This passage shows us the importance of word and spirit working together at the same time. There appears in most cases to be two sides in church views.
Church "word" side: honor of Gods name will not be restored until we examine truth of scripture and correct doctrine that is understood as God intended it to be. Which is correct. Then there is the "spirit" side which says honor of God's name will not be restored until we get back to the book of Acts where there was signs miracles, and where the Holy Spirit stuck people dead from disobedience. Which is also correct. Thing is we do not need one or the other they are both correct. The problem with many churches is they stand for one or the other, they are at a divorce with each other and are in need of binding together. Again this passage shows the importance of word and spirit working together at the same time.
It also shows the blessing and advantage of unanswered prayer because the beggar was asking and wondering for years why known would heal him. Have you ever thanked God for unanswered prayer? If God says "no" it is because he has a better idea, and probably better than you could think of. You cannot make God do anything, but you may ask. You must respect the sovereignty of God, His right to do what he wants to do weather you like it or not, he is the Judge.(John 3:8, John 5:19
We must be aware of the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit. His personality is very sensitive, like a dove it is very shy and peaceful, but you cannot train the Holy Spirit rather you must be trained by it. The easiest thing to do is grieve and hurt the feelings of the Holy Spirit causing it to fly away. Remember as a Christian you would have the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit will not bend rules for anyone, so you must have an open heart to understand what it may be telling you. The great problem with many of us Christians is that we do not know the WAYS of God. You may not like God's ways in fact your sinful nature is in conflict with it but to learn the Doves ways you must adjust to them. If you are able to confess your wrong doings not within, years, months, days or hours, but within seconds, then you just may know the WAYS of God. Be willing to be wrong. "You can accomplish more in 5 minutes with the Dove than 5 years without it." RT Kendall
Peter and John were walking in the WAYS of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is impossible with God, but you must know his ways. Before the fire....yes first the Dove. It is not the gift alone that makes known to you Gods WAYS, you may very well use the gift for yourself to get your own honor. The STRATEGY of the Dove was to give Peter and John a platform. They where not about to take any credit (3:12) but were given a platform to preach the gospel. As Bill Willson says "The Miracle was not in the miracle." Because if we only look at the miracle we do not see the purpose of it, or the STRATEGY. And we will not see the STRATEGY in its full in this life.
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