Miracle Workers

Introduction

Intentional in the Day to Day

In this Chapter we see John and Peter going about their day to day routine, which was going to the temple daily for time of prayer

They structured their day in a way to allow God to speak and bring things to their attention

We talk all the time of the importance of Scripture reading as a daily discipline, but another one is prayer

If John and Peter had not been going top pray they would have missed the opportunity to minister to this man

How does prayer help structure us to be more effective as the church?

1. Causes you to slow down

The Jews had three times of prayer

9, 3 and sunset

It was not uncommon for the early church to go to the temple at 3 for this time of prayer

It took great intentionality to structure their day to allow for this

How do we structure our days to intentionally slow down?

We live in a busy culture, with lots of demands, and often full of multitasking

Part of the reason as Americans spent 142 billion dollars on fast food last year with most families spending $150 a month on fast food

Think of what we are missing out on the go

the conversations had around meal prep

conversation held around the table

Opportunity to slow down and listen to one another

On that note, lets slow down pull into a parking spot and pray together

Not always have the radio on

Where is prayer worked through your day?

Their is time to work it in, how many times we check a phone through the day?

How often we pick up that coffee or red bull?

2. Allows you to think through things spiritually

When you take time to pray you are intentional taking time to think through things with God in the perspective

We should think about thinks like this regardless but prayer helps our mind to do so

One example is praying for the Ukrainian-Russia conflict

It has became a very politicized thing and that is where our minds tend to go is to the political

How often though do we pray for the Ukrainian and Russian church to bring the gospel light to their people that are both having the lifes turned upside down by war?

How often do we pray for those on the loosing side of a spiritual war needing souls saved

3. Spiritually tunes

As we think through things spiritually our vision becomes more tuned on how to pray, how to serve, how to speak, etc.

Peter and John were in tune with the Lord

How easily would it have been to miss this man

One they had to make the decision to interrupt their routine to go pray

Second they cold not just be going through the motions

How often do we just get caught up in routine to mark off our to do list?

Could have rushed in to pray so they could get on with their day

As we tune in with the Lord, we star tto become aware of the needs around us

Matthew 22:37–40 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Being a Miracle and There Purpose

Once we recognize a need, what is our responsibility?

To pause and step into that situation

Peter and John could have easily ignored the man, could have said oh someone else will do it or we will talk with him on the way out

How many people fall through the cracks because we say oh someone else will do it?

How many later conversations never get to happen?

Once we step into that situation what do we do?

What the Spirit leads

Sometimes stepping in means meeting a physical need, sometimes it means offering a ear to listen, it is to pray

Most importantly to have Gospel conversations

Ultimately the greatest thing we can offer people is the Gospel, the Gospel changes everything

Peter and John could offer him money, but tomorrow he would need money again

They gave him physical healing, but guess what tomorrow he still needs money, the body he has is eventually going to start breaking down.

Always physical needs to be met, as we meet those needs we get to offer them something so much greater and those around

they met a physical need of this man and people took notice

So not only do we get an opportunity to share the Gospel with the one in need but those watching

also this happened at the holy place, and how we treat one another can also give us a platform

Platform with outsiders but also can give or break leadership opportunities

Again this is where self awareness and slowing down comes in handy, realize the ripple affect

Addressing the People

As we meet the needs of the people we need to remember:

Our inadequacy, because nothing we do is by our power or strength.

We must remain humble, and point to God

The moment the mission of this church becomes about Hurricane, and not God we have lost vision

Our conversation should be about what God is doing, not what Hurricane is doing vs. this and that church

It was easy for John and Peter to remember the opposition to Jesus, they had seen these people oppose the Gospel in the flesh

Realize they did not ignore this great sin that had occured, they flat out stated what they had done

Did not sugar coat it, and act like things were ok

How easy would it have been to call out a crowd who was responsible for having Jesus killed? Not easy

Just as we are ministering in the community we have a responsibility when put face to face with sin not to sugar coat it

Often we fall into that trap, of compromising the gospel in the name of evangelism

Never ever should we water down the gospel

The gospel is offensive and it is going to run some people off, but the gospel is also powerful and transforms

But also scripture though here lets us know we deny Christ out of ignorance

We do not realize the depth of our wrong until we encounter the Word

We know we are wrong, but as we encounter Scripture the truth is revealed in why it is wrong and how we can live a life in a much better way that leads to life not death

After the Gospel here is presented the greatest miracle can happen

Someone can be brought of ignorance and death into truth and life

As verse 20 says refreshing can come

Spiritual refreshment will do more for their life more than anything we could possibly give them in this world

Outro

Acts 3:26 ESV

God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”