The Word of God shows us the situation of a crippled man. This crippled man was always in front of the church. He had faith to ask his friends, neighbors and family members to take him to the front of the church so he could ask for change…begging for coins. But my question is, why didn’t he ask to be taken inside of the church, to the altar, to the place that would actually change his life?

One day a man of God was going inside of that same church to pray and he felt annoyed by the situation of this crippled man, being in front of the church every day begging for coins. You can compare it to if you saw a sick person pleading for help in front of a hospital, or someone hungry and begging for food in front of a restaurant.

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.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Acts 3:6-7

Now, this man’s curse was broken. Now he was able to enter the temple and praise God. Many are like that crippled man sitting outside the church with a crippled faith. They only clap their hands for other people’s testimonies. I believe when the crippled man would receive change from others he would clap his hands to others or say thank you to others for providing for him.

The altar is the only solution for those who are crippled in faith. You have been sitting inside of the church, listening to the messages and clapping your hands to other people’s testimonies. You partake in other people’s joy, you even cry when you hear strong testimonies of what God did in someone else’s life. But…. look at you, you are still begging. This is a curse.

To be depending on others is not a blessing. God does not want for you to depend on anybody. You have to depend on God Himself and on your faith. So right now I tell you “Rise up and walk”! I mean rise up and do something to change your life! When you are walking you are able to work, you are able to make your money, be your own boss and grow financially. Right in front of you, you have the curse or the blessing. The curse is the misery, poverty, betrayal, divorce, death in the family, or any kind of destruction. The blessing is on the altar. Mount Gerizim is the altar. You need to transfer your life to the altar of Mount Gerizim.

You need to stand up, don’t just sit inside of a church, rise up and you will see the victory, you shall be like Abraham, not just blessed, but THE blessing. May the God of the Bible bless all of you!

Bishop Bira Fonseca