The Miracle is at the door

Intro

The Name of Jesus. In chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Acts, no less than 8 times, the Name of Jesus is mentioned, placing emphasis on the power and authority that this Name possesses. 

The first miracle. The first miracle of the Church. The healing of the lame is the first miracle of the disciples after Pentecost.

In chapter 2 we witnessed the birth of the Church, but in chapter 3 the Church acts.

Lord help us to not only live in chapter 2 but help us to experience chapter 3 as well.

Sermon's outline. In this text we want to highlight at least 3 aspects:

The Lame;

The Disciples;

The Miracle.

N. 1 - The Lame

Acts 3:2 NIV

Now a man who was lame 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.

His condition. The miracle of healing the lame man is a wonderful gospel illustration.

Like the lame one we were immobilized by sin and no one could heal us.

In this regard, I would like to consider:

The duration of the problem. That man "was lame from birth" (Acts 3:2).

The spiritual man is also lame from birth.

Sin has been with us all for a long time.

Even the book of Genesis reminds us: The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done (Genesis 8:21 - NIV);

2. The limits of the problem. Acts 3:2 tells us that the lame man was carried from one place to another.

Sin always limits the sinner.

Bad habits promoted by sin immobilize us and we are unable to be autonomous.

N. 2 - The Disciples

Acts 3:2–4 NIV

Now a man who was lame 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. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

Their attitude. Peter and John are often together in the Gospels.

This time though, they don't argue with each other, but their attitude is different.

I want to stand out:

Their constancy in prayer. The 2 disciples went to the temple to pray: at 3:00pm (there were three moments of prayer for the Jews: 9, 12, 3).

The only way to get God to use us is through our constancy in prayer;

The habit of prayer is good, but the spirit of prayer is better.

Charles Spurgeon

Prayer is not something that I do; prayer is something that I am.

Warren W. Wiersbe

2. Their observation of the lame. Acts 3:4 tells us that the 2 disciples looked at him carefully.

Carefully observing those who ask for help is essential for believers.

We often rush to help those who ask us for help without observing carefully.

Governor Nehemiah, before starting the rebuilding work on the walls, he spent time looking at the ruined walls: so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate (Nehemiah 2:15 - NIV).

12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching: Second Edition, Revised and Expanded The Power of Observation

The difference for the big issues is often a trivial detail. Police investigators find and identify a piece of carpet fiber. An auditor notices an unusual ledger entry. An astronomer logs a star where none is supposed to be. A geneticist traces a gene structure he doesn’t expect. What gift do these specialists have that leads to such breakthroughs? We call it the power of observation. It is simply the alertness to detail of one who is trained to look and really see.

We might think that a person either has this special gift of visual perception or he doesn’t. And there is something to the idea that it is a gift. But the power of observation is also a skill to be developed. This has been proved in the training for such highly demanding jobs as those of FBI and Treasury agents. Though a person may not be accustomed to the alertness to detail these jobs require, he can learn it. Most people tend to be observant in some area of interest while not paying attention in other areas.

N. 3 - The Miracle

Acts 3:7–8 NIV

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

The events that followed the miracle. Here are some considerations regarding the healing of the lame:

Immediate healing. The Bible tells us that the man did not have to wait a few days for him to be healed, but he was healed immediately (Acts 3:7);

Total healing. The lame man was not only able to walk, but even to jump (Acts 3:8);

Healing that promotes fellowship. Once healed, the man entered the temple with the 2 disciples.

The miracles of God, the real ones, always promote fellowship: When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink (Luke 5:6-7 - NIV).

Conclusion

Our story. This is also our story. We were sitting in sin, out of the temple and out of the presence of God, but by the merits of Jesus' Name, the Lord has saved us, set us on our feet, and now we are here to praise Him.