Reading: Acts chapter 3 verses 1-26.
The emphasis in Acts chapters 3 and 4 is on the name of Jesus:
• There are 8 very strong references to it;
• (3:6, 3:16, 4:7, 4:10, 4:12, 4:17, 4:18, 4:30)
• A name can be much more than identification;
• It can carry authority, reputation and power.
Ill:
• If I gave signed my name to an order at 10 Downing Street (if I could get in),
• It would probably be ignored.
• But if the PM signed the order;
• Those who received it would be obliged to obey.
• My name has no official authority behind it;
• But Tony Blair being Prime Minister his name has authority behind it.
In this chapter Peter & John will not act on their own authority:
• Ill: Putting a band aid plaster on a severed limb (no good at all),
• So they will act in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (ultimate authority).
Notice the contrasts between chapters 2 and 3:
• Chapter 2: Peter the preacher;
• Chapter 3: Peter the personal worker.
• Chapter 2: Peter is working with great crowds;
• Chapter 3: He is working with one person.
• Chapter 2: Peter’s ministry results in blessing,
• Chapter 3: Peter’s ministry results in arrest and persecution.
(A). THE Healing (verses 10);
(1). The Place - The Temple (Verse 1):
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer at three in the afternoon.”
• Acts 2:46 says that the Christians were meeting in the temple area on a daily basis.
• So it is not uncommon to see Peter and John going to the temple to pray.
• Remember for the new Christians this is a transition period; a learning curve;
• They were still observing many Jewish religious customs.
• It would take years before a clear distinction would form;
• And Christians would discover what in Judaism had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Now for devout Jews there were three special hours of prayer;
• 9a.m., 12 midday and 3p.m.
• Prayer for the Jew was always effectual;
• But they felt prayers in the Temple courts were doubly precious.
(2). The Person – a crippled beggar (Verse 2):
“Now a cripple man 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.”
There were nine gates that led from the Court of the Gentiles into the temple itself:
• ‘The Beautiful Gate’ was probably the Eastern Gate;
• That led into the ‘Court of the Women’.
Ill:
• The Historian Josephus tells us that this gate was made of Corinthian Brass.
• It was plated with gold and silver, it stood 75 feet high and 60 feet wide!
It was a good place to beg:
• Religious people tend to give money:
• For some it is part of their penance; for others an act of kindness.
Ill:
But outside a religious building then and now was a good place to beg:
• Jerusalem (Israel) today;
• Around every religious building you will find beggars.
• True not just in the Near east;
• I’ve seen it first hand in Mexico, Europe, Spain, Portugal & Italy.
The temple gate called beautiful:
• Was one of the most popular entrances into the temple;
• And thousands of people passed through it on a daily basis.
• That is why we see this crippled man was being put there.
• With forty years experience he knew exactly the busiest place to be.
• And the more people who entered the temple;
• The more chance he had to beg some money off them.
(3). The plea – Money (Verse 3):
“When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money”
• Pun when telling this story is to refer to the K.J. Bible,
• He asked for ‘Alms’ and got legs!
ill:
• Loan Officer:
• “Based on your credit history, it seems the only kind of loan you qualify for is an auto loan.”
• Customer: “You mean money to buy a car?”
• Loan Officer: “I mean money you lend yourself.”
I guess like this crippled beggar we live in a world dependent on money;
• Like this man we are sold the dream;
• That if we had more money our lives would be sorted.
Ill:
Money Will Buy…
a bed but not sleep;
books but not brains;
food but not appetite;
finery but not beauty;
a house but not a home;
medicine but not health;
luxuries but not culture;
amusements but not happiness;
religion but not salvation;
a passport to everywhere but heaven.
The man thought his biggest need was for money:
• But he was about to discover something that money could not buy,
• Something he desperately needed but had given up hope of achieving.
(4). The Peer – at the man (Verse 4):
Peter looked straight at him, as did John.”
• The Kings James Version says that; “Peter fastened his eyes upon him.”
• The Phillips translation says, “Peter looked intently at the man.”
Eye contact comes up again and again in the book of Acts:
• I guess it reveals (honesty, when lying we tend to divert our gaze anywhere else),
• I guess it reveals compassion (you are showing you care, you value the person).
Notice: Peter responded exactly the opposite to how most people respond to beggars.
• Most of us try not to make eye contact with them.
• But it may well be the Holy Spirit that caused them to give the man their full attention.
• Peter, stared at the man and got his undivided attention; ‘Look at us!’
• So the man look expectantly, hoping to get something from them.”
(5). The proposal – get up and walk (Vs 6-7):
“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
“Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk.”
• Peter had no money for this man, but he had something much better.
• He gave him health, through the power of Jesus Christ he actually healed his body.
• The man was hoping for money;
• But he got something that money could not buy – wholeness.
Notice:
(1).
• The healing was ‘of a grave organic condition’
• In other words it was real, it was not psychosomatic (psy-cho-so-matic)
(2).
• The healing took place by a direct word of command;
• He was healed without the use of any medical means.
(3).
• The healing was instantaneous not gradual;
• ‘Instantly the mans feet and ankles became strong’
(4).
• The healing was complete and permanent, not partial or temporary;
• This stated twice (3:16 & 4:10).
(5).
• The healing was publicly acknowledged to be indisputable.
• There was no doubt or question about it,
• Twice we are told that the beggar was well known in the city
• (Chapter 3 verses 10 & 16)
(B). The APPLICATION:
(1). GOOD HABBITS: place of prayer (vs 1)
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon”.
Quote:
“Bad habits are like comfortable beds—easy to get into but hard to get out of.”
Ill: Talking of bad habits I did hear the story of:
• Mrs Smith was so happy; “I’ve cured my husband of biting his nails”
• I replied; “How did you manage to do that”
• “Simple” she answered;
• “Every morning I hide his teeth”.
Don’t forget:
• Just as bad habits shape our lives negatively;
• Good habits shape our lives positively!
Quote:
“Habit is a cable;
we weave a thread of it every day,
bad habits will hold us in bondage, good habits will support us through life”.
Don’t forget:
• Just as bad habits shape our lives negatively;
• Good habits shape our lives positively!
Note:
• Paul - Acts chapter 17 verse 2
• “As was his custom”
• Jesus - Luke chapter 4 verse 16.
• “As was his custom”
The Bible encourages and teaches both:
• Regular Church attendance (meeting with other Christians),
• And times of prayer (both individual & collective).
• Every Christian needs to spend time with each other;
• And time with God.
Ill:
• A navel wife not use to phone texting, sent a message to her Church asking them to pray:
• She thought she had typed the message;
“John Anderson, having gone to sea,
his wife desires the prayers of the congregation for his safety”.
When it was read out the first two commas were missing and the mesas age read:
“John Anderson having gone to see his wife,
desires the prayers of the congregation for his safety”.
When we miss out on fellowship with other Christians (Church) and regular fellowship with God (prayer):
• Don’t be surprised if your life gets confused;
• And you start sending and receiving wrong messages!
(2). GODLY CONCERN: poor and needy (vs 2-7)
THIS POINT IS TRUE IN BOTH A PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WAY:
(a). Physical way:
• As Christians we are expected to meet the needs of the disadvantaged,
• That may mean giving clothing, food or even money to help meet needs.
• But there is verse upon verse reminding us of our responsibility:
• Proverbs chapter 19 verse 17:
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”
Ill: Amy Carmichael, missionary to India:
• Her key ministry was in setting up the Dohnavur Fellowship,
• An orphanage for abandoned children.
• Amy ministered to the whole person;
• And emphasized their physical needs, education, and character-building.
• To those who charged she was not evangelistic enough,
• Amy responded,
"...One cannot save and then pitchfork souls into heaven....
Souls are more or less securely fastened to bodies...
and as you cannot get the souls out and deal with them separately,
you have to take them both together”
As Christians when we are demonstrating practical aid:
• We win the right to a hearing;
• We build a bridge of respect that the truth of the gospel can travel on.
(b). Spiritually.
• Ill: The beatitudes – “Blessed are the poor in spirit”.
• The first step to getting right with God, is to admit our spiritual poverty.
Ill:
• Imagine I had a brand new Rolls Royce parked outside;
• And I took you all out to see it.
• It has fully leather upholstery,
• Quadraphonic sound, telephone, television in the back seat, even a bar.
If you saw a car like that you would be pretty impressed:
• But suppose that marvellous car had no engine;
• As soon as you wanted a lift, your opinion would totally change.
• It’s good, but it is not fit for the task you need it for.
• In the same way, people may appear good, but they are not fit for heaven.
WHEN:
• When you become a Christian; you get a new engine (heart);
• Then it is your responsibility to help those who are without an engine (spiritually poor):
(3). GENEROUS HEART: provided help (vs 6)
“Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk”.
Question:
• If you had the opportunity to give the whole world a gift (every person);
• What would you give that would be suitable?
Answer:
• Books – But 2 billion people in the world can’t read.
• Education – but many in the world are already educated.
• Food – While 75% of the world are under nourished, 25% are over weight.
• Similar figures would relate to clothing, money and materiel possessions.
• You could not give medicine because you disqualify the healthy;
• So what gift would you give?
When you think about it there is only one logical gift:
• A gift that is needed by everyone;
• Young or old, rich or poor, men or women, Man United fans and the rest!
• That gift is not an ‘it’ but a person ‘Jesus Christ’
• And the gospel is the means of introducing someone to God’s greatest gift.
Ill:
• Remember when the disciples (72) came back from there preaching tour;
• Luke chapter 10.
• They were on a high at the supernatural things they had experienced;
• Jesus said; “Rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven”
(4). GOSPEL opportunity: Peter preached (vs 12-26)
ill:
• Our kids have been playing with a railway track this week.
• One piece of track makes little sense until it is connected to the next piece and the….
The events in the life of Peter and John were never isolated;
• It was simply a matter of time before the next piece of track got connected.
• In verse 12 onwards, that track took the form of them preaching about Jesus.
• First to the crowd (rest of chapter 3)
• Then to the Sanhedrin (chapter 4).
An act of kindness gave them opportunity to preach the gospel:
Ill:
• Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist,
• Earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions,
• But he generously gave most of it away.
• So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it.
• Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price,
• He returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument.
• But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector.
• Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin.
The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it.
• Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea.
• “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked.
• Permission was granted,
• And the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music
• That the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred.
• “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed.
• “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler.
• Take it into the world, and let people hear it.”
Peter and John could have stayed quiet:
Instead they seized the opportunity to tell as many as possible;
The good news of Jesus Christ!
Question: What is that good news?
Answer: A perfect illustration in this story!
(a).
• He was born lame.
• All of us are born unable to walk so as to please God.
(b).
• The man was poor, he was a beggar;
• We are all spiritually bankrupt before God.
(c).
• He was outside the temple.
• All of us are cut off from God.
(d).
• The man was healed by grace (it was unexpected and undeserved)
• All of us are saved by grace (it is undeserved and free).
(e).
• He gave evidence of God’s working in his life (walking, leaping & praising God).
• We too give evidence by walking (new direction) that pleases God.
