From Paralysed to Praise
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsGod can do great things through us if we are ready and willing to take any opportunity in front of us
Notes
Transcript
Random Question
Random Question
Q: If you had to chose one limb to be paralysed, which one would it be?
Vs. 1
Vs. 1
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Q: I’ll give you one minute to make observations in this vs. 1-2 (People, locations, time, circumstances?
Q: Who do you think are our main characters? (Peter, lame man)
Q: Can anyone point out what’s significant with the location in vs. 1? (Temple, it was busy at this time of the day)
Time of prayer (3 pm) = big crowds
Q: Peter and John are at the temple together, do you think their sole purpose was to worship? (No, I think they were there to witness too!)
Vs. 2
Vs. 2
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
Q: What’s wrong with the man in vs. 2 (Lame) Was he boring?
Paralysed, feet, maybe legs.
Q: What if this paralysed person was you? Tell me, what would you not be able to do if you were paralysed? (Work/get income, worship (Leviticus 21:16-18))
Q: What place did his friends bring him every day in vs. 2? (Gate beautiful)
Illustration: Map of the temple.
Much debate over the location of this gate. But Josephus is the best historical source we have, being an eye witness. He spoke of 10 gates in the sanctuary, 9 of which were overlaid with silcver and gold. But the tenth one was overlaid with Corinthian bronze, Josephus called it the Nicanor gate. It was so heavy that 20 people had a hard time closing the gate. It was beautifully crafted. This was likely the busiest gate to the temple.
Q: Think with me for a minute. If you’re asking for change, where would you be most succesful outside on waterloo street? Or at a church parking lot on Sunday morning? Why would you pick the church over waterloo? (Waterloo = not so generous ppl, church goers = value generosity)
Vs. 3
Vs. 3
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Imagine how much he did this! For fortyish years, every single day, you sit out there “Change! Any money? Change!”
Quote: “They have a highly developed sense of who will respond. While walking down a street one day, I spied a beggar at the end of the block. I noticed his eyes darted from person to person as they passed by him, and he called out for a gift from only certain people. He could tell which ones were likely to stop”
Q: So what may have been going through this guy’s mind when he saw Peter and John? (Promising donors)
Vs. 4
Vs. 4
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
Q: What stands out to you in this verse? (Peter fixed his eyes on the man)
Q: When you see a homeless person at an intersection, which direction do our eyes go? (The other way)
Q: Was Peter expecting to meet this man on that afternoon? (No)
Always ready to give an answer
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Be ready to share the Gospel, take opportunities as God gives them!
Q: Remember where Peter was headed? And why was he going that way? (The temple to witness to thousands)
Q: If he’s about to share the gospel with thousands of people, why in the world should he stop for one dude? (Beggar just as important as thousands to God)
Numbers don’t equal success
We worry all the time about how successful we can be.
God is concerned with our here and now. What are you doing with the opportunities God has given you now? Use them to the fullest. “I don’t have a big friend group.” Well be a leader and an encourager to the friends you do have!
Vs. 5
Vs. 5
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
He surely was expecting big bucks. He was not hoping, not guessing, this man was expecting something big.
Vs. 6
Vs. 6
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have,
Q: You’re the beggar, and that’s the first thing you hear, what are you thinking? (This is rediculous!!)
but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Illustration: Pastor of a church near a college. “He says that when school is in session the attendance triples but giving only increases by about seventeen dollars a week. On one occasion a broke college student actually put a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit into the offering bucket with a little note: “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, I give unto you!”
Q: Would money be helpful for the lame man? (Yes)
Q: Would it meet his needs? (For a time, food and water, etc.)
Q: But where are you going to find this man the very next day? (The temple gate)
What he was looking for could not fix his real issue.
Q: What does Peter have to offer the man? (Healing)
Q: Through whose name? (Jesus Christ of Nazareth)
In using the name of Jesus, Peter was calling upon His power and authority. So, in a real way, Jesus did this miracle through His servant Peter. Peter did not heal this man, Jesus did.
You might not have much (Money, authority, following), but you all have something to contribute.
Vs. 7
Vs. 7
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Q: If you were there when Hazen broke his arm, would you grab him like Peter?
This is totally crazy!!!
This man has not made a single step in his life, and now Peter takes him by the hand. That’s incredible confidence there. Average rehab time for paralysis patients these days is 3-12 months, depending on how bad you are. Over time not using your legs, the process of paralysis starts; muscles shrink because you aren’t using them. It takes months to rebuild that muscle tissue back to where it was before. But this lame man never even used his legs, we can guess he was a stick man. And, his tendons were never used either.
Vs. 8
Vs. 8
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Q: Where does the lame man go in vs. 8? (The Temple)
Physical AND spiritual healing
Salvation (Acts 3:16)
Q: What three important verbs pop up at the end of the vs? (Walking, leaping, praising)
Luke is using each verb working on top each other, just to show how incredible this miracle was.
Praise = Magnify (Showing everyone how great God is)
Vs. 9-10
Vs. 9-10
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Q: Was this guy well known in town? (Absolutely! He sat at the busyest place of Jerusalem)
Q: What was the crowd’s reaction? (Filled with wonder and amazement)
You can just picture the scene here.
Astonished in the temple
Q: Would any of this happened if back in vs. 4, Peter and John looked away? (No)
“I’m going to the temple, I don’t have time. I’ve had such a long week, I’m too tired to do this Lord.”
God wants our obedience, take the opportunities He gives you now, and watch the great things God will do.
Application
Application
Always be ready when opportunities come
You may not have much, but you can contribute to God’s work
With God, no one is hopeless
