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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.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Main Point
Main Point
JESUS IS LORD, and that demands a response
Introduction
Introduction
Timeline
Jesus promise and command in - “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus ascension in - and the promise that He will return
The coming of the Holy Spirit in - and the apostles receive power to witness as Jesus promised
Peter’s sermon in - The sign confirms Jesus is Lord, now repent and you will receive the promise yourselves
The Spirit-filled Community of Believers in - Luke’s breakaway to provide a lens into the life of the believers - - - - - what a life after salvation looks like inside a covenant community (like Cambridge)
The Spirit-filled Community
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The priorities
Anchored in the Scriptures & the apostles teaching
Caring for each other by being openhanded with their possessions
Obedience to their Lord in keeping the Lord’s Supper
Communion with God through prayer and worship
The simplicity
No entertainment
No big budget
No powerpoint
No bands
Simple
Notice 2 pictures:
The church in public
The church in private worship
Application
The gathering of the saints was all about the Lord and His sheep
The saints in public / in the world was all about glorifying God with their works and witnessing to Jesus
We must not confuse the 2
When the church meets, it isn’t for the lost but for the saved. The purpose is worship.
The purpose of our meeting for worship is not to cater for the unsaved or the seeker. We cater for the saved and feed them - with the Word, Fellowship, the Lords Supper, Prayer, Worship
The church service is not the great event that we invite everyone to in the hopes that we can witness to them her
(maybe this is why we get a lot of visitors but few stay)
Witnessing is what we are supposed to do in the world the rest of the week
(maybe this is why we get a lot of visitors but few stay)
it’s not because we aren’t entertaining enough in here
its because we aren’t doing our witnessing out there
When the church is in the world, it is for witnessing
Trusting that through our works and witnessing, the Lord will build his church
If we want to see the church grow and be built, then we worship and get equipped / fed in here, and we do our witnessing out there
so that when they come to meet with us here, its because they have already heard the gospel of truth and now they want the same thing we want - nothing but to know Jesus Christ and to worship Him
Luke’s breakaway gives us a lens into the life of the church and their life together (in here)
But In Chapter 3, Luke gives us a lens into the witnessing of the church out in the world
The Sign
The Sign
The Sign
The Sign
A sign and a sermon
Jesus is Lord, and that demands a response.
Peter and John are on their way to the temple
on their way to church - to worship
Its 3pm in the afternoon
They come across a lame man at the Beautiful Gate
Notice the helplessness of the man
Lame from birth
Relied entirely on the kindness of his friends to carry him to the gate - couldn’t get there on his own
Notice the inability & failure of the people to help him
This was a daily routine - carried there daily by his friends
Probably done this for a long time - he was later recognized by the people in the temple
All they could do was give him alms (donations, money, charity)
But it has no lasting help for him - he still lives in a state of perpetual need
He still lies at the gate every day - and its a pitiful picture
A picture of contrast - the grand extravagance of the Beautiful Gate (took 20 men to move it, made of thick silver and gold), ------ contrasted with the pitiful, helpless man lying next to it
The generosity of the Fellowship - contrasted with the religious temple-goers who spend extravagantly on a gate but spare only a few pennies for a cripple
Its an opportunistic arrangement
The temple-goers give him some charity to ease their conscience, and in their minds, earn favour with God before making the sacrifice
The lame man takes advantage of that by getting his friends to lay him down at that strategic position
When Peter & Paul pass by, he asks for alms like he always does
Verse 4 is remarkable: “Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
Peter directed his gaze at him - we usually avoid eye-contact
Acts 3:
human compassion
He told the man “look at us”
This man was not looking at them either
He was not used to making eye contact
Others didn’t care about him - just did their “religious duty”
Maybe also a bit of self-pity, shame
Now he looks at Peter and John - expecting to receive some money
Verse 6: “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!”
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!”
The moment Peter grabbed his hand and lifted him up, he was instantly healed!
Acts 3:
Notice: real healing
not a gradual improvement of condition following months of physio, medication and positive thought help groups
miraculous - creative miracle
Muscles that were non-existent were now there and strong
His brain didn’t have to learn how to use those new muscles - instantly connections were made and his brain knew how to control them
He JUMPED up, walked and ran and jumped
Notice: in whose name he was healed
To invoke a man’s name was to call upon that man’s power and authority
If they had said in the name of Moses / Elijah / David - nothing - they were dead
But then why did his body respond so miraculously in Jesus name??
Because Jesus is alive
He has been raised from the dead and is alive
He is still very much at work in the world
They called upon the power and authority of Jesus - and Jesus acted by healing the man
Notice: the response of the man and the crowd
“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.”
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.
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Let’s first talk the response of the man’s body
Because Jesus is Lord, the physical body responds to his power and authority - new muscles grow - connections are made in the brain
Acts 3:8
all is subject to His Lordship and authority
The response of the man
He follows them into the temple, leaping for joy and praising God
By faith, he recognized that in the name, authority and power of Jesus, he was healed
He didn’t even asked to be healed - he was only hoping for some money or food
He therefore recognized the grace and mercy of Jesus to give him something far greater than he asked for or deserved
His response to the Lordship and power of Jesus is faith & worship
The response of the crowd
Wonder and amazement
They recognized the man as the one who had been lying at the gate - probably for years
They knew that it could only be a miraculous work of God
The stage was now set for Peter to preach his second sermon
The Sermon
The Sermon
The Sermon
The Sermon
Luke says that when all the people saw what happened they ran together to them in the portico---
---- and then he says in verse 12 “and when Peter saw it he addressed the people”
He had a captive audience
much like we would have at the braai
Peter grabs this opportunity - now that he sees he has a captive audience - to preach - to proclaim - to witness
It was the same with his first sermon in - he took advantage of a captive audience
So much of our witnessing happens in the course of our daily interaction with people out in the world
Opportunistic - taking advantage of opportunities to relate what is happening in the world to the Lordship of Jesus
in the course of our interactions at work
at the shop
at the shop
with the parents at school
at the braai when people are talking about our country
That is really what Peter is doing here
---- and then he says in verse 12 “and when Peter saw it he addressed the people”
He grabs the opportunity of the miracle that has just been performed that has grabbed the attention of the people, and uses it to point to the Lordship of Jesus
He had a captive audience
much like we would have at the braai
Peter’s Sermon
Peter’s Sermon
Glorify God
Peter’s first priority is to glorify God
Takes the focus off him and John
This wasn’t us - it was God
And then he proceeds to explain what has just happened
remember his first sermon?
Explanation -> Exaltation -> Exhortation
“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus.....”
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
What you have just seen wasn’t an act of man - nor anything that can be explained in natural terms
Acts 3:13-
What you have just seen is the power of Jesus Christ, who is not only alive but is glorified as the Lord of all creation
He
Acts 3:
He identifies God
“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers...”
The same way that God announced himself to Moses in the burning bush
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
He identifies Jesus
Exodus
“The God of Abraham.... glorified his servant Jesus”
This is how Isaiah spoke of the Messiah… as God’s servant
“Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
That leads straight into - which you all know speaks so accurately of the cross of Christ and him carrying our sins and being pierced for our trangressions
And now comes the exaltation...
Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
He exalts Jesus
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Do you see how Peter is using Scripture to witness?
How being anchored in the Scripture is helping his witness?
And how he trusts that Scripture - God’s Word - is sufficient and powerful in evangelism?
You see again - we don’t need cleverness and entertainment - they are not necessary, and are even stumbling blocks to evangelism
God speaks through His Word
Peter quotes Scripture to prove that was is happening is by the hand of God
That Jesus is the servant God spoke of through the prophet Isaiah
That Jesus is the Messiah
And that Jesus, though he was crucifed and died, has risen and is alive and glorified as LORD
And JESUS is still alive and continues to act and intervene in the world - as they have just witnessed
Exhortation
Just as in Peter’s first sermon, we see
an explanation of what is going on - putting events into the context of redemption
the exaltation of Jesus as the risen and glorified Saviour who even now is at work in the world
and now Peter moves again to exhortation - because you see....
Jesus is Lord - and that demands a response
Peter started by revealing who Jesus is - He is the Lord.
Now he reveals to their consciences who they really are.
And he does that by contrasting God’s actions with theirs.
Look at “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”
Acts
God glorified Jesus -> you denied him
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Jesus is the Author of life -> you chose to kill him and save a murderer instead
The people Peter is talking to are the religious - - - - - - those who were the most visible in the temple - - - - - held in high esteem by their religious peers
They were also the same people who were there when Jesus stood in front of Pilate
They were the same people who shouted out CRUCIFY HIM
GIVE US BARABAS
LET JESUS BLOOD BE ON US AND OUR CHILDREN
Those same people are now confronted with the reality:
of who Jesus is - He is LORD
confirmed by the miraculous sign that they have just seen,
confirmed by the miraculous sign that they have just seen,
and proven by Peter from the Word
that He is the servant spoken of in and 53
That He suffered just as God foretold through the prophets (verse 18)
That he is the prophet like Moses from among their own people that God would raise up - verse 22
This is Peter’s aim:
That all these things are happening exactly as God planned from the beginning - verse 18, verse 24
Peter
and, the reality of what they have done.
To explain to them what they’ve just witnesses - Jesus is doing this
To exalt Jesus - He is the Messiah and the risen Lord and
before they will repent, they must be shown their sin
They are the ones who killed the Messiah
And so then comes Peter’s exhortation:
And so then comes Peter’s exhortation:
And so then comes Peter’s exhortation:
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”
Jesus is Lord - and that demands a response.
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
Acts 3:19
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
The only response that is the right response to this knowledge of Jesus as Lord is to repent - turn back
Acts 3:
Peter says “I know you acted in ignorance”
Just like Jesus said of them while hanging on the cross - they know not what they do
But that doesn’t give you an excuse
Claiming that you didn’t know won’t cut it...
Thinking you will tell God one day that you just did the best you could do won’t cut it...
Presuming that you will be judged as righteous because you had good intentions won’t cut it...
Claiming to have been deceived and blaming someone else won’t cut it...
REPENT!!!
TURN BACK!
Turn away from your sin! Turn to God!
Promise
Then, just as was the case in Peter’s first sermon...
attached to the exhortation and warning to repent...
… is a promise.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Two particular promises here:
Your sins will be blotted out
Acts 3:19-
and 53 speak of the servant whom God will glorify...
but they also speak of the same servant as a suffering servant
as one who has borne our griefs and sorrows (
as one who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5)
as one by whose wounds we are healed ()
as the one upon whom the Lord has laid all our sins (Isaiah 53:6)
as the one who was struck for the sins of God’s people ()
Who’s soul made an offering for our guilt ()
And by the knowledge of Him, many will be accounted as righteous ()
Therefore all who repent and believe in Jesus’ name will be counted as righteous!
Your sins will be blotted out - washed off the canvas - as if they were never there to begin with
Why?
Because Jesus took them all away
He made it possible for us to be forgiven
Refreshing & Restoration will come from the presence of the Lord
Not only will the old be blotted out and cancelled...
But you will also be made new
You will receive new life,
and the promise of being part of the new Kingdom, which Jesus will bring with Him when He returns
A kingdom restored to perfection and beauty
A kingdom free from corruption and death
A kingdom filled with glory, joy unspeakable, and love incomprehensible.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Do you see how Peter used the sign that Jesus did in healing the lame man, - - - - - - - to point us to the ultimate reality of what Jesus does for all who repent and turn to him?
Jesus takes the lame, the corrupted, the helpless… and gives life, makes new, restores.
You see many people see the signs and wonders in Acts, and make those miracles the main focus
as if the main point is that if those signs occurred in that way in the days of the apostles, then we should be seeing them in the same way today
if you see that as the point of the signs and wonders, you’ve missed it
The signs are not the focus - the signs point us to the focus, which Peter reveals in the sermons that follow
As we have seen in both of Peter’s sermons so far in and - the signs and wonders served a greater purpose
They affirm Jesus as the ascended Saviour and Lord
They affirm the apostles as his chosen representatives
They affirm the gospel that they taught
In , the healing of the lame man is like a parable
We were just like that helpless man
born in sin from birth
corrupted by sin
unable to help ourselves
waiting in vain at the temples of money, false religion, romance, entertainment, enlightenment to help us feel better
But its all vanity
nothing helps
We have a perpetual need that will remain unsatisfied no matter how much money or worldly satisfaction we chase
We were just wasting away
Waiting for the end and death
But Jesus is Lord and Saviour
to blame for the position we found ourselves in
He carried away our sin on the cross
sinners who would choose
He bore our corruption and guilt and took away our shame
What we are unable to do, Jesus has done - He satisfied God’s justice and bought us peace
He restores and makes all things new
He satisfies
In resurrection He defeated death and gives instead eternal life
Good News of this magnitude demands a response from us!
JESUS IS LORD
Repent and turn back to Him
And he will give you life.
JESUS IS LORD
Respond in faith and joyful worship
And he will give you life.
JESUS IS LORD
Be his witnesses in Cambridge, and East London, and to the ends of the earth
JESUS IS LORD
what is your response?