Seeking the right Answer

Introduction

Introduce self

Dismiss teacher, then children

The church at Jerusalem is up and running now. First mega church if you will with at least 3000 people apart of it.

It’s estimated that within 6 months following Pentecost, that there were 100,000 followers of Jesus meeting in houses that could only accomodate maybe 20 or so people.

Notice the closeness and intimacy they had with one another. That won’t take place in a gathering of hundreds or thousands. That’s why life groups are so important to the Christian faith. Just coming to church on Sunday isn’t doing enough for you.

We left off last week talking about the personal evangelism of the early church and the need for it with us.

Today we pick up in Chapter 3 where John and Peter are living out that personal evangelism at the local temple.

Acts is a transition book, remember they are still abiding by some Jewish traditions. They are not participating in sacrifices but they are gathering at temple with others, I believe for the purpose of sharing about the Messiah who has come.

Character- Christian asking for things

Then they encounter a man who was lame since birth and he is asking for money.

He was poor and distraught, seeking for something to help him in his situation. A real description of who we are without Christ.

And unfortunately who we can choose to live like when we are not abiding with Jesus.

Have you ever sat and thought about your prayer requests? What do you actively ask God for? What are you actively dseeking Him to do in your life?

I don’t think it’s wrong to ask for things like a job, good health, salvation of loves ones. In my message today do not hear that you should stop doing that. However, I do want to challenge you to consider if you are asking the wrong questions or just not asking the right ones.

Problem-Looking for benefits of Jesus and not Jesus

As followers we can find ourselves seeking the benefits of following Jesus but Jesus.

We want God to work in our hearts and make us new creatures, we want God to restore relationships, we want God to get us a new job, replace a troubled employee, or boss. We want health, wealth, and security but…is that what following Jesus is sbout?

All of the things He can do for us?

Paul wrote

Philippians 4:11 “11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

He was content…never satisifed with what he was doing for Jesus becuase he always did more in the role God called him to.

But content…content in prison where he wrote Philipians from. Content when shipwrecked.

I’m not content when the temperature changes more than I like.

When we find ourselves discontent, stressed, anxious, or in a sitatuon we don’t want ot be in we usually begin by asking God for the thing we think can fix the situation rather than for what we actually need.

Agitated- Focused on Material. Make Christian Life about you.

This makes us focused on the material things around us and conveys the idea that if we just had more material things then our situation would be better.

If I had more money, I would be content. If I had a better job, i would be content.

If I had nicer people around me I’d be a nicer person…

Hear me, it is not bad to ask for your daily bread. What you need for the day physically.

However, let me ask you something. Have you ever seen someone receive everything they wanted materially and still be miserable? Still be a sorry excuse for a human?

We see headlines about this all the time with those who are rich and famous. All the money they could ever need, friends galore, have the freedom to really do whatever they want, and yet they morally sprittually corrupt.

They do evil things, they find themselves depressed, and unfortunately some choose to end their life.

Let’s learn from their example and the example of this lame man that the material things of this world is not what we need.

Not telling you it’s not nice to have but it’s not what we truly need.

Solution-Seek Jesus not what Jesus can do for you

Your familiar with the famous quote from JFK right? Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.

Love that when it comes to the Lord. However, we have to also ask how can I do anything for the God of the universe?

John 15:5 “5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

The word abide is an action verb that means to stay, to dwell, to actively be with.

Having things doesn’t make us effective for Jesus. Having Jesus makes us effective for Jesus.

For without Jesus, we can do nothing.

Are you spending your time trying to have everything you think you need without pursuing what you actually need?

Guide-Lame man

That’s what the lame man was doing. He was spending his days beggin and pleading for what he thought he needed. As we will see in the passage, this was something he did regularly.

This wasn’t his first time.

But it was the first time someone would acvtually give him something that would help him and change his life forever.

Journey-Acts 3:1-10

Acts 3:1–3 “1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.”

Exegete:

Here we have peter and John, two apostels who can be opposites of one another. two apostles who raced to the tomb and john recorded who won.

They are now together after the phenomenal events of pentecost going to temple. For the hour of prayer at 3pm. There were customary times that the jews woudl go and pray at temple. The third hoour, 9am, the 6th hour, 12pm and now the 9th hour.

As they are going into the temple at beautiful gate. The gate was called beautiful because of it’s ornate design. Herod the great in about 20 BC decided to expand the temple and this was part of the construction. It was made with corinthian bronze, intricite designs, and was meant to be a visually stunning thing to behold.

IT was the main entrance to the temple with heavy foot traffic.

And it is here that this man’s life would be changegd for ever.

However, it’s also here where this man wwas doing soething that I believe we do.

When Peter and John walked by he asked for what he thought woudl solve his problem, not knowing there was a better solution for his life and these men had it.

We know the solution, we know the asnwer, yet we find ourselves often

1. Looking for solutions in Materialism

Illustrate:

Have you ever seen someone trying to solve a problem every other way than the way that will actually work?

Story about jeep being fixed in driveway.

Just needed the right tool.

When we look for the solution to our problem in the material things of this world we are trying to solve problems or symptons to problems without the right tools.

This man’s problem wasn’t that he needed more money, the man’s problem was he coudln’t walk.

Apply:

the problem this man had is the same problem the world has and that is the fact that they are lame spiritually and broken.

Money cars fame and jobs won’t fix their brokenenss…

Christians we are saved by grace and through faith and have an eternal relationship with god however when we seek solutions to our lives in materialism we are doing the same thing the world is doing. We are trying to solve a problem or symptom to a problem with the wrong solution.

The first thing a person that is unsaved needs is not a change of clothes, change of vocabulary, or an incrase in wealth. It’s an intimate relationship with Jesus.

The thing we as followers of Jesus need isn’t more money, better clthes, better job, it’s a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

It’s not that the other stuff can’t exist in your life, the question Is are you looking to those things as the solutions to the problem in your life OR as you looking to Jesus as the one you need more of. More of His Word in your heart. More of His responses in your marriage, in your work life, and so forth.

Don’t look to material things to provide solutions to spiritual problems.

YOu have to

2. Choose to see the right answer

Acts 3:4–8 “4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

Exegete:

Peter and John are now looking at the man and ask him to look up at them. He did so with an expectanct look.

Then peter tells him…I’ve got no money…

It’s like when my kids look at me after dinner and ask “Dad, can we have some ice cream?” They get those big smiles and look at me with hopeful expectation.

Then with joy in my heart I look at them and respond “You absolutely can, not have ice cream tonight.”

One night we wer sitting there and they had been askign for crumbl or carvel, something. And i kept telling them “Wouldn’t it be cool if we just went and got it?” YEAH! “ sorry we can’t.

You know what would be good right now? Carvel. Too bad we’re not getting it.

I’ll problaby get a therapist bill later in life for that one.

That’s the scene here though. He looks up with expectant hope of receiving money, waht he things he needs.

Then Peter and John tell him, who he actually needs.

Once they spoke, he got up.

Imagine this moment with me.

This man has never walked. He has never fully supported himself in his life. He has always depended on other people to care for him. He was always looked down in in society.

Peter tells him “get up and walk”

I’m guessing this guy heard of Jesus and what he could do. Becuase it would make more sense for the guy to question this but I’d say at this point in his life he was looking for hope anywhere. Remember, no safety nets, no disability income, no social security, Just the charity of people.

As he takes peters hands, his ankles and legs begin to feel strength they never have. Maybe he had nerve issues and now he is able to feel on his legs like he enver had before.

Can you see the joy on this mans face? Can you hear the excitement as he leaps up from the ground that he had never been able to leave before?

When this transformation took place in his life he became a new person. He was renewed. He was energized. He was praising God.

illustrate:

Why was he this way? Because he chose to see the right answer.

Many of you have heard the term man eyes before, right?

Man eyes is the description given when a man cannot find what is right in front of his face.

Ketchup in the fridge, something on the book shelf, just about anything really.

Then, ladies you come over and easily discover the item right?

As followers of Jesus the answer is right in front of us. We keep using our man eyes though and trying other things.

It’s time to choose to se the right answer and that’s Jesus.

Apply:

Finding the peace that passes understanding doesn’t just come becuase you ask for it. It comes from you faithful obedience to Jesus.

Tired, overworked, full of anxiety?

When is the last time you had a day of rest where you sought Jesus?

That’s a sabbath.

Frustrated with others, angry because of how you see life going?

When was the last time you spent time with Jesus in the word and prayer seeking Him and asking for his will?

Marriage trouble?

When was the last time you just spent some time together enjoying each other as the person you married and not the person who frustrates you?

These are the recommendations from scripture or the example we see of Jesus. We want Jesus to transform our lives, which he can. My question is are you submitting to the answers he is giving you or still looking for something else to do it for you?

Acts 3:9–11 “9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”

3. Godly transformation attracts

Exegete:

the when he got up leaping, people noticed. They knew who he was. THey knew what his life was like. Now, after an encounter with Jesus…he is differnt.

When our lives are changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is evidence that supports our faith and people notice.

Hey your not the same.

Do you wanna go get drunk? no. O, why? Jesus.

I noticed your marraige is doing better? Yea, Jesus.

You don’t talk the same…yea Jesus.

Godly transformation attracts…fony conformity repels.

illustrate:

One of my favorite foods is bacon. Thick cut, hickory or apple smoked, juicy, not burnt, floppy bacon.

Throw it on a burger, have it for breakfast, get it on a salad, whatever. I love bacon.

And we all know where bacon comes from right? pig

Ok. if i slap a jimmy dean label on a pig does it make it bacon?

No. it has to go through the process to become bacon. It has to be completely transformed.

Being a Christian that doesn’t look to Jesus to transform them is as repulsive as a dirty pig with a jimmy dean label.

Sure, it’s got the label, yes it has the potential, but it’s fake. It’s not submitted to the process.

Apply:

Are you looking to Jesus for the answers and allowing His Word and His Wisdom to guide you in your life? Are you being transformed by God or are just wearing the label.

No one is coming next to a Christian pig and asking what made it that way. You’r still covered with the filth from the world and they have no reason to want to know your savior.

When Christians do not live authentic holy lived submitted toward God there is a fake and repulsive environment created that will repel people looking for authentic faith in Christ.

Resolution-Seek Jesus, not what Jesus can do

This why we need to seek Jesus, not just what Jesus can do. Jesus will do what He does when He desires to do it. WE don’t get to determine that.

That’s why ther esults of a relationship with Jesus is not what we should be looking for.

We are entering into a relationship with God through Christ which is symbolized by the marriage between a man and woman.

Marraige has many great benefits to it. There are things intended only for marriage. And when many followers of Jesus here of people engaging in those activities outside of marraige we quickly judge or point fingers regarding the sinfulness of it. And let me be clear, fornication outside of marraige is sin.

And, if we were told that a person only had a relationship with someone because of the benefits of marriage, we woudl have a number of opinions about them and happily express them in the form of prayer requests right?

Seriosuly though…

Are you only in a relationship becuase of what HE coudl do for you or becuase of who He is and what HE has done?

Are you only seeking the benefits without the investment? without the commitment?

Impact: Neg: false teaching, shallow, fake christianity, no power. Positive: Restored, Rejuvinated, Powerful followers of Jesus attracting others

Stop. Your hurting yourself, your family, your friends, your church, and the cause of Christ.