Didn't See That Coming 2

Things naturally change over time. We have different schedules, use different terminology, or avoid different things, but the way we approach life, at its core, is the same.

Our faith often influences our lives but doesn’t profoundly change them.

Acts 3
 
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’
24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’[b] 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Our temptation is to say, “Wow, what a cool story! We should have faith like that.” We’re vaguely inspired, but then we leave and go to lunch, and nothing changes. But it’s not because you don’t want it. Most of us want this faith and life, or you wouldn’t be reading this now.

You want to be decisive and bold in both the Christian sense and in general. You want to stand for your values and what’s important to you, and you want people to know that. What isn’t the issue. It’s the why.

The problem is we never look at why we want this. It’s hard to live up to.

1. Background of Acts 3:1-3

• Peter and John went to the temple during the hour of prayer. They had always done this, and their encounter with Jesus didn’t change what they did in their lives but how they SAW it.
• A lame man from birth is laid at the temple gate to beg daily. What a pathetic picture – a fancy building alongside a needy man. Silver and gold on the doors, but not in the hands of Peter and John. This is a picture of the church way too often.

It’s not the Church’s business to make the present condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to release here on the earth the redemptive work of God in Christ.

2. The Healing

• Man expects something but gets so much more. Some of us are at the point where we no longer expect anything from our encounters with God. This is less about expecting the right thing and more about expecting anything.
  
  

God meets us in our faith, even if it looks nothing like we expected.

• “Silver and gold have I none.” – The silver and gold are on the door behind them! But the power is in the lives of Peter and John, not the cool building. “I’ve got nothing, but this is what I DO have!”
• Church is a powerless edifice vs. people who’ve got nothing but Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. What I do have, I give to you. You can’t give away to people what you don’t have yourself. So, what do you have?
• Rise up and walk or get taken by the hand – Peter says it, then moves into action.
  
  

Faith is released when we speak AND act.

• More than 40 years old (4:22) – this meant this man was around when Jesus was around. Jesus must’ve walked right by him every day. So, why didn’t He heal him? God’s perfect timing is as important as His will.

 
Trust God’s will, but also trust His timing.

3. The Sermon (3:11-26)

• People were astonished and came running, but even the power of God only gets people’s attention, it doesn’t save them. Peter preaches a similar sermon as he has before (Acts 2). The Gospel is offensive, but we’re often offended because the church tries to preach repentance without releasing God’s power.

Look at Peter before and Peter after. What changed? He’s a big talker but gets scared of a teenage girl and runs away. This is the same guy who performed miracles and spoke boldly to the very same people who killed Jesus.

Two things marked the early believers—before and after. So, what made the difference?

1. The resurrection of Jesus: The church wasn’t built on an idea, but an event. Jesus literally defeated death, not just spiritual death but all kinds of death. It’s clear that Peter is no longer afraid of death. He has nothing to lose.
2. The early church was known for not fearing death (martyrdom): Roman historians recorded this. Why? Because they didn’t have anything they felt like they needed to protect.

 As humans, we have a lot we feel like we could lose – respectability, position, credibility, wealth, or influence. But can we really keep those things anyway? Do they ultimately bring us to the kind of life that lasts? A peace that’s unshakable? A legacy that outlives us?

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
                                                                                                                         ~ Jim Elliott
 So, where do you find yourself in this story?

•  Fear of death/too much to lose (big or little).
• Never really encountered the Holy Spirit in power – has taken residence, but not ownership.
  
  

What will you bring to God?

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