What is Beautiful at the Beautiful Gate?
BY PASTOR GEORGE SARKODIE
VGP EXECUTIVE PASTOR
VGP EXECUTIVE PASTOR
There is an interesting story in the book of Acts. This story took place at a place called the ‘Beautiful Gate’ - the story about how God used Peter and John to transform the life of a man who was born lame. For a greater part of this man’s life, he was carried to this gate at the Jewish temple to beg for alms. Although the place was called beautiful, you would agree with me that the life of this man wasn’t beautiful, at least until he encountered the power of God.
After this encounter, this man’s life did not just become a reflection of the name of the gate he had sat at for several years of his life. Rather, his life became a reflection of the goodness of the God who was worshiped daily in the temple he went to beg for alms.
There are a few insights from Peter’s attitude that led to the change in this man’s situation, and this is what I want to share with you today. (Read the full story from Act 3:1-10). Like this man, I am sure most of us have areas in our lives that we want God to make beautiful. My prayer is that God will use this message to give you a similar testimony. Amen!
1. Peter differentiated between what he had and what he didn’t have.
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.”
Many of us often allow what we don’t have to stop us from acknowledging what we have. Nobody has everything, but everyone has something. Although Peter and John didn’t have silver and gold at the time, they identified what they had, and found a way to make it a blessing to someone's life. My question for you is this: what do you have? If you have allowed what you don’t have to stifle your use of what you have, it’s time to go back and use what you have. What God has given you has a purpose to serve in your life and the life of others. Remember, all the promises of God in the Bible are yours. You have a lot!
‘’Don’t let what you don’t have stop you from acknowledging what you have’’ Quote!!
2. Peter took authority over the situation.
“… In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Peter took authority over the situation as directed by the Holy Spirit. That day of the miracle wasn’t the first time Peter and John were going to the temple to pray. As Jews, this was part of their daily practice. They might have gone there many times, but this day was different. For Peter, knowing what he had was the first step. The second was to know how to partner with God on it. So, he prayed. Prayer – talking to God, is always a key component of the process of changing what is not beautiful at the Beautiful Gate to becoming beautiful. Make time every day and talk to God. He is ready to partner with you to make that situation beautiful.
3. Peter took a faith Step
“And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (verse 8).
Because Peter believed in the power of his prayer over the situation, he went on to take a bold step of faith. He held the hand of the man to help him get up. And immediately something miraculous happened! His feet and ankle bones received strength” (verse 8b).
There is something important here to catch. The miracle didn't happen until Peter stretched out his hand to lift him up. Although Peter prayed, the man was still sitting there as a lame person. Peter could have chosen to be disappointed in God for not answering his prayer. I am sure there were people passing by or standing around waiting to see what would happen. Peter didn’t allow them to distract him. He was focused to come to the end of his faith action.
Many of us begin a faith process but don’t end it. Every faith journey has a starting point and an ending point. The Bible says God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). So do not quit. Don’t be distracted or be weak in your faith. Like Peter, don’t look at the physical lameness you see even after prayer. Rather look at the spiritual feet and ankle bones receiving strength.
4. Peter saw the Results
“So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God”
A miracle was born! Every process of faith ends with a breakthrough if we don’t quit. The power of God to do miracles is still available to His children today. God is always willing to partner with us to turn what is not beautiful at the Beautiful Gate into beautiful.
May this be your testimony. Amen.
After this encounter, this man’s life did not just become a reflection of the name of the gate he had sat at for several years of his life. Rather, his life became a reflection of the goodness of the God who was worshiped daily in the temple he went to beg for alms.
There are a few insights from Peter’s attitude that led to the change in this man’s situation, and this is what I want to share with you today. (Read the full story from Act 3:1-10). Like this man, I am sure most of us have areas in our lives that we want God to make beautiful. My prayer is that God will use this message to give you a similar testimony. Amen!
1. Peter differentiated between what he had and what he didn’t have.
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.”
Many of us often allow what we don’t have to stop us from acknowledging what we have. Nobody has everything, but everyone has something. Although Peter and John didn’t have silver and gold at the time, they identified what they had, and found a way to make it a blessing to someone's life. My question for you is this: what do you have? If you have allowed what you don’t have to stifle your use of what you have, it’s time to go back and use what you have. What God has given you has a purpose to serve in your life and the life of others. Remember, all the promises of God in the Bible are yours. You have a lot!
‘’Don’t let what you don’t have stop you from acknowledging what you have’’ Quote!!
2. Peter took authority over the situation.
“… In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Peter took authority over the situation as directed by the Holy Spirit. That day of the miracle wasn’t the first time Peter and John were going to the temple to pray. As Jews, this was part of their daily practice. They might have gone there many times, but this day was different. For Peter, knowing what he had was the first step. The second was to know how to partner with God on it. So, he prayed. Prayer – talking to God, is always a key component of the process of changing what is not beautiful at the Beautiful Gate to becoming beautiful. Make time every day and talk to God. He is ready to partner with you to make that situation beautiful.
3. Peter took a faith Step
“And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (verse 8).
Because Peter believed in the power of his prayer over the situation, he went on to take a bold step of faith. He held the hand of the man to help him get up. And immediately something miraculous happened! His feet and ankle bones received strength” (verse 8b).
There is something important here to catch. The miracle didn't happen until Peter stretched out his hand to lift him up. Although Peter prayed, the man was still sitting there as a lame person. Peter could have chosen to be disappointed in God for not answering his prayer. I am sure there were people passing by or standing around waiting to see what would happen. Peter didn’t allow them to distract him. He was focused to come to the end of his faith action.
Many of us begin a faith process but don’t end it. Every faith journey has a starting point and an ending point. The Bible says God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). So do not quit. Don’t be distracted or be weak in your faith. Like Peter, don’t look at the physical lameness you see even after prayer. Rather look at the spiritual feet and ankle bones receiving strength.
4. Peter saw the Results
“So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God”
A miracle was born! Every process of faith ends with a breakthrough if we don’t quit. The power of God to do miracles is still available to His children today. God is always willing to partner with us to turn what is not beautiful at the Beautiful Gate into beautiful.
May this be your testimony. Amen.
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