LIVE IN THE NINTH HOUR
Some of you may already know that I am an insomniac. Since childhood, Sleep has evaded me. So, over the years I have developed a habit of walking through the house and reading. In those fragments of time when the rest of the world sleeps, I find a particular clarity of thought that I have never experienced during the day. A few nights ago, I picked up my Bible where I had left off in my regular reading. I was in the Book of Acts the third chapter. When one word captured my attention and drew me in. I started to examine how a word or phrase intertwined with other passages. I hope I can convey what I have come to understand in different way. Not that your understanding is incorrect or that my previous understand is incorrect� Exploring the Word is like peeling an onion there are many layers each revealing a new way of understanding. It is a multi-faceted puzzle, its complexity is intended to keep us forever digging, forever searching for understanding. I am sure that each of us given this same passage would find a variety of ways to understand it and its connection to other parts of God�s mighty Word. 1: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. That is what caught my attention� the time of day Three O�clock by the way. Repeat that Verse 1: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. The apostles were Jews they followed Jewish traditions. The word Christian was not yet in use and was intended to be a slur for followers of Jesus once it was applied to believers. They were entering the temple in the ninth hour the busiest time of the day. Verse 2 2: 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 of them that entered into the temple; His handicap made him unclean he was not allowed into the temple. The Beautiful gate would have been an ideal place for a beggar. Because anyone who ignored him on the way in might have trouble concentrating on worship knowing, they had refused a little charity to a helpless person. So, when people left feeling a little better about how religious they were�they might be more apt to be generous with someone who was handily waiting at the door. (Verse3) 3: Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. Now Out of the all the people present, Peter and John took a moment to look upon him. I am sure most were passing quickly you know how people are we ignore things we don�t want to see or think about. 4: And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5: And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Now, Peter wanted to make sure he had this guy�s undivided attention. He wanted this man to understand from what authority they were about to speak. Verse 6: Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. First off�It was unheard of to show up at the feast of tabernacles with empty pockets, but Jesus had told them not to worry about money�Now, the apostles indicated immediately that what was going to happen next. Had nothing to do with them but came directly from Jesus our Lord. Because of that name, because of who Jesus is�this beggar would receive a miracle of God. That phrase in the name of Jesus is not a magic formula or a guarantee of answered prayer. But it is a acknowledgment of the authority and influence. The power in this name comes from the Holy Spirit because of the Name of Jesus and His work for us. Peter and John did not make a big show of the incident they did not lay hands on the man�They did not perform some elaborate pre-prepared prayer or ritual they simply said�as they had seen their Master do, �get up and walk�. Verse 7: And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8: And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. He took His right hand�..the right hand symbolizes power in every mid eastern culture�So, Peter reaches down�IN POWER and instantly� strength was given to the portions of the body that needed strength. Muscle and bone made whole by God. One of the things I find interesting here is the very same word used here in Greek for�his feet and ankle bones received strength�are the same words for foundation and not just any foundation but�the foundation of the alter within the temple. So there was more than just a physical strength here there was also given a spiritual strength which poured out upon this once helpless man. 9: And all the people saw him walking and praising God: The importance here is just what is said all the people saw it. Public opinion was an important factor with the leaders of the temple and it also was important for the treatment of the apostles (Matt 27:24) (Acts 4:16-17). 10: And they knew that it was he�which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. The people of this temple had seen this man at the gates day after day maybe even year after year it was not as if he were a stranger walking among them. This was no staged event this was no Elmer Gantry Act. This was undeniably the work of God. V 11 & 12 11: And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. 12: And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The apostles gave all the credit here to God knowing that they were only the instrument of God. V 13-16 13: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14: But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16: And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Peter Gives glory to one who was considered inglorious. To one who had borne the shame of the Cross. the word Servant and Son both again have multiple meanings his Servant or son (in literal transliteration if that is possible), comes from the same word used in Isaiah 53:13 13: Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. Jesus is here considered the servant of God because he was our guilt offering for the sins of all humanity. He was raised from the dead showing that His sacrifice was acceptable. Peter pointed to the healing of the beggar as a sign of the glory of Jesus Christ. The people had handed Jesus over to be crucified had in fact insisted upon it. It was in the name of this very same Jesus that this man was healed. 17: And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18: But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Peter is showing the balances of human responsibility in the eternal plan of God verse 19 19: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; The word refreshing is translated to restore to give strength and nourishment Strength is restored when Hope is restored. And Peter never missing an opportunity to preach challenges the people gathered there to see for themselves the work of God through Christ Jesus. To turn away from their lives as they were and accept the new covenant to re-evaluate their thinking about Jesus. To understand that Jesus is the Messiah they were waiting on. To accept his offering to be restored in their foundations and to Serve Christ. During this time in the temple in that ninth hour a celebration was going on. The Temple was filled to overflowing with prayer and rejoicing They even danced. So when this man was healed he not only walked into the temple but spent hours singing and praying and even dancing. These men not only saw him walking but walked into the temple with him. And then spent the next few hours with him. The passage says they marveled. I bet they were, maybe not so much in the first few steps but seeing more than just a physical transformation from invalid to whole. From helpless to hopeful. We God�s children are blessed to be forever in that ninth hour. In that hour of Hope� Because in the ninth hour we were set, free. Luke 23:44-46 44: And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45: And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. That ninth hour is not a time of defeat but a time of conquest. We who have been washed in His blood are conquerors. Not by our own hand, but by that work on the Cross. We are a people of power a people infused with the Holy Spirit. Paul writes to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1: 7 . 7: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. After Christ�s resurrection Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on their way to Em-Ma-us. Luke 24:13-17 13: And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14: And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15: And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16: But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17: And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? They go on to tell Him of their troubles the loss of their beloved leader, Luke 24:25-26 25: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Then when he appears to the apostles John 20:19-20 19: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. The first thing He says to those who are alone, afraid and grieved is Peace be unto you OR Shalom. Shalom is a deep and abiding peace, an exuberant peace, a joyous attitude, a peace of all things being right�A Peace of salvation. And in this structural context Shalom is literally�.May all things be good and right with and for you! May you be filled with my joy! This is a common greeting even today among many Jews. This is a blessing of exuberant peace. John 19:21 21: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. He had to tell them again Shalom�but this time he tells them why they should have this exuberant peace. John 19: 22-23 22: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. The Holy Ghost�this Comforter arrives on the day of Pentecost and falls on the disciples. Now�..don�t think well that�s great for them but how does that help me? You and I are His Disciples we also have received the Holy Ghost and with it�.His peace. And This peace ain�t some dainty little hippie kind of peace. His peace, His Shalom, His Comfort is powerful. We are not a powerless people left to be buffeted about by the world. I no longer believe in impossible as far as I am concerned they could remove it from every dictionary on the planet. Christ did not die for people of impossible. He died for people of possibilities. He died for people who know that anything is possible. � It is possible for you to be healed. � It is possible for you to get your feet above your finances. � It is possible to move through this world in confidence that your needs whatever they are will be met. Do not let the negativity of our fellow human beings tear you down. Don�t let the snares and traps pin you to the ground. Do not let the negativity of the World get to you that is exactly what Satan wants� he wants you to be lame in spirit and in body�the Prince of lies wants you to be afraid of tomorrow. But we have had our foundation strengthened�By the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit dwells in and through us�He is present in us always and with that kind of power within us nothing is beyond us. We can step beyond our human potential and into what is possible through Jesus. Let us go out strong and filled with the power of the God. Let us go out filled with the Holy Ghost. Christ is our Strength and our salvation, Christ is the word of truth made flesh. Lean on Him and He will direct your steps. There is no such thing as impossible once Christ enters your life. Philippians 4:13 13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. AMEN.
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