STRENGTHENING THE ANKLE BONES
Olubi and Sarah Johnson
Acts 3:1-8
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 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; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 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. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
(KJV)
In this story of the healing of the man at the beautiful gate of the temple by the Lord through Peter and John, we have hidden a present truth for the Church at this time: the end of the 4th. watch of the third day.
In a natural 24 hour day the 4th. watch is from 3.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m. Now, in the early part of 2001 A.D., we are prophetically at about 5.30 a.m (See our article on after 2 days).
The lame man here represents the Church or Christian that is spiritually lame; they cannot walk in the spirit, they habitually fulfill the lusts of the flesh, living in the outer court.
Gal 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(KJV)
Heb 12:13
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
(KJV)
Notice that the lame man was lame from his mother’s womb; this is true of many Christians today they are spiritually lame because of spiritual malnutrition as their spiritual parents: Pastors and elders, where they got born-again, did not feed them properly.
1 Cor 3:2
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
(KJV)
1 Pet 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
(KJV)
Notice that with spiritual growth, just as it is with natural growth, correct feeding will have produce proper growth and an unbalanced diet will lead to stunted or deformed growth: this is what causes some of God’s children to become spiritual lame.
So the man at the gate was lame and sat at the gate of the temple or in the outer court and could not enter into the temple proper: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
However at this time of the transition between the 4th. watch and the dawning of the new day or between after 2 days and the third day, God sends to this man Peter and John, representing third day Apostolic and Prophetic ministries.
The lame asks them for alms: financial and material blessings; just like the majority of the Church are doing today: only seeking Jesus for bread and fish.
John 6:26-27
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
(KJV)
Peter and John give to the man something far greater than silver and gold: the supernatural healing of his legs, anklebones and feet so that he can walk.
Similarly at this time God will heal the infirmities of the spiritual ankle bones of the Church, who are lame in the outer court so that they can walk in the spirit and so leave the outer court and come into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place walking, leaping and praising God. The ankle bones here represent our souls: the mind, will and emotions; by strengthening or healing the weaknesses in our souls by the power of the Holy Spirit we are then able to make our feet, representing our bodies, to walk in the Spirit crucifying the sinful nature in the flesh with it’s affections and lusts.
Rom 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(KJV)
Rom 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
(NIV)
Gal 5:24
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(KJV)
Rom 8:13
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
(NIV)
Notice, the lame man gets healed by looking on Peter and John and obeying their instructions. In the same way today any Christian who is lame and cannot walk in the spirit, living permanently in the outer court, can be healed in the name of Jesus: which represents his character, by looking on third day Apostolic and Prophetic Ministries whose emphasis is not on material and financial blessings but on developing the character of Christ. By following their examples and obeying their teachings the spiritually lame will receive strength in their anklebones and begin to walk, leap and so move from the outer court into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
Hosea 6:2-3
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
(KJV)
Notice that it is in this transition period between after 2 days and the 3rd day that we shall know the Lord by revelation knowledge or hidden wisdom in our souls and cleansing perfection in our flesh if we follow on to know. We are to follow the examples and teachings of 3rd day Prophetic and Apostolic ministries that emphasize developing and perfecting the character of Christ while not neglecting God’s financial and material blessings for the Church.
Phil 3:17-19
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
(KJV)
Matt 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
(KJV
