When reflecting on an experience — maybe a job, an event you said “yes” to attending, or a relationship — have you ever said to yourself or someone else, “I came for one thing but received so much more?”

Examples:

-I expected to be just friends with them, but our connection blossomed into something greater.

-I took a job that I wasn’t too thrilled about because I needed a paycheck, but I didn’t expect to have a brilliant boss, who, to this day, remains a mentor and friend.

-I attended this event for the food, or because a person I loved invited me, and I left with a curiosity about God and the people of God who make up the church (that might be some of you today!)

I, too, share the sentiment (and have many examples) that I came for one thing but received so much more:

Personal Story:

We came to San Francisco for a job, but received:

-A church that was not just a place of worship but a place where we’ve built relationships with friends that have become family and matured in our faith.

-Better health through walking these hills, and I haven’t met a cauliflower or brussel sprouts I didn’t like.

-An expanded view of the world and greater compassion for brothers and sisters who didn’t think like us, believe, speak like us, or live like us.

What is ONE THING you asked God for, and received SO MUCH MORE?  

Epic Family, we serve a God that is capable of doing “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”  

EPH 3:20-21 (NIV)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

He’s the God who knows the need before we know we need it and the God who gives when we don’t deserve it. He’s the God who gives us enough for each day (even in the darkest valleys) and provides us with who we need in times of need, and of course, sent his one and only son, Jesus.

In this series, we are reading, teaching, and studying through the Book of Acts. In the first two chapters, what Jesus said would happen, happened: the disciples would receive power from the Holy Spirit.  

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

"But 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.”

After Pentecost, Peter, now filled with the Spirit, delivers his first sermon, and Luke records in chapter 2 a snapshot of what the early church looked like: devoted to the Apostles' teaching, fellowship, prayer, breaking bread, and united by the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2:43, which was part of Lindsey’s teaching last week:  

"Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles."

Luke connects the miracles, signs, and wonders he speaks about through the Apostles to the subsequent growth in the church community and body of believers.

It is here that we MOVE FORWARD in the text and dive deeper into how the Holy Spirit’s power operates in us and through us can bring healing to those who know Christ and those whom Christ loves and is still pursuing.

Our Main Text For Today:

Acts 3:1-10 (NIV)

Here we see the “immeasurably more" God do more than a man asked or imagined. We see how the power from on high that the disciples received pointed to a Kingdom coming and a Lord who heals physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We see how the Holy Spirit operates in us and through us as disciples connect to the God who sees, heals, and helps those in need.

1. God Who Sees -El Roi: God

It was typical during this time for the poor, the sick, and the disabled to be brought to key public places to receive alms (money/goods/food). Scholars go back and forth on whether people with disabilities weren’t allowed in the temple because of purity reasons.

But whether they felt “ashamed or unworthy to go” or whether they weren’t allowed by law, the church in which God created should be a welcoming, safe, loving, family that mimics the heart of Our Maker.

We gain insight into who God cares about and welcomes into the “immeasurably more” Kingdom of God when we witness Peter and John stopping at the beautiful gate.  

And Peter and John didn’t just stop, they stared.

Acts 3:4-5 (NIV)

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.

It’s the gaze that got me. We know from Acts 4:22 that the man is over 40 years old, so for at least 40 years, people brought him to the gate for one thing. The disabled man was boxed in by his community. Without saying it, but saying it, their actions said, “With your disability, this is all you can do.” “With your disability, the ONE thing we can do for you is bring you to the gate." Can you relate? Being told that this is all you can do, but when you rise or heal and do the things they thought you couldn’t do, they question you and try to bring you back down again? After teaching and performing miracles in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus was boxed in, too: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? The people from his hometown said this after witnessing Jesus teach and heal in the synagogue.

Matthew 13:55

“Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?"

But this time. The lame beggar would be truly SEEN like never before.

Before they spoke Jesus' name, they modeled the love of Christ. They had eyes to see a future for this man. The Holy Spirit compelled them to stop on their way.

Instead of a head down in shame, Peter and John “lifted the man’s head.” This invitation to “look at us!” restored dignity to a man who was deemed unworthy because of his physical differences.

Might they have learned a thing or two about restoring dignity to the people living on the margins from the one who listened, healed, and loved ON the way to the cross?!

The word “Paraclete” (Greek) was used in scripture to describe the Holy Spirit. Paraclete means “one who is called alongside.” To give help or support in more ways than one. The holy spirit is our helper, counselor, comforter, and advocate.

Here we see the Holy Spirit working in and through Peter and John in more ways than one. Before the physical healing, there is emotional healing that the lame beggar needed FIRST.

I wonder if God is doing immeasurably more healing in your life that is not the thing that you’ve been praying for, but the thing/s you need MOST right now? I’m wondering what would happen if we believed the words we sing from Seth’s song, “Any Good Thing,” written about Psalm 84: that God does not withhold good things from those whose walk is blameless (integrity, not perfect). Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord Almighty.

Psalm 84:11-12

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you."

What kind of healing work might the Holy Spirit be doing in you and through you, or by way of someone else that needs to precede your miracle?

What if the healing of the lame beggar’s dignity, accompanied by the compassion of Peter and John, plowed the soil of his heart to make space for good seeds of truth to be spoken over him, and a healthy harvest of healing physically and spiritually?

With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Peter and John saw the lame beggar at the beautiful gate, and opened the gate of a beggar’s heart to a loving God.

2. God as Healer: -Jehovah-Rapha - The lord who heals.

After Peter and John restored dignity to the man, they listened to his needs and honestly offered what they had.

ACTS 3:6 (NIV)

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

You see, God is not interested in just healing some of us. He’s interested in healing ALL of US. Our entire BEING is up for grabs for healing. Our Minds, Our Bodies, Our Souls, all of us. And one day…we will be fully healed. Peter and John were willing to partner with God and give the man what they had to offer.  

Pastor Suzy Silk Rojas from the Church of the City in New York says:

“We aren’t promised always present healing, we are promised future healing and a present presence and present sufficient grace.” -Pastor Suzy Silk Rojas

The struggle is real to wonder why God heals one person but not another, and you’re still waiting. We’ve been taught by the persistent widow parable in Luke 18 to KEEP asking for what we want in faith. And at the same time, we learn through scripture that God’s ways are not our ways.  Healing and suffering go hand in hand, and that is our life here on this Earth.

But we can know and are experiencing right now…

Bits and bits of us are being healed on the way to our total healing future reality. Paul had a tormenting pain, a thorn, that God wouldn’t take away, but God was with him. God promises to be with us too, for the one thing we’ve been praying for that has not been healed or realized, and on the way to and through this life.

For this lame beggar in Acts 3, he would receive healing in his body by the power of the Holy Spirit through Peter.

3. God as Helper:  Jehovah Ezer

Acts 3: 7-8 (NIV)

“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.

The lame beggar’s mourning was turned into dancing in more ways than one. He had an encounter with Jesus through the people of Jesus, and in one moment, after persistently asking for ONE thing, he received immeasurably more than he asked or imagined.

In the name of Jesus, Peter healed a man who couldn’t walk. And through being attached to the vine of Jesus, emulating the character of Christ, he extended a helping hand and walked with him on the other side of his miracle.

APPLICATION:

Conduits of healing, that’s what we are as the Body of Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit. But we can be saved, set free, yet not operating, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Each of us has been given gifts (hospitality, shepherding, teaching, administration, speaking in tongues, healing, etc.) for the building up of the body and the glory of the Lord. Building up the body leads to flourishing and healing inside the church and outside our four walls.

Are you walking in your gifts of the Spirit, utilizing your skills, connections, and wisdom to bring healing and flourishing to this body of believers and our world?

If we’re going to be part of the healing and redemptive work God is doing all around the world, then it makes sense that we're diverse, from all over the world, and united by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

We can be conduits of healing when we: SEE PEOPLE. SPEAK LIFE. SERVE LOVINGLY, and SHARE STORIES.

1. SEE PEOPLE

We can bring healing to people when we see them. Do not confuse this with simply having a diverse group of people around you. That is step 1. Seeing people is getting proximate, listening to their stories, becoming good question askers, breaking bread together, and serving alongside one another.

We provide opportunities to do this here at Epic, but there is a role for you to play in truly engaging with the Body of Christ and getting to know the brothers and sisters within it. We believe this is a place you can call home, but it is up to us to make this house the fully functioning family that God intended. When we are fully functioning, not forsaking to meet together, and modeling Acts 2:42-47, healing happens in us and through us.

In the community, it could involve getting more involved with our local or even global partners here at Epic. It could also be slowing down in life, walking more slowly on the streets of San Francisco.

I’m convinced that the only way we can see people the way God sees them is to ask God to give us His eyes to see the people He made in His love. And the only way we can be given eyes to SEE is if we keep our eyes focused on God. Perhaps your next step is to see God more clearly by spending time in the Word and prayer.

As Christ followers, operating in the spirit, we don’t get to decide on who we heal or don’t heal. We go where the spirit leads. We tend to give, care for, and dignify whoever God calls us to.

In his book “The Familiar Stranger,” Tyler Staton says:

“We must get our feet beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones and get our hands dirty in the practice of the Spirit’s power.” -Pastor Tyler Staton

The more we see God, the more people we see and, in turn, partner with God to heal.

Who have you overlooked, and God is calling you to love and restore dignity to?

2. SPEAK LIFE

When we speak the name of Jesus, it brings life. In v.6, Peter says: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  

There is power in our words. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us: The tongue has the power of life and death.

What words are you speaking over yourself, your children, your spouse, your friends, your colleagues, your leaders, employees, or strangers?

Jesus healed in many ways. Sometimes with a touch, sometimes with just his presence, other times through his disciples, and often with a word.

Have you ever spent time with a spiritual mentor, friend, or follower over coffee, and you walked away feeling a little bit more encouraged, healed, or set free? I mean, NOTHING changed YET, but something changed after their words were spoken to you over you. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

When we speak the name of Jesus, we speak words of love, when we speak out on behalf of the voiceless and powerless, and advocate for the hurting one. We invite Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord who heals) into the conversation, into the pain, into the suffering, into the liminal-disorienting space… God has the power to heal in physical, emotional, and spiritual ways.

Speaking words of life over the lame beggar led to healing and salvation.

There are times when you will need to SPEAK OUT the name of Jesus, and there are other times you will say nothing but your arms of compassion around someone else will SPEAK OUT the Holy Spirit’s compassion. Either way…Speak out.

3. SERVE LOVINGLY

The church must hope and help. Last week, Lindsey spoke about meeting needs and tending to one another in the body of Christ. Meeting practical needs is serving love, and we do that both inside and outside these four walls.

Saint Teresa of Avila from Spain (16th century saint) says this about serving love:

“Christ has no body now on Earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.”

Matthew 20:28 reminds us that the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

How can I serve you? Should be the posture of our hearts as disciples of Christ and members of this Body here at Epic.

4. SHARE STORIES

Your story of healing is a testament to a most Holy God. Can you imagine the lame beggar’s testimony once he walked to Solomon’s Colonnade? His mourning was turned to dancing. In a moment, he went from hopeless to hopeful.

The lame beggar’s life is a living testimony of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and healing power. In this same way, YOUR life is/or can be a living testimony of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and healing power.

The stories of old from the Bible are essential to build us up and encourage our souls, but we also have IN OUR PRESENT DAY testimonies that have the power to heal and save.

What is your “immeasurably more” testimony of God’s healing power in your life?

Each of us holds stories of the Healer. As the Holy Spirit prompts you and at the right time…share your stories. Your stories of healing could lead to healing for another and a most loving and Holy God.

As disciples of Christ, we partner with the Holy Spirit to heal. To whom is Jesus calling you to do just that? How will you step into your assignment to go to the places and to the people that Christ has commanded us to love?

Before Jesus ascended to be at the right hand of the Father, where He is right now…interceding on our behalf…Jesus says to the disciples documented in John 14:12: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Might we move together Epic Family and allow God to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

--Rachael Wade