New Life, New Possibilites

A New RZR

Sara and I are getting a RZR.

Not new, but new to us. 2012.

Sara’s brother and SIL bought a new one.

This machine is well-broken in.

Trips to the dunes, climb rock walls, Mexico, New Mexico, all over.

It’s a bit of a rattler.

We had a quad and loved it. Enjoyed being out w/ the Rough Riders.

When you go fast on a quad it’s exciting.

We could go places side-by-sides couldn’t

We could dodge bumps they had to go over.

We enjoyed it. Took it out on our own, ran it out of gas and had to phone a friend. But, we were out in the forest and exposed. It was a great experience.

But, it had its limitations.

2-seater. No one else

Exposed to rain. It hurt.

No storage or taking a large cooler.

We’re looking forward to getting out in the forest, on rides as long as the forest is open.

All kinds of new possibilities w/ this new toy.

Take friends, family.

Pack a larger lunch, longer trips.

Stay dryer when it rains.

It’s got a radio so we can talk to ea other.

We may go w/ her brother on some of their trips.

I may end up sitting in it in my garage making engine noises.

At least until after the monsoons.

What if, even if the forest is open, I still just sit in it in my garage making engine noises?

What a waste. We spent the money, occupying space, just to let it sit idle.

Dumb. Foolish.

So, why do so many Christians who receive a new life with new possibilities when they come to faith continue to sit idly by while everyone else is out enjoying what’s new?

When we come to believe in who Jesus is we get a new life with all new possibilities. It’s up to us what we do w/ them.

Now what? Jesus is gone. The HS has come. Building the church has begun.

A lot is going to be different. But, some things look very similar.

Peter and John are on their way to the temple for their afternoon prayers.

Much like when Jesus was there, they encountered a man who was crippled, lame in both feet since birth, and he presented them with an opportunity for an object lesson for everyone else who was there in the temple.

Last summer I preached thru the miracles of Jesus and the outline was basically the same.

There was a miracle. Then, there was an explanation.

The miracle was not the point. It pointed to the point. Don’t get trapped by the miraculous. Understand why it happened when and where it did.

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The Miracle

Acts 3:1–10 NIV

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 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. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 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.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 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.

This is the first of 14 miracles in Acts.

So much of what would be on the disciples and everyone else’s mind would be what happens now.

Well, a lot that happened next looked a lot like what happened before when Jesus was there.

The disciples were still very Jewish. All they knew to do was apply their new faith in the context of Jewish practice.

When someone first comes to faith, what do they know to do? They do what they had always done until the figure out they need to do something different.

So, it’s 3 in the afternoon and Peter and John head to the temple for their afternoon prayers and the encounter a man whose situation is hopeless.

Hopeless

The man’s situation was hopeless.

The man’s situation was hopeless.

Crippled. Paraplegic. Lame in both feet, since birth. He never learned to walk. Bones, ligaments, muscles all underdeveloped.

He had to be carried everywhere. He couldn’t work. All he could do was beg. And, a great place to beg was at the gate of the temple b/c Jewish worshippers were sympathetic and generous.

Not necessarily unselfish. The system was based on performance. So, those who performed better, like by throwing a few coins to a cripple, might be more blessed by God.

B/C his situ was hopeless, his expectations of God and everybody else were pretty low.

Low Expectations

He asked for, hoped for, expected money.

His material concerns were his greatest concerns.

What else had anyone done for him? Could anyone do for him? Years in this situ, resigned to a life of begging.

The religious leadership, rank and file Jewish worshippers, they had set their expectations at much the same place for him.

Peter and John, however, did not. They expected much more. They also recognized his greater concern was a spiritual need.

Who he had

Peter was a fisherman, laborer. Hard-working, blue-collar guy. Married.

But, fisherman was about the lowest rung of the professional career ladder. So, he lived a simple life.

John was a teenager. He was the youngest disciple. They all looked at him, Jesus included, as their kid brother.

So, he wouldn’t have had money.

Peter stopped and got the man’s full attention. Most would just walk by w/out making eye-contact and maybe flip a coin in the man’s direction.

After all, most were more concerned about God noticing than anything else.

So, Peter’s got his full attention. He’s now hoping for something good.

But, Peter says, “I don’t have any money.”

Now what?

Peter tells him he’ll give him what he has. And really, it’s not what he has, but WHO he has.

“In the name of Jesus...” Name is much more than just a tag, or label. What you call someone.

Name represented Who you are. A name was given and changed based on personality development, character, strengths, and traits. It represented Who and What you are.

Peter is basically saying, I am confident that if Jesus were here w/ us this is what He would do for you.

Peter knew Jesus well.

When you do something or pray something in Jesus name it means you are confident that this is what Jesus would do if he were there to do it Himself.

Peter gave the crippled man a connection w/ Jesus. He introduced him. That’s all Peter could do is offer the introduction. The rest would be up to Jesus.

Too often we try to tell Jesus what to do and how.

Peter just offered his hand. W/ some confidence of what would happen, but he left the rest to Jesus and whatever Jesus wanted to do.

Peter gave the crippled man a connection w/ Jesus. He introduced him. That’s all Peter could do is offer the introduction. The rest would be up to Jesus.

Peter offered the man his hand.

What prompted the man to take it? To try?

Up to that point there is no evidence of faith.

This is an opportunity for an object lesson.

But to take Peter’s hand and try to stand was an act of faith, not in what Peter said, but in Who Peter invoked.

The healing was complete and immediate.

Immediate change

He jumped to his feet. Walked with them. Went into the temple jumping and walking.

Strength, coordination, balance.

Remember the scene in the Wizard of Oz when the scarecrow comes down off the post after just a short time he stumbles and falls?

This guy had never walked in his life. Never learned as a baby. It’s easier to learn as a baby.

Atrophied muscles. Brittle bones. Tendons and ligaments that had never been stressed.

That part of his brain had never developed due to lack of use. How did he know how to, not only take steps, but leap in the air and land w/out breaking a bone?

How many of us right now could confidently leap into the air and land w/out breaking something?

We’ve been doing it all our lives.

How does your brain tell your feet to work in a situ like this?

After a head injury people go thru months of physical therapy to learn to walk again.

The man had been given a brand new lease on life.

A new life and now he was capable of doing things he’d never been able to do before.

Opportunities that he could take now, or choose not to. But, the point is, he had the option.

Once hopeless, now hopeful.

Stuck in a rut, now options to move on.

In the caste system in India, something like this would not change the man’s profession.

If a beggar were given $1 million one day, the next he’d be out in the same place, begging again. In fact, he’d probably give it to someone in the ruling caste hoping it would go well for him in reincarnation.

But, for this cripple, he’d been given a new life and was capable of doing things he’d never done before.

The people around immediately noticed. What they saw made a huge impact on them.

Impact

He’d been in the same place, at the same time, in the same situation for years.

That’s his face, those are his clothes, but are those his legs and feet?

Is that his voice? Praising God? His smile? Laughing?

Is that real? What happened?

There was the obvious intellectual impact. You see the wheels turning trying to explain this.

But, the real impact was emotional. The people were moved. Excited and emotional for the man. But, what about them?

Had they missed something? Was something available to them they didn’t have?

He was a cripple. If anyone was going to get something from God is wouldn’t be him, would it?

What about us?

The man had never been in the temple before. The lame weren’t allowed in and no one was going to carry him in.

Now, he danced in.

By faith in the name of Jesus, he reached out and took Peter’s hand and immediately he was given a new life.

By faith, we can confidently walk, dance, into the presence of God b/c of the new life we receive from Jesus.

This miracle was a visual act that pointed to a deeper reality.

Even though Jesus was gone he could still give new life to a person b/c He’s not really gone.

God lives in us and works thru us to accomplish his purposes in the ppl around us.

Dead to alive. Despair to joy. Invalid to Independent.

Capable of things he never could before.

Peter’s about to explain all this.

Peter and John encountered a man who was physically crippled on their way into the temple where they would encounter a number of people who were spiritually crippled.

Just like Jesus gave the man a new life with new possibilities, He’d do the same for everybody else who took His hand with faith in His name.

That is faith in Who He is.

Peter explained, if you understand where Jesus is right now and what His current position means, then you will understand this miracle.

Peter’s Explanation

Surprised?

Acts 3:12–13 NIV

When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.

If you’d been paying attention you wouldn’t be so surprised right now.

This crippled man, Pentecost, Jesus’ death and res, His miracles and teaching.

It would all make sense. It all does make sense.

It fits with our history.

Peter places himself as one of them and affirms that it is their God who is at work doing this.

Not an unfamiliar god, someone else’s, ours!

They should be able to recognize God in all of this.

He is also careful to place himself under God, not the One who actually performed the miracle.

Peter is one of them. God used Him the way He has used ppl throughout history.

God’s power. It was just Peter’s hand.

Don’t deify him or think that you would be able to perform miraculous things on your own.

This is all God, our God.

An old promise

Acts 3:24–25 NIV

“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’

Acts 3:

This is not new faith, it’s old faith.

It’s a new life and new way of living an old faith.

God made a promise to Abraham 2000 year prior to these events that he would have a descendant that would bless the entire world.

Moses and the prophets believed it and reiterated it.

Jesus is that One descendant of the man who had no descendants until he was 99 but was promised descendants as numerous as the stars.

Jesus is the One who has come to bless everyone in the entire world.

The plan all along

Acts 3:13–19 NIV

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Acts 3:

God sent Jesus, you killed Him, then, God raised Him.

We are witnesses. We saw all this happen, including and especially, his resurrection.

This was God’s plan all along. He predicted He’d suffer.

But, you’re responsible. You acted in ignorance, but that’s no excuse.

You turned him over t/b killed,

Disowned Him before Pilate when he was ready to release Him,

Chose a murderer instead,

And, caused His death.

So, now, you all have to react. Repent.

Turn your life around. Turn away from your old life and turn to face God.

When you do you will receive a new life just like this crippled man you see here.

Your guilt will be removed as you are forgiven for every sin you ever have and ever will commit.

You will receive a new life

No longer burdened you’ll be able to leap for joy.

You will be refreshed, like a cool breeze.

You’ll smile and laugh b/c the joy is deep and real.

You will participate in every blessing God ever promised.

Now and in the future.

New life begins at the moment of faith an carries you thru to the very end.

To be completed

Acts 3:20–21 NIV

and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

The first time Jesus came He partially fulfilled everything.

After He was resurrected He ascended. Who does that?!

Now, He is seated at the right hand of God.

This is Who He is. What His Name represents.

Only Messiah, Son of God, could do this.

He’s going to stay in heaven until it’s time for Him to come back and finish what He started.

Faith in His name now, in Who He is, will give you a new life now and it will last until the very end.

You will be there when Jesus returns and complete everything God ever promised and establishes His kingdom.

If you know Who Jesus is and understand where He is right now and what that position means, then you will understand the miracle that Jesus just performed thru Peter.

They encountered a man who was physically crippled on their way into the temple where they would encounter numerous people who were spiritually crippled.

By faith in the name of Jesus, he reached out and took Peter’s hand and immediately he was given a new life.

By faith, we can confidently walk, dance, into the presence of God b/c of the new life we receive from Jesus.

This miracle was a visual act that pointed to a deeper reality.

Even though Jesus was gone he could still give new life to a person b/c He’s not really gone.

God lives in us and works thru us to accomplish his purposes in the ppl around us.

Dead to alive. Despair to joy. Invalid to Independent.

Capable of things he never could before.

So, now, this man who used t/b crippled could still go back to begging like he did before even though his legs now worked.

Even though his new life came w/ new possibilities he didn’t have to do anything with them.

Like sitting in my RZR in the garage making engine noises.

Or, he can take full advantage of the power that now resides in him and do things he’d never been able to do before.

I mean much more than just walk, jump, and run.

This guy could then do everything the other disciples were doing at Pentecost and after. He could study what they are teaching, play with the rest of the church, serve along side them, and pray with them.

Peter’s about to explain all this.

Peter and John encountered a man who was physically crippled on their way into the temple where they would encounter a number of people who were spiritually crippled.

Just like Jesus gave the man a new life with new possibilities, He will do the same for everybody else who takes His hand with faith in His name.

That is faith in Who He is.

Then, the question is, what will you do w/ those new possibilities?

Applications

Expectations

God doesn’t always do what we expect. In fact, if we expect the wrong thing He loves us enough not to give it to us.

The beggar expected money thinking that was his greatest need.

God hears our request for what we want then gives us what we need.

Don’t be disappointed when you don’t get what you ask for. God knows you better than you know yourself.

Expect to find an opportunity in what you do get.

What will you do w/ it?

Take full advantage.

Aim Higher

How little do you think of God and His power?

Are you resigned to your current situation and no longer asking for something big from God?

It never hurts to ask. But don’t expect more than you need.

Too often we aim way too low.

Don’t expect too much. But, don’t sell yourself, God and His power short of what He can do.

Aim higher by knowing God and His character better. Then ask for what you are confident He would do for you if He were already here to do it.

Name

What’s in a name? The name of Jesus is a one-word description of Him.

If the ppl closest to you would describe you using one word what would it be?

Maybe you need to work on that.

Peace, joy, patience, kindness, love, self-control, etc.

Or, something else?

Give people a good reason to come up with a good one-word description of you.

A new life comes w/ new possibilities including new ways to describe you.

What will you do w/ these possibilities?

This miracle was a visual act that pointed to a deeper reality.

Even though Jesus was gone he could still give new life to a person b/c He’s not really gone.

God lives in us and works thru us to accomplish his purposes in the ppl around us.

Dead to alive. Despair to joy. Invalid to Independent.

Capable of things he never could before.

So, now, this man who used t/b crippled could still go back to begging like he did before even though his legs now worked.

Even though his new life came w/ new possibilities he didn’t have to do anything with them.

Like sitting in my RZR in the garage making engine noises.

Or, he can take full advantage of the power that now resides in him and do things he’d never been able to do before.

I mean much more than just walk, jump, and run.

This guy could then do everything the other disciples were doing at Pentecost and after. He could study what they are teaching, play with the rest of the church, serve along side them, and pray with them.

Just like Jesus gave the man a new life with new possibilities, He will do the same for everybody else who takes His hand with faith in His name.

That is faith in Who He is.

So, why do so many Christians who receive a new life with new possibilities when they come to faith continue to sit idly by while everyone else is out enjoying what’s new?

When we come to believe in who Jesus is we get a new life with all new possibilities. It’s up to us what we do w/ them.

What are you going to do with yours?