Seen

So I know its not Christmas but I have a really unpopular opinion that when it comes to Christmas movies my favorite Christmas movie of all time is not “Mirrcle on 34th street” or a Christmas Carol, or one of the old claymations, but my favorite is “Jingle All the Way”

And if you have not heard of jingle all the way it centers about this new action figure called Turboman

And Turboman is sold out in all the stores, so the Dad (who is Arnold Shwartaneger)

Is doing everything he can to get his kid this toy.

And the acting is really bad, but there is this one scene where somehow Arnold Shwartaneger sneaks his way into a parade as turbo man and he gets to give away this toy to any kid out of the thousands of kids at the parade.

And he sees his sson and calls him by name out of the thousands

And the kid thinks this is the really turbo man so he is in shock.

And he says this one line in disbelief going “He knows my name?!”

Because out of the thousands of people to this kid it was mind blowing That turrboman would stop the parade and come straight to him

And as weird as this is going to sound wheree we are in the book of Acts is pretty simaler to to this scene.

Because if you have been with us the past couple of weeks, the early church has began.

And their have been thousands coming to know Jesus, and not just that but the early church has this culture where they are essentially devoting themselves to God and each-other.

And you think as the story continues it just moves on to the next major act of God where 10,000 people are saved, but their is actually a shift from Acts 2 to Acts 3.

Because Acts 2 has the thousands coming to know God, but then Acts 3 it shifts from the thousands to the one.

And so we are going to be in Acts 3:1-4 because essentially we see the story slow down for one man. And I am just going to read it all together. It says this:

Acts 3:1–10 (NIV)

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

So Peter and John (two of the apostles) are on their way to the temple to pray at the temple.

And their were three times they would pray at the temple each day,

And what would happen when this occured is you would have thousands of jews all crowding into this small gate to get into the temple.

Think of it almost like how if you have ever been to a baseball game their is a pretty small opening to get into the game so there is always a big back up at the gate.

And so if you were someone in need this would be the place to go. because you have all of these people who have been taught to take care of their neighbor waiting to get in the temple and you are right there.

And scholars believe this begger was int their 40s and most likely would have been here for around 15-30 years.

Meaning he has been begging at this gate everyday for 15-30 years

And when someone does this something that happens is eventually they become invisible.

Because you can imagine it would be like our society when you see someone asking for money you avoid eye contact, go the other entrance, you try to act like you don’t see them.

And I think if we are honest in our society we have people where maybe we wouldn’t say this out loud, but there are people that subconsciously we view as invisible or maybe part of us would even view certain people as less then human.

And I think its because we either do not have time, we do not care, or we just don’t want to sit in their story.

And it does not say this but in my head I picture them being in a rush, I mean they just started this massive movement called the early church.

And I kind of picture it being like wheen you head to church and you have the one person in your family running behind and you wanted to stop and get a coffee and so you stopped, but their was a long line, then their was construction, now the family is 15 minutes late and your all grumpy.

And maybe without the grumpieness, but thats what I picture here, they are trying to get in the temple, they are in a rush, but their is almost a pause in the story,

and Jon and Peter both stop and tell the man to look at them.

And you can picture thiss man who has just had his head down in shame for 15-30 years having someone say look at them.

Because this is not just a look, but this would have sent a huminizing message to this man that we see you and not just that but the message is God see’s Him.

And really if you have ever felt alone, or isolated, the beautiful thing is that God sees you.

Because I don’t know if any other parents are in this stage but two of my kids are in the Dad watch this stage.

And I love it, but sometimes its a little much because they need me to watch them and if I turn my head an inch they go Dad! and hav to start over.

But the beautiful thing about God is God is a lot better because he never goes I cant but He stops for the one and they are seen

And really out of us bing seen we need to be a people that reflect that to others where they become seen and we take a moments to sit in others story’s

Even when we are in a rush or running behind, we are called to see others.

And let me get to the second half of this from verse 5-10 because it says this:

Acts 3:5–10 NIV

5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

So the man gives Peter and John his attention and he is going awsome they are about to give me something, and he probably got confused, because they go “silver and gold we do not have”

Basically we don’t really have any money…

And you can picture him going okay… thank you.

And I want to pause for a second, because I think one of the biggest things that I always here people or churches say is we would love to do this minisry or I would love to help people in this way,

But I just don’t know if I have the resources.

If I had more money I would…

If we had more people at our church then we could do this…

And what I love about this story they don’t really have a ton, yet this huge maricle happens despite their lack of resources.

And you know this is one of those things that the further I get into ministry the more I am convinced of is that while resources matter and we should be good stewards, so often God meets us in the places we have lack.

And the amazing thing is those areas where we lack, we have no other choice but to trust God.

Insert Illustration

And Peter goes while I don’t have silver and gold, I am going to do what I have and have you walk.

And the here is this begger who cannot walk, all the sudden is miraculously healed, and he begins to walk, and not just walk but he is jumping praising God.

I mean he is aat a Christian rock concert.

But I want us to notice that this is not just a physical healing, but what is taking place is a spiritual healing.

Because on one hand (and this is wrong) but as someone who was unable to walk he was not aloud in the temple courts.

And so for 15-30 years he has not been able to worship in the temple.

And so you can picture this excitement, of I can walk, but now there is even this excitment of I can enter the temple.

Which is cool, but I think the reason he is jumping and praising God, is because He might realize that now God dwells in Him.

AAnd its not just that he can go in the temple but he is realzing I am a temple.

And let me finish with this because people are looking around going isn’t that the guy that sat outside the temple for his whole life?

How is he healed and Peter is able to tie this mans story into God’s story.

And I think this is important for us to know because the things we face tell aa story, and so often this story is not just our own, but it tells a story that points to our God.

And so this morning as we get ready to close I don’t know your story.

maybe its a story of how you were lacking resources and God made a way

Maybe it is a story of a broken past, but God made a way and brought healing

Maybe is a story where God did a maricle and brought physical healing.

But my prayer is that the stories we have are something we share because the stories we have tell of God’s story.

And so we are going to close with communion and I know we recieved this last week, but its this reminder that we are not alone.

And maybe today their is someone who feels invisable, or even maybe less then human, maybe you feel that way.

Can I tell you at this table you are seen.

And my prayer is your story is seen by those sitting here.

Because Jesus saw us and because He did not run, but he entered into the story

This morning God wants to enter your story. Will ytou pray with me?