Date: 11-June-2023
Name: Lakers Komaiya
Topic: A PREPARED VESSEL
Content:
*Acts 3:1-8* - “Now *Peter and John* went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And *a certain man lame* from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to *ask alms from those who entered the temple*; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So *he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them*—walking, leaping, and praising God.”
*Reflections* - Let us examine three dichotomies in this text.
*Men vs. Vessels*
1. There are three sets of protagonists in this story: the apostles (Peter & John), a certain man lame, and the crowd who entered the temple.
2. While Peter and John looked up to God to meet their desire to be blessing, the lame man looked up to a crowd for alms - his sustenance. He did not realise what he truly needed.
*Psalm 121:1* - “I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes form the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3. God brought alignment between the apostles (the vessels) and the lame man.
Prayer Points:
*Prayer Point 1*
Father, I thank you that by Your grace and mercy you are causing an alignment between me and the vessels You have prepared for me today and this week.
 I acknowledge Your leadership in my life and family today and forever.
*Gate vs. Temple*
1. Peter and John went up to the temple.
2. The certain man lame from his mother’s wombs carried and laid at the daily at the gate of the temple. *The man always made it to the gate but not into the temple*.
3. The lame man was over 40 years old on this day. There is a fine line between "*Doing the same thing and expecting a result and doing the same thing and expecting a different result.*"
4. The lame man had mastered the craft of begging for alms. This is called *conditioning.* He adjusted to the limit and boundary the people and his environment outlined for him.
5. While the people who were assisting and supporting him were proceeding into the temple, they felt it was enough for them to give him alms but not to encourage him to come with them into the temple. (Individuals who are lame are typically unfit to serve as priests in the temple).
6. God had mercy and arranged vessels to visit this certain lame man.
*Prayer Point 2*
Father, may I not just sit at the gate when you have invited me into the Secret Place where Your Presence is just enough for me. May I be passionate about dwelling in Your Presence for the rest of my life.
*Want vs Need*
1. It took the vessels (the apostles) sent to the lame man to recognise his needs rather than what he wanted.
2. Even though the certain man was consistent and diligent to ask alms from people around him, he was looking to the wrong source to have what he wanted. He looked to men rather than the true Source of all things. On some occasion, being consistent and diligent may not be enough!
*What is the significance of the temple?*
David spoke the words of this song in *2 Samuel 22:7* on the day the Lord delivered him form the hands of Saul, “In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God. He heard my voice *from His temple* and my cry entered His ears. *The temple is the habitation of God*.
3. The lame man failed to abide by the prayer of King Solomon in
*1 Kings 8:37-39* - “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: 39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men).”
4. The day of the lame man’s visitation was just like any other day.
5. God has ordained you to enter into His Presence. He has invited you too!
6. As you proceed to church today, ensure to enter and dwell in the temple...His Presence.
*Prayer Point 3*
Father, I receive the grace to honour all men that come my way. Cause me to discern the vessels that You are sending to me to be a blessing to me, and align me to the one who You have ordained me to be a blessing to. Father, help me to find my habitation in You.
