Acts 3:8
This lame man who had sat by the Temple gate begging for however many years he was there, after he was miraculously healed, could have decided to easily walk away, no longer wanting to be in the spotlight or limelight anymore. However, to do so would have been more than a scandal and in my mind a sin of scandalous proportions, a disgrace. This is not how it is done in the Pentecostal church or in the society of Jesus.
Whenever the divine intervenes and God in His almighty power suspends the natural laws and moves in the supernatural on our behalf, this is not something that we tone down, tamp down, repress or dial down. This is not something that we privatize or keep secret. This is no time for the church to be suppressed or to be intimidated into praiseless silence. It’s time for the church – this church, to go public. Like this formerly lame brother, we burst forth on the scene, rejoicing in the novelty and the splendor of the miracle performed in our lives. There is no way the Messiah could do what He has done for us without us creating a scene. He has miraculously reordered our lives!
Jesus put the woman with the issue of blood on blast when she thought, she would just quietly receive a miracle and walk away. No! Jesus created a scene! He yelled out “. . . who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30). Now in this case, the disciples really thought that Jesus was going a bit “balmy” on them. They figured He must have been extremely tired.
Just to paraphrase, the disciples said, “Really Jesus, you see the multitude thronging you and you are worried about your clothes, asking who touched me?” (v31). Nevertheless, Jesus simply ignored them and as Mark points out “And he looked around about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth (vv 31,32). The fact is, no one receiving a miracle from Him, reserves the right to keep it silent. I seriously believe that a part of the healing comes with a public declaration of us telling and declaring what He has done for us and in us. “And Jesus said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (34).
Church, tell your own story. Open your mouth and tell somebody. Open your mouth and offer the sacrifice of praise. Break the spell and rein of evil. Speak the truth about God and shame the devil. The Scriptures declare “And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony . . .” (Revelation 12:11). There is something about publicly declaring the works of the Lord. We live to declare His works (Psalm 118:17).
Maybe, we need to revive testimony services in our churches. Or maybe I should say “revise.” I mean real testimonies of healing and victory should constantly be proclaimed! Don’t just tell us about the demons; tell us also about the deliverance! Don’t just tell us about the weeping; tell us about joy in the morning. Don’t just tell us about the depression; inform the saints of your breakthrough.
The man who was lame, walked and leaped his way right into the temple, praising God. He went public, making sure everyone who saw him lame, now saw and knew he was healed. He went public and so should we today! We publicly declare the goodness of the Lord to us.
Leroy V. Greenaway
Regional Bishop – Northeast Region
