You Can Keep The Change

You Can Keep The Change

-Welcome- Thanks- Acts 3

-Story of atheist professor

-Today we are going to be looking at an amazing story of how the gospel changes lives, both spiritually and physically

-Acts 3:1-10 Prayer

-The title of my sermon this morning is “You Can Keep the Change”

-What I want to do is go back through the verses and really break down whats going on

-VS 1

-begins with Peter and John going to the temple

-this is significant because even though they weren't bound by the law to go to the temple and pray and present sacrifices they still went out of a love for worshiping God.

-the ninth hour the hour of prayer

-Jewish day started at 6 AM and at 6 PM

-devout Jews would set aside a special prayer time three times a day 9 AM, noon, and 3 PM

-prayer was very special for the Jewish people. What does our prayer life look like?

-do we set aside special time to pray?

-Peter and John recognized the importance of prayer in their daily walk with God

-the 3 PM prayer time was also the time of day when the sacrifices were given and offered up

-EXTREMELY BUSY!

-which is why we see what we see in VS 2

-this was a great and well plan strategy of the lame man

-knee surgery

-the busiest time a day at the place where you expect the most people to give

-the area that he was laid was also very important, the beautiful gate SLIDE

-this was this man's daily routine

-every day it was the same thing but today God was going to shake this man's daily routine

-does God want to shake up your daily routine?

-is our lives so structured that we can't have God mess it up?

-softball analogy. Fastball versus curveball.

-when God throws a curve ball in life do we let it go and watch it go by or we willing to take a swing at it?

-in versus three and four we see Peter and John's reaction to a curveball because their daily routine was interrupted also

VS 3-4

-so this man is laying at the gate sees Peter and John going into the temple and ask them for money

-now I'm assuming this is an on the to do list for Peter and John, but yet look at the response READ VS 4

-it says Peter and John directed their gaze at him

-this word gaze in the Greek means to look intently at

-Peter and John didn't just throw a glance his way they focus their attention on him

-they are swinging at the curve ball here!

-they stop what they're doing and tell this man look at us!

-this is huge! For two reasons

-1. during this time you didn't want to make eye contact with the begger because it meant you were going to give him something

-2. When you tell someone to look at you it usually means you really want them to focus on what you're saying

-kids analogy

-Peter makes a point here to get this man's attention and he does

-VS 5

-you can almost see this man get excited and hold his hand out for money

-but the change she was looking for was of the change she was going to get! Repeat

-VS 6

-his first words to this lame man is I'm broke!

-but what I have to give to you is so much more valuable than money

-he shares the gospel with this man

-not only does he do that but he takes action on his faith that he is healed

VS 7

-Peter was so confident that this man was instantly healed that he took him by the hand and lifted him up

-Peter knew that faith without works is dead

-EPHESIANS 2:10

-we weren't created to except Christ and just move on with this life

-we were created for good works and to walk in them

-why? JAMES 2:14-22,26

-why were we created to do good works?

-because faith without works is dead and useless

-Peter had faith and acted on it

VS 8-10

-what was his first action when he got lifted onto his feet?

-it says he entered the temple with them walking leaping and praising God.

-he didn't run and tell his parents or friends he went to the temple first. What was the significance of that?

-1. He knew that God healed him and he was going in to give him praise

-notice how Peter and John never took credit for the healing. They said in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

-they knew where the power came from and weren't going to take credit for it

-2. This would've been the first time in his whole life that he was able to go into the temple

-being a cripple man he would have never been allowed past the first courtyard.

-now he could go in! I can only imagine this man's excitement!

-it tells us the people were amazed at what happened

-the gospel change this man!

-has it changed you?

-you see this man began his day just like any other! Explain

-but then to believers, may have been the only two believers there, allowed God to interrupt their daily routine

-and the change that they offered this lame man was not the change he was looking for, but it was the ONLY change he could keep!

-Peter and John could've gave this man a few coins and it would've lasted him maybe the day.

-he probably would've spent it on food so that he could go and beg another day

-but the change they gave him was a change that affected him both spiritually and physically and he would have it forever!

-this morning you may be sitting here and you may be a believer, but your life is stuck in a routine and you want God to interrupt but you don't know how to do it

-I want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the people that God wants to interrupt your life with

-or you may be sitting here in your like the lame man, who is an a believer and you're sick and tired of your daily routine

-well this morning I want to offer you change, not a change that parishes but a change you can keep

-1 CORINTHIANS 5:17

-therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

-Prayer