Giving the Right Stuff
Acts 3:1-10
Intro: As we look at the background of this passage, Peter and John were together again. They had done a lot together when Jesus was around. When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, there is a good chance that Peter and John were paired together. Now they are on their way to the temple to pray. Even though Jesus the Messiah had come and provided salvation, these early believers were still Jews who worshipped at the temple. Jewish historians tell us that people came to the temple to pray during the time the sacrifices were offered (9AM & 3PM), and then they came to say prayers again at sunset. As Peter and John arrived at the east side of the temple at the Beautiful gate, they encountered the lame man. This gate was made of Corinthian bronze, which was shiny and was more valuable than the gates plated with silver and set in gold. Being on the east side of the temple, this gate may have received its name, Beautiful, from the way the sunrise illuminated it with the beautiful brilliant rays of the morning sun. Little did this crippled man know that something more beautiful than the shiny gate Beautiful would shine into his life that day. Peter did not have what the beggar thought was needed; he had something 1000 times better, and he did not hesitate to give it away. Here is the heart of the message today:
Prop: We are called to give what we have, but we must make sure that what we have is the right stuff.
Interrogative: How can we share the right stuff with those in need?
TS: We are going unwrap 3 ideas today that will help us give the right stuff.
I. Earthly Riches Produce Diminishing Returns
-In terms of money, it’s not how much you have that matters; it is how you use what you have. Having less does not excuse you from good stewardship. The Bible says if you are faithful with a little, God will entrust you with more. If you are unfaithful with a little, the little you have will be taken away and given to someone who can be trusted with it. Many people dream about winning a load of money and think that they could do so much good if they only had lots of money. However, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). Faithfulness and contentment with what you have appears to be the Biblical model. Do what you can, and let God do what only He can. God wants to bless His people financially, but He will generally not do so until He sees that we can be trusted to manage His resources wisely and share them with those in genuine need.
-Having said this, we also need to recognize that money is often not what will help meet a person’s need. Peter did not stop and wring his hands and say, “Oh I wish I had more money so I could help this poor beggar.” Keep in mind, the money that people brought to the apostles was not theirs to keep. It was the Lord’s money, and they used it to help the needy among them. Could Peter have accessed some of that money to bless this poor man with? I think so. He could have talked it over with John and the other apostles and I’m sure they would have been willing to help this poor crippled man out. However, he was not distracted by the man’s request, because he knew there was something available that was far greater than any amount of money. We will talk about that in a moment, but for now I want us to see that the lack of money does not limit God from working in and through our lives. We could spend thousands of dollars on this church building (and we hope to do so one of these days); however, that money in and of itself will not bring anyone closer to knowing Jesus. Money is not evil; in fact, it is quite useful, but it can never be a substitute for the presence & power of God at work in our lives.
-In economics, the law of diminishing returns implies that beyond a certain point, additional investment in a given venture produces less and less of a return. I think that may be true to a large extent in our own pursuit of worldly wealth. We need a certain amount just to live on, but if we put too much of ourselves into the pursuit of money, we may wake up one day and realize that it wasn’t worth what we traded for it. In Mark 8:36 Jesus asks, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” There are diminishing returns on the pursuit of worldly riches. There are also diminishing returns on giving money away to an individual.
-If you see people in need, as Peter saw this lame man, you may bless them with some money and help them out for a meal or two. If you continue to give them money on a regular basis, you may see diminishing returns, because you are teaching them to be dependent on you. They lose the blessing and dignity of providing for themselves, as God intended. But the biggest problem is this: Money does not solve their problems! Money did not solve the lame man’s problem. People gave him money everyday, out of pity for him. It kept him alive, but it did nothing to solve his problems. Earthly riches can only go so far. Most of us would like to see how far that is (or we think we would).
-TS: Let’s talk about heavenly riches for a few minutes.
II. Heavenly Riches Produce Lasting Returns
-What were the lame man’s problems? He couldn’t walk, he couldn’t work, and he couldn’t worship. He was completely dependent on other people to carry him up the temple steps so he could lie there and beg for a living. Many people are content to beg for a living, when God wants to give them a life! This man did not yet have the life Jesus wanted to give him, because he had not yet believed on Jesus. After Peter gave him what he had, this man was able to walk, he was able to work, and he was able to worship! Earthly riches did not do that; but heavenly riches did!
-If we have the Spirit of God, we have all that we need, and we have what others need! Peter had no earthly riches in his possession, but he did have the Holy Spirit inside, giving Him the direction and power to speak healing and life to this lame man.
-V.8 says that after the lame man took Peter’s outstretched hand, “He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.” It is significant that he went into the temple courts with the apostles. That is where they went to pray, and that is what the lame man wanted to do. He wanted to express his thanks and appreciation to God for healing him. He praised, he prayed, he worshipped! Again, earthly riches could not produce this kind of return. Only the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ was able to produce ever-increasing dividends in the life of this man. Peter instructed this man to put his faith in Jesus the Messiah of Nazareth for his healing. The lame man was probably familiar with who Jesus of Nazareth was. He was over 40 years old, and had probably been begging at the temple throughout the ministry of Jesus. He probably would have at least heard about the uproar a few months earlier at Passover, when this man Jesus had been executed. Perhaps he had also heard that the disciples of Jesus were claiming that He had risen from the dead. Regardless, I do believe that he became a follower of Jesus the Messiah of Nazareth on that day. The heavenly riches that Peter shared with him paid eternal dividends. Maybe we will be able to meet this man in heaven someday and say, “Hey, I know you! You’re the one who went walking and leaping and praising God after He healed you!” If this man could speak to us today, I believe he would tell us that Jesus of Nazareth still does miracles today!
-TS: Well, money can help a little, and spiritual power can help a lot. Finally, let’s focus in on the main thrust of this message.
III. God Wants Us to Be Willing to Give What We Have
If You Have it, then Use it!
-This is a double-edged sword. If you have material resources of any amount, you should be sharing what you have with others who are in need. Find a need and meet it. Do not enable someone else to be irresponsible or wasteful, but share what God has blessed you with to help someone else who is truly in need. On the other hand, if you have received spiritual blessings from the Lord, be willing to share those with others as well. Have you received forgiveness from the Lord? Be willing to share with others how they can receive forgiveness. Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? Share with others the exciting news that they too can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Have you received healing from the Lord? Share with others that they too can be healed by the power of God. Also, recognize that as a follower of Jesus Christ, you have the authority to declare the word of the Lord, just as Peter did in this situation. See, the Bible gives us examples of at least two different approaches to healing. Sometimes we find believers praying and asking God to heal a person, as in James 5:16. Other times we find believers declaring healing for a person, or even commanding it (Be healed!). The formula probably doesn’t matter so much, as long as we are being obedient to the Holy Spirit and what He is saying to us.
-So, if we have silver, gold, or other financial resources, we need to recognize that they all belong to God, and be willing to share them with others. James 2:15-17 says, 15”Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well" -- but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all -- it is dead and useless.” We do have a moral obligation to help those in need when we are able to do so. But that’s not all!
-We also have a spiritual obligation to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and give of the spiritual resources we have in Christ. If you have it, use it. On the other hand…
If You Don’t Have it, then Get it!
-What do we do when “Such as I have” is not enough? What happens when we pray for people to be healed, and nothing ever happens? Now, I realize that God is completely sovereign, and has a plan in everything. I also realize that even though Jesus healed all who came to Him, I don’t know of anyone alive today who can make the same claim. However, that does not let us off the hook.
-Hear this statement: There is no reason for any follower of Jesus Christ to be destitute of spiritual power. If God’s power is not working through our lives, then we had better stop and ask, “Why not?” Lord, what am I missing? Am I not praying enough? Do I not understand Your word clearly? Is there something in my life that is hindering the flow of Your power? Does this problem require prayer and fasting?
-[Illustration] Some of you are aware that Robin and I are in the middle of a house hunt. We would like to buy a house, and live there for quite awhile, if the Lord is willing. We have wanted to buy a home all along, but I just always assumed that we did not really have the buying power to purchase anything more than a shack. However, last Sunday (our 1 yr. anniversary here), something prompted me to step out and inquire about how our purchase power lined up with the houses that were on the market. Something had to happen to make me uncomfortable enough with my present situation to seek something different. Some of you know what that was: it was a For Sale sign in front of our house. It wasn’t there before church, but it was there, as big as life after church.
-After meeting with a realtor and a mortgage provider, we discovered something. We do have buying power. Not a lot, mind you, but enough. So, we are now looking for the right situation in which to use that buying power. Why am I telling you all this?
-Well, I think it might parallel the way some of us think about spiritual power. We think we have just enough to keep on living. Maybe we would like to do more for God, being used in the miraculous and sharing our faith with others. However, we don’t think we have the necessary power. Why is that? Mark 16:17-18 tells us what kind of power Christians have: 17”And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 if they pick up snakes with their hands; or drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." That sounds like more power than we are seeing in the lives of Christians today! Why? Has God’s power decreased? No! Have we run out of people who need healing or deliverance? No! Then what is the problem? If we are praying as we ought, and being fed by God’s word, then why are we not seeing God’s power at work among us, more than we are? I don’t have all the answers to this, but here is one thought from the book of Acts.
-Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power to be His witnesses after the Holy Spirit came upon them. Apparently, they believed Him, because after the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, Peter and the others demonstrated a bold confidence that miracles would happen and that people would be saved when they shared the gospel. We must come to one of two conclusions. Either we do not have the power Jesus spoke about, or we do not think we have it, and therefore we do little or nothing with it. Kind of like our house situation. I was not aware that we had enough buying power to get out of the renting game and buy a house. Therefore, I did not pursue it any further.
-Maybe God sends things into our lives sometimes to help us recognize the power and authority we have in His name. Those things may make us uncomfortable and shake us to the very core, but if they accomplish His purposes then we should welcome them. Maybe some of our sicknesses come so that we will call on God and see His power at work in our lives. If we are living according to the principles in God’s word, and are in right relationship with Him, then we do have authority as sons & daughters of God to speak truth and life into the most difficult circumstance or obstacle. If we are not in line with God’s word or if we are out of relationship with Him, the best thing for us to do today is come to Him and make things right. It is only as we keep things right with God that we will have the right stuff to give those who are in need.
Conclusion: From one beggar to another, let me ask you this question: What do you have? You may not be able to meet a person’s need with money (although the Bible says you should when you can), but many of you do have something else that will help. If you believe in Christ, you have the Spirit of God living in you, wanting to use you to give life, hope, and healing to those in need. If you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, you have power to be an effective witness for Jesus. Please know that it does not have to be the pastor who moves in this way or prays for the sick. James says to call for the elders of the church to pray for the sick, but he was not suggesting that only church leaders should pray for the sick. Any believer can pray the prayer of faith, believing God to do the miraculous. Just remember that it’s all about Him, and not about you. You are just part of the water line that brings the cool, refreshing water to those who are dry and thirsty. That’s all I am… a tool at God’s disposal. Let’s ask God to make us all that He wants us to be. Ask Him to show you who you are in Christ, and the authority you have over sickness and disease. Be willing to be used by God to bring a lasting return in other people’s lives. We cannot and must not live for ourselves. We can and must live for the purpose Jesus has for us. What do you have to offer? From all that God has freely given to you, He asks you to freely give some to others.
-Today, if you are not in right relationship with God, you can talk to Him about it and ask Him to forgive you for your offenses against Him. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” Maybe you have never asked Christ to forgive you, or maybe you have, but it has been awhile. If you are willing to come just as you are and make things right with God, would you lift your hand? I would like to pray for you and encourage you in your spiritual journey.
