifts with Paul ending the chapter by saying that one can be blessed by possessing many gifts but unless they are accompanied by love then in effect they will not be used to their best advantage.  In fact, Paul goes onto say that we should “eagerly desire the greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31), the following chapter being devoted to the well-known theme of love and one that is often read during marriage services.  Paul states that the gift of love is so paramount that it will still exist even when many of the other spiritual gifts have “passed away” (1 Cor. 13:8).

Reflecting upon that young lady in that hospital ward, the love she displayed included so many of the attributes which Paul associates with love …. kindness, patience, trust, humility and never failing (1 Cor. 13: 4-7).

In your walk with Jesus and “as you keep your eyes fixed upon him”, ask him not only for spiritual gifts but also for the love that needs to go with them.  In that way you will be fully equipped to serve others and in doing so, help to fulfil God’s perfect purpose for your life.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and for giving me your Son, Jesus to be my Saviour and Friend.  May I each day share the gift of Jesus’ love with those I meet.  Help me to use my spiritual gifts with love.  Amen

NOW GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN’, was Caleb’s unusual demand of Joshua, who was dividing the Land of Canaan amongst the twelve tribes of Israel. It was unusual in the sense that Caleb could have asked for a less challenging inheritance and received it. He however asked for this hilly city, with all its attendant challenges, because that was the specific place God had promised him forty-five years earlier as a reward for his faithfulness in standing up for the truth. The same faith that enabled Caleb to defy unfavourable expectations and pressure had grown stronger over the years and was about to reach its natural conclusion – taking possession of his promised inheritance.

So, what were the challenges in Caleb’s way of appropriating his inheritance? Well, he had a few. His age for one, since Caleb was now at least eighty-five years old, but Caleb dismissed this fact by drawing attention to his strong physical constitution. The location of this particular inheritance was also a challenge, for Hebron is a walled city situated in the highest elevation in all Israel. Hence, physically and militarily, this was a tough proposition. Then there is the issue of the Hebron’s inhabitants. These fierce giants are stronger in constitution than the average Canaanite.

Despite these hiccups, Caleb’s defiant response was ‘Give me this Mountain’, and would not be deterred by the inherent hard graft it would cost to take possession of his God-given inheritance. So what happened to Caleb’s venture? By the power of the God in whom he trusted, Caleb overcame all the challenges in his path and took possession of his inheritance, and as promised by God, his descendants ultimately possessed and enjoyed it.

A cursory look around would show that things are not going too well for the Church in many parts of the world. While burgeoning in some areas, she is nevertheless contending with formidable opposition and has almost been driven to extinction in others. It seems that the giants in the land are stronger than ever and are not relenting in their hold on our Promised Land.

So, what are we to do to fulfil the mandate God has placed on our lives as members of His Church? It is to continue holding on to God’s promise that ‘ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD’ Luke 1:37, as we strive to fulfil our mandate. We must remember that He who began the good work in us is faithful to complete it, since He characteristically is never associated with abandoned projects. So, whatever He starts, He always finishes.

Let’s also be mindful of the fact that before God promised Canaan to the Israelites, He already knew the challenges they would face to possess it. In fact, He factored these challenges in to strengthen His people’s faith in Him, so that they would understand that without Him they could do nothing and that with Him, nothing is impossible.

This truth was the message ringing in Caleb’s ear as he defiantly proclaimed – ‘GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN’. Caleb knew his God and was thus ready to do exploit in His name. With this indomitable Spirit, the Church shall overcome every challenge as we declare and prove to the world that JESUS IS LORD. So, smile, not minding the giants in our way, for in Jesus name, the world is our oyster. This is God’s end game.

Prayer:

Lord, the Church is in dire need of mad men of faith like Caleb who choose to hold on to your promise whatever the tide. Consider this as my application to glorify you.