Witness: Empowers #2 Series

Last week, we began the conversation about what gives us meaning in this life and I suggested that is a mute point for those who call themselves Christian because if we believe that Christ came, died and rose again then we must also live it. To live out this belief we are called to become a witness for Christ. An impossible role without the power of God offered through the Holy Spirit. I then invited everyone to commit or re-commit their life to Him through the acceptance of the Holy Spirit. The hope was for a fresh anointing on our community - an anointing on the scale of what happened in Jerusalem when the gift of the Holy Spirit arrived. The second chapter of the book of Acts describes this amazing event when the Spirit of God was no longer offered just to prophets but to everyone. The cliff notes for the chapter go like this: The Holy spirit breaks into the community with a large audible gust. All the disciples present in the upper room begin to talk in a new language. The ruckus gets the town in an uproar and Peter seeing what is taking place begins to preaching some hell and brimstone to which the people respond. The community is now formed and God adds to their tribe every day. We talk about this every year when we celebrate Pentecost so I encourage you to read chapter two this week as a refresher.

This week we will begin in the third chapter of Acts. If you have your bible with you this week, or a bible app or grab the bible in front of you in the seat back, let’s turn to ACTS chapter 3 and begin in the first verse. As you’re turning to the scripture, let e give you’re a little background before I once again do a little old school teaching with you. The book of Acts was originally called the Acts of the Apostles because of all the amazing sign acts which took place in the early church. The book was written by a doctor who was also a great story teller by the name of Luke. This is the same Luke who wrote the gospel which bears his name. The book itself is dated between 63-70 AD. It explains the amazing growth of the church and the issues that developed but didn’t destroy it. The book is a history lesson of colliding relationships (the new Christians, the Jews and the Gentiles) which would challenge the new movement of God. Let's begin.

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

v. 1 the new Christ followers still considered themselves faithful Jews. They continued to head to temple for the traditional prayer times at 9am, 3pm and sunset. Eventually, they would be expelled but for the moment they were still accepted.

2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

v.2 It was common practice to lay the disabled at the gates for the people to see and have pity on. Many a Jew would give to those in need for the same reasons you might give to the person at the train station or in the intersection holding a sign asking for help.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

v.3-4 In my mind from the movies I see Jack Nicholson here playing Peter, “Look at us! Look at us! Can you handle the truth?!” It’s a moment of clarification to blot out the rest of the surrounding distractions. He was after all on the street leading into the city. It’s at a busy intersection of humanity.

5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

v.5-6 The disabled man’s attention is full engaged now and Peter performs a miracle in Christ’s name. The prior mention of John’s presence becomes clear. In the culture of that day, a truth needed a verifying witness to give credibility to the account. Remember who this was. It’s impetuous Peter the one who lacked faith, the one Christ would restore and the one who would doubt. It’s a moment which further defines Peter’s leadership. He was the first preacher in Acts 2 and the first of the apostles to perform a miracle. The results of his actions are now becoming well known.