In chapter 3 is the first recorded miracle in the Book of Acts
Act 3:1-10 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. (2) And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; (3) Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. (4) And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. (5) And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. (6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (7) And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. (9) And all the people saw him walking and praising God: (10) And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
What happened after that is interesting...and challenging to us as the church...the Body of Christ today!
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Peter and John went up together...where? To the temple at the hour of prayer the 9th hour (3 o'clock afternoon)
Thought: Could this be the prayer time Jesus referenced in His parable told in ?
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
The man was lame (from his mother's womb) for more than 40 years:
Act 4:22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
Peter and John looked like ordinary men...in fact in it is noted in Act 4:13 ...when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
They were perceived as being unlearned and ignorant which caused their critics to marvel. Unlearned and ignorant men just do not do extraordinary things. They simply wake up every day, eat their meals, do their chores, go to work, engage in their daily routine and return home to their ordinary unexciting lives.
In fact the only exciting things that happen to them are the occasional show or trip or game which they honestly and earnestly believe are exciting things!
When the lame man looked on them all he saw were two ordinary men mere Galileans! He asked for what he expected ordinary men to give...alms. Very ordinary request of ordinary people who are expected to carry ordinary stuff like silver and gold! So is that all your life is about? Daily routine with ordinary expectations? The lame world look on us expecting nothing more than the ordinary...but...it is only an outward look. The disciple of Christ has something more! You are not mere men! In fact Paul draws this point out when he addressed the Corinthian church telling them they walk as men!
1 Cor 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
How often have we not become slackers and allowed the carnal to rule us resulting in an ordinary life and walk rather than being more than conquerors through Christ in us?
As the testimony of the rulers, elders and scribes reveals... they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
BEEN WITH JESUS!!!! This is what makes the ordinary become extraordinary.
BEEN WITH JESUS!!!! This is what turns water into wine!
BEEN WITH JESUS!!!! This is what makes 5 loaves and 2 fishes feed 5000!
BEEN WITH JESUS!!!! This is what makes tax cheats and robbers honest and generous men!
BEEN WITH JESUS!!!! It makes sinful women pure before God!
BEEN WITH JESUS!!!! It makes cowards become death defying and unafraid.
Being with Jesus does something inside of you! We may be just earthen vessels but we have a treasure in this earthen vessel
2 Cor 4:5-7For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We see here ordinary seeming men going about what is looked on as an ordinary daily routing going up to the temple to pray at the ordinary hour of prayer. Nothing strange about that!
We see an ordinary world going about its ordinary business with its ordinary lameness! An accepted daily fact.
The world expects ordinary things from ordinary people and usually gets what they expect.
However there are some people ordinary seeming on the outside who pack an extraordinary punch on the inside!
Sort of like the Hulk...an ordinary weak and frail human about his business as Bruce Banner...until aroused then something inside of him stirs and he metamorphoses into something unstoppable.
Sort of like Thor...an ordinary crippled looking doctor with a walking stick...when WHAM! a flash of light and the weakling is gone...replaced by a veritable god!
The church may be seen as ordinary today! You may have been with Billy Graham but you are still ordinary! You may have been with T D Jakes but you are still ordinary! You may have been with Joel Osteen but you are very ordinary! You may have associated with Rick Warren, Oral Roberts, Morris Cerullo, Benny Hinn, John McArthur and the list goes on ad nauseum!. You remain ordinary! But the person or church that has been with Jesus is more than ordinary.
Being with Jesus imparts something that nothing else can!
BEING WITH JESUS MEANS YOUR LIFE IS NOT AS ORDINARY AS YOU OR OTHERS SEEM TO THINK IT IS!
You are in the unique position to reach the world in an extraordinary way because of who you are, because of what or more correctly WHO you have within you. What you have is not what the world expects but what you have is infinitely superior to anything the world has to offer to you. 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Look on us...we do not have what you're expecting but we have something else that more than make up for what you expected. All the world can offer is a temporal fix. What you are able to give through Christ is permanent! Col 1:27-29 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.:
2. BEING WITH JESUS GIVES BOLDNESS TO RESPOND WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE HOPE WITHIN YOU.
Act 4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, (9) If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; (10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This is the same Peter who later wrote: 1 Pet 3:15-16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
They went back to their own and prayed for more boldness Act 4:29-31 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (30) By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
He 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
3. BEING WITH JESUS MEANS YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD
2 Cor 4:5-7 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
4. BEING WITH JESUS MEANS YOU CHOSE TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN WHEN FACED WITH THE CHOICE!
Act 4:18-20 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. (20) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
May God speak to us today so that we may understand Who we have with us and in us, that we may understand that He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us so that we may boldly say what He wants us to say…that we may boldly do what He wants us to do…that we may boldly go where He leads us
Remember He said: John 14:16-20 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (19) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (20) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
