We Will Give You All We Have

Pray

Give Honor

Text: Acts 3:1-10

Acts 3:1–10 KJV 1900

1 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 ancle 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.

Throughout the 2000 year history of Christianity, the church has always had difficulties and challenges. From persecution in the early years to reformation in the middle, there has been many challenges that the church has had to overcome.

From Debates on doctrine, to the uprising of unbelievers, there has always been a hurdle that the church, has had to cross.

Today, there isn’t much difference.

As powerful and mighty as the Present-day church is, we have a bit of a problem.

The church is more innovative than it’s ever been. But we have a problem.

The lights are shining bright,

The screens are more clear than ever

The worship is more powerful than it’s ever been. But the future of the church, has been questioned.

The church at large, is rapid loosing it’s Youth and Young adults.

The Gallup did a pole that less than one third of today’s church are Young Adults, which is a 50 percent decrease from the previous decade.

I believe that the youth and the young adult is the heartbeat, and if there’s no heartbeat, there’s no life and

While it may be important that we do not give notice to the negative press that is written about the church,

but if we don’t address this issue, there is a chance that our place of worship will become a museum.

The harsh truth is that there is a rapid decline in the Young Adult membership and participation in the Christian church in America.

What do we do?- with this information

How will we handle this decline.

The Good news is, God has given us the tools to keep the church alive and well,

It is on us, to use what we have, to help others get to where they are trying to go.

This is exactly what peter and john does, They use what they have, to help this man.

These disciples have taken over the reigns,

at this point, they have walked with Jesus for three years.

They’ve seen Jesus at his highest moments and his lowest moments.

They’ve sat and listened to his teachings,

They’ve watched him heal the sick,

raise the dead,

made the lame walk

made the blind see,

and now,

They have to take over.

What a time it was to be alive.

Prophecy has been fulfilled.

The spirit fell on them

They have been in revival, and the church is growing rapidly.

It was a good time.

It is in chapter 3, where after this great move, they are on their way to the temple to the hour of prayer,

As they approach the gates of the temple, they find a man who is lame from birth, begging for alms at the gate of the temple.

and the truth is, there is a man,

who may be in a beautiful place, but he’s not in the most beautiful space.

He’s at the gate of the temple called BEAUTIFUL,

BUT HE’S IN A SPACE, THAT MAY SEEM PRETTY UGLY.

AND I CAN IMAGINE, there are some of you in here, that have made it to this beautiful space, but you may not be in a beautiful place,

I want you to know there are some things that we can give you as a church, that will get you out of that low place.

As they approach the temple, the man looks at him, and asks for alms,

and the bible says that they look at the man.

Instead of walking by sowing a seed, they looked at him.

Instead of passing him, as everyone else may, they look at him.

And the truth be told, this man probably didn’t think he was much to look at, but they looked at him.

Not caring how ugly the situation may be, they looked at him.

and as a church, if we want to change the narrative of what the statistics may say about our people,

we must learn to give them our

Undivided Attention

The bible says that peter and John, fixed their eyes on this man. This “FIX” in the original language, would mean to look at intently. to stare at. to gaze at.

Not caring how ugly it may seem, they looked at him.

Not caring how bad the situation may be, they looked at him.

and we as a church, can not be so caught up on what the outward apparence may seem, we have to give them our undivided attention.

It was not uncommon to see people with all types of infirmities sitting in places where a lot of traffic would flow.

So this man sitting outside of the temple is not unusual.

In that day, if one were to give alms to people who were less fortunate, it was believed that God would bless them for their acts.

So usually people would drop money in their cups so that God would bless them for their good acts.

Most wouldn’t even make it a point to give attention to this man’s condition,

They are just taking care of a temporary problem, while profiting off of his pain.

So he looks and asks peter and john for money,

which would give him a temporary fix,

.but peter and john They stop and they stare.

So this man, who is used to people walking by and handing him money,

Has now gained the attention of the disciples.

and the discples giving this man their attention, has changed this man’s life forever.

and as a Young Pastor, I’ve taken the time to hear the concerns of those who are in my generation, who feels as though, the church doesn’t give much attention to.

that some may feel like the church doesn’t have a place where you fit,

or the church is just usuing you to pack out their sanctuaries and not pour into you

some may feel like the preaching does not address your issues with mental health, sexual desires, physical attributes, or spiritual devotion,

but today I tell you that you have come to a church, that has always given their undivided attention.

and it is no secrete that over the last thirty years,

this church has been a church, that has given people their undivided attention.

there were students at Norfolk state, that we gave our undivided attention to.

There were students at odu that we gave our undivided attention to.

there were kids of incarcerated parents, that we gave our undivided attention to.

there were leaders of tomorrow, that we gave our undivided attention to.

there were drug dealers, that we gave our undivided attention to.

there were prisioners that we gave our undivided attention to.

there were homeless people that we gave our undivided attention to

there were people who were broken, busted and disgusted that we gave, our undivided attention to,

and I stand here today to tell you, that you have our UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

YOU HAVE OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SEXUAL DESIRES

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONS

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR PAST

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR ADDICTION.

WE ARE A CHURCH THAT IS COMMITTED TO GIVING YOU OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

THEY LOOK AT HIM. AND THEY SAY LOOK AT ME.

THEY STOP FOR A MINUTE, NOT SO QUICK TO GET TO THE CHURCH,

THEY STOP FOR A MINUTE,

NOT SO EAGER TO GET TO PRAYER

THEY STOP FOR A MINUTE,

NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE THINKS.

AND WE AS A CHURCH MUST STOP FOR A MINUTE.

STOP AND ASK HOW THEY ARE DOING

STOP AND ASK HOW THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IS

STOP AND GIVE THEM OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

BECAUSE IF WE CAN GIVE THEM OUR ATTENTION, WE CAN POSSIBLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

They give this man, their undivided attention.

not only do they give this man their undivided attention.

but they give him

“Transparency and Truth”

verse 6 says “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”

Peter and John address the fact that they knew what this man was looking for.

He did not go to the temple to get prayer. He did not want to hear a sermon. He did not want advice. He did not want a doctor. He did not want a care giver. He did not want a 2 piece from bo jangels. He did not what a spicy chicken from chick fil a.

He was there for MONEY.

Peter and John knew what he was there for, that’s why they were TRANSPARENT.

Peter says silver and gold I do not have for YOU but what I do have FOR YOU I will GIVE TO YOU.

and sometimes one would think that their greatest need is what they THINK the church has to offer.

A HUSBAND. A WIFE. A BILL PAYING COMPANY. BUT YOUR GREATEST NEEDED GOES DEEPER THAT YOUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

not only do they give transpareney but they give truth.

“but what we have, we give to you,

truth IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO GO DEEPER THAN THE SURFACE.

HIS NEED WAS NOT HIS PRESENT PROBLEM.

HE WAS NOT BORN BROKE,

HE WAS BORN LAME

Which in turn affected his ability to make a living for him self.

which means his issue was deeper than his money. HE NEEDED MINISTRY

and as a church, we CAN not just address surface-level problems. but we MUST address the REAL ISSUES.

I know you think you need money, but if you had legs, you can make money.

PETER AND JOHN SAYS SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NOT.

We may not have what you need presently, but can address what Got you to this point.

and that’s real ministry. We MUST give THEM ministry.

We MUST give the outsider a place to belong

we MUST give the quiet one, a place to be open and transparent

we MUST give the confused one, a place to ask questions,

we MUST give the alone one, a place to build relationships

we MUST give the gifted, a place tp prune and polish your gifts.

We MUST give THEM ministry.

THEY SAY SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NOT, BUT WHAT i HAVE I GIVE UNTO YOU.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS, RISE UP AND WALK.

I DON’T HAVE WHAT YOU WANT

BUT YOU NEED WHAT WE HAVE.

NOT ONLY SHOULD WE GIVE

OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

NOT ONLY DO WE GIVE TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCEY

BUT LASTLY WE GIVE

SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION AND INTENSE TRANSFORMATION

THEY SAY “SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE BUT WHAT I HAVE I GIVE UNTO YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS RISE AND WALK THEN THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND AND LIFTED HIM UP.

After peter and john would give the man transparancey and truth, they have to give him inspiration and transforamtion.

Because sometimes the truth can lead to discouragement.

Do not think that just because they couldn’t give him money, they didn’t have anything to give the man.

They had something to give, and it was something that he needed.

We want to give you what you need. and in today’s society, people believe that the church does not have anyting relevant to give.

but we have what you need in this place.

Peter and john would give the man spiritual inspiration because they tell him to get up and walk

AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO CALL OUT THAT ISSUE.

GET UP AND WALK

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

COME OUT OF THAT LOW PLACE

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

GET UP AND WALK

NOT ONLY DO THEY TELL THEM TO GET UP AND WALK, but then they stretched out their hand.

So they address the need, then they assist with the need.

and there is no need to address, something that you Won’t assist.

They lifted him up

and if we address it, we will assist with it.

From mental health, to job security we will assist with it.

in the name of Jesus, rise up and walk.

we will give you what you need.

and we will Help you get what you need.

but not only will we give you Spiritual inspiration, but an intense transformation.

The bible says that he Jumped on his feet, began to walk, began to leap, and began to praise God.

He went from walking, to leaping to praising.

and when people saw him, they knew that this was a man, Who’s present is far greater than his past.

THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN COME TO THIS CHURCH, AND LEAVE THE SAME WAY YOU CAME.

THIS IS A PLACE, WHERE YOU COME ONE WAY, AND LEAVE ANOTHER

THE BROKEN WILL LEAVE WITH RESTORATION

THE SICK WILL LEAVE WITH HEALING

THE DEPRESSED WILL LEAVE WITH JOY

THE HOPELESS WILL LEAVE WITH HOPE

THE SAD WILL LEAVE WITH HAPPINESS

THE EMPTY WILL LEAVE FULL

We will give you all we have.

silver and gold we may not have, but what we have, we give unto you.

We have healing to offer,

we have deliverience to offer,

we have ministry to offer

but most of all, we may not have the fancy lights, we may not have smoke machines, we may not have an orchestra

we may not have the fanciest things,

but what we do have, is the gospel of Jesus Christ,

and just in case you don’t know the Gospel,

JESUS was a man, born of a virgin,

coming down through forty and two generations,

a man,

who healed blinded eyes,

made the lame walk

made the blind see,

made the mute talk

raise the dead.

he was a man who WAS BEATED AND BRUSED AND MOCKED, ALL BECAUSE HE LOVED YOU.

HE WAS A MAN WHO GOT NAILS DRIVEN IN HIS HANDS

HE WAS A MAN WHO GOT RIBBOTS ON HIS FEET

a man who got a piercing in his side, for the sake of love.

HE WAS A MAN WHO DIED ON A FRIDAY BUT

EARLY ON A SUDAY WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS, rose, took the sting out of death and the victory out of the grave.

and let me give you some transparencey

I WAS SINKING DEEP IN SIN,

FAR FROM THE PEACEFUL SHORE..

VERY DEEPLY STAYED WITHIN

SINKING TO RISE NO MORE, BUT THE MASTER OF THE SEA,

HEARD MY DISPIRING CRY AND FROM THE WATERS LIFTED ME,

now safe am I

My truth is it was LOVE THAT LIFTED ME. when nothing else could help

the money couldnt do it

the job couldnt do it

the relationships couldnt do it

social media couldnt do it

my roomates couldnt do it.

it was the love of jesus christ that Got me to where I am.

I have decided to follow jesus.