Acts 3:11 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.
Peter had spoken the Name of Jesus over the lame man, and he was instantly healed. The man was so excited that he was jumping for joy and praising God. He held on to Peter and John as they entered the porch of the Temple, and when all the people saw him, they ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
I find it very interesting that this Miracle did not occur inside the Temple. It happened outside the Gate. The people who regularly attended the Temple were very religious folks. They lived and operated by the Law. Everything happened precisely on the Temple time schedule. The Holy Spirit had no latitude to move about in their presence. Other than religious routine, nothing happened inside the Temple.
Perhaps that’s why they were so surprised when they saw the healed man step into the Porch. Had they never seen a Miracle before? Did they not believe God could heal a lame man? Apparently not, or they wouldn’t have been so surprised when He did it.
Miracles must have been few and far between, and probably never happened inside the Temple. Why not? Because the spirit of religion overruled the Presence and Operation of the Holy Spirit. Rituals and rules will crush the moving of God. Placing our faith in religious rules and routine will result in nothing more than self-righteousness and pride. Self-righteousness says, “Look what I have done. I have never missed a church service in the past 50 years. I have read 3 chapters of the Bible every day for decades. I have faithfully cooked food for our Wednesday night gathering every week for 20 years. I have changed every light bulb that has burned out for 30 years. I have mowed the grass and kept the flower beds since I was 15 years old. I have taught that Sunday School class for 40 years. I have...... I have...... I have.......”
Perhaps you have done all this.....and more. But have you ever felt the Presence of God so strongly that you were totally overcome? Have you ever witnessed a true Miracle of God right before your eyes? Have you ever watched a person bound in sin and shame delivered into total Freedom in Christ? Have you ever seen blind eyes opened, or a crippled man walk?
It’s not about what we do, folks. It’s about what we believe God can do and will do.
How many Miracles do we see in Church today? I’m sad to say, not many, if any. Why? Because we check our faith at the door when we come in. Once inside, we revert right back to the “religious routine” we have operated in for years. We go about doing exactly what we have done every week in the past. The moment we enter, we get on that “Church Time Schedule,” and that’s where we stay until it’s time to leave.
That’s exactly what happened at the Gate named Beautiful that day two thousand years ago when the lame beggar was healed OUTSIDE the Temple. The demonic spirit of religion was so strong inside the Temple that no powerful move of God could happen there.
Is that the way it is at your church? Probably so. How do we change it? It’s not easy. It starts at the top. The Pastor, Deacons, and Elders of the Church must agree to rebuke the spirit of religion and cast it out. They must agree to allow the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit to flow freely inside the walls of their church. They have to take the emphasis off themselves and put it all on Christ and Him Crucified. They have to be willing to throw the rituals, routine, and time schedule out the window and EXPECT God to show up in a mighty way. Then you will see God perform a Miracle INSIDE your church. Until then, it will be church as usual, where very little happens.
The Presence of God will.......turn the tide......in your life.
Seeking His Presence, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
