When Ordinary Turns Extraordinary (Acts 3:1-10)

walk through ordinary routine

Monday, Dec 10, 2018

family got up for school

I headed into the office

Andrea Garcia had a surgery during the morning

G2 band concert

then at 9:53, it happened

“I'm ready to leave it all behind and move forward. All in”

BOOM—Jeffrey’s destiny changed

when ordinary turns extraordinary (Acts 3:1-10)

follower of Jesus

you are empowered

to be a witness

to share the gospel

we need faithful farmers

like one of the sweet ladies Brandon and I visited who plant seeds like Jesus

who water seeds

and trust that God will cause the growth

1 Corinthians 3:7

10/7 $1 Car Wash

this is what we are doing and praying for

intend for our time to encourage you in your personal life

what if we lived eagerly praying and expecting God to do something extraordinary in our ordinary routines?

When ordinary

Peter and John just living life (3:1)

Jewish life

multiple times to pray at temple in Jerusalem

2 times lined up with 2 sacrifices

9th hour—3 p.m. was the latter sacrifice/prayer time

many people would come to observe sacrifice and pray

this was the largest crowd of an ordinary day

Peter and John were strategic in the way they lived ordinary life

going up to the temple to pray seems deeply religious to us

because we know we can pray anywhere

car, shower

but to a Jew, this was ordinary living

lived ready to witness

because promised (1:8)

mission-minded people live ordinary life ready to share about Jesus

faithful farmer of the gospel intentionally PRAY and WANT to meet someone who does not follow Jesus

and far from God

meet human needs while sharing the gospel

they see people with a potential future in Christ (brothers/sisters)

even someone lame like the lame man here

lame man just living hopeless life (3:2)

over 40 years old (4:22)

lame from birth

was a burden to his caretakers

was being carried

“to sustain a burden—of person(s) who are carried” (BDAG, 171)

they laid daily

severity of burden - dead weight

this is ordinary life

for the lame man

and his caretakers

strategically placed for begging

Beautiful Gate (x3)

soreg was last place a Gentile could go

likely for this lame man also

Lev 21:16-18 For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame

he was close to the sanctuary

but definitely on the outside because of physical handicap

according to Jewish law

blank

3 p.m. (ninth hour) was final stage of daily temple worship

Jews would be there to show their devotion to God

the rabbis taught that there were 3 pillars of the Jewish faith

major ways to show one’s devotion to God

1. Torah

2. worship

3. showing kindness or charity

this was normal life for Peter, John, and the lame man

all 3 men in ordinary routines

yet each had own motive for being at the temple in the ninth hour

Peter engages the lame man who most others pass over (3:3-5)

just like you and I may try not to make eye contact with the person begging at an intersection

most Jews would do the same

tuning his cry “alms, alms” out just

like some husbands tune out all voices during their football game

oh, they may flick a coin or two his way, but not really engage

Salvation Army bell ringer

Peter, unlike fellow Jews, locks eyes with this man

setting the stage for something great

“Look at us!”

lame man was ready for a great payday

this meeting is in ordinary life

the lame man was in his usual spot (begging on his street corner)

Peter and John are on their way to usual worship (not on a foreign mission trip)

what happens next is supernatural

turns extraordinary

Peter shares Jesus which is way better than money (3:6-8)

no money???—I have no silver and gold

Acts 2:44-47 tells that Christians were pooling their money together

this lifts the reader’s expectations to see what Peter will pull out of his wallet

reality, Christians have something way better to share than $$$

In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—rise up and walk!

in Biblical sense, a name is more than a label

to invoke name of Jesus is to call upon His authority and power

Jesus continued His healing ministry through Peter

hence JESUS IS still BUILDING HIS CHURCH

the miracle— immediately his feet and ankles were made strong

And leaping up he stood and began to walk

no one just starts walking and leaping that has never walked

people have strokes or surgery and need physical therapy

just because muscles are working doesn’t = walking and leaping

it was a true miracle (physically impossible)

[he] entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

day by day in Court of Gentiles

not worthy to go in because he was lame

not only did he receive physical healing

he found spiritual acceptance

for the first time

he was deemed worthy to enter the house of worship

symbolizing his full acceptance by Jesus

won’t be only time we see this in Acts

clearly a sign of Messianic times (3:8 leaping)

Isaiah 35:4-6 “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;”

why was the lame man healed?

at first glance, it just appears because Peter, by the authority of Jesus, says so

a deeper inspection shows more (3:16)

only the healing power of Jesus enabled the lame man to leap

only the saving power of Jesus prepares anyone for the presence of God

yet miracles are never the focus

the miracle supports the message

how often do we fall short in what we offer?

if someone needs food, do we just give them a meal?

if someone just lost their job, do we just give them $100?

if someone’s life is falling apart, do we just listen and console them?

if Stephen Minister, do you only listen in time of grief?

if wash cars, will we only tell them to have a great day?

if partnership with MN, will we only fix up someone’s home?

how long will food and money and service and advice last them?

Peter didn’t even offer money

Peter offered Jesus who was way better and lasts forever

we rob God of His glory if we fall short of offering Jesus

in lost being saved

in saved being witnesses of Jesus

in onlookers being amazed

where do you need to step out in faith to share Jesus?

share gospel, ask to trust Jesus, and wait for response

Onlookers are amazed (3:9-10)

who is the crazy man running and jumping and doing cartwheels in the temple?

they barely looked at him to stay refined

but out of the corner of their eye, they recognized his clothing and who he was

when we see the power of God save people, others will notice the change

even though the lame man was miraculously healed

the same miraculous internal transformation happens for every sinner who trusts Jesus

because Peter was faithful to share Jesus

let us be faithful to do the scattering and watering of the seed

let us leave the growing/saving up to the Lord

what will this town be talking about when

the lame man leaps?

the lifelong scoundrel becomes honest?

the lifelong womanizer comes to respect women?

the lifelong drunkard is transformed?

and it is all because of Jesus!!!

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

16 - we regard no one according to the flesh

not Jesus

not lame beggar

not venomous gossiper

not foul-mouthed coworker

17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

who have you regarded in the flesh?

who is the Lord telling you to share Jesus with?

will you be a faithful farmer?

watch and see what only God can do

and the Lord added to His Church

who knows when you will have an opportunity to share Jesus in your normal routine

with your wife at home

with your children over their homework

with your neighbor as you talk about your garden

with your extended family over dinner

with your coworker over a ham sandwich

I CAN’T, BUT HE CAN

how many opportunities in the ordinary do we have and pass up?

either on purpose or because not paying attention

our cell phones add to us being unaware of our surroundings

for Peter, one opportunity led to another opportunity which led to another (talents)

God can sovereignly accomplish His plan however He desires,

but here He chose Peter and John's faithful witness to create a "domino effect"

opportunity with lame man (3:10)

opportunity to share Jesus with onlookers (3:11-26)

opportunity to share Jesus w/priests, captain of the temple guard, and Sadducees (4:1-22)

opportunity to pray w/other believers (4:23-35)

God caused the growth of 1 teenage girl’s faithfulness

Kara invited Lori

Lori’s brother, Clint, started coming

Lori’s parents, Mike and Karen

Lori and Clint gave their lives to Christ

Lori married my best man, Jason (deacon)

Clint married Danielle

Mike became a deacon, and Lori’s parents are some of most faithful servants to this day

all because a teenage girl invited her friend

don’t forget, God may provide opportunities in the ordinary

don’t be too busy about trivial matters that you miss the eternal matters

BUT success is not the criteria for faithfulness

who do you see in your ordinary routine that needs an extraordinary Savior?

are you praying for opportunities to spread the fame of Jesus?

are you asking for boldness from the HS to tell about Jesus?

recognize Matt

better off because of his ministry here

next Sunday last Sunday

reception for Moody family next Sunday at 10a

card with word of encouragement and gratitude

God has plan for Moodys and FCC