Prayer Can Change Things

Prayer Can Change Things

10/09/22

Text: Acts 3:1-10 [NIV]

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 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.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. [1]

In this text we see Peter and John the early leaders of the church are on their way to the temple for prayer the Bible says it is 3 o’clock in the afternoon and before they can get into the temple, they are confronted by a lame man who’s sitting at the gate called Beautiful asking alms of everyone coming into and out of the temple.

· He cannot walk

· He cannot move

· Someone has to bring him every single day, he lays their and he ask for money from everyone.

· Can you see him sitting there shaking his cup… you got any spare change?

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,[2]

· Don’t miss it, soon as he said: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk his feet and ankles gained strength and he began to walk.

· He has never walked before

· 3:2. The description of a man crippled from birthemphasizes his hopeless condition. He was more than 40 years old (4:22)[3]

The text says when he got up: 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.[4]

· The text says that he just couldn’t walk it out he began to leap and jump and praise God

Is there anyone who can testify that there has been sometimes when God has done somethings for you that it made you leap for joy?

· You didn’t care who was looking

· What people thought

· All you knew God had blessed you and it made you leap for joy

· Sometimes it makes you shout

· Makes you cry… because you know it wasn’t nobody but God

· Anybody ever seen God makes ways out of no way and do for you what you never thought or imagined?

He’s leaping, he’s praising God, he’s never walked before and now he is walking and according to the Levitical law:

· He could not work

· And because he could not walk, he could not worship… but now because he is able to walk… and now since he is leaping for joy… he goes into the temple.

Vs 9-10 [NIV]: 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. [5]

· Anybody got a used to testimony?

· Anybody got a once upon a time testimony?

· Anyone can testify that if you knew me back then… but thanks be unto God that I’m standing up now that there is nothing too hard for my God!

· They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. [6]

The Text says: 3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.[7]

The First Point: We Must Learn to Maintain Prayer As A Priority… Someone say Pray!

They are going into the temple at the hour of prayer

· They are not going for praise and worship

· They are not going for a major worship service

· They are not going for a ministry meeting

· They are going for the express purpose to have a little talk with the Lord.

· They are going because they understand that something happens in prayer!

Is there anybody this morning still believes prayer changes things!

· Even if it doesn’t change the thing, it will change the person who is praying because something happens when we talk to God!

These brothers have watched the Lord Jesus in prayer, and they knew something happened when He prayed, you do know Peter, and John where 2 of the 3inner circle disciples… Peter, James, and John… so they saw somethings that the others didn’t get to see and experienced something that the other didn’t get to experience.

· They saw Jesus praying on the last night of His life when He went into the Garden of Gethsemane and sweat came down His head like drops of blood while He said, Father if there is another way let this cup pass from me… but nevertheless not my will but let your will be done.

· They saw the Lord Jesus pray at the tomb of Lazarus and He said Father I thank you that every time I call on you hear me

· As matter of fact, they saw when those 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish were broken and blessed and before he gave them to anybody, He lifted them up to God and told the Lord thank you.

· It reminds us of our mother and daddy who said before you eat any food you better pray over it.

· And somebody in here may have been told that before you get in that bed, you better get down on your knees and pray.

· Y’all remember that prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray my soul to keep if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take… God bless my momma, bless my daddy, Amen… and if it worked when you were 7 it will work when you are 77… if it when you are 15 it will work when you are 55… if it worked when you were 12 it will work when you are 32

· In need somebody in here to help me testify that prayer still works--- I’ve learned to trust in Jesus I’ve learned to trust in the God to whom I pray!

In this day and age, I which we live we need some more prayer warriors who’s not afraid to get down on their knees and say: Father I stretch my hands to thee no other help I know. If thou withdraw thyself from ah! Whither shall I go

· Anybody in here who can testify… that prayer still works

· Anybody in here had to talk to God about your family

· Anybody had to talk to God about your finances

· Anybody had to talk to God about your physical health

· Is there anyone who can say… the only reason I’m still alive because somebody prayed for me the only reason, I’m in here today because somebody took the time to call my name in prayer

The Bible says: 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.[8]

· Are there some prayer warriors this morning who still believe one day He’s going to change things around!

· The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [9]

· Jesus said: 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:[10]

· I remember the song they used to sing: Let’s have a little talk with Jesus and tell Him all about your troubles, he will hear your faintest cry.

Not only do we have to “Maintain Prayer as A Priority”

The Second Point: We have to Learn to Minister to People who are not in our Click!

· The ones who don’t act like us

· Talk like us

· Smell like us

· Dress like us

Here it is: Peter and John are on the way into the temple to pray… and this man is asking for money…since he can’t walk… he can’t work…since he can’t work… he can’t worship… all he can do is wait and here comes Peter and John… look at us silver and gold have I none, but what I do have in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!

· Catch this: He has asked them for some money, Peter says I don’t have what you want… but I do have what you need

Vs 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.[11]

· He was expecting to receive something from them

· Peter says I don’t have no money but such as I have, I give it unto you and every now and then God will put somebody in your path for you to minister too

The Bible says: 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. [12]

· Now he has more than he expected

Third: We Have to maximize the power we have in us

· Watch this the Bible says Peter look at him and said I don’t have what you want… but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk

· He says I got something that’s got so power that it will produce possibilities in your life

All I’m trying to say this morning is… You got some power in the name of the Lord Jesus… that enables you to make a difference in somebodies’ life that they never anticipated

· Is there anyone who can testify it is because of the name of Jesus you are who you are and know what you know and do what you do

· Is there anybody who can testify it’s not because I went to the right school… it’s not just because I came from the right family… but somebody called on the name of Jesus and because they called on the name of Jesus… I’m a living testimony that there is nothing to hard for God.

And the Bible says: He’s now in the temple walking and praising God: 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. [13]

· They cannot believe this same man who used to sat and beg for money

· They cannot believe this is the same man who was down in a bad situation but now he is leaping with praise in her mouth

And somebody in here has a similar testimony there are people who knew you back in the day who never would have believed you are in church with a Bible on your phone and praise on your lips.

But look at you this Sunday morning you got a testimony that “there is nothing too hard for God”

· Is there anybody this morning who knows something about the name of Jesus who can testify that there is power in the name of Jesus.

· There’s power to break every chain in the name of Jesus

· Is there anybody who can testify… that there is healing in the name of Jesus

· There is deliverance in the name of Jesus

· Salvation in the name of Jesus

· Demons tremble when you call that name

Somebody ought to testify: Can’t nobody do me like Jesus, can’t nobody do me like the Lord so now here they are celebrating because this man is jumping and celebrating and praising God… Is there anybody this morning who will just start celebrating where God has brought you from?

· Is there anybody here who knows that God is able?

· Is there anybody here who praise God because he has brought you a might long way

· Is there anybody here who can thank God for making possibilities out of your life

· For producing possibilities out of your life

· Look at what you have

· Look at what you do

· Look at how God has opened doors

· Look at how God is made a way out of no way

· Look at how God is closed doors

· Look at how God has brought some people in your life

· Look at how God has taken people out your life

· And today you are a testimony of what God can do, what He has done for others He will do for you

Somebody ought to help me testify He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think!

Somebody ought to give God praise… Give God glory… for possibilities in your life… they are praising God for possibilities… but wait they are not praising God for what God did for them… they are praising God for what God did for him… and you know you have grown up in your praise when all your praise is not about you… but some of your praise is about what God has done for somebody else

· Will somebody listening just look at someone else and tell them this praise ain’t about me

· This praise is all about you

· Because God healed you!

· God’s taking care of you

· God’s taking care of your family

· God’s taking care of your children

Somebody ought to praise God:

· For you sister

· For your children

· For your brother

Give Him glory… Give Him Praise… Because can’t nobody do you like the Lord! Somebody ought to Celebrate God this morning!

[1] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 3:1–10. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 3:3–8. [3]Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 360. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 3:8. [5] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 3:8–10. [6] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 3:10. [7] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 3:1. [8] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Ch 7:14. [9] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Jas 5:16. [10] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Mt 7:7. [11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 3:5. [12] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 3:8–10. [13] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ac 3:10.