Don't Miss Church On Your Way to Church!
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· 19 viewsNot missing the opportunities to be a witness for Christ in our everyday life, as well as on our way to the church building.
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Don't Miss Church On Your Way to Church!
Don't Miss Church On Your Way to Church!
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple;
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Often times, God gives each believer opportunities to witness to others, but just as often we miss them. These opportunities may happen at home, on our jobs, or in the grocery store and elsewhere.
How many times have you or I passed up a homeless person because we had a preconceived idea about them or why they were there?
What about a friend or family member who has reached out to us to simply vent or ask for help and counsel?
I’m not sure what your opportunities have looked like, but mines have come in many forms. I know most believers think that it’s the pastor’s job, or missionary or evangelist, but God has called every believer to be a witness Matthew 28:16–20 “16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Mt. Horeb, this morning I want to share this thought or title: “Don’t Miss Church On Your Way to Church!”
In today’s text, we find Peter and John on their way to the Temple or Church. The King James version tells us that it was the ninth hour, which is 3:00 PM our time. As they are heading towards the Temple/Church, they encounter a “certain man” who had been paralyzed from his mother’s womb.
There are two things that are important about this to me. One, the Bible never gives his name. You and I should always be able to find ourselves in Scriptures. In other words, this story could have been written about any of us.
Secondly, this man’s condition by this time, has been about more than 40 years according to Acts 4:22.
22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
How long have you been in the condition that you find yourself in? Does it seem like you can’t break free of whatever it is? Likewise, so was this lame man.
So, this morning, I just want to share three points concerning “Not Missing Church On Your Way to Church!
#1 Don’t Forget to Pray On Your Way to Church (v. 1)
Acts 3:1 “1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
One of the greatest tools for witnessing and life that God has given us is the gift of prayer. Pastor Richard Dyson had a constant saying: Much Prayer = Much Power; Little Prayer = Little Power; No Prayer + No Power. How many of us our missing God-Opportunities because we are not praying?
Because prayer is supposed to be a lifestyle for believers, we need to do as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says,
17 pray without ceasing,
Peter and John were on their way to the prayer service, and because of their life of praying, they didn’t miss this Miracle Moment to Minister.
Do you only pray when you are in church? Do you only pray over your food? Do you only find yourself praying when bad things arise? Do you pray as you are watching the news or driving past a bad accident on the freeway? When someone needs or asks you to pray, do you say you will later and never do, or do you pray right then? Whatever the case, Don’t Forget to Pray On Your Way to Church, but also, Don’t Forget to Pay Attention On Your Way to Church.
#2 Don’t Forget to Pay Attention On Your Way to Church (v. 4)
Acts 3:4 says
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
What do we do when we see a need? What do we do when we see someone in trouble? What do we usually do when we pull up to a light where a person is asking for food, work, or money? Most of us, if we’re being completely honest, will turn and look away. We see the situation or person, but we pretend to not be paying attention. Do we not know that Jesus said in Matthew 25:40
40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Christ gives us opportunity after opportunity to pay attention to what’s going on in and around our surroundings. It may be the person who no longer sits next to you in church because they no longer come to church. It may be that co-worker on our jobs that is usually happy-go-lucky, but now comes to work everyday with their head down.
Only you and God know what we don’t pay attention to, but I do know that as we look out over our homes, communities, cities, and states, there are numerous things that God is trying to get us to pay attention to.
How do we believe that Matthew 6:9-10
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
will ever be fulfilled? We’re waiting on God, but He’s waiting on us to be a part in what He is doing right here on earth. The LORD has called us to be co-laborers with Him 1 Corinthians 3:9
1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
Don’t Forget to Pray On Your Way to Church. Don’t Forget to Pay Attention On Your Way to Church, but lastly, Don’t Forget Christ’s Power On Your Way to Church.
#3 Don’t Forget Christ’s Power On Your Way to Church (v. 6)
Acts 3:6 reminds us
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
This lame man was expecting money from Peter and John, but they offered him something more valuable and lasting. The ability to get up and walk. Likewise, because of this evil flesh that you and I live in, we often ask God for things that really don’t matter at the end of the day.
The Prophet Isaiah reminds each of us this fact in Isaiah 55:6-9 where the LORD states:
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
The only way that anything electrical in this church or our homes works is because its plugged in to power. How do we believe that we can do anything without the power of Christ? Jesus told His disciples in John 15:5
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Peter knew this. John knew this. So why don’t we know this? Many times we forget about Christ’s power because we forgot what He has done and is doing in our lives. It may be because not only have we stopped reading and believing His Word. Maybe it because like this lame man, we’re waiting on someone else to help us.
Let me say today, that there are somethings in our lives that only Christ can heal. There are other things that Christ is trying to use us to do. However, we’re too busy trying to get to the church building, that we miss all the opportunities to be the church to someone else. Hebrews 3:6 reminds us
6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
The Church is so important that more than 2000 years ago Christ died for it. No, He didn’t die for a building, but for a dying world in need of a Savior. Christ was beaten, bruised, and battered for the Church. He was spat on for the Church. He was nailed to a cross for the Church, and He stayed in the grave for three days for the Church. And then He got up early Sunday morning for the Church!
So Mt. Horeb, the next time that we are headed to Church, I hope and pray that we Don’t Miss Church On Our Way to Church!
