Acts the Story Continues (12)

I am going to do something different this morning. Instead of an intro like I usually give before reading that mornings scripture we are going to just jump right.

Acts 3:1-10

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

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.

I struggled with what to preach concerning this verse, but then hit me. This is the physical manifestation of salvation.

Peter and John were walking into the temple to pray. Understand it took some time for the disciples of Christ to figure out their own identity apart from the Jewish culture. So they were still keeping their times of prayer. The bible states it’s the 9th hr, which is about 3pm our time.

It is unclear which gate they were at or where they were in the process of entering the temple, but in order to get into the prayer circle they had to bypass several gates. The lame and the sick would sit at these gates because giving alms was a big part of Jewish culture. They knew that the Jews were more likely to give going into the temple because that is where they were most focused on the laws of God.

For the beggar it’s a normal day. He get carried out to his spot at the beautiful gate. Sitting on his mat he expects to collect some money and leave, hopefully with enough to pay some bills and buy some food. He’s just looking to get by, buying his time until he takes his last breath—which very well maybe his only hope. The scripture tells us that this man was born this way. For two reason I believe

to show that this man was in fact not well. You can’t refute a life long illness.

Because since Birth this man was separated from the presence of God.

In the Jewish belief system this beggar would have been unclean since the time he was born. He wouldn’t be allowed in the inner most portion of the temple where the Spirit of God resided. He would, in essence, have to sit on the outside of the church, listen to the praise and watch people rejoice in the presence of God. He watched people who took advantage of a intimacy with God he could never obtain. His only hope to be with God was to die and go to heaven.

The beggar didn’t need money, He didn’t need food, he needed someone who could carry the Spirit of God outside of it’s box and meet him where he was at.

The first thing I think of is this: Why this man? There were beggars at every gate. These two Christ followers had to walk by several to get to this point. What brought about this man’s healing.

I get asked if God could heal everyone why doesn’t he? The reasons are many and truth is we may never know why because the reasons are just as unique as the individual. I had the pleasure of having lunch with Carl Harris when we came up to preach at Mill City. We got on this topic and making a joke I spoke about the meme I saw on facebook where a crippled man refused healing because he was on disability.

Carl chuckled and then became very straight faced and said you know I have seen this twice in my ministry. Once was an elderly man who said exactly that—I don’t want you to pray for me because if I get healed I will lose my disability check.

Another was a younger lady who left every service at alter times. She walked with the wrist cuff crutches and Carl said he could see the pain in her face from the front of the church every time she got up to leave. On the last night Carl ran up to her right before she left and asked if she wanted to be healed and why she wouldn’t take that step to the alter. The lady stated: Right now I am in the middle of a lawsuit. Once the lawsuit is done then you can pray and heal me.

and my heart broke.

recalls people like this. People who were too busy to come to Christ. People who were offered a chance for change, but refused it. I don’t know how profound or deep this message is going to be. It may not wow your socks off, but I want to give an opportunity for change.

Luke recounting Peter’s meeting with a beggar states that this man

Acts 3:8 ESV

And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

This man’s life was forever changed. He walked into the presence of God and had an encounter with Jesus. For so many years he sat on the outskirts. He watched as people took advantage of their freedom to pray. He watched Pharisees walk in praising themselves.But that day the beggar whose name we don’t know met with a true Christ follower and life given back to him. No longer did he have to wait for heaven to touch the face of God. But it came at a price. No longer could he sit at the gate begging for money. He had to get a job, live life differently.

One of the biggest hurdles I see in people who push away Christ isn’t the receiving that they have a problem with. It’s the giving. You cannot live in a life filled with negativity and expect God to fill you with joy. You cannot live a life sitting on your butt and expect God to give you riches. Christianity has it’s price, but it also has it’s outcome.

Next week we are going to discuss Peter’s second message that we know of. But I want to point out the cascading of events.

Beggar is healed.

People took notice

Peter invited people to believe in Christ, repent of thier sin, and embrace a new life.

Then something magical happened in the wake of all of this rejoicing Satan showed up. In

Acts 4:3 ESV

And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

persecution happened.

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, but at the same time this topic keeps coming up.

If you have the courage to embrace change you will also need to find the courage to embrace persecution.

God is the God of taking you through stuff—not avoiding stuff. There is scripture after scripture that tells how God is faith and just. That he will help us through our times of trouble. That he sent his Spirit to guide us through hard times and times of persecution.

Not everyone will rejoice in your changed life.

You will have to be ok with losing friends and family. But listen God always out gives the giver.

:!0

Acts 3:10 ESV

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.

People were amazed. Depsite persecution it states that

Acts 4:4 ESV

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

So to those of you here this morning I state:

Silver and Gold I have none, but the ability to lead you to the healer I will freely give.

There maybe someone here who struggles with a major life change. You need to know—God heals the deepest wounds.

There maybe some here who are struggling to get to the next level-Jesus can close that gap.

It doesn’t matter if you have been saved forever, there are times in my Christian walk where I platue. Where it feels like I can go no further. USually around that time someone comes into my life and gives me just enough to take that next step. To advance in my relationship with Christ.

If that’s you this morning take that step to the alter. Right now. I’m not going to give you a long time to respond because I’m not done preaching. But if you state that you want more come to the alter. Get up out of your seat and walk.

Dare to state I want more. I believe this church these people are in a time of phenominal Spiritual and personal growth, but with that growth Satan will step up and increase the persecution. He will step up and try to distract you from your purpose. He will step up and try to tell you that you cannot succeed. That it’s not your time. That you can’t be healed. That you can’t go deeper. That you peaked and what you have always will be. But this morning I want to renounce those voices and state that God has purpose and a plan for each one us.

An Artist Chumbawamba made a song called Tub thumper. In that song are the lyrics. I get knocked down, but I get back up agian their never going to keep me down.

We don’t need the Whisky, We don’t need then vodka, We don’t need the lagar, because we have the the Power of the Holy Spirit living and breathing inside of us. We don’t need external things to get us back on our feet because God has given us

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

and I love the next verse as well

2 Timothy

2 Timothy 1:8 ESV

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

2 Timothy 1:8–9 ESV

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

embrace the New you! because the bible states that if you receive Christ you are a new creation and the old has passed away.