SF242 - From Despair to Delight (Acts 3 1-10)

ACTS 3:1-10

INTRODUCTION

Ever since the days of Christ, unbelievers have attempted to discredit the Christian faith, but one of their problems has always been its evident power to change lives. In order to authenticate the work of the apostles, prior to the completion of the New Testament, the Lord granted miraculous signs and wonders. These signs were give to authenticate the message and the messenger and to point to greater truths.

Hebrews 2:3-4 (NASB) 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

A Biblical understanding of the apostolic healing ministry.

Many of the alleged healings in the modern church are nothing than a psychological manipulation of people.

Satan and his demonic hosts can produce counterfeit healings.

Mark 13:22 (NASB) 22for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

Matthew 7:22-23 (NASB) 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The early church was not a miracle-working church. It was a church with miracle working apostles.

Ø The gift of healing was limited to the apostles and their associates.

In every recorded instance of healing in Acts, only unbelievers are healed. (3:1-11; 5:14-16; 8:7; 19:11-12; 28:8)

1A. A DESPERATE SITUATION (3:1-3)

1B. The man could not walk. (3:2)

He was lame from birth

We are all born spiritually lame

Ø Adam fell and passed his spiritual lameness on to us.

Romans 5:12 (NASB) 12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

2B. The man could not work. (3:2-3)

Notice his position

Ø His life had been reduced to an outstretched palm, a pitiful look, and a heartrending plea.

Notice his poverty

Ø As sinners we are bankrupt before God (Luke 7:36-50)

Notice his prospects

Ø He was no doubt used to disappointment.

Ø How often have the things of this life disappointed you?

3B. He could not worship.

There was a physical barrier, the Beautiful Gate.

The Beautiful Gate was probably the "Eastern Gate" one of nine entering the Temple from the Court of the Gentiles. It led into the court of the women. The gate was called Beautiful because it was made of Corinthian bronze.

There was a religious barrier, the law.

Ø Levitical Law prevented a crippled or deformed man from entering the Temple area.

There was (and is) a sin barrier.

Ø All sinners are separated from God ‑ closeness does not count.

2A. A DIVINE SOLUTION (3:4-8)

1B. There was an unusual call, “look at us.” (3:4)

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.

Ø Moses in the desert told the children of Israel to "Look and live!"

2B. There was an unexpected command, “walk.” (3:5,6)

Ø The last thing this man expected to receive was healing for his legs.

"He asked for alms and received legs."

3B. There was an unexplainable conversion. (3:7)

Acts 4:14 (NASB) 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

Ø The Sanhedrin could not deny or explain it away.

A NEW CREATION

The story is told that when Augustine was still without God and without hope, the Holy Spirit convicted him on the basis of Paul's words in Romans 13:14, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Augustine acknowledged his sinfulness, accepted Jesus as his Savior, and became a different person. His entire outlook on life began to change because of his new nature.

One day he had to attend to some business in his old haunts in Rome. As he walked along, a former companion saw him and began calling, "Augustine, Augustine, it is I!" He took one look at the poor, disreputable woman whose company he had formerly enjoyed, and he shuddered. Reminding himself of his new position in Christ, he quickly turned and ran from her, shouting, "It's not I! It's not I!" Augustine had found the secret of Paul's words" "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians. 2:20).

4B. There was an uncontrollable celebration. (3:8)

When Jesus changes you, you will not be able to contain it!

John 15:11 (NASB) 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

3A. A DISTURBED CITY (vv. 9-11)

1B. The witness of the healed man (3:9)

His was personal testimony.

His was a public testimony.

Acts 4:16 (NASB) 16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

2B. The wonder of the crowd (3:10)

They recognized the man.

They recognized the change.

3B. The working of the Spirit (3:11)

“The people ran together to them…”

John 12:32 (NKJV) 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

Application

Are you living in Despair or Delight?

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL DISPLAYED

Think of what the Lord did in the life of Henry Moorhouse. A cocky and successful little prizefighter, he had become a slave to drink at the age of 19. Though he was still winning fights, he knew he could not long continue his career. One night as he was standing in a dark hall of a rooming house fingering a loaded pistol with which he intended to take his life, he overheard someone reading the story of the prodigal son. Deeply stirred, he put away the weapon and was later led to faith in Jesus Christ.

He saturated himself with the Word of God and became one of the greatest soul winners of his day. In his 20 years of ministry he reached thousands for the Lord from every strata of society, and those who had known him in his youth were dumbfounded at the change Christ had made in his life.

ACTS 3:1-10

INTRODUCTION

These signs were give to authenticate the message and the messenger and to point to greater truths.

Hebrews 2:3-4 (NASB) 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

A Biblical understanding of the apostolic healing ministry.

Many of the alleged healings in the modern church are nothing than a psychological manipulation of people.

Satan and his demonic hosts can produce counterfeit healings. (Mark 13:22)

The early church was not a miracle-working church. It was a church with miracle working apostles.

The gift of healing was limited to the apostles and their associates.

In every recorded instance of healing in Acts, only unbelievers are healed. (3:1-11; 5:14-16; 8:7; 19:11-12; 28:8)

1A. A DESPERATE SITUATION (3:1-3)

1B. The man could not walk. (3:2)

Romans 5:12 (NASB) 12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

2B. The man could not work. (3:2-3)

Notice his position

Notice his poverty

Notice his prospects

3B. He could not worship.

There was a physical barrier, the Beautiful Gate.

There was a religious barrier, the law.

There was (and is) a sin barrier.

2A. A DIVINE SOLUTION (3:4-8)

1B. There was an unusual call, “look at us.” (3:4)

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.

2B. There was an unexpected command, “walk.” (3:5,6)

3B. There was an unexplainable conversion. (3:7)

Acts 4:14 (NASB) 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

A NEW CREATION - Augustine

4B. There was an uncontrollable celebration. (3:8)

John 15:11 (NASB) 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

3A. A DISTURBED CITY (3: 9-11)

1B. The witness of the healed man (3:9)

His was personal testimony.

His was a public testimony.

Acts 4:16 (NASB) 16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

2B. The wonder of the crowd (3:10)

They recognized the man.

They recognized the change.

3B. The working of the Spirit (3:11)

John 12:32 (NKJV) 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

Application

Are you living in Despair or Delight?

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL DISPLAYED

Think of what the Lord did in the life of Henry Moorhouse.

FROM DESPAIR TO DELIGHT
ACTS 3:1-10

INTRODUCTION

A Biblical understanding of the apostolic healing ministry.

Ø Many of the alleged healings in the modern church are nothing than a psychological manipulation of people.

Ø Satan and his demonic hosts can produce counterfeit healings. (Mark 13:22)

Ø The early church was not a miracle-working church. It was a church with miracle working apostles.

Ø The gift of healing was limited to the apostles and their associates.

Ø In every recorded instance of healing in Acts, only unbelievers are healed. (3:1-11; 5:14-16; 8:7; 19:11-12; 28:8)

1A. A DESPERATE SITUATION (3:1-3)

1B. The man could not _________________. (3:2)

Romans 5:12

2B. The man could not _______________. (3:2-3)

Notice his _________________________________

3B. He could not ___________________________.

There was a physical barrier, the Beautiful Gate.

There was a ________________ barrier, the law.

There was (and is) a _________________ barrier.

2A. A ______________________ SOLUTION (3:4-8)

1B. There was an unusual ___________________, “look at us.” (3:4)

2B. There was an unexpected _________________, “walk.” (3:5,6)

3B. There was an unexplainable conversion. (3:7; Acts 4:14)

4B. There was an uncontrollable ______________________. (3:8; John 15:11)

3A. A ___________________________ CITY (3: 9-11)

1B. The ______________ of the healed man (3:9)

His was personal testimony.

His was a public testimony. (Acts 4:16)

2B. The __________________ of the crowd (3:10)

3B. The ___________ of the Spirit (3:11; John 12:32)