Acts 3:1-10
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
So thankful that each and everyone of of you are here to worship with us in Spirit and in Truth today
It is my prayer that God speaks to us this morning, that he breathes Fresh wind and Fresh fire into our sails
That Jesus would become more real to us today, than ever before
And that if there is anyone here today that has not surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that today would be the day of salvation
PRAYER
Read Acts 3:1-10
REVIEW
We have spent that last few weeks here in the text because of its richness for us today
We talked about the hour of prayer and how the Jews purposed in their hearts to pray 3xs a day.
We have learned that this lame man was lame from his mothers womb and that he is over 40 years old. This man is a picture of us, before we came to Jesus. We were paralyzed in our sin, until Jesus saved us. We also talked about how things can come into our lives as a believer and cripple us. One last picture, this lame man was also a picture of Judaism and how it became a dead religion. Many were just going through the motions. In fact, that man laid outside the gate of Beautiful for years and religion did nothing to change that man.
There is a chance that Peter, John, and Jesus walked right by him many times going into the Temple
And finally last week we learned about alms giving and what that looks like for us today in 2020.
And today, we will discuss what happened to this this lame man that moves form pleading for alms to praising God in an instant.
And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
See when eye contact is made in the midst of begging, its like saying I got you!
Peter and Johns eyes were fixed upon this man
Peter took a leap of faith, and must have heard the Holy Spirit speak to him here.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
If Peter and John did not spend time with the Lord in the upper room, do you think they would have noticed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to help this guy?
Do you think Pete would have heard the Lord voice on what to do here?
Remember church, Peter and John had walked by this man many times before
But now something was different, . They were filled with the Holy Spirit and walking with the Lord.
This lame man was expecting alms. He was expecting what everyone else had given him over the years, some change to get by.
But the Lord had another plan!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God’s timing is perfect and church God’s timing is not our timing for:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
There are just somethings in life that we will never understand and personally I think this is one of them.
But remember uses this man’s life transformation to set up the sermon that is preached to the Sanhedrin that crucified our Lord>
Hallelujah
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.”
Peter really didn’t have silver and gold Why?
Let me share just 2 thoughts here:
Read Acts 2: 40-47
And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
Peter was telling the truth, he had no money
And besides somethings money cannot buy and what was about to happen is one of those things.
The story is old of Thomas Aquinas walking with the Pope around the Vatican around the 12th century. As they walked the Pope pointed out the gold, silver, & ornate buildings & said, “You see, Thomas, the church can no longer say, Silver & gold have I none!” To which Thomas replied, “I do see, but I see something further. She also cannot say, Rise up & walk!”
We live in an era that the church has tremendous resources like:
Silver and Gold
Like Food and Clothing
Like programs
But do we really have a hold of that one thing that really matters?Jesus and the Gospel!!!
It is easier to ask people to feed the homeless than it is to ask them to share the Gospel with their neighbor, with their spouse, with their co-workers or the convince store clerk
It is easier for us to give Silver and Gold than to have a relationship with the person or persons we are giving that silver and gold to.
But do we realize that there is power IN THE NAME OF JESUS?
The very thing that God gave us:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We neglect to give to others… Jesus, we neglect to give others the Gospel
When is the last time you shared Jesus with someone?
When is the last time you shared your testimony?
There is a lost and dying world out there and they don’t need our Silver and Gold church, they need Jesus!Jesus! Jesus!
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Sinners are spiritually lame, helpless, needing far more than all that money can buy.
They are in need of salvation. When the gospel is preached to sinners, the sinner will begin to wrestle with this God man named Jesus. The Holy Spirit will produce conviction and today will be the day of salvation for that person.
Church we must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and speak to men about Christ as the Holy Spirit prompts.
In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!!!!
Peter with calm authority in his voice said, “In the name of Jesus the Nazarene - rise and walk!”
Peter was bankrupt materially but spiritually he had rivers of living waters flowing out of him.
Can you imagine that electrifying moment when Peter told this lame man to walk?
This was an impossible situation. Rationally, medically and scientifically this was a hopeless case. It was an impossible situation!
Yet, Peter, in the name of Jesus
Christ told him to walk. A name stands for all that a person is;
In the name of’ is a frequently occurring biblical phrase meaning ‘by the authority or power of the person whose name is mentioned’. ‘In the name of Jesus Christ’ represents Jesus’ divine authority and continuing power to grant the blessings of salvation...
Peter was saying, “In the power of Jesus Christ who is God, walk!”
Notice carefully that Peter claims no power of his own and gives all the glory and honor to the name of Christ.
Peter at this point could have become a famous healer, but he chose to direct men's attention away from himself and toJesus Christ.
Church, would Peter of had this kind of faith if he did not spend time in prayer in the upper room hanging out with his brothers and sisters in Christ?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Church, would Peter of had this kind of faith if he did not have an encounter with Jesus in the upper room in prayer hanging out with his brothers and sisters in Christ?
Peter was transformed because he came to the end of himself. He was a broken man.
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Have you wept bitterly over your sin?
Bitterly-pi-kros- adv. — in a manner expressing great anguish, resentfulness, or pain. With agony and being grieved.
I am reminded here that:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
And that God is close to the broken hearted:
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Peter not only had a broken heart when he had denied Jesus three times, but he had a contrite spirit.
What is a contrite spirit?
Contrite- dak-ka — to be subdued or brought low in condition or status, it means to be crushed or humiliated and despondent
I believe when Peter denied Jesus three times as Jesus prophesied, he became and broken and contrite man. This was the point of surrender for Him. This is where the Gospel that he had seen in action produced fruit in his life. The fruit of repentance that lead to salvation.
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Peter repented, surrendered His life and was used by God right here.
Had Peter not been broken, not been contrite, if Peter did not repent and believe upon the name above every name. We would not have this story.
See church, disciples reproduce disciples.
If Peter was not saved, do you really think he would have said in The Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk?
Church, God is calling us to rise up and walk.
Are you tired of being mediocre Christians ? Are you tired of not sharing about Jesus?
Well today, we can make a decision to spend time with the Lord as Peter, so we can share the Jesus that saved our lives.
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter told the lame man to walk and then extended his hand to the man to help him to stand to his feet.
Just think, he had never stood before and at this moment he was not yet healed.
It took real faith for that lame man to grab Peter's hand. Peter had the faith to reach out.
What must have gone through this lame man's mind? There must have been some questions, some reservations and some doubts, but he reached out in childlike faith and took Peter's hand, and at that moment strength came to his feet and ankles.
He had been the victim of a miracle through the power of Jesus Christ. When this man was healed, it was an immediate act and a complete act. It was a clear cut supernatural healing.
It was not just a physical healing, but a spiritual healing as well.
This was not just a miracle of healing, but of creation...
This man never walked before, therefore there was no muscles, what about his tendons and ligaments?
But notice what happened:
It was just one step, not 25 steps to healing or 12 steps, but one step
It was immediate
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
3. Then look at what happened;
So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Notice that he did not run to anywhere else when he was healed, when he was saved, but to the temple?
He was praising God and not Peter
4. Any everyone witnessed this mans transformation.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
When get saved and supernaturally healed.
The natural things to do is to Praise God forever.
When you gave your heart to Jesus, can you say that you did this?
Peter got saved, therefore Peter started saving others.
Church we cant give away that which we do not possess.
Peter gave away what he possessed.
He said, but what I do have, I give to you!
In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and Walk!
Do you have this Jesus?
Church, God is peaking to us individually and corporately.
He is calling us to Rise up and Walk!
If there is anyone here today, that has been playing church, but not sharing the Gospel I would ask that you please stand?
Is there anyone here today that is tired of living mediocre Christian life that is not producing fruit for God’s Kingdom then please stand?
Is there anyone here today that has not truly accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, please stand!
Is there any one in the house that wants to be used by God like Peter?
Do you need to reach out and take the hand that is laid out for you?
Then please stand!
We should all be standing:)
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley. . . . I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the SovereignLord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’“ Ezek. 37:1-6
Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, we would do well to meditate on this portion of your Word once a month—no, make that at least once a week. For it “calls out” our unbelief, it confronts our complacency, it deconstructs every excuse that we offer for giving up on difficult situations and people.
Father, for your glory alone, I ask you to breathe on our dry bones. Where there’s little love, joy and peace left, bring a fresh outpouring of affection from above. Fill us with your Spirit again and cause us to share the Name that is above every name the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord we are tired of living a mediocre Christian life, we are tired of being unfruitful for your Kingdom and we want to be Like Peter who shared the Gospel and this lame man who was leaping, walking and praising you while walking into the temple. Lord God we repent and ask that you forgive us our sinfulness and come fill us with Fresh Wind and Fresh Fire to do your bidding. Father fill us with the Spirit that Peter had When he said, Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you, In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and Walk!
Lord, empower us to rise up and walk as we have been sitting to long doing nothing.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Announcements
Does anyone have any announcements?
There will be 2 prayer meetings on this Wednesday March 4. 5pm and 6:30pm, soup ???
The following Wednesday will be the first Grow Group at 6:30pm
Please sign up to be part of the greeting teams, soup teams and childcare