Rise Up And Walk

Title: Rise and Walk

Theme: God has the power to restore us.

Text: Acts 3:1-10

Scriptures:

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Introduction

Peter and John on this day was doing what they normally did. They were going to the temple to pray. The church was new and just being formed. There were no church buildings per say. They still went to the temple. Sometimes they would have church in the temple. It was not uncommon.

Yet they were not the same people. Could you imagine what it must have been like now to go to the temple? Could you imagine how things looked different? Could you imagine? I remember when I became a Christian. I had been in the church all my life but boy when I committed myself to the Lord and turned it all over to him things looked different.

Maybe I am reading too much into this but I believe that Peter and John went to the temple to pray as they may have done daily or at least a few times a week. I don’t believe this was the first time this man had been here. Many people had passed him by. Many times he had called out. Maybe even these disciples. But something was different. This was his day. Healing was about to happen. Maybe that is what we need to do. Don’t stop praying but continue until our day.

It was on this that he would be here and on this day the Lord would heal him and he would walk again.

Notice the word says that Peter fixed his eyes on him. He not only saw him but he knew that God was about to do something for him. He said, “Silver and gold have I none.” This man thought that what he needed was money. He thought that this money would solve all his problems. Too many people think that their help comes from the next raise. Or if they just got that break. You don’t need a break you need a breakthrough. You don’t need a raise you need to listen to the Lord and let God come though for you.

Maybe he got tired of this man asking him every time he came by. Maybe he got fed up with his spiritual conditional and started praying.

7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Set Free to Walk

Purpose in life. His dignity. I am not putting down anyone today who can’t walk but let me tell you it was a lot different than now.

God can restore you dignity. He can restore you reason to live.

Notice this passage says, 6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.