Rise Up

Rise Up

Acts Chapter 3:1-10

We are continuing in the Book of Acts this morning and Chris and I have wanted to clear off this time to take a look at this incredible book of history, where God lays out His plan and power for this church age.

Really, we want to go back and look at some of the things He was doing in order to glean what He may be seeking to do in and through our lives today.

God is still alive and well – He still has a plan, and is still quite aware of what is going on today.

Our message this morning is entitled “RISE UP” goes right along with “WE ARE WITNESSES” (Cavaliers around the corner) – but the man in today’s passage was able to do exactly that – he was able to RISE UP!

Acts 3:1-8 1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And 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; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then 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. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

In our passage today we find – Peter and John: God used these two to accomplish many things in the early church – they were the first two disciples to see the empty tomb – Notice, they are still operating in TWO’s.

We see these TWO going into the temple “at the hour of prayer”

1) THEIR PRAYER

As a “good” “law-abiding” Jew, there were certain times in the day that you were required to go to the temple and pray to God.

Psalm 55:17 17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Daniel 6:10 10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

There were three times of prayer recognized in this day: the third hour, the sixth hour, and the ninth hour. According to the way the Jews kept time: our 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.

In our passage today, it is the ninth hour, or 3:00 PM.

In the book of Acts, it is amazing to see how God transitions His plan; from the Jewish Nation of Israel to the Gentile church, and though we are in transition, God (and the disciples) are taking every cultural opportunity that they are given.

Do you know what time it was when Pentecost broke out?

Acts 2:14-15 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Here are all these devout Jews praying to God – and all of a sudden they hear the message of Christ and the wonderful works of God proclaimed in their native tongue – by a bunch of Galileans.

God is very calculated in His strategy!

As Peter and John are faithful in the small things – worship / prayer / hospitality – God works in and through their lives to accomplish AMAZING THINGS!

A lot of people want to do BIG things for Jesus! Just not to many willing to be faithful in the little things.

We need to be people who have mastered the little things in life.

Acts 3:1-2 1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And 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;

I would like to take a look at this “certain man” today – we are not told his name in this passage – he is simply just another “certain” man. We really don’t know too much about him -