Such As I Have
by mark baker


Acts 3:6 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.

The New American Standard translation says it like this
Acts 3:6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene walk!"

This is a very well know verse of Scripture from the book of Acts, there is even a song we used to sing back in the day. I have seen some new light in this area that has been stirring my spirit recently, and I hope will stir yours as well.
Let's read the entire passage of Scripture.

Acts 3:1. 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. 9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Lets take a look at what happened in this text.

The Apostles Peter and John went into the temple at the ninth hour, or hour for prayer, and as we just read, the lame man was healed. This was a rather spectacular miracle in that this man was a well known beggar. There was no way any body could deny what had happened. They all were very well aware of him as they saw him daily at this gate.

Peter gave the lame man something in his possession. If Peter had gold or currency, he could have given it away if he had choosen to do so couldn't he? Well, as he said he didn't have gold or silver but he did have something he could give. Peter had something that he was aware of, that was in his power to give at his own discretion. I would like for you to consider something. Peter could not give away what he did not have. He could only give what he did have. There is something else I would like to point out, you have to be aware that you are in possession of something before you can give it out. I know this sounds like an obvious statement, but we know Peter had something he could give out, the Word of God says he did. This is the second point. He not only had it, but he was aware that he had it and that he could give it away. This is the very heart of what I believe the Lord is showing us. We have something, but so many of His children are not aware of what they have, and can not give it away because they don't know that it is theirs to do so. Lord open the eyes of our understanding, that we may see.
My question is this, what did Peter have, that he had the right to give away at his own discretion? I realize Peter and John were apostles but there is something more here that we need to see. First of all, ministry gifts were and are in place to show the body of Christ how to do the work of the ministry. We often think that the ministry gifts are here to do all the work of the ministry, but this is not what God's Word tells us.
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

The American Standard say it like this Ephesians 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
The 5 offices are here in essence to equip the saint to do ministry. Part of that is teaching, and also demonstrating what the work of the ministry is. I am not saying this is the only reason God healed this man this day. Many came to know the Lord and a great revival broke out. We know that it is the goodness of God that draws men to repentence. We can surely say however that whenever the ministry gifts are in operation we should be learning from them.
Here is something else to considrer, Peter said in to the lame man in vs. 4. "Look at us.'', and then turned around later to the people and said in vs. 12. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
It wasn't the Apostles own power or godliness that made the lame man walk, yet Peter said such as I have give I thee. Peter had something he could give away but it wasn't his, how can this be? The book of Ephesians says it so very clearly
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Peter and John had power working in them. That power was demonstrated in the healing of a lame man. I want to say clearly that they did not take credit for doing the actual healing.
Peter went on to say in vs 16
Acts 3:16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Faith in the name of Jesus made this man strong, not faith because they were apostles, but faith in the name of Jesus. Can we still have that same kind of faith today? I believe the answer is absolutely yes. Faith comes the same way now, as it did then, it comes by revelation. When revelation knowledge comes, faith always comes with it. Peter understood who Jesus was, not in just his mind but by revelation of the Father. Jesus Himself made this statement

Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Is God still revealing His Son today. Yes He is. Was Jesus the same yesterday as He is today? Yes He is. Can faith in the name of Jesus do now what it did then? Yes it can.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never change!

Religious people had a very hard time with this. The truth is, it's no different now, religious minds have a hard time with something they can not understand. Your heart has to be open to the truth in order to receive it. They didn't want to receive the truth, they rejected it and turned around and threw the apostles in jail.

Acts 4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2. being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Do we as born again children of God have the same privledges as Peter and John?
We have the same privledge to receive and walk in the truth as they had. Again I would say, if you don't know you have something you can't give it away. I think many in modern Christianity can't give away, because they don't know what they have to give away. It starts with revelation. Peter and John had that revelation, and because of this they could say with absolute boldness and confidence, such as I have give I thee.

We all have to start somewhere, and for many it takes getting rid of hard held religious teachings. This is not always easy. I've talked to many Christians just like this, modern day pharisees who would not step out of their religious training to receive the full truth. This must truly sadden the Father. I believe we can get to the place where we can walk this way, but we have to start with the Word of God and walk in His life. The Apostles had to be taught and learn the things of God and receive the revelation through the Holy Spirit. They wern't born with this knowledge. It was revealed to them, just like it can be revealed to us. God is no respector of persons.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

As many as will seek after the truth will find it. God's Word is very clear about this. We are the ones who have to do the seeking. He will reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek after him. When the revelation comes, no one can take it from you, and then you too can say with absolute boldness and confidence as Peter did, such as I have give I thee.

I have seen many marvelous miracles in my life and in other like believers who have come to know the truth and have acted on it. I want to encourage all that are seeking a deeper revelation of the truth of the Gospel to begin to seek the truth, for God will surely reveal Himself to His children who are hungry after Him.

Matthew 7:7. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ?
If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, "and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (Jn.6:37),

So I know You won't cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).

I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." (Ro.10:9,10).

I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, " with the heart one believes to righteousness" and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),

And I am saved! Thank You, Lord! I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God! Glory to God!!!! Amen.


I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God's call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979.  The Lord has called me to teach.  My desire is to help all that are seeking the truth to come into a deeper understanding of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus. Olive Branch Ministries is an outgrowth of that desire.
Please feel free to visit us for more free studies and resources to help you on your journey.
Mark Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com







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