Acts 3:1-11

"We Are Not Accepting Reservations"

Secular:

• Preparing meals for children
•  No to this…
• No to that…
•  Some have very limited pallets
•  … We have finally have to state we are no longer accepting you reservations… you’ll eat what I give you

Biblical: NLT Acts 3:1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service.

 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!"

 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift.

 6 But Peter said, "I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"

 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened.

 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

 11 They all rushed out to Solomon's Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.

Personal:

• You’ve figured it out or found out something ‘almost’ unbelievable
•  You try and share it with someone
• Fight off resistance
• Continue to push
• You KNOW it

Bridge:

• … in the same way…
•  God communicates his message to us
•  We are persistent regardless of resistance
•  Continue to push… to share… to declare
•  Because we KNOW it
• We behave a certain way because we KNOW… because we believe

Body:

The Scene:

NLT Acts 3:1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service.

 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

• Faithful Apostles
• Peter & John
• 3 prayers – morning, noon, evening
•  Lame man… set the stage
• lame from birth
• not an injury
• not an illness
•  Where… Beautiful Gate
• Most ornate
• Corinthian Brass (20 men to close)
• Most visible
• Most people
• Most wealth displayed
• Best begging
•  Turn to people of God for help (wealthy demonstrated ‘holiness’)
• … they expected money
•  Okay scene set… Jesus’ most trusted disciples, at the most prominent gate leading to the temple, where the wealthy offer relief through their very visible giving… but much more was coming

The Sign:

 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!"

 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift.

 6 But Peter said, "I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"

 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened.

 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk!

• Something Amazing happened…
• Let’s look at 4 aspects of the miracle –
• 1) It was unexpected
• God acted sovereignly
• Wasn’t for all the beggar’s
• 2) it was done in the name of Jesus Christ
• dead
• blasphemer
• 3) It was instantaneous
• not progressive
• unexplainable
• 4) it was complete
• no limits on God
• Complete
• Powerful witness
•   They Gave home so much more…
•  Peter was about to deliver a message and this was a clear authentication of his apostolic authority…
• God standing behind his message and his messenger!!

The Sequel:

8b Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

 11 They all rushed out to Solomon's Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.

• Response
• Joy
• Praise and Worship
• Testimony – all people saw him
• Confirmed by Jews
•   Acts 4:16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.”
•  It was to remove doubt…
• We are not accepting your reservations
• Attract people to the truth, validate the message…
•  John 10:23 “and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.

 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

This was a sequel to the message of Christ in this very spot…

It was not a coincident that Peter and John performed a miracle and would preach Christ in the very spot Jesus talked of miracles and calling his sheep to himself.

Conclusion:

The Scene:

• Demonstration of God’s Power in a very public place
• It was the power of God demonstrated by his faithful
• It sent the message that God gives better gifts (than money) and validates the ministry and Word of Jesus and his apostles

The Sign:

• It was unexpected
• In was in the name of Christ (Validating)
• It was instantaneous
• It was complete

The Sequel:

• Joy, Praise, Testimony
•  Message in place of Christ