Twenty years ago I used to be a pastor in Cuba NY. I had some interesting sermons. Now I am trying to remember some of them and commit them to this web site. I am also writing new ones to add. My wife says I did a great series on prayer so I am looking for the notes-I don't remember them! Hopefully I will find them and the time to type them in.
Something to think about- If you were Jesus, would you be able to let them nail you to the cross?
How to pull nails out of your hands.
Sometimes even when you do nothing wrong,
Everyone turns against you.
They try to nail you to a cross.
Your mission is to try not to pull the nails back out.
‘But they hurt’ you say.
Yes, I know, they hurt.
Lies are circulated about you.
You hear them second hand.
They come from your closest friends and relatives.
How long will this last?
When will they know the truth,
Or will you be strong enough to never tell them.
Major Christian leaders turn against you.
But they knew me for over 20 years you ask?
How could they believe such things about me?
How could they perpetuate these lies?
The only thing you are really guilty of is loving too much.
Numbers 11:29 - Moses said "Oh that all of the Lords people were prophets and that the Lord would put His spirit upon them. Moses had selected 70 elders to receive the Spirot of God. However when the time came two of them were not at the meeting. However God poured out His spirit on them anyway! Right in the camp in the midst of the people they started prophesying. Moses was asked to silence them but his response tears at Gods heart strings. That not just the 70 but that ALL of the LORDS peoples were prophets!
John 17:24 Jesus was praying for future belivers "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave to me may be with me where I am, and that they might behold My glory which You have given Me..." (In the sweet bye and bye, someday in the sky, if they are lucky when they die?) NO!! He did not add that, He said that He wants us to behold His Glory NOW!!!
One of the jobs of religion is to seperate and reglate God, to define and confine God. Basically religion tries to put God into a box. Religion tries to keep God away from the people or the masses. Religion tries to intervene between God and man, it that what Moses wanted? Is that what Jesus wanted? I think not!
Mark 16:38 (In verse 37 Jesus breathed His last breath.) "Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom." Exodus 26:31-33 says that "The veil shall be a divider for you between the Holy place and the most Holy." God dwelled in the most holy place. He was confined there. The priest would go there only after a carefull ceremony and with a rope around his leg so if God was to strike him dead they could drag his body out. The tearing of the veil was God saying I will no longer be confined!
Acts 7:48 says that "The Most High does not live in temples made with hands,". God escaped and we always try to put him back into a box. Actually He was never confined to just the temple. However that was a point of contact for people for a period of time. By rending the veil He showed the priests that He was not going to require a temple any longer, He can go anywhere and be everywhere. He can live in your heart today if you will just ask Him. It is as easy as asking him in a simple prayer. Just say "Jesus, save me from my sins", and He will!
(From Matthew and John’s Gospels) I First preached this message while a student at Elim during a youth gathering in Columbia Crossroads Pa. Have you ever felt that though matter how hard you try you just cannot get it right? Has God called you to do one thing but you always end up doing something else? Do you feal like a total failure, destined for endless failures? Well if anyone should have felt that way it would have been Peter. Peter thought he would set a good example by suggesting that you should forgive your brother for 7 offences. Jesus said it should be 7 times 70. It is a good thing that Jesus did not follow Peters "good" example. Peter failed him 7 times!
Peter wanted to walk on the water, but sunk. Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Peter saw that Jesus was the Christ, then he was rebuked. Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Peter would fall away, but said he would not. John 13:31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." 37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Peter tried to start a fight (war). John 18:8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Peter Denied knowing Jesus 3 times. John 18:15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." 18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. 25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." 26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Peter went back to his old ways. John 21:1 (not in the other Gospels) Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. 6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstated Peter John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." 18 Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
Conslusion. Peter failed God in every way that you could imagine. In fact we have listed here seven times that Peter failed. Did you know that it was Peter who suggested to Jesus that you should forgive your brother seven times! That was considered to be generous number. But Jesus said to forgive your brother seven times seventy! That was a good thing for Peter, because he used up his seven times in less than 3 years.
Though matter how much you may feal like a failure, God still wants you back! He is calling you again and again. He is calling "Do you Love me?" over and over. Are you listening? Jesus said "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Can you open the door one more time? Maybe this will be your last time, maybe it will be your last chance. Life is so short we do not know where or when it will end. Give Him one more chance today! You will not regret it!
Joshua is about to take Moses place. Joshua is admonished to be strong and courageous 7 times in Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1. Moses said it twice. God said it 4 times. The people said it once. Today we need to hear this message more than ever before. The democrats have taken congress and the senate, you may soon see a Democrat become the next President. A very liberal person is now third in command. The Gay Pride forces are taking over cities and schools pushing their agenda. We need to stand up and be counted!
Moses spoke.
Do not be afraid of the enemy. Deuteronomy Chapter 31:1 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' 3 The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said. 4 And the LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. 5 The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Do not be afraid of your people. Deuteronomy 31:7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
God Spoke.
Do not be afraid – Going to a new land or place - God is with you! Deuteronomy 31:23 The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you."
Do not be afraid – You will lead them! Joshua Chapter 1:6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
Do not be afraid – do not turn to the right or left. Joshua Chapter 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Do not be afraid, terrified or discouraged – God is with you wherever you go! Joshua Chapter 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
The Israelites spoke.
Do not be afraid – so the people will follow you. Joshua Chapter 1:16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"
Luke 5:1-11
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
This story is far more than just about the calling of some fishermen to become fishers of men. There are at least two other meanings to this story. This story is also about following Jesus commands even when they make no sense at all. This story is also a parable about how to "fish" for men.
Following Gods commands
I believe that somehow I actually hear the voice of God speaking to me. However I have discovered that every time He speaks it is just the exact opposite of what anyone with any sense at all would think of on their own. I seem to always respond with "No Lord", or "I rebuke that". I could give countless examples, but hopefully the point has already been conveyed.
Now these poor fishermen had been out fishing and working all night, they had just finished cleaning everything up and putting everything away. What do you think went through their minds when Jesus told them to load up and "Launch out into the deep"? Let me see, maybe "This guy has got to be nuts". Simon somehow had the sense to say "at Your word we will let down the net". I personally doubt I would have set back out to go fishing untill Jesus hit me over the head with a 2 by 4. He has had to break a few over my head.
The first line of argument would be why not just let down our nets here by the shore. Surely if Jesus is God he can get the fish to show up here as well as anywhere? Why do we have to go through the extra work of rowing out to where it is deeper?
The next line of arguement would be why do we need to go where it is not "safe"? Here next to shore the water is shallow, we can easily step out of the boat and stand on bottom if there is a problem.
Fishing for men
The same arguements apply here. You must first and foremost obey Gods commnads. Sometimes they make no sense as to where to go. It is not neccessarily where the lost people are. It is most likely not where you would think to go. It is not when you would think is the right time to go either. One of the biggest things about hearing from God is waiting for His timing. Somehow He seems to have no understanding of the time factor. Maybe that is because he lives outside of time so time does not mean as much to Him as it does to us. Yet Jesus waited for years before launching out into his ministry. I was so eager that I started as a junior camp counselor teaching memory verses to 5 and 6 year olds at the age of 13. In the Navy I started my own services when there were no church services. Then after Bible school I set out into church planting. Now I have spent 20 years on the back side of a desert waiting for the call and timing of GOd to return to church planting. I can feel the time is getting closer.
Secondly you must leave the safety and security of the shore and "launch out into the deep". That is even harder then waiting for the timing of God. You may have to sell, or should I say, give everything away, that is what these fishermen did! They "forsook all and followed Him". Are you willing to do that? As my kids would say "1, 2, 3, NOT ME!!!"
John 5:1-9 (NKJV)
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
http://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/pool-bethesda.html
The Pool of Bethesda was located on the eastern side of the city near the Fortress of Antonia. The name Bethesda means "house of mercy." The water source was a nearby spring. The Pool had five porches and according to the Bible there was a tradition that an angel moved the waters at certain times and healed the sick. It was here at the Pool of Bethesda that Jesus healed the man who was lame for thirty-eight years. Recent archaeological discoveries have again confirmed the Biblical account, that there were five porches and the fifth one divided the rectangular pool into two separate compartments. Josephus wrote about the Pool of the Sheep-market.
Who is healing for?
How do you see this healing taking place? Do you see Jesus seeking out just this one man to heal? Does he climb over all of the other sick people? Does he avoid many other sick people? These are all things that we imagine, but they are totally inconsistent with the rest of the scripture! No, I think Jesus went to those who could not get to the water! Why? Because healing was not meant just for those who could get to the water, but it was also meant for ALL of the sick! What happened when Jesus went to this man was that the same healing power, that was in the pool, had come to him!
Do you think that you have missed the great healing days of Oral Roberts? Have you have missed Kathryn Kuhlman? Now you think that there is no hope left for your healing? I am sorry but you have totally missed Jesus message! The “Pool” has come to you! You do not need to get to the “pool” to be healed! You do not need to go to see some famous healer.
Where are his friends?
So Jesus went to a man who could not get to the pool. he also went to a man who "had no man to put me into the pool". This man seems to be really lacking in friends. We all know of the story of the lame man who had at least 4 friends who cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. But this man had nobodY! Can you imagine his thoughts? If I only had somebody to help me, if only somebody cared for me. Well somebody did, Jesus!
Jesus is a friend to those with no friends. He knows what it is like to have all of your friends abandon you. He sought out a man who had no friends, to send a message. Even when everyone else abandons you He is still with you to the very end.
What is sunday for?
Another hidden message is in the day of the week. Yes it was Sunday, and we get the idea that Jesus could heal on any day of the week, he did not have to stop healing because it was Sunday. However I think the hidden message is actually just the opposite, Sunday was meant to be the prefered day of healing! You understand that you work for 6 days then you take a day of rest from YOUR labors. But Jesus said that the sabbath was for man. God was not so tired that he had to rest on the sabbath! In fact on the sabbath we rest from doing our own thing, and allow God to do HIS thing.
I have heard the supposed joke that when someone wakes up he is told it is sunday, but he does not want to get up. Then he is told he has to go to church, but he does not want to go to church. Then he is told he has to, because he is the pastor! I do not find that to be at all funny! If you do not want to go to church, PLEASE STAY HOME! I have heard that 7 out of 10 pastors would do something else for a living if they knew how to. PLEASE go find something else to do. No wonder between 4,000 and 6,000 churches close their doors every year!
Sunday is supposed to be a DAY OF HEALING! I go to church excited to see what God is going to do today. If you come with great expectations for what our great God is going to do, you will not be disapointed!
You have got to be kidding right? Didn't Jesus heal everyone who came to him? When did he ever fail to heal someone?
Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV)
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
The rich young ruller had obeyed the 10 commandments from his youth, yet he realized he was lacking something. I am sure he would not think he was lacking, if he visited one of our churches today. He would fit right in and be made very comfortable. Someone might even go so far as to ask him to give a whopping 10% to the church, and that would be no problem for him. But in the presence of Jesus and his disciples he realized he was still lacking something.
But you say "Just wait a minute, he was not sick!". YOU might think he was not sick, but he knew he was sick and Jesus knew that he was sick. He had the abundance afliction, bankers blues, credit crunches, debitors dilema, envy exhaustion, financial floundering, greed guilt, houses hankering, interest infirmity, jealous jerks, keepit killer, landlust leprosy, money monotany, newnees need, overwork obsession, possession pain, quick quark, riches rank, substance sickness, and a treasures tumor. He was possesed by possessions.
Jesus offered him the cure for his disease. Did he have to go and wash himself in a river? Did he have to go to the temple and make an special offering? Did he have to step out on faith after not walking for years? NO! His cure was the simplest of all cures to do! All he had to do is to go and sell his stuff! It is all going to burn someday anyway so why not dump it?
Several times in my life God has called me to sell all of my stuff. There were times when I was in the Navy that I sold all of my electronics. When I went to Bible school I sold or gave away almost everything thinking I would never again be fixing things. By the time I completed my 3 years at Elim my funds were all gone, there was nothing left. Have you ever been in that place? If not then you have no idea what it is like to "sell what you have". It is a tremendous feeling of freedom. The chains and bonds are broken and your life is totally in God's hands.
Do you have your possessions or do they have you?
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter and I were walking to the temple to pray. I remember before Jesus had come there were lots of lame people. They literally lined the streets begging for money. Jesus had healed many thousands of every disease known to mankind. It is rare to see a lame man now, and any that are left, are really hopless as Jesus has ascended into heaven. Then we were amazed as we passed the Gate beautiful. There was a poor begger left there. His friends had not taken him to see Jesus, they had only left him here at this gate every day. I guess he missed his opportunity to see Jesus and be healed. There was nothing we could do for him anyway, we did not have any money on us.
Peter decided to stop and talk to this lame man. He said that we did not have any money, but we do have Jesus with us still. Yes he was not really hopless, because Jesus is with us, people can still be healed today. Do not think that you have missed your only oppurtunity. Jesus is still with us even as he was with the disciples. He is still healing today, the gift of healing has not passed away. Don't let anyone fool you into giving up!