Acts 3:11-4:4 • Turn to God to Find Blessing
Acts 3:11: While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
Acts 3:12: 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?
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Starts where they are - utterly astounded
Joins the conversation
Bridges to Jesus
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Acts 3:13: 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. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
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Uses their religious beliefs, their heritage.
God of their fathers
Points out their error
Death and resurrection of Jesus
Acts 3:16: 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.
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Faith in Christ Jesus
Whose faith?
To this [resurrection] we are witnesses. (v.15)
...made this man strong whom you see and know... (v.16)
They were witnesses to the miracle
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Acts 3:17: And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
What do you need to do?
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Acts 3:19-21: Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 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.
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Repent
Turn back that sins are botted out
Refreshing from the Lord
He will send Christ to you
God Spoke (foretold)
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Acts 3:22: 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. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
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Jesus is the one of whom Moses foretold.
Listen or be destroyed!
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Acts 3:24: And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
All the prophets proclaimed Christ.
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Acts 3:25: 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.’
Acts 3:26: God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
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Message was cut off because they arrested him.
Blessing is for all people
The blessing of turning from sin
Acts 4:4: But many of those who had heard the word believed
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What about you?
Will you listen or will you be destroyed?
Do you want to live in blessing or punishment?
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Will you turn to God to find Blessing?