26 April 2009
Third Sunday of Easter
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: Believers are goodhearted people but should be challenged to encourage the UNCHURCHED to exercise their faith in God.
REFERENCES: Acts 3 (The Lame Beggar Healed; Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico); Acts 3:2 ESV (And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple,);1 Corinthian 3:6 ESV (I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth); I Corinthian 3:6 KJV (I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase); Psalm 4:4 ESV (Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your bed, and be silent;
Matthew 21:14 ESV (And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them; 2 Samuel 9 ESV (David’s Kindness to Me-phi-bo-sheth); 2 Samuel 4:4 ESV ( Jonathan, the son of Saul had a son who was cripple in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul & Jonathan came from Jezreel and his nurse took him up and fled; Acts 20:35-36 ESV (In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jessus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”; Luke 6:38 (ESV) give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you”;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Acts 3:1-10 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Acts 3:1-10 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Acts 3:6 (ESV) But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
IV. PURPOSE: To challenge believers to encourage the UNCHURCHED to exercise their faith in God.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “Not a nickel to my name”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
“Not a nickel to my name” implies that a Christian doesn’t have to have “money” in order to be a blessing to others. Time, Talent, and Treasures – God’s Pleasures!
It has been said (in Luke 6:38 ESV) give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Christians are known throughout the world for their love and forgiveness. If a strong Christian is having an issue with you or someone; it’s probably really an issue that needs to be lovingly addressed immediately. Because, believers are known for their giving and forgiving.
****** TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 1: Who can ever forget the story of David and Jonathan’s son – Me-phi-bo-sheth?
a. For don’t you remember, the Good book says – in 2 Samuel 4:4 – …
b. …that Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was 5 years old when Saul and Jonathan (who David Loved like a brother) was killed.
c. When the news about their death came from the city of Jezreel, the little boys nurse picked him up and fled;
d. but she was in such a hurry that she dropped him, and he became crippled in his feet.
e. In Chapter 9 of 2 Samuel, we find King David inquiring about of Saul and Jonathan’s Family Tree. He asked if there was anyone left of Saul’s family? If there is, I would like to show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake.
f. Now, instead of David having a need to show kindness, he could have very easily thought about the times when Saul tried to kill him.
g. This would have led him to feel revengeful and he may have even wanted to destroy Saul’s heir – Me-phi-bo-sheth. But, he didn’t. He thought of his battle-buddy: Jonathan and how he loved Jonathan like a brother.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: So, the Good Book says that King David was made aware of Me-phi-bo-sheth, and requested his presence.
a. When the young man arrived to the palace, Me-phi-bo-sheth bowed down before David with respect and said – “at your service Sir”.
b. David proceeded to be generous to Me—phi-bo-sheth and ultimately allowed him to eat at the Kings’ table as if he was one of his own sons.
c. David also blessed him with his father and grandfather’s inheritance, and he provided him with a family of 15 sons and twenty servants to assist him …
d. … ( This was especially important since Me-phi-bo-sheth was cripple and couldn’t work his agricultural fields in the same manner that others would have been able to do so without a crippling disability).
e. Believers are generous people.
f. It has also been said that believers are goodhearted people and will give of their substances as David did unto Me-phi-bo-sheth.
g. But, as believers we must not allow the UNCHURCHED to take advantage of our kindness. Instead, we should encourage the UNCHURCHED to exercise their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
h. Our kindness and generosity is not our weakness. So, we have to be mindful of the fact that there are some CHURCHED and UNCHURCHED folk alike that will exploit any perceived weaknesses to their benefits and our detriment.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: In our text today, we discover that the continuous witness of the apostles to the resurrection of Jesus brought a reverential fear on every person having had the privilege to hear the sermons.
a. Their fear included a sense of awe in the presence of the supernatural.
b. In fact, Acts 2:42-43 talks about the Fellowship of the Believers when it says:
c. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
d. In other words, the Good Book tells us that the First Century Church gathered everyday at the Chapel for prayer plus they also had prayer meeting in the homes.
e. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that it was 3 o’clock one afternoon, when Peter and John were on their way into the chapel for prayer meeting.
f. You remember Peter and John? They were the two that Mary Magdalene informed on Resurrection Sunday Morning that Jesus’ body had be “STOLEN”.
g. As you may recall, Peter and John took off running to the tomb to verified that our Savior’s body had been “STOLEN”.
h. They were Battle-buddy. Now, the Battle-Buddies (accountability partners)were headed to prayer together).
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 4: At the same time, there was a man who had been CRIPPLE from birth who was often carried up to the gate called “Beautiful” to beg from those going into the Temple.
a. This particular 40 year old man had been born CRIPPLE; and he was a BEGGAR.
b. His disability was apparently so extreme that he had to be carried daily.
c. Someone or some people volunteered their time everyday to carry this 40 year old man to the Gate where Church Folk could be seen the most.
d. Often times, believers are targeted by both Church and un-churched folk alike. This is because Christians have always been known to be generous in their giving.
e. Apparently this lame man BEGGED for handouts. He begged for money. But, he needed both a physical and spiritual healing. Sometimes folk don’t know what they really need which is why we should encourage the UNCHUCHED to exercise their faith in God.
f. I submit to you that this man was “spiritually cripple”; and had become accustomed to others doing for him. In fact he was satisfied with his status in life. And he was content with his spiritual condition even though it was crippling.
g. Are you content with being spiritually handicapped? Are you content with being spiritually crippled?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eyes and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.
a. Peter said, “ I don’t have a nickel to my name,” but what I do have, I’ll give you:
b. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” Then Peter grabbed the lame man by the right hand and pulled him up.
c. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.
d. The Good Book says the man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God.
e. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God.
f. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, barely believing what they were seeing.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION:
The lame man ecstatically threw his arms around Peter and John;
… and all of the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.
The Good Book says when Peter saw that he had a congregation gathered,
so he addressed the people …
