His Power

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. Acts 3:11-16 NIV

Peter had just offered healing to a lame man and it was received. It is understandable that the people were astonished to see the man walking and running after they had witnessed him laying by the gate day after day. Yet, in spite of the recognition, Peter wanted to make sure that the people were glorifying the right person for what had just been done. He made sure they knew that it was not him that did anything, but the Lord through him.

When we pray for healing in a person today, do we doubt that it can happen? And, if we have any doubt, is it because we doubt God? No, I don't believe it is. I think that for most of us it is because we doubt ourselves. We doubt our ability to perform such a miracle. Therein lies the problem. It can not be done by our ability, and we can not, nor will we ever, be able to heal someone in a miraculous way. We can not, but God can!

When we stand here on Earth and lay hands on someone requesting healing, we are merely acting as a tool for God to use. We are merely standing in the gap between Heaven and Earth. As difficult as it is, we have to start thinking less about what we are capable of and more about what God is capable of. It may be our body or our hands that are being used. It may be our lips that become a mouthpiece for God. But, it is by God's power and God's power alone that such things can be accomplished in the Earth.

In any case, whatever we accomplish on this Earth, "to God be the glory!"