Acts, chapter 3

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Acts 3:1 NASB95

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

The Scene: The temple at Jerusalem

Peter and John - two of the 12 apostles

going to pray - Jews prayed three times per day (think Daniel, ninth hour since sunset 3pm)

quick lesson - good practice to follow (3 official prayers, stop everything else prayers)

remember this is the early, early church - Christians have not even been named Christians yet

The church is a group of Jews say that Jesus Christ, the famous prophet/healer, crucified a couple of months ago, was more than a prophet. In fact, Jesus rose again, and is the Messiah that all Jews have been waiting for.

They are a group of Jews numbering at least 3,000, led by the 12 apostles

significant, but still a small group (not even 1%)

Roman Historian 600,000 Jews

Jewish Historian 1mil Jews, 6,000 Pharisees

So they still are carrying on Jewish traditions, like going to the temple to pray

Acts 3:2 NASB95

2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

This man was lame from birth (later we will learn that he is over 40)

People who could not work, like a lame person, had to beg to survive

and he was set down by the gate, everyday to ask for money

Acts 3:3–7 NASB95

3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

They don’t give him money - didn’t have money

but they did heal the man in the name of Jesus Christ

quick lesson: The man did not get what he asked for, but more than what he asked for, got what he really needed

Are your prayers to small? Have faith to ask for what you really need!

Acts 3:8–11 NASB95

8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.

The former lame man begins walking, leaping, praising God

people realized it was the same man who used to sit at the gate of the temple and beg

so this was a “verified” miracle, because they have been seeing him for years at the gate

and this man ins clinging to Peter and John out of thankfulness, so the people this miracle was performed through Peter and John

Acts 3:12–16 NASB95

12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Peter sees an opportunity to promote Jesus, spread the gospel

He explains this miracle is not because of our own power, or because we are so holy, it is because of Jesus of Nazareth

He tells it to them straight

Our God, the God of Abraham . . . sent Jesus

but you all rejected him, and even asked that a murderer be released

you all killed him, but God raised him up, we are witnesses to that God raised him

and it is by faith in Jesus name that this verifiable miracle has happened

v.17 - 26

Then he goes on to explain how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures that predicted the coming of the Messiah/Savior . . . .and he calls on them to repent and turn to God

that’s chapter 3 in a nutshell

Lots of lessons, be we will look big picture lessons

Jesus told his disciples

Acts 1:8 NASB95

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and the power He gives you will enable you to become my witnesses. So this is part of the being witnesses in Jerusalem

In this case, we see same pattern that we saw on Day of Pentecost - provides a guide (not a rule, added one part since last lesson)

Pay attention when the power of God gets peoples attention

Make sure to tell the gospel story

Use Scriptures to back it up

Tell them what you have seen

The call

Pay attention, when the power of God gets people’s attention.

(Pentecost) speaking in foreign languages . . . . (Temple) healing of lame man

people saw the healed man, people noticed the lame man who could now walk, and though Peter didn’t come to preach, he saw an opportunity to preach

let me share some observations . . .

now make sure it is a real move of God . . .Steve Harvey Video

we can expect real power in our lives, and we don’t have make something into a grand testimony

Let the work/miracle/power of God stand on its own, you don’t have to prop it up by being mysterious or vague.

Real Story: How did you get that car???!!!!

“God gave it to me” - . . . . was trying to prove a point, but that doesn’t help the unbeliever. Until I found out the true story, I assumed a rich man had walked up and gave it to him

He should have said, “Sadly my relative died, and they had way more money that I knew about, and God blessed me to be in the will, and that’s how I got the car”

and then just bear witness to those who would pay attention to that story

also, most of the time we want the power of God to use on ourselves

nothing wrong with wanting God’s power blessing your life

Peter’s mother-in-law healed of fever

Mary and Martha’s brother - even though Jesus delayed for ministry purposes

but we should definitely also pray for the power of God, so that the lost can be reached

and if God has done a miracle in your life, he usually has a greater purpose in mind that just soley for your benefit. It’s usually an opportunity to spread the gospel.

so pay attention, when the power of God, gets people’s attention

Make sure to tell the gospel story

both times that peter preached, he put in the gospel story

crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ

straight up tell the story - find a way to put it in when you have unbeliever’s attention

how did you make it through that adversity????

“I believe in the Jesus of the Bible . . That he lived, died, and rose again. And so I follow HIm and believe in the promises of his word . . . and his word said that I can do all things through Christ.

So everyday, I prayed for strength . . . .

Use Scriptures to back it up

where some study is needed, continual study . . . .

helps those who respect the Bible

for others, it shows that this is not an idea you originated, but you are looking beyond yourself, and to God for truth

even if you don’t know exactly where it is found, and have to say, “The Bible says”

so God will accept anyone?

The bible says, “whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”

Tell them what you have seen

what are you a witness of?

what’s your testimony?

don’t be ashamed of your testimony, many times your testimony is all they’ve got

even if it is bizzarre, embarassing

even if it is “normal”

it’s your testimony! - trust that your testimony is what they needed to hear

The Holy Spirit will convict the heart, not you

The Call

the how

the challenge

what are they going to do with this information

a lot of churches call it the invitation, call to discipleship

repent is the main word used by Peter in both sermons

Acts 3:19 NASB95

19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

repent means to change one’s mind, converted

change from not following Jesus to following Jesus

feeling of remorse - thus, the change, the turning from one way to another way, the way of Jesus

in fact Christians were first called people of “The Way”

Pay attention when the power of God gets people’s attention, Make sure to tell the gospel story, Use Scriptures to back it up, Tell them what you have seen, The Call

all of this is to help, to guide, to direct, not a formula you must try to follow every time

nor does it have to be in that particular order

check out the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well, she simply said

John 4:29 NASB95

29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?”

power displayed by Jesus knowing her business - check

there was not gospel story yet - no check

she did not know scriptures - no check

she did tell them what she had seen - check

the call was “come see a man” . . . not very official, but a call

stop recording!!!

Post Test and Questions

Announcements

business meeting after church this Sunday, no more than 30 minutes

Mentor Moment

trash building up in your house?

rent units that they will set up in your driveway (3 - 5 days)

trash, furniture,

big trash day - look online, or call city of Ft. Worth

not regular trash but furniture

rent a small u-haul truck - cost us about $60

loaded it up, and took it to a dump site (4 around the city)

just show driver’s license or water bill if live in apartment