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Volume 33   Number 08 Feb 22, 2009

        Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
        First of all, God's Word makes it clear that we need to BE UNDER JESUS' AUTHORITY because we are His representatives. To have authority, we must be under authority. The task we have been given to do will not get done without the authority in Jesus' name.
        Second, we are all CALLED TO MAKE DISCIPLES. Disciples means "disciplined ones" or disciples of Christ Jesus, and to be or become in the image and likeness of Jesus. So in order for us to make disciples, we have to be a disciple ourselves.
        Third, we are to BAPTIZE THEM in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit----which deals with recognizing the fullness of the Godhead and the authority of Jesus----as the one baptized is being buried in Christ Jesus and being totally identified with Him.
        Fourth, we are called to TEACH THEM to observe all that He has commanded us to do. The Word of God speaks to every aspect of life, marriage, work, society, and our activity in the Kingdom of God.
        Fifth, He is making it clear that HE WILL BE WITH US ALWAYS. We are not alone. Jesus said He will never leave us or forsake us.
        Let's look at the story of Peter and John and how God used them as they went forth in His power. Acts 3:1-8: Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 in the afternoon). 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 (money) 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." The man wanted money, a temporary fix, but no amount of money could fix his problem. God knew what he really needed, and it is interesting to note that the man did know how to ASK and how to RECEIVE. Sometimes we miss God's best because we do not ask, or receive, or look to Him.
        And Peter 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.

        FIVE THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE LIFE OF THE CRIPPLED MAN
        (1) HE GOT UP. He could have said, "No, that is not possible. No, I have always been lame." But he got up.
        (2) HE STOOD. For the first time in his life, he was standing and doing something he had never done before.
        (3) HE WALKED. Faith was at work in him and he stepped out. He believed the word that was spoken to him.
        (4) HE LEAPED. He went beyond his limits and beyond what he could have asked or thought. He began to leap, to boldly go where he had never gone before.
        (5) HE PRAISED THE LORD. He remembered who it was that blessed him. His focus was not on himself but on the Lord. I am sure he was also thankful for the disciples who were obedient to "go forth and make disciples." He showed his gratitude by giving thanks to the Lord.
        Acts 3:9-21: And all the people saw him (the former lame man) 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 (astonishment) at what had happened to him. There are people now who are wondering with astonishment what is going on in your life.
        Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. Peter means "rock" and John means "love." The man was holding onto a rock and love. That is a good lesson for us today to stop living in fear and start living in love.
        So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Jesus has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
        "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
        "Repent therefore and be converted (change your mind) that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration (a setting in order) of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
        Here are four important things to remember:
        (1) REPENTANCE is always in order and is always the first step.
        (2) BEING CONVERTED has to do with a change of mind and direction.
        (3) RECEIVE REFRESHING from the presence of the Lord. Know how to ask and how to receive and where to receive from.
        (4) TIMES OF RESTORATION of all things begins in your inner man.
        It is time to arise and shine. It is time to ARISE and GO FORTH in the name of the Lord. It is time to allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through you AS YOU GO. We see three groups being addressed:
        (1) Those who are going forth in the anointing and authority of Jesus. As you go, speak God's Word and make disciples.
        (2) Those crippled in life who don't know how to get out of their situation. They are asking and receiving.
        (3) Those who need to humble themselves and repent. They have denied the Lord and have gone their own way. There is always room at the Cross.
        In today's society, we would not call this man a cripple or lame, but we would say he is physically impaired or challenged. There are many people we know walking around who are crippled in life. They need a word from the Lord, and they need to obey His Word. They need to get up, and stand, and walk, and leap.
        You have to get up out of your fears, out of your broken heart, out of your loneliness, out of your failures, out of your sickness, and out of your self pity. It is time to trade your sorrows and trade your pain for the joy of the Lord.