The Miracle On The Way To Church Series

Tell the story from Acts 3.

THESIS:

God wants to do something through you, if you¡¯ll develop these 5 habits:

1. Be open to God¡¯s direction as you go about your business. (V. 1)

Here¡¯s a couple of guys just on the way to prayer meeting. . . and God uses them for a great miracle.

Jesus left us with these words:

Matthew 28:19-20 ¡°Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.¡±

I had a friend in KY who told me that he thought this verse meant everyone had to GO somewhere to share the good news about Jesus with someone ¨C he thought everyone should be foreign missionaries! I didn¡¯t tell him, but he¡¯s wrong. This verse really isn¡¯t translated from Greek properly. It should read like this:

¡°While you are going, make disciples of all nations. . .¡±

God wants to do the same for you! I¡¯m not necessarily saying he wants to heal a crippled person ¨C I mean he wants to use you to do great things for Him.

Somewhere, there is a person who has a need God wants you to meet:

¡õ That cashier at Wal-Mart might need to be encouraged and invited to church.

¡õ That guy who changes your oil might need to know what God has done in your life.

¡õ That friend who has the financial problems might need your assistance to make it through.

¡õ That one whose marriage is on the rocks might need your prayers to turn it around.

¡õ That family down the street who lost a family member might need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen.

Don¡¯t discount the little things God does to work miracles through your life every day if you are open to Him as you go about your business.

2. See the needs around you. (V. 2-5)

Stay tuned to the needs that exist all around you. It¡¯s not hard to hear and see if you¡¯re tuned in.

¡õ That sigh of a discouraged co-worker.

¡õ That person that lashes out at everyone (Hurting people hurt people.)

¡õ That one who is a little too quiet today.

¡õ That family member who is going through something not too many people know about.

¡õ That person at church who makes a prayer request.

You can look around and see hurts and needs, if you¡¯ll stay tuned in.

Jesus did that. . . the Bible says when he saw needs he was ¡°moved with compassion.¡± Literally, it means he had a gut-wrenching feeling of love and pity.

Matthew 9:36 ¡°But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.¡±

Matthew 14:14 ¡°And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.¡±

Mark 1:41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."

We are called to be like Jesus, and that means feeling like He felt, and acting like he acted!

3. Meet them with God¡¯s love & power. (V. 6-8)

Pay attention to what Peter could have said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t have any silver and gold. . . sorry man! Have a great day, God bless!¡±

Instead, Peter said, ¡°Silver and gold I do not have, But what I do have I give you.¡±

It¡¯s a great temptation to think that we don¡¯t have anything to offer. You know:

- When I have Bill Gates¡¯ money, I¡¯ll help someone.

- When I have President Bush¡¯s influence, I¡¯ll help people.

- When I have Pastor Darrell¡¯s training, I¡¯ll offer to listen to someone who¡¯s hurting.

- When I¡¯ve studied the Bible for a few more years, I¡¯ll start offering people it¡¯s answers.

- When I¡¯ve walked with God for a few more years, I¡¯ll tell people how he can change their lives.

- When I have all my personal life in order, I¡¯ll reach out to others.

God calls us to give WHAT WE HAVE. . .not what we will someday have. He has work for you to do RIGHT NOW!

4. Give the glory to God. (V. 9-12)

It¡¯s not a common thing to meet needs these days. . . people are too busy with their lives. So you¡¯ll have plenty of instances where someone will give you the praise. Saying, ¡°Thank you¡± is polite and fine, but they¡¯ve got to know ultimately who gets the credit.