The Practicing Church

Introduction

Acts 3:1–10 NIV84

1 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 crippled 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 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.

This beautiful story teaches me much about being the church. We see several things here that the church today would do well to practice. The first thing I see is the practice of attendance.

The Practice of Attendance (vs. 1-5)

Peter and John were going up to the temple for their allotted time of prayer. Have you ever come to church just to pray?

Activity

This an activity that was the custom of the day. It is an old concept as we see evidence way back in the Old Testament. We know from Daniel 6:10

Daniel 6:10 NIV84

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

that he prayed at least 3 times a day. This pattern is also mentioned in

Psalm 55:17 (NIV84)

17 Evening, morning and noon

I cry out in distress,

and he hears my voice.

I wonder what would happen if our activity included coming to church for focused prayer. However, Peter and John were on their way to pray when they were spoken to by a man that had been crippled all of his life. They could have ignored him as they had more important things to do, but he got there full attention.

Awareness

Even though Peter and John were on their way to pray, they were fully aware of God at work around them. Job 34:4

Job 34:4 (NIV84)

4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;

let us learn together what is good.

When we learn together in the setting of the church, we are more award of God’s will and His ways.

This awareness provided for an opportunity. I love the details here. Verse 4 says “Peter looked straight at him, as did John.” When we are aligned with the Spirit of God, we will be focused and focused together. These men of God did not run from this opportunity, rather they embraced it. The man made them aware of a monetary need. Peter said to the man, “Look at us!” I am certain that they both were remembering what they had seen their Lord do time after time.

Application

Scripture gives us many accounts where Peter and John had been with Jesus when He healed the lame and the sick. Many miracles had been performed by Jesus. However, Jesus had now ascended and was seated at the right hand of the Father. These men had learned from their teacher. It was as if Jesus was walking into that temple with them. They were able to use what they had learned with the Master and apply it in this situation. They knew that the gift of Jesus was far better and any amount of money. We see here the application of compassion. Matthew 14:14

Matthew 14:14 NIV84

14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Peter and John used that compassion of Jesus on the way to the temple. I am certain that their continued attendance and participation of prayer in the temple helped them to be sensitive to the needs of the crippled man.

The Practice of Authority (vs. 6-10)

Notice how they practiced with authority.

Acts 3:6 NIV84

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Using What You Have

Peter and John were able to give by using what they had. In Matthew 4:18-22, we see the calling of the first disciples. Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19 NIV84

19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus had taught and commissioned these men and others to go out unto all the world, making disciples and teaching them the ways of the Lord. Luke 10 tells of the time Jesus has sent out the 72 to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was near. Peter and John had experienced this and so much more. It was natural for them to use what they had and had been taught. They saw a need that was more than a man being crippled. They say the need for this man to have the gift of eternal life. Do you see people in that way? Or do you see them as a waste of your time, looking only at the problem they are experiencing?

Using the Name of Jesus

Using the Name of Jesus, they commanded the crippled man, who had been crippled since birth, to walk. Oh, there is a lot in this verse! They don’t minister to this man in their names or in the name of the temple, they explicitly say in the name of Jesus. It is not by our power that we open the doors of this church. It is not for our good that we sit on this corner where literally representatives from all over the world pass by. We exist for the Name of Jesus. We are called to serve in His Name in all ways.

Colossians 3:17 NIV84

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Are you doing things in your name or in the name of Jesus?

Using the Right Hand

There is another thing we need to see in Acts 3:7

Acts 3:7 NIV84

7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

The word from which we get right from is dexios. It means place of authority and honor. The word for hand is cheir which means by the help organizing of, and that God is present and protecting. So when Peter takes the crippled man by the right hand, the Word of God is declaring that he has been transformed from a lowly state to one that is of honor and is being protected by God with the presence of God. Peter and John are demonstrating that we as a church need to be hands on as we encounter those that need a touch from God Almighty Himself!

By the way, this is fulfilled prophecy.

Psalm 107:20 (NIV84)

20 He sent forth his word and healed them;

he rescued them from the grave.

Are you willing to be part of fulfilled prophecy? Are you willing to be hands on?

The Practice of Admitting (vs. 11)

The Bible tells us that after this healing took place, the people were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened. Acts 3:11 then tells us this:

Acts 3:11 NIV84

11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.

Solomon’s Colonnade was an area on the temple mount that rabbis would meet with their disciples to teach them. I think it was the area for which the first Sunday School groups could have met and gathered. What a beautiful example of why we offer Sunday School Classes and Bible Study Groups. Peter and John give us the example of admitting others into the opportunity to gather and learn about God’s word.

Changed People Change People

Peter and John were changed people. Changed people change people. “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you!” I think sometimes we feel we need to help someone by giving them money. I think that there is a time and place for that and this church certainly has done this well over the years. However, sometimes we give money so we don’t have to invest in another life with Jesus. I am convicted by this passage to not only meet physical needs, but to meet the spiritual need of giving Jesus. Honestly, if I reflect on what Jesus has done in my life, in taking me from hellbound sinner and helping me out of my pit with the right hand of a saint that loved me. My life was changed because someone shared Jesus with me. In fact, I knew of Jesus from going to church all my life, but I entered into a relationship with Jesus because of a Vacation Bible School in 1970 where I learned that He loved me and died for my sins. This is another reason we are going to do a fantastic Vacation Bible School this year! If you have truly experienced a changed life because of your relationship with Jesus, you will want others to experience the same! Do you? Changed people change people.

Loved People Love People

Loved people love people. Jesus said in John 13:34

John 13:34 NIV84

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 15:12 NIV84

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

How’s your love life? Changed people change people; loved people love people; and, Christians Develop Christians.

Christians Develop Christians

The Practice of Advising (vs. 12-26)

Peter takes the opportunity of sharing the gift of life to a crippled man and turns it into a sermon for those that watched it happen. Just like that model of Jesus. Peter advises the onlookers about the way, the truth and the life. I encourage you to read this in Acts 3:12-26.

Remembering the Promises

Quickly, we see that Peter shared that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob glorified His servant and Son Jesus. This was promised to each of them in God’s Word. We are fortunate to have the Word of God and remember it promises. I love what God’s Word says about its word… Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV84)

Isaiah 55:10–11 (NIV84)

10 As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Repenting the Past

When we read the Word of God, it should prick our hearts and show our shortcomings yet help us see our Savior. We are called to repent from the past.

Acts 3:19 NIV84

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Refreshing the Path

You and I have an opportunity for refreshing the path. Let me explain it this way. Each of us has something that has crippled us. It might be something physical like an ailment or disease. It might be circumstantial like finances or relationship issues. It might be your dislike for the pastor or something that someone said to you. Peter and John come to us, seeing us in our ailment. Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, WALK! It is time to leave the crippling disease and excuse on the ground and walk away from it! Walk to the One who heals, sets us free, redeems us and calls us His own. What are you waiting on?