Peter's Message of Hope
Notes
Transcript
This morning we will be returning back to our study of Acts, we left off in chapter 3, where the lame man was healed.
He had been lame his entire life, from birth, and he has been taken and laid at the entrance to the temple to beg for money or whatever he could get.
As Peter and John were preparing to enter the temple, the lame man called out begging for money, Peter and John stopped and Peter told the lame man, look at us.
But then told the lame man, we do not have silver or gold, but what we do have is even better, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Peter then extends his right hand to help the man up, and immediately the man receives strength in his legs and ankles and is able to stand and walk.
He begins to leap, walking and praising God for the healing that has taken place in his life, people begin to notice that this is the lame man that has always laid at the entrance to the temple begging for money.
The man follows along with Peter and John, and a crowd begins to grow, as the word spreads that this miracle has taken place.
The miracle, was not just for the lame man, yes it brought healing, and yes it showed the lame man the power of God and how faith can change his life, but there was a bigger reason for the miracle, God was using it to draw a crowd, so that He could speak through Peter to preach another message to the people.
There are a lot of different things, and a lot of different ways we could break this message down, from different perspectives, but I was reminded this week that sometimes we as Christians need to be reminded that there is hope, even when it seems like everything is getting dark.
And to be honest, I needed that reminder, I think we all need to stop and remember that no matter how hard times get, or how bad things look, or how much we might be struggling, or how bad the word is getting, there is always hope in Jesus.
We need to remember that at the end, Jesus has already wont the victory and as Christians we are on the winning team, therefore, we have hope, we have victory.
This morning we will be looking at Peter’s second message, which is in chapter 3:11-26 of Acts, this second message could be look at or broke down in multiple different ways, but the way God has directed me this morning is in the direction of Hope.
I believe that we can see at least 3 different things of hope from this message, first we see that there is hope in faith, second we see that there is hope in failures, and third we see that there is hope in blessings.
We will start by just looking at our first set of verses, therefore, if you are able will you stand with me in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you. 15 You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.
I. Hope in Faith. Vs. 11-16
I. Hope in Faith. Vs. 11-16
The lame man stay with Peter and John, all those that were around were amazed at the healing of this lame man, and they begin to gather around the three men.
They are out at Solomon’s Colonnade, or some call it Solomon’s Portico, which is a porch of sorts at the temple.
Peter notices the crowd beginning to grow around them in Solomon’s Colonnade, and as I mentioned, this healing was meant for more than just a healing but God was going to use it for His glory, for His purpose, for His plan of spreading the gospel message.
Peter addresses the crowd, Fellow Israelites, Peter did not necessarily just point his finger at them, but addresses them as fellow Israelites, this takes and includes him as an Israelites himself.
Peter then poses the question to the crowd about their amazement and why are you looking at us as though we had the power to make this man walk?
We must remember it has not been that long maybe a few months by this time since Jesus was crucified, therefore, it has not been that long since Jesus was performing miracles.
Peter took the opportunity to clarify to the crowd that this miracle, this healing was not in his or John’s power but where the power for this miracle truly came from.
Peter stated, that it came from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors.
Now Peter specified that this was not just any god, but that this was the one and only true God, by specifying that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Peter wanted the people to know that this was not some foreign god, or an idol, but it was the true God.
Peter continued that God glorified His servant Jesus whom they handed over and denied before Pilate, even though Pilate decided to release Him.
Peter tells the crowd, you have denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released - referring to Barabbas.
Peter tells them, you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead, we - he is referring to himself and John, but also the other disciples, are witnesses of this.
Then in verse 16, this is the part I want us to really see here.
16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.
Peter tells the crowd how the lame man was healed right here, by faith in his name, not in Peter’s name, not in the lame man’s name, but in the name of the source of life, the one whom God raise from the dead, the one whom God glorified, the name that is above all names, the name - Jesus Christ of Nazareth as Peter put it back in verses 6.
Peter continued on that His name, that is Jesus’ name has made this man strong, it was not any thing that Peter did, it was not anything that the lame man did, it was the power in the name of Jesus.
Peter continues, so the faith that comes through Jesus has given him, that is the lame man, this perfect health in front of all of you.
There is hope in faith, see without faith this miracle could not take place, but with faith there was a miracle.
With faith today, there is hope, there is not only hope of a miracle for healing, but there is hope that the prodigal child will return, there is hope that the broken relationship will be put back together, there is hope that lost loved one will come to salvation before it is eternally to late, and there is hope for our future as Christians, because Jesus is preparing a place for us in Heaven.
As I was talking to Tony the other night, he told me a friend told him, now Tony don’t forget the F-word, and I thought at first, well dang, I mean that does not really sound good right, do not forget the F-word, but then he said, you know do not forget the F-word, Faith, and I said that is right Tony do not forget it, do not forget your faith, keep your faith, because God is going to take care of you.
That hope all comes through faith, see that day laying at the temple entrance that beggar was just hoping for some money to be able to pay his bills and buy some food.
But because of his faith that hope was turned into a great miracle that he was not expecting, maybe today you came just hoping to sing some good songs, hear a good sermon, but if you have faith this morning, maybe God is going to take that Faith and turn it into something even greater.
II. Hope in Failures. Vs. 17-21
II. Hope in Failures. Vs. 17-21
17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets—that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning.
Peter continues his sermon in away addressing the crowd again, with brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did.
Another words, ya’ll did not truly know or understand or recognize that Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One, the anointed Servant of God.
The people, the crowd was following the leaders, and the leaders did not truly know what they were doing.
I think of what Jesus said from the cross, in Luke 23:34
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.
As Jesus was hanging from the cross, He asked the Father to forgive those that had done this to Him, because they do not know what they are doing.
Peter now says they acted in ignorance, and that God fulfilled what He had predicted through all the prophets - that His Messiah would suffer.
Peter tells the crowd to repent and turn back so that your sin may be wiped out.
We all face failures, mistakes, short comings in this life, we are told in Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
But we must know and understand just as Peter told the crowd, that they did these things in ignorance, they had their failures, they had their mistakes, there was hope.
No matter what we have done, this crowd had denied Jesus, they had sent Jesus to the cross to be crucified, but Peter gives them hope, so no matter what you may have done in this life, or what you may have been through in this life, there is hope.
Peter tells the crowd repent and turn back, so that your sin may be wiped out.
To repent is to turn away from whatever failure you are in, whatever sin you are in, whatever mistake you are in, and turn to Jesus, He is ready to receive you and love you.
See there is hope, Jesus loves us, God loved us so much that He sent his only begotten Son so that we can have forgiveness of our sins.
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We will still make mistakes, we will still fall into failures in life but there is always hope for us because Jesus will always be there for us.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
We can have hope that no matter what, nothing can remove us from the hand of God.
Peter continues that there will come a time when God will restore everything, as Christians, when we make it to heaven we will receive a glorified body.
We have the hope that our failures that cause our bodies to have problems here on earth, will one day be restored, we one day will have that glorified body that will no longer have any problems at all.
There will also be a day when Jesus comes to earth and sets up His earthly reign, the thousand year reign, but there will also be a time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and all things will be renewed, restored.
III. Hope in Blessings. Vs. 22-26
III. Hope in Blessings. Vs. 22-26
22 Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you. 23 And everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be completely cut off from the people.
24 “In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. 26 God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”
Peter continues his sermon as he speaks from Moses, which found in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 19, Moses told the people that God would raise up another prophet like him among the brothers, that they must listen to, and everyone that does not listen will be completely cut off.
This prophet that Moses was referring to was Jesus, and the part that those who do not listen will be cut off, this means that those who do not listen to Jesus and turn to him in repentance will not be a part of the family of God.
Another words, Moses was prophesying that Jesus would come, and that people have to accept Jesus for salvation and if they do not then they will be cut off, they will be sent to Hell.
Peter continues that all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel right on have spoken about this.
Peter even tells the crowd, you are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with Abraham, and all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.
Peter closes out his sermon with God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, that is the Israelites to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.
We can have hope in blessings, because God sent Jesus to bring the greatest blessing there is, as Peter closed his message here he stated, to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.
What Peter is referring to is repentance and salvation, the greatest blessing anyone could ever receive in there life is salvation.
When we place our hope in Faith, we take any and all limitations that we have put on God off.
Don’t forget the F-word - Faith - keep your hope in your faith in Jesus.
When we mess up, and we all do, when things go wrong, or look dark, our hope can be focused on Jesus because when we are a child of God nothing can change that or remove us from his hand.
We can be assured that God will always love us, and that no matter what, Jesus has already won the victory.
We can all have hope when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation - and turn from our evil ways.
We must remember what Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
With sin, which is something we do wrong, missing the bulls eye, as I have heard it put before, there are consequence.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The wages or consequences of those sins is death that is not physical death but spiritual death, that is being separated from God for eternity, for ever and ever.
But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, that is living with God for eternity in heaven, in paradise for ever and ever.
We are told about God’s love in Romans 5:8
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
See we do not deserve salvation, and still do not, no matter how good of a person you think you are, or how much money you give to the church, or what position you hold in the church, even as the pastor of the church, I am not deserving of salvation, but God still loved us enough that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Salvation is not something you have to buy or work for, it is simply by faith, if you believe in your heart today, that Jesus came to earth lived a sinless, perfect life, went to the cross as the perfect sacrifice, died for your sins and shed his blood so that you could have forgiveness of your sins, then on the third day God raised him from the dead so that you can have eternal life and is now seated at the right hand of God, and are willing to confess that today, you will be saved.
See we are told there, believe with your heart resulting in righteousness and confess with your mouth resulting in salvation.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
If you believe this will you come and confess this morning and call on the name of the Lord and be saved.