At times I have heard how some men of God are applauded while ministering the Word of God or praying for the sick and I wondered why Jesus is not receiving a greater applause and glory in what is done by these servants of God!

 

I have been in a meeting where a man of God is called ( oje na muo which is translated as One who moves in the Spirit) and he was just taking all that in to himself.

 

This is dangerous!

 

The walk in the Spirit is not exclusive to any man or woman of God and its nothing to brag about!

 

We are all called to walk in the Spirit!

 

I want you to take a look closely at Paul and Barnabas ministry in Lystra after healing a cripple who had never walked in his life:

 

Idolatry at Lystra

 

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

 

9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

 

10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

 

Notice what the people said about Paul and Barnabas in verse 11,12:

 

11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

 

12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

 

In verse 13 they literarily attempted to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas as they do to their gods:

 

13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

 

I want you to observe carefully the response of Apostle Paul and Barnabas in the following verses:

 

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out

 

15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them...

(Acts 14:8-15). 

 

Paul and Barnabas pointed these people to the living God and told them that they were also men with thesame nature as they are!

 

Let us also take a closer  look at what Apostle peter said to the people after healing the cripple man at the beautiful gate in Acts 3:1-16:

 

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being 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 of them that entered into the temple; 

 

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

 

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

 

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

 

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: 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 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 ...: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

 

Notice Apostle Peter's words in verse 12 to the people when he observed their amazement about the healing of the cripple man:

 

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people,

 

"Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this?

or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

 

The people believed that Apostle Peter healed the man and made him to walk by his own power and holiness! Peter could have ignored this but instead he saw an opportunity to point them to Jesus- the Author of Miracles!

 

Read his words in the following verses:

 

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

 

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

 

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

 

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

 

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