May 18, 2014
Evening Service

God is moving in incredible ways as we begin the Book of Acts of the Apostles.  Jesus has completed His earthly ministry and ascended into heaven right before the apostle’s eyes.  He left them with a command and a promise.  He commanded them to tarry in Jerusalem and He promised they would receive “power from on high” (Holy Spirit).  The apostles obeyed and Jesus delivered.  Peter’s first message led to about 3,000 being saved.

This morning we saw the beginning of the church described to us.  A community of believers was formed where they all took care of each other and lived in unity.  Luke stated that they met together with gladness and simplicity, praising God and finding favor with men.  It also was the Lord who added to the church daily.  Chapter 3 offers another way God moved to spread the Good News of Jesus to others.

Act 3:1-3 And on the same day Peter and John went up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  (2)  And a certain man, who was lame from his mother's womb, was being carried. And they laid him daily at that temple gate which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered into the temple.  (3)  Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

·         Peter and John sticking to their old habits continue to come to the temple at the time of prayer.  They enter by a gate which is called “Beautiful,” no doubt for the beauty of the architecture and landscaping.  In the midst of all this beauty lies one whose life is full of suffering and heartache.  He was seeking a better way.

·         In the beauty and ease of the life styles we are all so accustomed to, we still encounter those in our lives that are suffering and seeking.  We see them and wonder what can I do for them?

 

Act 3:4-11 And fastening his eyes on him, Peter with John said, “Look at us!”  (5)  And he paid heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.  (6)  But Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”  (7)  And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up. And immediately his feet and ankle-bones received strength.  (8)  And leaping up, he stood and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.  (9)  And all the people saw him walking and praising God.  (10)  And they recognized him, that it was him who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  (11)  And as the lame one who was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly amazed.

·         What an awesome story, definitely one of my favorites.

·         Peter and John were able to see beyond the man’s financial needs and in “the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” they gave him much more than even what he had hoped for.  What if they had merely gave him some money?  Would his life have changed?

·         This is the God we serve.  He gives us a gift far greater than the one we ask for.  This is the gift we possess and are now able to share with all those who we know are seeking. 

·         We can and do often, as the church, help people financially with needs they have but, we do that with the hope of sharing with them the gospel of Christ.  It creates an opportunity to witness to them of why we do what we do.  We are able to point them to the One who can give them what they are truly searching for.

·         Let’s see how this miracle turns into an opportunity for Peter and John.

 

Act 3:12-16 And seeing this, Peter answered the people, Men, Israelites, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though we had made this man to walk by our own power or holiness?  (13)  The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His son Jesus, whom you delivered up, denying Him in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to let Him go.  (14)  But you denied the Holy and Just One and desired a murderer to be given to you.  (15)  And you killed the Prince of Life, whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.  (16)  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, this one whom you see and know, His name made firm. And the faith which came through Him has given him this perfect soundness before you.

·         The receiving of the Holy Spirit and the speaking of many languages gave Peter opportunity and an audience to share the gospel message.  This man’s healing now creates another platform for him to speak from, and he again steps up.

·         Notice he again makes the death of Jesus very personal with the crowd.  He said whom YOU delivered, denied, and killed.  Sin needs to very personal with us.  We must realize that we to are guilty of delivering, denying, and killing Jesus.  His trip to the cross was to forgive my sin as well as theirs.

·         He is also crystal clear that this wonderful miracle was done by faith in the Name of Jesus, always deflecting the glory to the One who deserves it.

 

Act 3:17-19 And now, brothers, I know that you did it through ignorance, as also your rulers did.  (18)  But those things which God before had shown by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He fulfilled in this manner.  (19)  Therefore repent and be converted so that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, (21) whom Heaven truly needs to receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began

·         Peter again uses the keys to the kingdom and offers the solution to the sin problem.  “Repent and be converted so that your sins may be blotted out.”  This is the real miracle that occurred here.  It is not that a lame man walks, but that a sinner can be saved!

·         He now again uses scripture to help persuade his audience to believe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Acts 3:22-26) For Moses truly said to the fathers, "The Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet to you from your brothers, One like me. You shall hear Him in all things, whatever He may say to you.  (23) And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people."  (24)  And also all the prophets from Samuel and those following after, as many as spoke, have likewise foretold of these days.  (25)  You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in your Seed shall all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  (26)  Having raised up His son Jesus, God sent Him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you away from his iniquities.

·         The Jewish people are given the first opportunity to receive the gospel message.  As we continue we will see the inclusion of the Gentiles (us).

·         They were given the choice to hear, obey and receive the forgiveness of their iniquities or they can choose to reject it and “be utterly destroyed.”

·         Sounds pretty familiar doesn’t it?  We are each given the choice of eternal life with Jesus or having our “part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death.”  (Rev. 21:8)  That choice remains constant throughout the years.

 

From this powerful story we are able to learn some important points.

·         Helping others with their physical or financial needs creates opportunities for us to help with their spiritual needs, which are far more important.

·         The choice Peter spelled out for his audience that day is the same choice each of us still faces today.  It is the single most important choice we make in this life and for eternity.

·         Do what you are called to do “in the Name of Jesus,” giving Him the glory for it all.  Realize we are just tools in His hands.  Let His glory be the motivation for our action.  Paul encouraged the Colossian church:

 

Col 3:17  And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

 

Lord, may our heart’s desire be to bring You glory.