“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Wayne Dyer
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” Maya Angelou
Acts 3New International Version (NIV)
2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Forward Thinkers, once again, we see a man down. This man has been down and lame from birth. This lame man has never experienced the joy of walking, running, dancing, or jumping. Forward Thinkers, as a child, this man never played tag, kickball, or ran in the relays. As a teen, he didn’t walk across the stage on graduation day and he is not in position to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.
Many Forward Thinkers can relate to this man’s story. Even though we can walk, we have still experienced a lame past full of disappointments and broken dreams. Today, I’m declaring as this man gets up, we, too, will get up, compete and win. Forward Thinkers, I dare you to shout, “It’s my time to walk, run, and jump into a new level of greatness and purpose.”
Let’s look deeper at this lame man’s situation:
- He is dependent.
- He has been overcome with the spirit of a beggar.
Forward Thinkers, my goal is to raise up a generation of people full of faith, independent of depending on the resources of others and totally dependent on the favor and grace of God.
Forward Thinkers, God did not give us the spirit of a beggar but God calls us the seed of Abraham. God created us in His image and empowered us to winners.
Forward Thinkers, notice the lame man expects us (the people of faith) to have real answers.
Jesus is the answer. Forward Thinkers, we have turned to so many other outlets only to have our level of power reduced. Forward Thinkers, the blood of Jesus wiped away my sins and the name of Jesus healed my sick body. Forward Thinkers, if Jesus was good enough to save me, I owe this generation, Jesus.
Forward Thinkers, now notice the role of the church and this makes things so crystal clear of why I’m wired the way I’m wired. The church has the responsibility to help lame people up. We can’t be sideline Christians. We must get busy helping others up. Forward Thinkers, we must be willing to bend down. We must be strong enough to help someone else up. Forward Thinkers, the church should focus less on building stuff and more on building up lame people.
Forward Thinkers, now notice what happens when Believers get busy helping lame people. The man got strong. We all have reputations and my desire is to make sure the reputation of the ministry I pastor is that we help hurting people to get healed. No big I’s and little U’s attitudes accepted. Forward Thinkers, there should be only two groups of people at church the hurting and the healed. The healed section doesn’t have the right to look down at the hurting section because it’s only through God’s grace we have the power to stand.
Forward Thinkers, when told to get up, the man doesn’t fight, argue, or debate the instructions but he jumps up in faith. One of my favorite athletes was just elected into the basketball hall of fame, Allen Iverson. He made an amazing statement of confession when he said for years he fought his coach’s instructions and he never became the league MVP until he realized his coach only wanted the best for him; and when he bought into the vision of his coach, he reached his full potential. Wow, Forward Thinkers, I wonder how many people sit in the pews every Sunday fighting the voice of the Pastor, not realizing they are limiting their own ability to become great.
Forward Thinkers, the man was not afraid to publicly praise God for his healing. He entered into the church praising God for all He had done for him. I wonder are there any Forward Thinkers who are happy God healed you, saved you, or delivered you.
Forward Thinkers, by faith, the lame man was healed and he now has an amazing testimony and by faith, every lame situation in your life can be turned around into your victory giving you an amazing testimony also.
Forward Thinkers, amazing things happen when the people of faith get involved in the lives of lame people and when lame people get connected to the people of faith in faith.
In conclusion, Forward Thinkers, the bible says if we repent and turn to God, our sins will be wiped away and we will be refreshed. I offer you Jesus today and ask you to receive him so you can get up, be refreshed and walk into your God ordained destiny.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church now located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net