By Rev. JACOB RODRIGUEZ

A Hand For The Hurt

Ministering to people in need

"And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." - Acts 3:7

Becoming an influential person depends on one's connection with the people we wish to impact. In fact, Jesus was tremendously effective in His Ministry precisely because of his ability to connect with those he encountered. He was not afraid to associate with people of low socioeconomic status. Rather, as is evident in the Gospels, Jesus used His discernment very effectively to recognize needs and address them with wisdom.

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Like Jesus, we can also recognize people's real needs if we have and learn to use God's Spirit. People tend to focus on their wants rather than their needs. Our job as leaders and ministers is to address their Needs. Allow me to illustrate this lesson with the story of two men who had the ability to see past the "want" and were therefore able to minister to the "need" of a hopeless lame man. This lesson applies to both ministers and the people in need.

Acts 3:1-11 (paraphrased)

v.1) Peter and John went to the temple during the hour of prayer, 3 p.m.

1. Prayer is essential for a leader. The simple fact that Peter and John were on their way to a prayer meeting, lets us know that they were consecrated men and leaders of prayer.
2. Leaders and ministers should engage in continual prayer.

v.2) They came across a man who was crippled since his birth. Everyday this lame man was carried to the temple gate, which was called "Beautiful". It was at this gate that the crippled man would beg for money. (The temple gate was a valuable spot for a beggar because when people would go in and out of the temple, they would be moved to compassion).

Application of the lame man

1. Today there are many "spiritually" crippled and dysfunctional Christians who cannot walk on their own. These are saints who continually need to be carried and assisted by the strength of others.
2. Due to this man's disability, he could not enter into the temple like others and experience the presence of God. Here, the Temple "represents" spirituality and the presence of God. Disabled Christians often find themselves sitting outside the gates of a relationship with God. There is something in their lives, such as sin or insecurities, that withholds them from an ongoing encounter with Jesus. These are needs that we must address.

v.3) The lame man who was begging noticed that Peter and John were walking towards the gate of the temple and about to go in. So the lame man asked for money.

v.4) Then Peter and John fixed there eyes on the man and Peter told him, "Look on us".

1. Peter wanted to make sure that he had this man's attention before speaking to him.

v.5) So then the man looked at Peter expecting to receive money which he was begging for.

1. This crippled man wanted and expected money from Peter, but this is not what the man needed.

v.6) Immediately Peter clarifies that they do not have any money to give him. But he offered him something better then money. And that was Jesus Christ. Thus, Peter told him to get up and walk.

1. So many times leaders and ministers tend to give people what they want, instead of what they need. (e.g. preaching the popular message instead of the proper message, giving people stuff that will make them feel good, instead of stuff that will change them).
2. This lame man wanted money, but in actuality, he needed to be healed. He needed a miracle.

This lame man was in a low situation. One could easily imagine that he longed for a normal life beyond the money that was given to him Peter did something that to help him get there. He didn't give him money, but he gave him his hand.

v.7) Peter then gave the lame man his hand and lifted him up. So then after Peter did this, God healed the man's legs and he received strength.

1. The key to this man's miracle was in the lifting hand of Peter.
2. The key to a successful ministry is having the ability to lift people up from there situations. To encourage, edify, and strengthen people.

Application - Find yourself in either of these men:

The lame man
People have different types of hardships that limit their activity, both physically and spiritually. These situations will literally cripple their faith and paralyze their passion for God. All in all, these people rely on the faith and relationships that others have with God. Those who are strong in God don't realize it at times, but they are carrying the weight of those who spiritually cannot walk. The lame man was one who sat outside the gates of "what could be". He sat outside the gates of a relationship or an experience with God. The lame man had broken or dysfunctional areas in his life, not able to walk on his own. He needed someone who had faith in God to lift him up.

Peter: A lifting minister
People in ministry or leadership often fall subject to giving people what they want rather then what they need. This is because they can become prone to people's satisfaction, not wanting to rub people the wrong way. The fact of the matter is you have to tell people the way it is: the truth. The lame man was begging for money, but he needed a miracle! So Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up. The responsibility of the ministry is to recognize the need in people's lives. We must have the ability to connect with people so that when we stretch forth our hand, they will receive it. We need to have a lifting ministry, able to help the "injured"(mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually).

Conclusion
There are many hurt people who cannot walk on their own. Like the Lame man in Acts chapter 3, they have become immune to their injuries and don't bother asking for those wounds (or injuries) to be healed. Rather they ask for what makes them feel good for a moment. They'll say: "Just give me a popular preaching, or a nice service and that should make me feel better". But the problem is they sit outside the gates of a true experience with God. This is where the ministry comes in. The responsibility of those in ministry is to help and lift people to that place of strength, giving a hand to those who are hurt. As ministers and leaders, it is essential to see past people's wants and address people's needs. Give a Hand for the Hurt.

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Jacob Rodriguez is an ordained minister at Apostolic Faith Temple in San Jose, California where his father, Joseph Rodriguez pastors.

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