When The Spirit Moves
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Context
Context
Good morning Church! I want to ask each person to find in their Bibles Acts 3:1 and stand for the reading of the Word.
As everyone is finding the scripture, i want to do a quick recap of where we ended last week. Last week, we got to see the Holy Spirit of God come down from heaven and set upon the disciples of Christ. We got to see a miracle of men speaking in unknown tongues. We got to see Peter preach an amazing, power-packed message. We got to see three thousand souls accept Jesus Christ as their savior. And then we got to see a glimpse of what it was like to be a part of the first-century church: Studying the Bible together, partaking in communion together, sharing meals together, sharing fellowship with one another, an amazing unity amongst the believers, everyone was witnessing to those within the community, and also the praise of God was going up all over the community.
Today, we pick up in Chapter three and get to see Peter and John in action during this amazing time for the Church.
Read the text:
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon.
2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money.
4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.”
5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them.
6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.
8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
9 All the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.
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.
Content
Content
Causes A Shift In Our Perspective
Causes A Shift In Our Perspective
I want to start by bringing our attention to this man laying by the gate. The text tells us in vs. 2 that this man was laid by the gate each day so that he might beg for money from those who are entering the temple. As I sat and thought about this, i wonder how much this guy actually made? This man was not standing on the side of the interstate holding a sign, he was laying by the gate of the temple.
Many of the people coming to the temple were coming to pay tithes and offerings anyway. The tithes went to the temple to help support the temple, as well as the priests, but the offerings were not required of the temple. The offerings were made up of that which went over and beyond the tithe. I wonder how many people stopped, looked at this man, and then decided to give their offerings to him instead of giving it to the temple? I bet this man received quite a bit of money.
I also wondered if he might have split the profits with those who carried him in each day. It says that he was laid there each day at this gate so that he might beg for many, so it seems as if he has a trustworthy crew to bring him each day to the temple and then turn around and take him home. We may never know the ins and outs of this guys plan, if it was a plan at all, but what we do know, is that this man had been lame since birth.
We also know that he had been brought to this place for quite some time because after the miracle happened, vs. 10 says that the people inside the temple recognized that this man was the one who used to sit and beg at the gate. Later on, Chapter 4:22 tells us that this man is actually over 40 years old. Regardless of the purpose, this man has been lame since birth and has been sitting by the gate for quite some time.
We also see that the man asks for alms without even looking at the people. Vs. 3 says that he say Peter and John about to enter the temple and he asks them for money. Vs. 4 says that Peter and John had to tell the man to look at them. As I try to picture it, I see the man leaned up against a wall, or maybe even the gate itself, asking for money as he sees feet go by.
I couldn’t help but wonder about this. What exactly does this mean? Did he not look at the people because he was ashamed to be asking them for money? Did he not look at them because he hardly ever received anything from anyone so he simply followed through with the motions but never really expected to receive anything from those whom he asked? I don’t really know why, but I do know that on this day he received more than he bargained for!!! Little did this man know, that on this day, the God of the temple was going to show up!!!
I also thought about Peter and John. Now this man had been sitting here for quiet some time. Long enough for everyone to know him as the one who sat at the gate and begged for money. I wonder how many times Peter and John had passed by this same man begging for money in the past, with nothing what soever to give him.
Now that the Holy Spirit has come upon them, things are different. Before, they would drop a shekel in the cup, or just bypass him all-together, but now there is a much different matter to address.
See, in a fleshly sense, things that really matter become monotonous. We get numb to things, even though those things really matter. When the Holy Spirit begins to move in and through our hearts, the mundane becomes miraculous. Peter and John have seen this man sitting here for years, but before they never had much to offer. Now that they know Jesus, it is a different story.
Peter tells this man to look at them. He wants to make sure the man understands the importance of what is about happen. Peter’s response, “I don’t have silver and gold. But what i do have, I freely give to you.”
This man came here every day to beg for money, but on this day, he received a miracle.
When the Holy Spirit moves amongst us, He begins to change our perspective.
Causes A Shift In Our Priorities
Causes A Shift In Our Priorities
Not only does the Holy Spirit allow us to have a change of perspective, but also a shift in our priorities. Look back at vs. 1 with me again. It says that Peter and John were going to the temple to pray. They went there for a very specific purpose. A lot has just happened in their lives. The Holy Spirit showed up, miracles are happening, and things are changing. They were going there to be faithful yes, but they were looking forward to this prayer time. They needed some answers from God on what to expect moving forward.
Little did they know, that instead of praying on this day they would be performing. Isn’t it amazing how much confidence they have gained in the Holy Spirit in such a short time frame. We don’t know exactly how much time has passed. All we know is that Ch. 2:43 tells us that many signs and wonders were being performed by the apostles and then in vs. 47 it tells us that God added to the church daily those who were saved. We don’t know how many days, or miracles, have surpassed, but whatever amount it was, it brought with it much boldness and confidence in the Holy Spirit.
Notice how Peter did not hesitate. Peter and John did not have to huddle up and make a game plan on what they were going to do. It just happened. They were walking by, the man asked for money, they shared a brief look at one another, and then off we go. I believe in my heart that Peter and John were there for some serious prayer time with the Father, but when this event took place, a shift in priorities occured. Instead of praying, they performed a miracle.
Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit cannot be stressed enough. Peter and John had no idea what would happen after this man was healed, but God did. Not only was their personal prayer time interrupted, but so was everyone else’s. After the man was healed, it said he followed them into the temple and then everyone began to gather around in amazement at what they were seeing.
Sometimes, we can be so focused on what we think we need in our lives, that our heads are down and we are just pushing forward. If we do not keep our ears attentive to the Holy Spirit, we miss things. Peter and John were on a mission, but they performed a miracle, and everyone was blessed by it.
Notice that the man was asking for money, but Peter gave him something much more valuable. Money buys things, but it cannot ever make someone happy. Peter made sure to let this guy know that he did not have any money. This guy could have instantly said, “Get on then. If you don’t have any money, then you can’t help me any. Quit wasting my time.” He heard the name of Jesus, a miracle worker, and got excited. This was exactly the type of person that Jesus helped what time He was here. The only reason Jesus didn’t heal this man was probably so that Peter and John could do it.
Notice what it says at the end of vs. 11. It says that all the people came out to see the man at Solomon’s Colonnade. I had to do a little digging to see what “Solomon’s Colonnade” was, but what i found was pretty cool. Solomon’s Colonnade was a place where rabbis would take their disciples to teach them lessons. In other words, it was somewhat of a training grounds. What better lesson for those people to learn on this day than that the name of Jesus was still as powerful on that day as it was before.
What better lesson for us to learn today, than that the name of Jesus Christ is still as powerful today as it ever has been? This lesson needs to be learned. Jesus is the only name in heaven and earth by which man can be saved. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the first and the last. He is king of kings and Lord of Lords. He is the son of God and savior of the world.
When the Holy Spirit begins to move there is a shift in our perspective, a shift in our priorities, and finally: a shift in our Praise.
Causes A Shift In Our Praise
Causes A Shift In Our Praise
Now there is no way for us to know the entirety of this man’s life, but if we go simply off of what we have in this verse, we see that the man came to the temple every day. On the surface, that sounds like a great characteristic of someone. That is, until you add that he was only doing it so that he might play off of the generosity of all of the other people that were coming to the temple. This man came to the temple every day, but he always say outside.
After this miracle took place, this man went inside the temple. The man who used to prey on Christians because of their generosity was now praying with Christians because of God’s grace!!!
He made it inside!!! After this man was healed, it tells us that he jumped up and started to walk. He entered the temple with Peter and John - walking, leaping, and praising God! He was praising God for what had happened. He got his praise on!!!
When a miracle comes out way, we must remember where that miracle came from. We must give the credit to God. Not just silently, but openly. We must give God the credit for our miracles. Why is this so important? If he would not have been leaping and praising, everyone else might not have noticed him.
Notice that it said in verse 10, they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the gate. Yes, people notice your problems, but they also notice your praise. They were astonished at this man’s miracle. If we do not make others aware of our miracles, and more importantly the one responsible for them, how can God get the glory that he deserves? God deserves to be glorified, and as we praise Him for all that He has done and will do, He receives just that.
We must give Him praise!!!
Commitment
Commitment
We actively seek out the filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We act as the Spirit gives us utterance.
We bless those whom we can bless.
We praise God for it all!