"Look Up: Find Hope and Purpose"

INTRO:

Let me do a quick recap from this series (up to this point). Mission Possible

We learned that Luke is the author of the Book of Acts:

He wrote - The Gospel of Luke as well as The Book of Acts.

Here is why this is significant ….

Luke’s Gospel reveals what Christ did on earth ….. 

…… and the Book of Acts reveals what He continues to do on earth through His CHURCH (Ecclesia) the people, the body!

How were they to do this? 

Holy Spirit

We first introduce the book of Acts with the understanding that the first section of Acts was from 1:1 - 4:4

Broken up into 3 sub-sections:

Chapter 1 (We would title this section “The Fulfillment” section (What was told by God)

Chapter 2 (We would call this section “The Being Filled” section (What was done by God)

Chapter 3 - Chapter 4:4 (We would call this section “The Freedom” section (The reaction to the Power of God)

Two weeks ago we looked at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit of the disciples.

We looked at the parallels of the Baptism of Jesus and the Baptism of the Disciples. (4 things)

Praying

The Spirit of God Descends

The Spirit takes on a Physical Form

They began to Preach

Jesus at Nazareth

Peter at Pentecost (3000 people saved)

There is parallels between these 2 (don’t have time to go over in detail).

Real quick: The liked them …. they disliked them ….. the try to harm them.

Luke 4:30 “But passing through their midst, he went away.”

SEGWAY

Today I want to look at “the Freedom” section.

There is a phenomenal story about a lame beggar who is set free.

This is when Peter and John go to pray and they …

… have an encounter with a man who was Lame his whole life

… and he was placed outside the temple to beg for money (Alms).

BODY:

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Lord bless the reading of Your Word.

Let me unpack what is going on in this passage of scripture:

We see life being lived out.

Peter and John are going to the Temple to pray. Acts 3:1 “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”

Prayer is something that is done 3 times a day (9am/Noon/3pm)

(you can come to all three or just one a day).

Peter and John are going to the 3:00pm prayer service

This is also the one time of the day (3pm) that sacrifices were made along with prayer.

So this would be the most attended prayer service of the day.

On their way in to the Temple they have an encounter with a man.

Lame from birth (Acts 3:2 “And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.”

We don’t know his name

What we do know is that he knows no other way of life.

He is placed at the Gate called “Beautiful Gate” (eastern gate) every day

This Gate was the entrance that was the most used.

This would be the main entrance and at 3:00pm would be the busiest of the day coming into the Temple.

We don’t know who places him there (We know he is carried)

So for the Lame beggar, the time and placement was strategic.

This was the location and the time of the day that this man would encounter the most people.

This is his most opportune moment to receive the most money for the day.

What we read is this man was being placed at the gate just as Peter and John are approaching the Gate.

He was laid outside the Temple because he wasn’t allowed in the Temple because of his infirmity.

Look what happens ….

Acts 3:3 “Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.”

He speaks to Peter and John, “he asked to receive alms.”

It’s important to note that the word “asked” is the Greek word (Aiteo) which is someone who is lesser in position asking of someone who is more significant

Luke felt it necessary to make clear how this Lame Beggar felt: lesser than the rest.

This is where it gets good ….

Acts 3:4–5 “And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.”

Look what happens here ….. “Peter directs his gaze at him”

The word “Gaze” is the same Greek word found in Acts 1:10 “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,”

This Greek word is from the root word “Atenes” which means “strained, intently”

To gaze (atenizo) means to “beholding earnestly.”

Peter and John are looking with passion and concern.

So much so that they didn’t see two guys dressed in white robes.

Same word that Peter uses …. “Peter directs his gaze at him”

And then Peter says something to the Lame beggar that may have never been said to him before.

Thousands of people entering the Temple day after day

This man begs “You have any money” while many pass on by.

If they did stop it was not to speak to him but to place some money into a cup, container or his hand.

But today……. someone actually stop and …… speaks to him …..

“Look at us.”

Why is this so significant?

It's possible that no one has looked this beggar in the eye, for years.

But Peter says, “Look at us!”

Do you know studies have shown that …..

People who make eye contact when talking or listening are often perceived as confident, attentive, and engaged.

It’s seen as a sign of respect and interest in the conversation, fostering trust and connection.

When Peter says “Look at us!” - This is a command made!

Peter is not seeking respect from the Beggar.

He is wanting to show respect along with making a connection.

Acts 3:5 tells us ….. “And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.”

The beggar believed he was getting ready to receive some money.

His anticipation was rising!

There is a good chance his Heart rate increased.

This was probably so unique to him he was bursting with excitement …

…. only to possibly be deflated by the words Peter says to him …. (Acts 3:6 “But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, ….. ”)

You can imagine the bubble that may have been busted in the heart of this man.

But Peter continues …. Acts 3:6 “ ….. but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!””

And then we read what Peter does …. Acts 3:7 “And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”

The Greek word for “took” is (Piazo) which means … “to seize (grab); to take into custody.” “to lay hold of,” with the suggestion of firm pressure or force.

I would believe that the beggar may have been surprised by the words Peter uses, but I believe he was startled by his actions.

He lay’s ahold of this man, which probably no one had done for a long time except those who would carry him to the Temple.

Took his “Right hand” and raised him up.

The right hand in biblical contexts often symbolizes strength, favor, or covenant.

Peter’s action signifies God’s favor and the restoration of this beggar back into community and worship.

This greek word used here for “raised” means to arouse, to wake up, cause to rise up from a prone position.

He doesn’t just stand up …. Scripture tells us “he leaps up.”

A man who has never walked a day in his life is now Leaping and Walking around.

Now check this out ……. it gets even better …..

Look at this .....

Where is the first place Peter, John and their new friend go, Acts 3:8 “And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”

What’s the first thing this man does with his new legs?

He enters into the Temple!

a place that, deep down he probably longed to be able to enter, but wasn’t allowed.

And he worships God.

Luke tells us he was “praising God!”

PAUSE:

I want to point out something to you today.

If you are like me I missed it the first few hundred times I read this passage.

Look at the lame beggar with me again ….

He had to asked someone to carry him.

He had to ask them to place him at this specific gate, at a specific time.

He has spent his entire life asking for assistance from someone.

He spends his days asking for (alms/money).

But what is that “one thing” you and I may have missed?

He never asked to be healed.

WHY?

Why didn’t he ask to be healed?

3 reasons why ….

He was Hopeless!

He never knew it was possible that there was another way of life.

He was born this way! He never knew what it was like to walk.

This was his identity (as he saw himself and as man saw him).

He lived without hope!

I did some research and found the top three reason why people live without hope ….

Chronic Adversity or Trauma: Prolonged exposure to hardship, such as poverty, abuse, or loss, can erode hope. When individuals face repeated setbacks without relief, they may develop learned helplessness, believing no positive change is possible. THIS IS LIVING WITHOUT HOPE

Second reason why people live without hope

Mental Health Challenges: Conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD can distort perception, making the future seem bleak or unattainable.

What this does for a person is it kills motivation and conceals reasons for optimism, leaving individuals feeling trapped in despair.

Just a side note:

Did you know that therapy was invented about 120 years ago. 

Did you also know that …. Today, we as a society lived in the most therapeutical society that’s ever existed.

Simultaneously, this is the most lonely, anxious, depressed and suicidal society that has ever existed. THIS IS LIVING WITHOUT HOPE

Third reason why people live without hope

Social Isolation or Lack of Support: Without meaningful connections or a supportive community, people can feel abandoned or purposeless. The absence of encouragement or shared goals can make hope feel inaccessible, as humans often rely on relationships to foster resilience. THIS IS LIVING WITHOUT HOPE

So why did he never ask to be healed

He was resolved to the life he was living ….. He was hopeless!

Second reason He never asked to be healed ….

2. He was Helpless!

Yes there was someone who carried him to his spot but he has to rely on them, he had to rely on someone giving, he had to rely on someone getting him daily supplies, food, water.

He lived a life totally dependent on others.

Sitting at that Temple, thousands of people passing by him every day, he had no connection with them.

One of the most significant things people need in life is meaningful connection.

Studies, like those from psychology and sociology, consistently show that social bonds are critical for well-being, often outweighing material needs in importance.

So why did he never ask to be healed

He was resolved to the life he was living….. He was helpless!

Third reason He never asked to be healed ….

3. He was without purpose!

He had no purposeful future.

In the first part of Proverbs 29:18 in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: ….. ”

So why did he never ask to be healed

He was resolved to the life he was living …. He had no purpose!

"The beggar was trapped in a life of despair, dependency, and aimlessness.”

The lame beggar sought alms for temporary relief, but what he truly needed was the eternal healing and restoration offered through Jesus Christ.

…. and through Christ’s power, he would find hope, strength, and purpose.

I think it would be true in saying ….

We often pursue fleeting, material solutions.

But what we should be pursuing instead is the lasting, transformative power of God’s grace.

SEGWAY

This is what Peter and John was bringing to this man …… Jesus!

The Holy Spirit manifested through Peter and John and gave this lame beggar back HOPE, HELP, PURPOSE!

The beggar didn’t seek healing because ….

…. he was unaware of the possibility,

…. he couldn’t imagine a different future,

…. and he lacked faith that change was achievable.

There are so many people living in our culture today feeling the same way.

They don’t know of the possibilities in Christ…

They can’t imagine a different future Christ can give them…

They lack Faith that their life can be different.

Peter and John, with the help of the holy Spirit, changed all of that for this man.

This lame beggar went through life “just existing” and now he is “living!”

This Beggar went from being hopeless, helpless and without purpose to a “leaping, praising, worshipping child of God.

He has been restored, given back his original identity, whom God created him to be ….. “A son of the most high God.”

AMEN?

Pause …..

CONCLUSION:

Church, I want you to close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself at that Gate, just like that lame beggar.

Day after day, you’ve been carried to the same place —stuck in the same struggles, the same pain, the same doubts this Beggar had.

Maybe it’s a physical burden that’s convinced you this is just how life will always be.

Maybe it’s a mental or emotional weight—a storm of hopelessness or fear that drowns out any whisper of a better tomorrow.

Or maybe it’s a spiritual emptiness, where you feel like God’s promises are for everyone else, but you.

“LOOK UP HERE!”: The Holy Spirit is here …. He is passing by right now.

He’s stopping, fixing His gaze on you with love and power, and He’s saying, “Look at Me!”

He’s reaching out His hand—not to give you what you think you need, but to give you what only He can: healing, freedom, and purpose.

Today, the Holy Spirit wants to lift you up—

… to heal your body from ailments you’ve accepted as permanent,

… to free your mind from the lies and torment of the enemy, and

… to restore your soul so you can see yourself as God sees you: a son, a daughter of the Most High God!

This is your moment.

This morning, you didn’t come here asking for a miracle, just like that beggar didn’t ask to be healed.

But God is ready to do what you never thought possible.

He wants to turn your “just existing” into true living—where you will find yourself: leaping, praising, and walking in the purpose He created you for!

Have them stand ….

Ask the prayer ministers to go to their places at the altar …..

So, church, LOOK AT HIM!

Do you want to be healed?

Do you want hope restored, do you want to receive help, do you want to know your renewed?

Then come to this altar.

If you’re battling something physical (pain, ailment, etc) …. come.

If you’re fighting emotional or mental chains, …. come.

If you’re yearning for freedom, (Spiritually) …. come.

The Holy Spirit is here, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Let’s stand together, move toward the altar, and claim the life God has for you—a life of hope, help, and purpose.

Don’t leave this place the same.

Rise up, church, and walk into your miracle today!