A Miraculous Opportunity

Today, we will be looking at Acts 3:11-26. Last week, we discussed the miracle where God uses Peter and John to heal a lame man. This is truly an event where God uses people when they are obedient to God’s mission.

Miraculous things happen around us all the time. In fact, I believe miracles can be seen each and everyday. I bet, we could have a large number of people come forward and share about various miracles they have experienced throughout their lives. Let me share an example from my life. In one of the Sunday School classes I was teaching, we had a couple share a prayer request. This woman had been pregnant for several months, when the doctor discovered some mysterious masses in her body. Basically they told her that because these masses showed up in such a sudden fashion, they were most likely cancerous. They were unsure of treatment options at that point, but surgery or chemo were almost guarenteed and both of these treatment options would pose significant health risk to the child she was carrying. This couple asked our class to pray for them and their child. At her next appointment, the doctor discovered the masses were gone. He had no idea where they had gone and really had no answers for what the masses were. Even the doctor said it was nothing short of miraculous. While the doctor didn’t have an understanding of why the masses were gone, we all knew. God had performed a miracle and had healed this woman and protected her child. God is awesome and powerful. He is still performing miracles today and these miracles are an opportunity for God to be glorified and His power displayed.

I think it is easy for believers to point to God in situations where there is no earthly explanations. But I can’t help but wonder how many miracles we don’t even recognize or fail to give credit to God. Secular society seeks to explain miracles away. Many times God will work through natural means to accomplish His supernatural will. Just because there are times when God’s miracles can be explained, that does not mean that God is not working. Miracles are all around us and as believers we should give credit to God for as He works. As God works in our lives it truly is a miraculous opportunity for us to show God to the world and for the Gospel to be declared.

In Acts 3:11-26, Peter discusses the miracle that has just occured. So if you have your Bible, follow along as I read beginning in Acts 3:11.

Acts 3:11–26 ESV

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

When miracles occur, they are not strickly for the benefit of the person who experiences the miracle. God cares about us and wants to provide for us, but there is much a bigger picture going on. Miracles prove God exists, prove He is powerful, and prove He is still working in the modern world. Of course as believers, we already know these things, but as God works it reinforces our faith and provides opportunities for us to share about who God is to the world around us. Peter takes advantage of this opprotunity as he begin teaching to the gathered crowd and He starts by explaining the miracle.

Explains the Miracle

I mentioned early that secular society seeks to explain away the miraculous. So while Peter is seeking to explain the miracle that occurs, this explanation is completely different from the secular society. Peter is not attempted to give earthly explanations for what has occured. No, instead he is giving credit where credit is due. He starts his explanations by giving credit to God.

a. Gives credit to God

Look at the terms Peter uses to point to God. “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, and the God of our fathers.” These terms probably don’t carry much weight for us. While we know Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from the Old Testament, there isn’t very much connection for us in our lineage. All of these individuals are extremely important in the lineage of the Jewish people. Remember where Peter is teaching. Peter and Paul were headed to they temple for prayer and now they are teaching in Solomon’s portico. The audience that is listening would have been made up of primarily Jewish people. The fact that Peter is speaking about God in terms that would connect to the Jewish people. Instead of speaking in terms that His audience doesn’t understand, Peter seeks to build connects and help these people see who God is.

As we explain God to other people, we need to make sure we are using language people will understand. There are times in church, we almost have a secret language. If you have been in church for awhile you may not notice it, but think about it. When you come to church, you pretty much know what is going to occur. We are probably going to come to church, participate in Sunday School, go to the sanctuary, sing hymns, participate in the offetory, Listen to a sermon, and then sing an invitation song. I wonder what un-churched people would like or understand. While we understand each of these and there are part of what we experience in our weekly worship services. How much of the “church” language is used when we are seeking to share Christ with the lost around us. We need to use language that people will understand, seek to connect with others, and strive to provide clarity and not confusion. Peter does this by simply using terms for God that the Jewish people would understand and relate to.

He then gives credit to Jesus

b. Gives credit to Jesus

The lame man is healed through the name and power of Jesus Christ. While this may be subtle, there is important teaching that happens in this once sentence. Peter is declaring that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that He has cured this man. This is a great apologetic or provision of proof for Christ. How could Jesus have healed this man, if He were not still alive? The only way Jesus can heal this person is if He truly is risen. Peter links this miracle to the resurrection and provides proof that Jesus is the Messiah. Christian Transformation in the life of individuals is always proof that Jesus is who He said He was. Each and everyday, Jesus is working in the lives of people who surrender their life to Him and every single one of these transformations are an opportunity to show the world Jesus Christ.

Peter is very careful not to take credit for the miracle. He gives credit to God. As believers we must be very careful as well. We like to take credit. We like to hear how great of a job that we are doing, but are actions are only possible because God has given us the talents, abilities and opportunities to us. All of these are not for our glory, but to be used for God and His kingdom. We must very specfically give credit to God and not seek glory ourselves. When we are faithful to give God glory we are given the opportunity to explain the Gospel.

2. Explains the Gospel

The Gospel is the most important thing believers can talk about. Our worship services, lives, and interactions with others must be driven by the Gospel. It is the Gospel that should define everything about our lives. The fact of the matter is without the Gospel, our lives would not look anything like what they look like currently. Though the blood of Jesus Christ, God has given us grace, forgiveness, and righteousness. Our lives be consumed by the Gospel.

I once had a youth student who asked me why I talked about God and Jesus so much. This question kind of caught me off guard. I mean I’m a pastor, why wouldn’t I talk about God. So my response was pretty simple, “Jesus is the most important thing in my life. He has blessed me beyond anything I could every imagine. Why wouldn’t I talk about Him?”

As Christians, sharing the Gospel and talking about Jesus should become an extension of who we are. Think about grandparents for awhile. Most grandparents I know would never pass up an opportunity to tell you about their grandchildren. They want to let people know they have the greatest grandchildren in the world and would spent hours telling about their latest accomplishments. I don’t have grandchildren and hopefully won’t for a long time, but I know grandchildren are a blessing. However, they do not even begin to compare to Jesus. We talk about the things we care about. As Christians, we must talk about Jesus Christ because He plays such an important role in our lives.

Peter explains the Gospel. He begins with point of how the Jews traded a murder for Christ.

People traded a murder for Christ

Several times in my life, I have thought about how I would have responded on that day. I don’t know if this story is true, but it is an interesting illustration. A family attended a movie about the life of Jesus Christ. They went to the theater, found their seats, and began to enjoy the movie. As the movie progressed, they reached the scene where Jewish was on trial and the crowd was given the choice between Barabus and Jesus. As the crowd in the movie began to chant give us Barabus and crucify Him, a little boy had had enough. He stood up in his chair and yelled, NO!

I wonder if I would’ve have had the courage and faith the day Jesus was condemned to stand up and yell no or would I have gone along with the crowd. But just think about our lives and the world around us. How often do we trade things of the world for Christ? No we aren’t choosing a murder over Jesus, but we unfortunately make this trade almost everyday. We choose our comfort over the Kingdom. Our agendas over God’s plans. Security over sacrifice. I could go on and on. Yes the secular world has choosen wordly things over Christ, but that is to be expected. But it is a tragedy when the people of God, His church, exchange the things of this world opposed to Christ and His kingdom. So instead, let us strive to do better. Surrending everything we have to Christ for the sake of His glory and His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit has given us the ability to follow Jesus, let us surrender to that guidance.

The world will always follow their own path, but our eyes have been opened. Let us follow a better path and obediently follow Christ. We can act out of faith, instead of ignorance. The fact of the matter is the world rejects God and acts out of ignorance.

b.People acted out of ignorance

Now please understand, ignorance does not equal stupidity. There are people in our world who are lost that are geniuses. They know more about the scientific world, than I ever hope to. So they are not stupid, they simply do not have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ignorance is simply not knowing. Peter illustrates this point as to why the crowd chose to crucify Jesus. They didn’t know who He really was. Their knowledge was incomplete and that lack of knowledge was what drove their actions.

Many times, I think people in the church expect the lost people we know to act the way we believe they should act. But why would we expect people who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to act as if they do. For those who do not know Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us they are slaves to sin and they are going to act accordingly. So instead of being surprised by how people act or condemning or judging them, let us strive to share the Gospel. Just because we might be able to get someone to follow some rules or act more in line with what we desire, that doesn’t mean their hearts have changed. We must strive to come along side people and love them with the Gospel. Share with them who Jesus is, what He has done in your life, and then give them the opportunity to respond.

Peter concludes His teaching with a chance to respond. He explains repentance.

3. Explains Repentance

Repentance is of the utmost importance in our life for Christ. As we come to understand the sinful people we are and how we have chosen to disobey God, repentance should be the result. When we begin to understand the Righteousness and Holiness of God, there is humility in the fact that we can never measure up. We can never be Holy enough, we can never do enough good works. No we fall short. And in that realization we fall on our knees and humbly ask God for forgiveness. We should be overcome by our sinfulness in the face of almighty God. When a person reaches that point, there is a choice. Will you just go on as normal or will you truly repent, turning back from sin.

Turning Back From Sin

True surrender requires action. When we come before God, we cannot remain the same. We must always realign our lives to who He is and what He desires. I believe God doesn’t interact with us to have us remain the same, but for us to grow in our faith and draw closer to Him. There is no reaching a point where you can just stay where you are at. God always desires us to know Him more and be more obedient to His plans. In fact, repentence should be a daily action.

In fact James 4:9-10 says,

James 4:9–10 ESV

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

We need to be broken due to our sinfulness. Look at the words in James, wretched, mourn, weep, laughter to mourning, joy to gloom. These are not words we associate with God. No we talk about hopelessness to hope, anger to love, sin to forgivness. But yet James instructs us to mourn and weep. There are times we must be completely broken before God, but James 4:10 contains a promise. We are not broken before God to remain broken, but so that we will be exalted by God. Because God uses the repentant.

b. God uses the repentant

When we are repentant, turn from sin, and realign ourselves with the plans and will of God, He will use us. Look how he uses Peter and John. Perhaps we think that Peter and John were different than us. Maybe you think I could never do anything like Peter or John. Let for challenge each of us though. God used Peter and John through the Holy Spirit. They lived for Christ and were used miraculously for His Kingdom. That God who used Peter and John is the same God we serve today. The Spirit that empowered Peter and John, is the same Spirit that will empower and guide us today. So yes, God wants to use you. We just have to humbly come before Him and allow God to rebuilt us and put our lives back together, so He can exalt us to be used for His kingdom.

So this week, are you going to live in the world’s ideas or your plans, or will you humbly come before God, turn you back on your sinfulness, and let Him exalt you for His glory, His kingdom, and His will