Giving Jesus

Introduction

I accidentally illustrated the sermon for today.

Went to pick up Christine at the airport

Sat in the cell phone lot at 1am

Man approached the car

Just got out of prison, going to halfway house, has no money, hates to beg

Asked his name - Peter

Told Peter to look at me - “God loves you and has a plan for you in this season”

Peter began to cry

People need Jesus

We have Jesus

Give people Jesus

People Need Jesus

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.

Three times for Jews to pray - morning, afternoon, evening.

This was the evening prayer - 3pm - sun could set at 4:30 - time of prayer was so people could head home before dark

We meet a “man lame from birth.”

Disability during that time was either a death sentence or a sentence to a life of poverty and misery

The pagan world practiced infanticide when it came to disabled children. This was forbidden in the Jewish world; however, it did mean a strain on the individual, his family, and potentially society.

He was lame from birth - never knew anything different.

In Acts 4 we learn he was over 40 years old.

-40 years of begging for others to help him.

-40 years of struggling

-40 years of being passed by

People Need Jesus

Why?

Because people are struggling and suffering.

This man’s story is unique insofar as it is found in scripture but not unique in his suffering.

May not be physical but may be

-emotional: wrestling with depression, anxiety, fear - you come to church begging for someone to give you something to

-relational,

-spiritual

Because of brokenness and sin.

All brokenness and suffering is a result of sin.

Romans 5:12

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

All of Jesus’ miracles were either to directly confront and reverse the brokenness caused by sin or to show his power over creation.

Everyone affected by sin needs Jesus - that’s everyone!

Everyone experiences brokenness

-physically

-in relationships

-emotionally

Brokenness leads to questions people try to answer with people, pleasure, or things.

Who am I?

Where do I belong?

Why am I here?

Questions of Identity, Meaning, and Purpose.

Everyone asks these questions only Jesus can truly and fully answer.

I call them “Jesus questions”

So, when looking for people who need Jesus, we don’t need to look for only those who cannot walk or have a physical need. Everyone needs Jesus. Everyone asks “Jesus questions.”

Identity

“With out him/her/job I don’t know who I am anymore”

“I need to find myself”

Belonging

“I’m so lonely”

“I have to find a husband/wife”

Purpose

“Why am I here?”

“I will be happy once I have. . .”

People need Jesus - Jesus answers these questions.

This is why we have the Gospel DNA that Jordan was talking about: Gospel, Community, Mission.

‘laid daily’ - this was the usual - in the midst of the usual God is about to the most unusual

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.

‘What could have been simply the occasion of mechanical charity is turned into a personal encounter’

I Howard Marshall

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.

We have Jesus,

What was the man expecting? Few coins? Some food?

He was looking for money or a meal, but God wants to give him the ability to run a marathon! God wants to give him a changed life!

Sometimes we are more concerned about getting what we expect than looking to God to see what wants to give.

Sometimes we are looking more for patches for our brokenness than expecting Jesus to restore the brokenness!

Sometimes our greatest need is not what we think is our greatest need.

GAVE HIM TIME - STOP - Could have walked by, could have been running late, could have talked with just each other (other Christians), could have given the man a “ride” into church, but they stopped.

We know the Jerusalem church was already a mega church (more than 3000)

We know they met regularly in the Temple as well as their homes

We know this lame man was regularly at the Temple.

How many times did a Spirit-filled follower of Christ step over this man before one of them offered him healing?

Whom have you stepped over or stepped past?

GAVE HIM A LOOK - LOOKED - Peter and John directed their gaze. THEY SAW HIM. They had him look at them

Look at the numbers:

106 people die every minute.

3710 every sermon

2216 in hell?

Who have you looked at but not really seen?

GAVE HIM a HAND

As Thomas Walker comments, ‘the power was Christ’s, but the hand was Peter’s’.4 It was not a gesture of unbelief, but of love.

We must be willing to offer the gospel and a hand!

Ultimately, they GAVE HIM JESUS

GAVE HIM JESUS. Gave him Jesus’ love. Gave him Jesus’ power. Gave him the healing through the gospel. The gospel is all that is needed

If it is true that people need Jesus, then we don’t need to approach evangelism like we are on “Shark Tank” - We can approach it like distributing cold water on a hot day.

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

The power of miracles points people to Jesus.

Just like a 20-dollar bill has features that authenticate it, healings and miracles authenticate God’s work

Jesus was still at work.

‘in the name of Jesus’

‘leaping up’

Isaiah 35:4 -5

4 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.”

5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

The lame leapt - when was the last time you leapt?

The healed holler - you’ve been healed spiritually - are you leaping?

What if we as a church became known as a ‘place of healing?’

People knew the brokenness of the world could be fixed here?

What would that take?

honesty

openness

prayer

expectation

leaping

We have Jesus, so GIVE PEOPLE JESUS!

Because:

Jesus is ultimately what they (we) all need

not every need is physical. Nor is every healing Man was lame for 40 years My dad the same. Both are walking in heaven now, and I know my dads not bitter

Jesus works his power through his people.

don’t ever think you can’t or won’t be used by Jesus

You are called, commissioned, and empowered to give them Jesus.

ILLUST - Not called to give you that

No authority to give you that

Not empowered to give you that

But JESUS? Jesus I can give you!

How will you give people Jesus?

A Word on Healing:

This man may have seen Jesus

Others who marveled at this man may have had a limp to get there. There are many who struggle with the thought, “If God can heal, why doesn’t he?”

There is a lot I do not understand about why God chooses to heal some and not others. But there are a few things I DO understand:

A lack of healing does not always indicate a lack of faith. 

Paul

Spring Valley COG

However, rarely does healing take place without any faith

"The reason is this: faith glorifies God. Faith points us away from ourselves to him. Faith turns us away from our own power and resources to his. Faith says, "Lord, I am nothing and you are everything. I entrust myself to your care. I cling to you alone. My confidence is in your word and character no matter what happens.”” - Sam Storms. (https://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/why-god-doesnt-always-heal--2-cor--12:8-10-)

Faith is not something we use to make God move. Faith by definition is an admission cannot move without God. 

A lack of healing does not always indicate the presence of sin in one’s life.

However, we know there is a correlation between the confession of sin and healing.

James 5:13-16

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

A lack of healing may indicate a lack of desire to be healed. 

John 5:5-6

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

Why would Jesus ask him if he wanted to be healed? Seems a silly question.

Jesus was asking if he understood that a change would happen - he could no longer be a victim.

ILLUST - Brooks and his leg falling asleep. Was unwilling to step with his leg after resting it for fear of it not supporting him. Would rather continue as a victim then test the changes of healing.

However, a desire to be healed is not an indication we WILL be healed.

Does it take greater faith to trust God in comfort or trial?

The real question is, do we desire more to have great faith or have great comfort?

A lack of healing does not always indicate a lack of prayer.

King David prayed for his son, but his son died anyway.

However, rarely does healing take place without humble, persistent prayer and even fasting.

James 4:2 -3

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

“This kind only comes out with prayer and fasting"

Persistent widow

Luke 18

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

A lack of healing does not always indicate a demonic presence.

Not looking to blame or ‘find a demon under every rock.'

However, demonic affliction should not be overlooked.

it is interesting, is it not, that in Paul's case God used "a messenger of Satan" to inflict the thorn.

There is also the case of the woman in Luke 13 "who had a disabling spirit [or, a spirit of infirmity] for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself" (Luke 13:11). According to Jesus, "Satan" had "bound" her (Luke 13:16; see also Acts 10:38).

Must be remembered, though, that demons are simply leashed dogs of our Creator. They can only affect what he allows.

A lack of healing never indicates that God does not see or care.

“Yet while we pray, we must attend to a critical distinction: although God can heal us, we must never presume that he must.”

Kathryn Butler, If God Doesn’t Heal You

Instead, a lack of healing may indicate God cares more about our faith and spiritual growth than he does our physical health. 

Holiness over health.

It is not necessarily the case, but if God offered you the choice of having perfect faith and knowledge of God or perfect health, which would you choose?

This may indicate we either have an improper view of the greatness of God and heaven or an improper bent of our heart toward our selves and comfort. 

ILLUST - I would gladly give my life and comfort if it I knew it would have a direct result on the physical health or safety of my children (jumping in front of a car, fighting off an attacker, running into fire, etc). Would I do the same if I knew the giving of my life or comfort would have a direct result on the spiritual health or safety of another? (#fullydevoted) We are promised that that IS the case (Rom 8:28) 

***PICK UP***

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.

Acts 3:11–26 (ESV)

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

Why would we be surprised when Jesus heals?

Peter: Why are you confused? Don’t you know Jesus?

13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

This man needed Jesus

And so do YOU

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘. . . blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

People NEED Jesus

We Have Jesus

Give Them Jesus