The Power to Change a Life

10-2-22

The Power to Change a Life

We are continuing our study on the book of Acts this weekend. We finally made it though the Power chapter! Here in Chapter 3 we are going to see some of the effects of that Power. How Peter and John learned to apply it in their daily lives to accomplish great things for the Church.

Turn with me to Acts 3:1-10 Acts 3:1–10 (ESV)

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

2And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

4And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

9And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

10and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

One of the men God used in the 19th century was D.L. Moody. He was not a pastor, not a great teacher but he was a perfect example of a person whose availability was much greater than his actual ability. No question about it, he is a picture of the power of a changed life. Moody was born in 1837 to a very poor family. His Dad had died at age 41 leaving the family in great poverty. In fact it was so bad that the bank came and took everything they had. All they had were the clothes on their back. When their mother took them to church she had them go barefoot until they got close to the church so that they wouldn’t wear out their shoes walking on the street. Then when their mother got close enough, they were allowed to put their shoes and socks on and walk into the church. But D.L. Moody became a very successful businessman. He was one of the top shoe salesmen in the country. Moody became interested in the church and wanted to join. But he was so illiterate that he failed the new member’s class. Listen I don’t know anyone that has happened to. So he came back a year later and this time they let him join. But they still said we believe you are really lacking in the things of God. But he surprised them and said I’m going to sell my business..he was 30 years old, and I am going to go to work for God full time telling people about Jesus. One of the first times he ever spoke in church a man in the church came up to afterwards and said Moody I think you can best serve God by remaining silent the rest of your life. Another man came up and said you have offended me today with your poor grammar. D.L. Moody looked back at him and said, “I realize my grammar is very poor. He said to him you seem to have good grammar don’t you? He said yes I have very good grammar. Moody then looked at him and said well, what are you doing for God. Enough said. Moody was in Ireland when he heard someone speak these words: the world has yet to see what God will do with man who is fully committed to him. Moody said let’s see...he said a man...he didn’t say a great man. He didn’t say a smart man. So Moody said I’ll be that man! It is believed that Moody shared his faith with more people than any other man in his day. He was the Billy Graham of his generation.

Here is the question I want you to think about. What kind of person does God really use to change lives? In this passage today Peter and John are going to the temple to pray. It is 3:00 in the afternoon. It occurs to me that the first thing God looks for to decide how he will use them is this...

1.

God Looks For People Who Are Doing The Right Things

Acts 3:1 (NLT)

Acts 3:1 NLT

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

1Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

Peter and John were doing the right thing. They are going to the church to pray. Whether they were looking to minister in the Temple or just to grow closer to the Lord we don’t know. I suspect that they planned to both! But notice this. God uses some people but not everyone. Why do you think that is? I think there are two keys here. (1) availability. Have you opened up your life to God in such a way that he can see that you are available. (2) commitment. Not just through your words but through your actions. I hear people say I want more than anything for God to use me. I want to be fully committed to Christ, but it’s all lip service. Here’s some good news. If you want God to use you then you make yourself available to do the right things and take committed steps in that direction. That’s what Peter and John were doing and that’s what we must do. 2.

God Looks For People Who Are Willing To Be Interrupted

God uses people who love people more than anything else in life. Even in the midst of a busy schedule they are willing to be interrupted.

Acts 3:2–3 (NLT)

Acts 3:2–3 NLT

2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

2As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John are about to get to the door of the temple/church. Just about to pray and this man interrupts them. Let me ask you? Are you a goal oriented person or a people person? People who are goal oriented have to learn a very difficult lesson. Be flexible. Be spontaneous. Why? Because God uses people who put people first. As a church we are in the people business. Our vision is to enlarge the size of heaven by taking as many people as possible with us. Do you ever run into people who don’t like people? Like Charley Brown says “you know, I love mankind, it’s just people I can’t stand.” In case this is a new thought for you, Jesus died for people. People are the only thing on earth that will be rescued. Everything else will vanish and pass away. New heaven. New earth. But the same people. That’s what Jesus died for. So when God places someone in your path, let God interrupt your schedule. 3.

God Uses People Who Pay Attention To The Needs Of Others

Acts 3:4 (NLT)

Acts 3:4 NLT

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”

4Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”

They were interrupted, they looked at him and immediately knew what his greatest need was. Here is an important truth for us. Givers are not people with fewer needs than others. They are just people who have decided that it is more of a blessing to give than to receive. Givers never concentrate on themselves, they concentrate on other people. I mean think about what Peter and John could have said: “this guy says I need your help.” They say “you know we would love to help you but right now we’re going to church.” People like that are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good. Or can’t you see Peter and John say “hey I know have a need. Bless you. We’ll go in and pray for you.” James 2:14–17 (NLT)

James 2:14–17 NLT

14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

14What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

15Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,

16and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

17So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Or they could have looked at each other and said “why is it that every time we come to church we have to do all the work around here? Ask someone else.”

Or they could have said you know every time I go to this church someone is asking for money. But they said none of those things because they were givers. 4.

God Uses People Who Are Willing To Use What They Have

Acts 3:4–5 (NLT)

Acts 3:4–5 NLT

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

4Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!”

5The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

You see in life there are givers and there are takers. It has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with what you give and what you take in life. We enjoy being around people who are givers because they contribute to our lives. They make us better people.

Now in v. 6 Peter says I do not possess silver and gold however what I do have I will give to you. You see givers always find a way to give. You can’t keep a giver from giving. They will find a way. 5.

God Uses People Who Realize Their Source For Absolutely Everything Is God

Acts 3:6–7 (NLT)

Acts 3:6–7 NLT

6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.

6But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.

I don’t have silver and gold but what I do have I give to you in the name of Jesus.

3 things to notice here. (1)

God’s Power

He has the ability to give us anything. Cattle on a thousand hills. Hills too. (2)

God’s Provision

Not only does God have the ability; He has the desire. He wants to provide for us. (3)

God’s Partnership

God is the creator. We are the vessel/the channel. God pours it in. We pour it out. We pass it on. And whenever we think we can do it alone we are in big trouble. When we begin to think we are the source we will fail. 6.

God Uses People Who Realize That He Deserves The Glory

It’s all about Him.

Acts 3:8–11 (NLT)

Acts 3:8–11 NLT

8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

8He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

9All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

10When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

11They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

God got the Credit. When you live with power in your life, when you are Available and Committed to using that power for God, Lives are changed and God gets Glorified! That is what is so awesome about being a Christian. Are you willing to start changing lives this year? Will you become a life changer? Let me ask you the same question that was put to D.L. Moody years ago. Will you be that man or woman? Think about it how many people do you cross paths with weekly who are asking, “do you see me here?” Chuck Swindoll tells about a man who went see a counselor because he was very depressed and just couldn’t snap out of it. So he said to the man, “tonight I want you to go to the circus in town because they have a man who can make anyone feel better. They have a clown named the Great Rinaldi; he is the funniest clown I’ve ever seen. Whenever I go to see the Great Rinaldi it always lifts my spirits. The man said you don’t understand doctor I am the Great Rinaldi.

We do not know what those around us may be experiencing. Depression, hurt, bitterness, pain but if we want God to use us he will. The world is full of people like this but if you have Christ in your life, the Power of the His Spirit residing within you, then you can make a difference. If God has made a difference in your life then you can make a difference in the lives of others.