Troubled Woman

Early one Sunday morning before church a lady walked into a pastor's office looking very troubled. She closed the door, sat down on the couch, and pulled a small handgun out of her purse. She had the pastor's full attention. She told the pastor that she was extremely depressed, and that her situation was so bad that she could find no reason to go on living. She said that she really did not want to die, but she needed someone to give her hope. He was her last resort.

The pastor said, "I may not have perfect discernment, but I instinctively knew that she was not interested in joining our women's group baking pies for a potluck supper, or even hearing my message for that day. She did not care about our theological position on baptism, or whether we sang hymns or choruses. What she needed was a fresh encounter with her heavenly Father. She needed to feel the powerful love of Jesus from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet."

My friends, week after week people come to our churches who are run over by life. They may not look as desperate as this woman. They may even wear a smile on their face to hide the hurt of marital problems, abusive relationships, wayward children, financial struggles, serious illnesses, and unfulfilled expectations. Some may come to church longing for hope, for a touch from God, but for various reasons leave in the same sad state in which they arrived. You and I may eve be among those who come to worship looking for real hope. How can we better meet the needs of one another within our fellowship and those outside as well?

Many of us are familiar with the Bible story of Jesus driving the moneychangers out of the temple. Yes, I believe Jesus had righteous indignation and was angry about what he saw going on. However, could it be that He was as much or perhaps even more disappointed with what was NOT taking place! Do you recall what He said to the people after overturning the tables of those who were buying a selling there? "My house will be called a house of prayer." Then right after this Matthew reported, "The blind and the lame came to him… and he healed them." I believe that it was really Jesus' desire to have people pray. One part of doing that was turning His house into a house of prayer.

While God has gifted us with a variety of interests, talents, personalities, gifts and resources to be used for Him, prayer remains a vital ministry. With the pastor's story of the desperate woman coming to see him with a gun in our minds I would like us to look at a marvelous story from Acts 3, a story with which many of you are familiar

We see early followers of Jesus fulfilling this desire of Jesus to have people pray. The Book of Acts clearly describes the first century church as a praying church. For a few moments this morning I would like us to consider one of those many examples in the wonderful story at the beginning of the third chapter of the Book of Acts.

I. Ministry Meeting Needs

The ministry of prayer meets needs of people, of the prayers and those for whom prayer is offered. On this occasion it was 3:00 in the afternoon when Peter and John were headed to a prayer meeting at the Temple. A man that had been crippled from birth was also going toward the Temple, but he could not get there without some people carrying him. However, the lame man had a different reason to go to the Temple than Peter and John. He was going to sit down by the Temple gate to beg from those going into the Temple. So when the poor crippled man asked for a handout from Peter and John, he was doing what he had done day after day to meet his basic needs.

Has anyone ever approached you on your way to church asking for money for a meal? Perhaps you met the person on the street of our small community or a city you were visiting. Maybe the person needed a ride or a place to spend the night. The person may not have been actually physically handicapped, but for some reason needed some helped, or at least said he did. While it is good to use spiritual discernment, judgment and condemnation are not generally the best approach. I frequently have people come to me with various needs and often those needs seem to be legitimate. Consider the delightful way that Peter and John respond to this man who has a very real need.

When Peter spoke to the lame man, he probably expected to receive a monetary gift. That might have met his immediate need, but Peter and John were not financially wealthy and could not give what they did not have. Peter offered Christ and healing that met his need, not only for the moment, but for the future also. Had Peter and John given him a small monetary gift to help with his immediate needs the lame man would have soon needed more. Instead, the lame man got much more than he was asking for, he received healing, and as a result, was probably able to work to earn a living for himself in the years ahead. This wonderful story of Peter and John going to a prayer meeting does indeed open the door for our Lord to meet needs as we come to Him in prayer. Even more may be the outcome of a real ministry of prayer.

II. Ministry Meeting Jesus

Notice what Peter said to the lame man, "I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." God healed this man who had had never walked in his life. He walked and danced around praising God.

This specific ministry of prayer met the crippled man's need by healing him. Even more important I believe is the fact that another need was met, perhaps one that he did not realize he had. The ministry of prayer here resulted in his meeting Jesus. The man did not just jump to his feet and walk home. He went into the temple with them and he walked around dancing and praising God. People in the Temple recognized him as the man who had been begging by the gate. His life was transformed and Peter made it clear that Jesus touched him so God received the credit.

Conclusion

What wonderful opportunities God gives to us to help meet people's needs as we diligently engage in the ministry of prayer. God wants needs to be met and there are many needs around us as varied as the people. The ministry of prayer is to be our first response, not our last resort. As we pray we know that God may use us to meet some of the needs people face. It could be a practical need and you or I may be the one God has selected to take care of that particular situation. Of course, the need may also be one that requires God's intervention that goes beyond our power.

I am also convinced that the deeper need of human beings is to meet Jesus, to really encounter God. Other more temporal needs may need to be addressed first. A starving person may need food or a seriously injured person may need medical attention before ministering to the deeper need. Some are more aware of this than others. From what I observe and study there seems to be an increased interest in spiritual things. Seekers are looking all over in this quest and some of the spiritual things they are finding are not holy, wholesome, and Christian things.

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