Acts 3:11-16
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.

When the people saw that the lame man can walk, all of them were amazed at what they thought Peter did. Peter knew right away what was on their mind and addressed the wrong thinking of the people.

“Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Peter was saying,” HELLO??? I am just a man. I am the same as all of you. The difference is that I tapped into God’s power. It is not my power. It is not even about how good I am. It is about how good and powerful God is. It is God who is faithful. I am just a willing vessel.

When I read this, I made this a personal prayer for me. That I will not boast on the works and manifestation of the Spirit in the ministry that God has called me. In fact boasting in your spiritual gifts is like denying Christ and getting the glory. Look what Peter said next:

¹⁴ You disowned the Holyand Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

I think as Christians there is a tendency for us to try to look good and to look God-like especially when it comes to the manifest gifts of the spirit ( casting out demons, healing, prophecy) – which I all believe in and encouraged people in church to practice. But we must be careful that we do not move in spiritual pride. Moving in pride is denying Christ power and taking glory for what is not yours. Let us quit our spiritual vanity In Jesus name, Amen.