Introduction:

this is the church’s first recorded miracle.  God was now ready to reach another great harvest of souls.  It was now time to attract the attention of the people, so He reached down and healed a single man, a man whom everyone knew.  Such a miracle and behavior naturally attracted the attention of the public.

            Note: the miracle was more than just a miracle.  It was a sign, a demonstration of two things.

·         Jesus is alive.  His power is just as active upon earth today as it was when He walked upon earth.

·         Jesus is now working through His followers.  Through them, He is reaching out to save and heal the world.  His followers are now His instruments, His ambassadors, His representatives, His witnesses to a world lost in suffering and death, sin and shame.

            In this first recorded miracle of the church, God is demonstrating His power, and bearing witness through His followers.  In so doing, He has given us some of the greatest lessons on witnessing to be found anyplace.

A.                 Jesus is now working through His disciples (v.1-5).

This is one thing Jesus wants people to know.  His presence and His power are still at work, still available to men.  His love and concern for the world is still being manifested through the lives of His disciples.

1.                  “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father…”  (John 14:12).

a)                  The promise given to believers. 

(1)                 When we think of it, this promise seems unrealistic, if not totally incredible.  Jesus had healed the sick, calmed the sea, fed thousand with few small loves of bread and several fish and even raised the dead. 

(2)                 These were probably the greatest miracles we can imagine!  So how can we do greater works than this?

(3)                 There are only two approaches to this verse I believe, lets talk about that.

(a)                 Refers to miracles but people seek to explain why they are not done today. 

(i)                   The promise is only to those who have faith in Christ.  However, if you don’t do these works today, you don’t have enough faith.  Our faith is lacking.      

(b)                Refers to applying it to the apostles only.

(4)                 One clue to what it does not mean is found in (Luke 10:1-4, 8-12, 16-18). 

(a)                 Jesus explicitly weighed the values of physical miracles against the value of having passed from darkness into light, having eternal salvation. 

b)                  Spiritual Works.

(1)                 The works that Jesus was referring to were spiritual works, primarily the work of regeneration that takes place when the gospel is proclaimed. 

(2)                 When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 people were saved.  There were probably more saved that day than in all the 31/2 years of our Lords ministry.   

!!! 2.                  “Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour…”  (v.1).

a)                  Those who are faithful in prayer (v.1).

(1)                 Peter and John were faithful prayer warriors.  Note the phrase “the ninth hour,” which was around three o’clock in the afternoon.  The Jews observed three stated times for prayer...

(a)                 the third hour (9 a.m.).

(b)                the sixth hour (12 noon).

(c)                 the ninth hour (3 p.m.).

David said in Psalm 55 "Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”  (Psalm 55:17, NIV)

You remember Daniel, he was definitely a man of prayer, "When Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.  Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." (Daniel 6:10, NIV)

(d)                The very fact that Peter and John were going into the temple to pray indicates they were men of prayer.  Imagine having three specific times for prayer every day! 

(2)                 Peter and John had a prayer life, and such was the reason Jesus was able to work through them in meeting the needs of suffering men.

3.                  “A certain man lame from his mother’s womb, was at the gate of the temple…”  (v.2).

a)                  Those who see the desperate need of people (v.2-3).

(1)                 How many years had this man been sitting there begging?  He had been a cripple for over forty years.  Forty years or more, a cripple from birth, never having walked a single step.

(2)                 The needy are all around us and Jesus can only work through those who see the need.

(3)                 Matthew 9:35-38 – we need to have a heart of compassion like our lord.

Are you willing to see the needs of people?  Remember Jesus healing a leper?  "A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”" (Mark 1:40-41, NIV)

4.                  “Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms…”  (v.3).

a)                  A request for help (v.3).

(1)                 How do we respond when someone requests for help (1Jn.3:16-18).

You remember how Paul responded to those who hurt him?  "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”  (2 Corinthians 12:15)

(2)                 There are people who are suffering so much from the neglect of, not only those who do not know God, but even God’s people, the very people who profess to know the love of God. 

(3)                 Yet, many times, people of God act just as unconcerned and selfish as much as the world.

5.                  “And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us…”  (v.4).

a)                  Those who fix their eyes upon the need of people (v.4).

(1)                 The word for “fastening his eyes” means fixed attention; an earnest,
intense gaze, continuous, steadfast attention.  It is seeing the need and focusing upon it

(2)                 The word for “fixing his eyes” means fixed attention; an earnest, intense gaze, continuous, steadfast attention.  It is seeing the need and focusing upon it.

(3)                 Peter looked and saw the man in need and would not look away.  He could have looked away and just passed by the man.  Most people did, but not Peter.

(4)                 Luke 10:30-37 – the parable of the Good Samaritan.

6.                  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them…”  (v.5).

a)                  Those who reach out to meet the need (v.5).

(1)                 Jesus works through those who reach out to meet the need.

(a)                 It is not enough to see the needs of the world.

(b)                It is not enough to fix your attention upon the needs of the world.

(2)                 Just seeing and being concerned over the needs of the world does not meet the needs.

(3)                 Peter knew the Lord cared, and he was the representative of the Lord, so it was up to him to show the Lord’s care.

You remember when Jesus said "There are still four months and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)

The apostle Paul said "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.  And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35, NKJV)

“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”  (Romans 15:1, NKJV)

(4)                 We must think of others and not only ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4).

Paul exhorted those in Rome by saying "We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”  (Romans 15:1, NASB95)

B.                Jesus is alive: His presence and power are still active upon earth (v.6-8).

1.                  “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you…”  (v.6a).

a)                  Jesus’ presence and power are not found in silver and gold (v.6a).

(1)                 If the power of God was in silver and gold, Peter would have given that to the man.  But we know that is not where the presence and power of Christ is.

Speaking about the power of Christ, Paul said "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;" (Philippians 3:10, NASB95)

Paul also said that he has "Been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."  (Galatians 2:20, NASB95)

b)                  Power in His presence (1 Samuel 5:1-5).

(1)                 The Ark of God had been captured (4:11, 17)

(a)                 There Was A Purpose In The Ark Being Taken Away.  God may take away something of your that you are trusting in rather than trusting in Him, like, silver, gold… money!

(b)                God taught them that His presence was not the same as the Ark itself (4:3).  They were not to trust in the ark of God but in the God of the Ark.

(c)                 The capturing of the Ark led to a Serious Cry and Prayer after the Lord (1 Samuel 7:1-6) producing a Godly sorrow which leads to repentance (2Cor.7:10-11)

(2)                 Dagon Was on Its Face before the Ark of the Lord (5:3).

(a)                 This is where we need to be daily, so when we fall, we can get up. 

Listen to this promise: "The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down.”  (Psalm 145:14, NASB95)

(b)                Dagon was on its face, but not broken (v.3)!  Not only does God want to knock down these Dagon’s in our lives but to break them as well. 

(c)                 Being broken before god is a beautiful thing. 

When David committed Adultery with Bathsheba, he collapsed under his guilt; he said "Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.”  (Ps.51:8)

David goes on to say that "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  (Psalm 51:17, NASB95).

2.                  “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk…”  (v.6b).

a)                  Jesus’ presence and power are in Jesus’ name (v.6b).

(1)                 to call upon the name of someone means to call upon the authority, power, office, nature, and character of the person.  The person’s name stands for all that the person is.

(a)                 A king may send a decree throughout his kingdom.  The decree goes out under his name, under his authority.

(b)                A government or business official may send a memo throughout his department. The memo goes out under his name, under his authority.

(2)                 Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” he was proclaiming: “It is the name, the power, the authority, the Person of Jesus Christ who will heal you.”

(3)                 Now note three critical facts about calling upon “the name of Jesus Christ.”

(a)                 It is the name or the power of Jesus that meets the need.  Not Peter, money, etc.

(b)                Peter knew that the power of Jesus Christ dwelt within Christ Himself.  But he also knew that he possessed the presence and power of Christ within his body.

(c)                 Peter acted first, not the man.  Peter was the Lord’s representative (ambassador).

Jesus said "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  (Matthew 20:28, NASB95)… we need to do the same.

Paul makes it clear that "we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2Cor.5:20)

3.                  “He took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately received strength…”  (v.7).

a)                  Jesus’ presence and power are still at work, meeting the needs of people (v.7-8).

(1)                 We see the faith – Peter reached down to take the man by the right hand and lift him up.

(2)                 We see the trust – The man let him.

(3)                 We see the power – Jesus healed him.

(4)                 The cripple was healed (v.7).

Speaking about faith, Jesus said "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." (Matt.17:20)

Do you have that kind of faith?  Do you believe this?  Paul said it is "The surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might" (Ephesians 1:19, NASB95)

4.                   So he, leaping up, stood and walked… leaping, and praising God…”  (v.8).

a)                  The cripple was changed—his whole being, attitude, and life (v.8).

(1)                 He was no more shy and reserved, embarrassed and ashamed about not fitting in and being accepted in society.  He was saved and healed, inside and out; his whole personality was changed, and he wanted all to know it.

(2)                 God’s restoration in the millennial age is to include physical restoration to the afflicted.

In that day "The eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah." (Isaiah 35:5-6, NASB95)

!! C.                The results (v.9-11)

1.                  “All the people saw him walking and praising God…They were filled with wonder” (v.9-10).

a)                  The people saw the change (v.9-10).

(1)                 The results were twofold.

(a)                 The people knew the man had been truly healed.

(b)                And they were attracted, wanting to see what had caused such a miracle.

(2)                 A changed person, a person who is truly changed by Christ, will cause people to stand in amazement and to wonder.

2.                  “As the lame man, held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them…”  (v.11).

a)                  The people were attracted, wondering (v.11)

(1)                 A changed person will stir people to desire the same miracle in their own lives or in the lives of some loved one.

(2)                 This is why as believers and followers of Christ, we need to do the following:

Jesus put it this way "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NASB95)

People are observing us, this is why it is so important to "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" (1 Peter 3:15, NASB95)

Paul commends those in Thessalonica for their faith, he says "For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”  (1 Thessalonians 1:8, NASB95)