Acts 3 "Nothing Else to Give"

Introduction

Good morning church…I pray that you have gathered this morning as families to learn what the Scriptures have to tell us today.

I once heard that in life there are at least two things that are impossible:

#1; To make a crab walk straight.

I’m not real sure of this, but I do know that crabs walk sideways and in the water the can move really quick.

#2; You cannot get blood from a turnip.”

These are seemingly true statements, but to get some validity here we may need to study a little more.

In the game of golf there are impossible shots...

In 1867, James Eads and engineer from Lawrenceburg Indiana thought that it was possible to build a bridge across the Mississippi at St. Louis. 

He was told it was impossible…. no bridge could span the mighty Mississippi.

In 1874; just 7 years later the bridge was completed and it stands today as a historical landmark in St. Louis.

7 years may seem like a long time, but in 1867 seven years was a accomplishment.

The World also tells us:

It’s impossible to create “something from nothing,” yet that’s how God produced the cosmos. (Creation Gen. 1)

It’s impossible for a woman in her old age (80-90) to give birth, yet that’s how God Blessed Abraham and Sarah.  (Gen. 17:17)

It’s impossible for Animals to speak, yet Balaam had a donkey that did just that.  (Num. 22:23-30)

That there was no way that the Israelites walked across the Red Sea or the Jordan river on Dry Ground, yet the evidence tells a different story. (Ex. 14:22 & Josh 14:14-17)

There is no way to make the sun, moon and stars stand still, but scientist are trying to figure out why there is a day missing in the celestial clock. (Josh. 10:12-14)

Not to mention:  Making an ax head float (2 Kin. 6:6;), raising children from the dead (1 Kin. 17:17–24  , 2 Kin. 4:18–37), feeding a crowd with only a little grain (2 Kings 4:42), Healing the blind (2 Kings 6:17), and Curing the sick (2 Kings 5:1-19 & Isa. 38:21)….. AND That’s only some of the impossibilities listed in the Old Testament!

We have a God who is in the doing impossible business and God does something today that may seem impossible to us now.

So turn with me today to Acts chapter 3 beginning in verse 1.

Acts 3 verse 1

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The Scriptures tell us this....

Acts 3:1–10 CSB

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

Pray with me this morning.

The 1st thing we see in this passage is...

Power of the Creator

Peter whom we studied just gave a sermon that points the Jewish people back to the OT teaching and the fulfillment of it in the Risen Christ.

This event introduces us to us John within Acts…John the Disciple will go on tho write the book of John and Revelation and Peter.

The same Peter who denied Jesus and the same Peter who just delivered one of the greatest sermons ever spoken.

What we see is Peter and John going to the temple at the time of prayer.

Notice they did not abandon the Jewish practice of going to the temple to pray; although they go it does not say in the text that they actually prayed.

They were still following the requirements of the Jewish law.

Jews were expected to offer up prayer (in a temple or synagogue) three times a day—in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

During these times, devout Jews would recite the Shemone Esre, also known as the “Eighteen Benedictions”.

These benedictions went like this:

The first three benedictions state the fundamental beliefs of Judaism in the one true creator God;

1. God of History 2. God of nature 3. The God who sanctifies

4-9 are personal in nature;

4. For understanding 5. Repentance 6. Forgiveness 7. Deliverance from affliction 8. Healing 9. Deliverance from want.

The next 5 benedictions are national prayers;

10. For the reunion of Israel 11. The righteous reign of God 12. Against slanderers, informers and traitors 13. For the righteous 14. The rebuilding of Jerusalem 15. The Messianic King.

16-18 are regarding service to God:

16. The Hearing of Prayer 17. The Temple Service 18. Thanksgiving for God's mercies.

19. Grant Peace

Luke seemingly wants us to understand the very nature of what the Disciples and the early church were doing…one thing we do know is they relied upon prayer to God.

Prayer is vital to the Spiritual life of a Christian; prayer marks us a person who looks to commune with God.

When our own understanding seems out of our grasp…we must look too and lean into prayer with our God.

Today as Christians in this time we must fill and sustain ourselves with the prayer offered to our Lord.

Look at what Paul says about prayer in Ephesians...

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

We are to “pray at all times”

Seek God in times of plenty and times of shortage; pray in times of happiness and in times of sorrow.

In times of sickness and of health and this is so important for us today...

Paul tells us to “pray in the Spirit” who if you believe resides in us.

Pray in full faith and belief in God.

As you pray stay alert.

Don’t miss what God is doing and what God will do.

Paul also calls us to persevere…to carry on in full faith that God know what is best no matter the outcome.

I think we are on the brink of a mighty work of God; I praying for it…I think that we are about to see God move in a big way here in Long Beach and I think God is about to do something in our church.

But we must be a church that prays and continually seeks the face of God.

We must never relent; we must persevere, and we need to fully rely on the strength of God.

This is what the early church was doing…they praying and relying on God for their future.

...

Acts 3:3–6 CSB

3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

So Peter and John are walking into the temple to pray and there is man who was carried there and he laid at the entrance...

Most likely he was there everyday..unable to do anything except beg.

It is easy to imagine the man looking up at Peter and John; with a piece of clothing stretched out on the ground; maybe a bowl of some kind with a couple coins in it.

Crying out, begging for money

Just his physical condition of his life was enough to soften even the hardest heart.

It was a horrible existence with little relief in sight…but today would be different for him.

The lame man turned and looked up…begging Peter and John to give him some money.

Peter says…look at us…

Peter want the man to focus on what he was about to say and about to do.

Peter says to the man, I have nothing to give you...

In the name of Jesus get up and walk...

Through Peter and power of the Spirit of God…in the name of Jesus; get up and walk.

In these words we see the…

Then look what happens.

The Power of Jesus

Acts 3:7–10 CSB

7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

Daniel Dorani defines a miracle as this...

“a direct act of God in the external world, in which he works outside (not against) the common course of events to reveal himself, authenticate his servants, and manifest his nature and redemptive purposes.” Daniel Doriani

C.S. Lewis called miracles as, “…interference with nature by a supernatural power.”

There is no other explanation.

This is one of the first outpourings of the Spirit of God from someone other than Jesus.

Peter asked…no commanded this man get up and walk.

This man did have the power to do so…if he did then he would have.

But this is not human power.

As great as Peter’s ministry will be; this is not Peter’s power.

This is not the ingenuity of humanity; this is not the great power of the our minds; nor is it the brilliance of science.

What we see before us it the power of Holy Spirit working in and through Peter and the restoration found in Jesus Christ.

The man stood and walked…his bones aligned in his feet…strength entered his legs and he walked…he jumped and praised God.

Complete and full restoration.

Other people saw; knew who he was; saw what had just happened to him and they began to praise God.

The people were filled with awe at this sight.

Honesty this is how we should respond to the restored life?

When Jesus saves a person we should stand, cheer, and encourage and praise God for a life; that is no longer trapped by and controlled by sin.

What Peter commanded of him was…impossible.

Matthew 19:26 CSB

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

As men and women we look at this like it is something out of a movie…but the restoration found here for this man is found for you in Jesus Christ.

What we see today is a miracle; miracles of this nature don’t happen everyday.

But they day that a person comes to know Jesus is Savior and Lord; my friends that day is also a miracle.

We can be sure that there will be liberty found in our new body…our resurrected body.

Oh what a day...

Application

Today we can take away a few things from our passage today.

Faith in Jesus is the power; we are a vessel

Peter and John walk toward the temple and there is a man laying on the ground begging for money.

The man can’t walk and the man cannot provide for himself.

In reality John and Peter could give him some money, but where will that really put him tomorrow?

Tomorrow he is back at the entrance of the Temple begging.

Yes giving of money will him, but if we give money without giving the Gospel; we have failed?

We have taken care of the physical need, but what about the longing of the soul?

My friends there is power in the Gospel of Jesus; there is power in name of Christ.

We have opportunities everyday that we often miss to tell people about Christ.

The power of Christ is restoration and healing of the soul.

This is the true need of man.

We have the opportunity to help ourselves know this healing.

We must daily long for the cross and long for Jesus resurection in our hearts.

We must ask Christ to renew us and continually change us.

But we must also bring this to others.

To let others know that there is more to life than what they know; to know that their is a God who loves them and a God that restores them.

We need to let people know this restoration can be found.

Jesus is the power and he uses us as the vessel in which He chose to bring the message of the restoration.

A full restoration...

Restores how we think and helps us deal with uncertainty.

The uncertainty about life now and uncertainty about where we go after life.

Jesus changes us from the inside out.

Jesus cleanses us from our sin and the things that do not please God and give us a future hope; Jesus allows us to stand before God clean and without blemish.

To give us confidence based in His ability and not ours.

Jesus helps us live a full life in communion with our God.

Free to worship our God for all time.

The wonder and awe of the miracle we see performed today in the book of Acts is a sign of what is found in the acceptance of Jesus Christ.

If we really look at our lives we really have nothing else to give but Jesus...

We have nothing else but Jesus Christ.

We are all sitting at the gate Beautiful - Begging each day - with no ability on our own to earn our way toward a Holy and Righteous God.

By the power of faith in Christ be healed.

By the power of faith in Jesus Christ…be made whole.

Rise and walk in the glorious light of our Savior…Rise and accept what Jesus has to give you today.

You know God is in the business of the impossible.

Some of you out there may think that God can never restore me; I have done so many things; I have not followed God; I’m a bad person; my friends none of that matters.

You cannot unscramble eggs…but I can tell you that Jesus can put you back together; Jesus can be your strength; Jesus can and does restore the broken, but you have to take a step toward the cross.

You must accept it.

The gift Jesus gives you is free…proclaim today your belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior, accept Him into your life; and take hold of what He did for you on the cross.

Then my friend; sing and dance and rejoice in what God has done in you!

if you believe God has redeemed you…God has restored you.

For you Christian you have nothing else to give but Jesus.

Let your heart and mind be restored every day…seek to grow in your knowledge and understanding of our Lord.

Seek Him and the mission He has given you for your life.

Church we have nothing else to give but Jesus Christ…let’s give that away today; this week; be a church on mission.

Pray with me...