Acts 3:1-10

In this morning’s passage, Peter and John are going up to the temple. They probably weren’t going to observe the sacrifice, but to carry out their mission of preaching the Gospel.

On the other hand, there’s a disabled beggar at the temple gate. He can’t go in because the law forbids blemished people from entering into the sanctuary. And so he’s sat outside, begging for alms. His focus is on his daily bread.

And he sees Peter and John, and asks them for help. But they don’t give him silver or gold. He wants silver and gold because in his mind, it’s impossible to be healed of his disability.

But the apostles give him the impossible in the name of Jesus. Rise up and walk.

What the apostle Peter has is the same thing the apostle John has, and it’s the same thing we have. We have the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, who reigns from on high. Every kingdom rises or falls by His mere pleasure. And His name is ours to use.

And at the name of Jesus, this lame man stood up, and it doesn’t even say he stood up. The word is ἐξάλλομαι, which means he jumped.

And at long last, after all this time, he enters into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God, and all the people saw him and were amazed.

When was the last time you jumped? I jump about once a year, when we bring the youths to the trampoline park. But this man became a trampoline park, jumping about, giving praise to God.

This lame man is who we were. He represents fallen humanity. We were dead and helpless in our trespasses. But the Lord Jesus came to this earth and breathed new life into us, and now He has given us the same mission.

There are people out there whose souls are longing for God, but they’ve given up, and they make do with silver and gold. They don’t know what to do about the sin that keeps them out of God’s presence. They are stuck outside the church, and we need to bring them in, in Jesus name.

Peter blessed the lame man in Jesus name, and then he took him by the right hand and raised him up. We need to do the same. Talk to people, ask if there’s anything to pray about. And then pray with them in Jesus’ name. And then secretly, pray for God to forgive their sin. Pray for God to break down any spiritual stronghold that resists the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 ESV

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

We must pray that in the name of Jesus, every stronghold will come crashing down, and every lofty prideful opinion will be humble and taken captive to obedience to Christ Jesus.

This is what we get to do, because we have the name of Jesus.

And after all that, “Hey, do you want to come to church?”

So this morning, can I invite you to pray like this? Ask God to show you who to pray for. And in the name of Jesus, pray for God to forgive their sins, humble their hearts to the Gospel, and also pray that God will empty their schedules and whatever plans they may have on Sunday morning, so that they can worship Jesus.