In the name of Jesus
Acts 3:1-10 11-16
Introduction-
Good morning! I look around and I picture where people would be sitting
Who would have thought that a month ago we would be having church minus people in the pews?
That believers would have to be creative in bringing the gospel even to fellow believers?
That we would have to maintain social distance with each other?
I thought it was hard several years ago when I had a complete knee replacement and had to sit on a chair to preach.
Today I stand preaching to a few people who are making sure everything gets recorded properly. Who knew? God did!
That is good news!
I have titled the message… in the Name of Jesus
There is healing in the name of Jesus
There is salvation in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
In fact none of these happen except in the power and name of Jesus
Over the last two or three weeks we have had our world turned upside down by an invisible enemy that snuck in and disrupted everything that we hold dearly.
We had no say in the matter.
One day we were able to pretty much do what we wanted and what would be our normal and in a short time, we are being told that we cannot do this, and we cannot go there.
We are now in a toilet paper shortage.
I am like a lot of other pastors this morning that want to bring a word of encouragement and lift up the people of God.
To Offer Hope to a world that needs to hear there is hope and His name is Jesus!
There are a lot of people going through anxiety right now and they need to hear some comforting words.
Many who are looking to God maybe for the first time or maybe in a long time-
We have an opportunity to be the light that Jesus calls us to be.
We are all debtors and we are all beggars needing something that we ourselves cannot do for ourselves.
Salvation, forgiveness, healing, and to be guided in the way that we should go.
Our text this morning is found in the book of Acts chapter 3.
The book of Acts is exactly that- the book in the Bible where we find the acts of the apostles, recording what they did after they had spent time in the upper room waiting on the Holy Spirit of God to fall on them.
It changed their lives and they were to go out and change the lives of those that they came in contact with.
My prayer this morning is that Jesus will change our lives and we will then go out and be a part of changing someone else’s life.
Let’s pray-
Father, in the name of Jesus, today would you change our lives. Jesus, bring healing. Jesus, the Name that draws people into a relationship with God Almighty. Today Jesus, that your anointing would fall fresh on us… just like the upper room. We are the church. We are the people of God and we need your Holy Spirit to direct or maybe redirect us to be what we are suppose to be and created to be. Today we open our hearts and our lives unto you and invite you to do what is needed and we will thank you and lift up that mighty name of Jesus.
Please open your Bible or phone app to Acts chapter 3:1-10 read from Bible
Don’t read too fast through these verses- the background is as important as the event.
These guys had recently been in the Upper room where the Holy Spirit of God fell and 120 lives were changed!
They had an experience with God like no others.
They were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began speaking about the things of God in languages that all who were there could understand and they had church.
People who heard them were as scripture said “amazed and perplexed”.
They asked each other what does this mean? How does this change my life? What can I do with this?
Peter who was always the first to speak no matter if he knew what he was talking about or not stood before a crowd of over 3000 and gave the gospel message.
He stood before them unashamed of the gospel and let the gospel of God touch people hearts and lives.
Acts 2:38- “Peter replied, repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The promise is for you and your children and all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Do you understand this morning that if you are spending time with Jesus, you are going to see Jesus do some amazing things for the kingdom of God and you will be a vessel that the Lord will use to touch people’s lives.
Watch this!
There are similarities between this healing and the healing Jesus did of the crippled man in Luke chapter 5. It draws a parallel between the beginning ministry of Jesus on this earth and the beginning ministry of the apostles after they were filled with God’s Holy Spirit in the Upper Room.
Luke describes these apostles as doing what Jesus did.
Let’s go back to the text- (1) “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer- three in the afternoon.”
They had just been anointed and filled with the Spirit.
They did not necessarily change everything they did- they were Jews and they went to the temple to pray-
When Jesus changes you, He doesn’t always take you out of your routine, thou He could, you have to give him permission to do with you what He wants-maybe He has you there for a reason.
Here is the one thing I know… when Jesus shows up, things will happen!
It will not be business as usual in the way you may have done it before.
You may be still there but now you will be doing things in Jesus Name instead of your name.
Some good things have come out as a result of us fighting the Coronavirus Pandemic;
People are forced to slow down.
Families have been able to spend some quality time together.
You start valuing what is important to you and you do not take things for granted.
Distractions keep us from being where God wants us and doing what God wants us to do.
Distraction- “it is an action caused by the lack of ability to pay attention, lack of interest in the object of attention; or great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. “(Repeat)
Not paying attention to what is priority
Losing priority and making something else the priority.
Distractions take you away from focus.
As a believer, one who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, you have in some way to Him and in front of others said that the Lord is Lord of your life.
You have surrendered your life to Him and your desire is to serve the Lord.
What that means in service is different for each of us but the Lord is captain of our ship.
When we start steering our own ship without him, it can lead you to bad decisions, times of sin, missed opportunities, and missing blessings. Anyone been there?
Peter and John had just spent time with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit wanted to work through them to heal a man in need.
(2) “Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called beautiful, where he was put everyday to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.”
Let’s stop a minute-
Man born from birth crippled and everyday was brought to the gates to beg.
This was a team effort by many. He could not walk, he was desperate, and helpless for the alms of others to meet his needs.
He was set by the gates because as the temple worshippers came in, they wanted to move on their compassion of God, to show them compassion, to reach out to them.
Peter and John being good Jews probably saw him but didn’t see him everyday that they came to pray in the temple.
The crippled man knew that if they were good Jews that they regarded almsgiving as a key element of a faithful persons responsibility to share possessions as a mean of doing justice as described in OT scriptures.
That crippled man was placed there because as far they knew that was the best spot for people to respond to their needs .
That man sat outside of the temple probably because of his condition, he was not allowed in the temple.
The repeated request from the crippled beggar caught the attention of Peter and John.
They were no longer distracted and saw the man!
Peter and John had done no healings in the area thus far, so it is safe to assume the man was not looking for a healing, but was in fact wanted money from the two as they passed by.
Peter’s first words to the beggar shows us that the beggar was expecting money from him.
We pick up Peters response in verse 6
“ Silver and 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, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”
This is good stuff!
Jesus is not asking any of us to give what we don’t have- only what we do have!
Show them some Jesus!
Be sensitive to what the Lord wants to do through you and in you.
That man being healed would have been great to see!
Can you imagine what all those people who saw him daily begging now walking and jumping and praising God.
Mercy Me
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Surrounded by You glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Those people saw the glory of God poured out on a crippled man and now he can walk!
Somebody ought to be getting excited!
Somebody ought to be saying Amen.
Cannot wait for the church to be back praising God!
As I wrap this up, what is this word saying to us?
That we need Jesus
That if we are going to do anything worthwhile- it will be in the name of Jesus!
Get into the presence of the Holy Spirit so that He can use you.
Check this out! Peter’s response to the crowd that was watching
Acts 3:11-16
Let that sink you to your spirit this morning-
Why were they so surprised?
Why do you stare at us as if it was by our own power that this man can walk?
It is in the power of the Holy Spirit
We have a chance today to be the New Testament church we were created to be.
Things are not done in only our strength- thou the Lord will use us, spiritual things get done in the anointing and power of His spirit working in us and through us.
Today if you do not now the Lord that heals, you can know Him today.
If you have been putting it off for some reason, don’t wait any longer.
Maybe today, the Lord has spoke to you and today is the day He has again reached out his hand-
Today I invite you to embrace His love and invitation-
It begins with a heart that is repentant and a heart that would invite Jesus into their lives- would you want to do that today?
Would you receive in your heart that God loves you,
He desires for you to have a relationship with Him. One that is personal and intimate.
I am going to say a prayer and if you desire to have an eternal relationship with the same Lord that healed the crippled man, I am going to ask you to repeat it for yourself.
Dear Jesus
I ask you to come into my life today
I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me of them
I believe that you died, were buried, and that you were resurrected
Because of that, my sins are forgiven and I also can receive eternal life
Today I turn my life over to you, and will live for you from this time on with your help and by your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name Amen.
It all happens in Jesus Name. Because of what Christ has done for us- Welcome to the family of God!
If you prayed that prayer and believed it in your heart, you are a new creation, today there is a new name written in heaven and it is your name.
I want to close this morning with prayer – Please let us know if you have received Christ as Lord today, we want to rejoice with you and get some information into your hands that will help you with you new journey with Him.
Prayer
God bless you.
