Acts 3:1-10
Notes
Transcript
No Silver or Gold Needed...
No Silver or Gold Needed...
Good morning my friends, I hope you are well this morning!
It is hard to imagine we have already come to the last Sunday of February.
When I’m reminded of these things, I consider two things:
Time is running out… death or the Lord’s return is closer
We must work harder to carry the gospel to those around us.
I am convicted of these facts my friends, we have so much to do and time is running out.
Please think about how God can use you for His glory everyday until we see Him face to face!
Now today we come to Acts chapter 3. and here we find two men coming up to worship. They are continuing the work Jesus gave them to do as His Apostles.
Remember what has been happening, as the Holy Spirit enters the world, the church is empowered to carry the gospel forward.
And as they do, we see that God is blessing them, people are being added to the church daily… How beautiful.
The church is in unity, studying the word as it is taught to them. They are worshipping, praying, fellowshiping and serving the Lord. It is a wonderful time.
And we see God at work in out text today as we talk through these first 10 verses of Acts 3.
So lets open the text, I want to read this verse with you, Acts 3:6, this is the core of the text. but we will look at the first 10 verses...
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!”
Reading that verse, it is easy to see that the real need of every person is Jesus Christ.
So lets begin with this thought my friends…
1. The Beggar’s Need...
Now remember from last week, we know that the disciples daily were in the temple area, Let me remind you of Acts 2, verse 46....
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
The apostles and others were there worshipping and witnessing to those God placed in their path way.
And the same is true for this day, Lets look at verse 1
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
So consider this, the text tells us who is there, this day heading into the temple area, we find that it is Peter and John, who is called the beloved.
And we know the when, the text tells us it is the 9th hour of the day, which is 3 pm.
So during the time of evening prayer at the Temple, Peter and John have come up to pray, worship and yes I would say without hesitation, to witness to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Now before they make it into the temple area, they come upon a scene, one of great need. Lets look at the text again…Acts 3:1-2
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.
Now consider this, as Peter and John are making their way to the temple gate, this gate called Beautiful. they come across a man, a name whose name is not given. The only thing we are told is:
A. He is lame… unable to walk, let alone work or support himself or family and this condition since his birth.
B. People bring him daily and lay him down upon a mat at the gate called beautiful that enters into the temple area.
Now from all that we can tell, this gate called beautiful would have been the nickname of the greatly adorned “Double gate” where most of the pilgrims would have entered the temple mount.
There was a 210 feet wide monumental stairway that led up to this beautifully adorned gate from the lower plaza, where pilgrims, those coming from all over to worship would enter the Temple mount.
Here the pilgrim would have been set where the foot traffic was sufficient enough for him to beg for alms.
And finally we see that he is there and as people are entering the temple mount, He would ask for alms from them.
Now alms are an important part of worship in the Jewish community. in Judaism, “tZedakah” is a Hebrew term meaning righteousness, but it commonly was use dot signify “charity” and refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just.
In truth, God’s people were responsible for their “brothers and sisters” and thus they were to give gift to those in need in honor to God.
They were also to allow the widows and those in need to “gleam” from their fields, there were certain corners and areas of a field that the owner was to leave so others could come and reap grain to supply their needs.
These are just ways that God’s people were to take care of each other. Remember we are all made in the image of God, so we are to love one other, help and care for one another.
So this beggar is placed by family and friends there at the gate so he could ask for alms which people would have given to fulfill the law and be just and right before God in this matter.
So this beggar has a great need, begging in hope to have enough to support his need and perhaps provide for his mother in some way as well.
He is a man that represents that humanity has a need my friends, we may not always have alms to give but we have the greatest gift in our heart, and we are to share that with everyone.
But stop here for a second, ask God what is your need. You may be here today and know Jesus, but you might have another need. Today ask God and ask us and see what God can do...
Now lets move on to the my next thought today...
2. Apostle’s Offer...
When I look at texts from God’s word like this, I recognize how God arranges the meetings from one person to another. They are not by chance my friends, God does this to be glorified and people helped.
This beggar needed help, and today God has brought to of his Apostles to his presence and upon seeing the beggar and hearing his cry… Peter and John are about to introduce him to Jesus.
Lets go back to our text today…Acts 3:3-6
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!”
So this day, Peter and John are headed to the temple mount for the time of afternoon prayer.
Now remember, they have gone out in pairs. These two leaders of the early church are together and there is a couple reasons for this.
A. Jesus sent them out in pairs in Luke 10:1 listen...
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Twice Jesus sent them out and always in pairs to provide help, encouragement and to ensure their witness was true, this is the nest thought here.
B. The witness of two or three would establish the truth. Remember according to Jewish law, a single persons word or testimony was never considered the truth, but the witness of 2 or 3 had to be take as true.
So here are Peter and john, these 2 pillars of the church and they are going up the Temple area for the time of evening prayer. They are going to worship but also I am sure looking for opportunities to speak the name of Jesus to those in need.
Now, evening prayer is a special time. It was about 3pm in the afternoon. This was a special time of confession as the day is about to close but also a time when 18 blessings would be pronounced upon the nation and God’s people.
And as these things were spoken by the priest, the people were praying as well. And during the evening prayers people also would speak the names of those in need. The sick, those hurting or suffering… So it was a unique time to pray, and intercede for others.
And so Peter and James are going up for time of prayer. The encounter this man ( in verse 3) who is in need and is asking for alms, begging for help to support his life and or family.
So Peter and John look at this man, and Peter speaks to him.... ‘hey brother”… my words there.
Look at us, Peter says.... and the man does, the Scriptures telling us that he did so expecting to receive something from them.
He thought these two men might place a few coins in this hand.... But Peter does something completely different...
Look again at verse 6 Acts 3:6
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!”
Hey man, I don’t have any silver or gold,.. But I have something better… and I give that to you freely
Silver and gold were on display around this beggar when you think of the beautiful craftsmanship of the temple area. This gate was indeed beautiful as it lead into the very presence of God up onto the temple mount.
Peter tells him, we have none of those things, but what I do have I give to you.... “…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk..v6”
What was more precious than gold and silver, it was gift of healing that Peter was extending to him through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Pay attention to this… Peter says in the name…That is important, its more than a label. It represents the person and in truth, all that this Person is…
To invoke the name of Jesus is to call upon the power and authority of Jesus. So my friends, Peter and John are extending to this man life, health and hope.
He could refuse it… or He could believe the words of Peter and trust that Jesus could change his life.
Isn’t that the way it is for us, when we hear the message of the gospel, that Jesus came to die, to offer his life as a living sacrifice, that he died on a cross for the sins of all people and was buried in a empty tomb and on the third day, He rose from the dead.
We can either take that testimony are true or we can reject it. The choice is ours.. God seeks to save us...
This lone beggar heard the invitation to come and trust Jesus, the command was given to rise up and walk.
Would he believe it or not?
Will you trust God and believe him in all things or not?
This leads me to my last thought for the day.... are you ready?
3. Beggar is made whole....
He believed Peter and he believed in Jesus...
Peter called for him to believe and trust Jesus. Peter told him to rise and walk...
Let’s look at the text one more time. Acts 3:6-10
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.
Wow..
Peter called for him to believe, to rise and walk and when Peter put out his hand, do you see what happened, He took Peter’s hand.
He took him by the right hand and raised him up and immediately, his feet and ankles were made strong.
I heard someone say once that a person was healed they just didn’t know it yet… bologna. The Bible says Immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Remember, the Bible says this condition had been his norm since birth. These legs, ankles and feet had never walked. There was no strength there, no power there to even get up.
But “immediately” it all changed because of the power of Jesus.
Verse 8 says this beggar just didn’t get up, He leaped up (that signifies power) He leaped up, stood and began to walk.
But my friends it didn’t stop there. As strength surged through his body, his ankles and feet he got up and was leaping and walking and he entered the temple praising God.
Now this is really special, as a Jew, He could come to the outer courts of the temple area, but never the inner courts or serve inside the temple area with his condition.
But this day, well and whole He doesn't run home. He enters the temple with Peter and John, walking, running and leaping, while praising God.
That is so special, in the midst of His healing, he doesn’t forget to thank God for His healing...
He took God at his word, and He is whole. Oh my friends, how wonderful that is...
But listen the story doesn’t stop there. Lets look on more time to verses 9 and 10.
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.
As this man is now running around the temple area , jumping and praising God it got the attention of the people there.
They are like wait??? Isn’t that the beggar that has been out there begging for alms day after day?
What happened?
The Bible says they were filled with wonder and amazed...
Now I want to remind you, remember Peter and John went there together, in pairs to worship and bear witness to Jesus.
Now there is a third witness to what happened and so many more that will could testify , His man has been healed, he has been lame since birth and look, God healed him.
Wow!
The testimony of Jesus and His faithful work in our lives is something that needs to be told my friends!
* Jesus saved us, He took this old broken life and made it new.
* We were headed toward death and He brought life to us.
* We were lost but are now found
* We have been saved, all because of Jesus!
Do you love him today?
Tell the world all that He has done for you!
Let’s pray!