Healing Fire
By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of September 11, 2022
A few weeks ago, our Lord revealed a Word to me about His fire coming to touch people across the USA. He revealed that so many would be healed and delivered in churches, in families and in unexpected places that it would be undeniable by unbelievers—both the churched and unchurched.
We know that God heals daily and in more ways than one. Holy Spirit revealed that this would happen right in front of people’s eyes to the point that it would prove pivotal for an entire denomination that doesn’t typically practice healing today.
Our Lord revealed that people who have used wheelchairs for decades would walk again. And even as I wrote this devotion, He revealed to me that He will even touch those with down syndrome.
Shortly after revealing this Word, Holy Spirit directed me to Acts 3, especially verse 16 (TPT), which says, "Faith in Jesus’ name has healed this man standing before you. It is the faith that comes through believing in Jesus’ name that has made the crippled man walk right in front of your eyes!"
This key verse offers us insight:
First, the name of Jesus reveals His identity, which includes Yahweh-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals. The man believed that the name of Jesus contained all that he needed to be made whole. So, the man stood in faith in his heart for all of who Jesus was before he stood physically. He came to know, even more, the glorified Jesus, who restores all things (Acts 3:21).
Secondly, this restoration happened right before people’s eyes—the very ones who denied and killed Christ (Acts 3:13-15). Oh, what an undeniable witness and wake-up call this was for these onlookers.
Interestingly, too, is that the vessel from whom the restoration flowed was Peter, the one who received restoration from Jesus directly after denying Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75, John 21:15-19). Peter had been empowered by Holy Spirit in the Upper Room and was especially compassionate to reach those who denied Christ because of what he himself had walked through.
So, Peter boldly professed the gospel to this crowd, urging them to repent so their sins would also be removed and that “times of refreshing” would “stream from the Lord’s presence” (Acts 3:19,).
Our Lord set it all up perfectly purposed so that the man who received his healing was moved to the Beautiful Gate to showcase Jesus. In so doing, God set the stage for those who denied Him to receive their wholeness before the man received his (Acts 3:2). God used the man to reach others alongside Peter and John. The man received his miraculous healing and instantly became a voice of evangelism through worshipping God (Acts 3:9-10).
We can see that every step of this process was divinely strategic. When we consider that God makes everything beautiful in His time, according to Ecclesiastes 3:11, we can clearly see that our Lord perfectly timed the repositioning of this man around the 3 o’clock temple sacrifice, when there would be a crowd and when Peter and John were about to enter the temple.
Acts 3:2 TPT says, "As they came to the entrance called the Beautiful Gate, they were captured by the sight of a man crippled from birth being carried and placed at the entrance to the temple. He was often brought there to beg for money from those going in to worship."
The Word “Beautiful” in this verse means timely and seasonable (Strong’s #5611). It means "an hour, the time of fulfillment" and "fully developed" (HELPS Word-studies). It means "beautiful in timing, hence fruitful."
It was God’s time for this man to flourish and bloom as a witness to others, who also needed redemption from Jesus.
Peter and John saw with spiritual eyes what Holy Spirit highlighted to them. It was a captivating appointment, where the power of grace (represented by Peter) and the power of love (represented by John) met faith (in the man) that stood the test of time.
This whole scene is an expression of who Jesus is and the finished work He did for us at the cross. Acts 3:20-21 TPT says He is “the chosen one for you.” He is The One who “must remain in heaven until the restoration of all things has taken place, fulfilling everything that God said long ago through his holy prophets.” The Word “restoration” here specifically means the “restoration of perfect health,” (Acts 3:21TPT study note).
I believe we are at the forefront of a time of flourishing in divine health. I believe we will see stories like this one in Acts 3 happen on a multiplied scale. I believe it will spread, like the wind-powered fire it is, across the USA.
So, Lord, let Your fire fall for Your glory. Help us to go out in Your power to heal this nation (Matthew 10:1, 7-8). In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
Originally published Sunday, 11 September 2022.
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