SERMON OUTLINE:
The Activity - Prayer (vs 1)
The Place – Beautiful Gate (vs 2)
The Request – Money (vs 3)
The Miracle – Salvation (vs 6-8)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• What’s in a name?
• List of celebrities actual birth names try to guess their celebrity name.
One of 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)
• i.e. chapter 3 verse 6:
• “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.
• In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
• i.e. chapter 3 verse 66: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see”.
• 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 (that’s if I could get in),
• It would probably be ignored.
• If Nick Clegg signed the order it would still probably be ignored!
• But if David Cameron signed the order;
• Those who received it would be obliged to obey.
• My name has no official authority behind it;
• But David Cameron being Prime Minister his name has authority behind it.
In this chapter Peter & John will act on a higher authority – the name of Jesus!
• To act on their own authority would be foolish;
• Not even the greatest doctor in the world can heal a man by just using his voice.
• So the disciples must act in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (ultimate authority).
(1). The activity - Prayer (Vs 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;
• Jesus has just returned to heaven and the Church has just been born.
• The very first Christians were all converted Jews;
• And so they were still observing many Jewish religious customs.
• It would take years before a clear distinction would form between the two;
• And Christians would discover that which is in Judaism;
• Has now 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 meaningful;
• But they felt prayers in the Temple courts were especially heard by God.
Application:
• Prayer is a good habit to cultivate.
• Just as bad habits affect our lives so do good habits.
• 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 an elderly couple:
• The wife proudly boasted that; “She had cured her husband of biting his nails”
• When someone asked her; “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”.
Prayer is a good habit that the Christian must cultivate – but remember that:
“If the request is wrong, God says, "No."
If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow."
If you are wrong, God says, "Grow."
But if the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right,
God says ‘Go!’”
• “If the request is wrong, God says, "No."”
• This is when we ask a miss – that is out of the will of God
• “If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow."”
• This is when there are other things that need to happen before the answer comes.
• God's delay is not God's denial.
• “If you are wrong, God says, "Grow."”
• The answer does not come because you are not ready to handle it.
• “But if the request is right, the timing is right and you are right, God says, "Go!"”
• This is promise fulfilled and Heaven coming down to earth.
(2). The Place – Beautiful Gate (Vs 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.”
• The temple was the most important building in Jerusalem:
• It was not only awe inspiring because of its religious significance,
• But also for its physical dimensions, its grandeur and its beauty.
• The temple was a bit like a maze:
• There were nine gates in which you could enter the temple;
• But only certain people could enter certain places.
• ‘The Beautiful Gate’ was probably the Eastern Gate;
• That led into the ‘Court of the Women’.
• It’s not that this was a place only for women,
• But it was the farthest point that women could go inside the Temple.
Note: the contrast in this narrative:
• The temple was a place of beauty;
• 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!
• But alongside this thing of beauty;
• Was something very unattractive, very unappealing, very disagreeable:
• A beggar – to be precise lots and lots of beggars;
Ill:
• We come across beggars today;
• They are found in public places such as shop doorways, or by cash-machines;
• They mostly request money, but may also ask for cigarettes or other items
• A few years ago when I was around the Western wall in Jerusalem;
• Several beggars came up to me with their arms out stretched asking for money.
• It still happens today in Jerusalem;
• And it happened then 2,000 years ago!
The temple was of course 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.
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.
Application:
• Christians have always had a concern for the poor and needy.
• The first schools, hospitals, orphanages were all started by Christians;
• Still today all around the world Christians provide these services to millions of people.
Ill:
• London City Mission DVD – Homeless.
• http://youtu.be/Nja_FQfm93Q
Ill:
• Amy Carmichael (16 December 1867 – 18 January 1951),
• Was a missionary to India where she served in India for 55 years without furlough.
• 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.
(3). The Request – Money (Vs 3):
“When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money”
• Many a preacher over the years has played on the pun;
• From the old English contained in the King James Bible,
• He asked for ‘Alms’ and instead got ‘Legs’!
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, then our lives would be sorted.
Quote:
• John D. Rockefeller was a billionaire oil mogul;
• Who built Standard Oil to become the largest company in the world during his time
• “If you want to get rich;
• (1). Get up early.
• (2). Work hard.
• (3). Find oil!”
Quote:
• He was asked this question one day:
• “How much money does it take to satisfy a man?”
• He replied; “A little more than he has!”
• Many of us are sold the dream;
• That if we had more money, then our lives would be sorted.
Ill:
“Money Will Buy…
Money can buy a bed but not sleep;
Money can buy books but not brains;
Money can buy a clock but not time
Money can buy food but not appetite;
Money can buy finery but not beauty;
Money can buy a house but not a home;
Money can buy medicine but not health;
Money can buy position but not respect
Money can buy blood but not life
Money can buy sex but not love
Money can buy insurance but not safety
Money can buy food but not appetite
Money can buy luxuries but not culture;
Money can buy amusements but not happiness;
Money can buy a cross but not a saviour;
Money can buy a passport to everywhere but not to heaven”.
This beggar 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 miracle – salvation (wholeness) (Vs 6-8):
“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”
Notice: Peter responded exactly the opposite to how most people respond to beggars.
• Verse 4: “Peter looked straight at him, as did John”.
• 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 looked on expectantly, hoping to get something from them.”
• Peter had no money for this man, but he had something much better.
• He gave him salvation – this wholeness, his health was restored;
• Through the power of Jesus Christ he actually healed his body.
“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.”
• 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)
• This man was irrefutably healed by the power of Jesus Christ.
• His life was turned around by the power of Jesus Christ!
APPLICATION:
• God is still in the business of working miracles;
• On occasions physical miracles – peoples bodies are restored to full health & strength.
• But the greatest miracle of all – is a changed life!
• And Peter uses this miracle to explain that to the crowd.
• Verses 12-26: Peter preached to the crowd;
• And he told them about Jesus.
• Quote: Verses 14-15:
• “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead”
Ill:
• Think of the human race aboard a hijacked jet-liner flying through time.
• God himself directed its take-off from the divine control-tower.
• The initiator of all evil, whom we call the Devil, Managed to get a boarding pass.
• When the plane reached its cruising altitude,
• The Devil produced his weapons, threatened the pilot,
• And took control of the aircraft and all its passengers.
• Thus the plane hopped on fearfully through history;
• From airport to airport.
• Until it was caught on the tarmac at Jerusalem,
• An outpost of the Roman empire, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
• Where the Son of God offered himself as sole hostage;
• In exchange for the passengers and crew.
Quote: The Bible says:
• 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 24:
• "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross"
Ill:
• And the resurrection is the proof that is what happened on the cross;
• ill: Receipt from shopping is ‘proof of purchase’
• The resurrection is the Christians ‘proof of purchase’;
• That is what happened on the cross;
Peter continued in verse 16:
“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”
• Like the lame man was healed physically by the power of Jesus Christ;
• You and I by ‘faith’;
• Can also be ‘ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven’ by the power of Jesus Christ.
