Expect the Unexpected
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Upgraded Expectations
Make a chart on the back of your notes with three columns. The first column label destination, the second label, expectations, and the third upgraded expectations.
You and a partner get to go on a vacation you together decide your destination and then your expectations then upgrade those expectations. (for example if your expectation is souvenir shopping the upgrade would be shopping spree. Or fishing then would be deep sea fishing).
When our expectation aren’t met, we’re disappointed. But when our expectations are exceeded, we get more than we hoped for. In today’s lesson we’ll see several situations in which expectations were “upgraded” in ways that showed God’s power working in and through His people.
Introduction
Introduction
Acts 3 and 4 covers a sequence of four events. In each event there were expectations and unexpected results. The unexpected results revealed both the Holy Spirits power and God‘s grace at work in the lives of Jesus‘ followers. The Holy Spirit still works by gods grace in our lives too. This lesson should encourage us to be Active and bold for Christ.
Event: Lame Man Begging
Event: Lame Man Begging
Lames Man’s Expectations
Lames Man’s Expectations
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Peter and John were going to the temple at the ninth hour, 3 PM. The temple mount had several gates. The apostles met a lame man begging at the gate called beautiful, perhaps a double gate on the southern side of the temple mount. The beggar expected to get rejected by most of the people and to get a coin from a few. He use the money to buy food.
Peter didn’t put his head down and hurry by the lame man. Instead, he stopped and told the man to look at him. In verses four and five. No doubt the beggar was normally to ashamed to look at people in the eyes when he asked for money. But when Peter made his request, the man obeyed, hopefully a gift and maybe even a compassionate glance.
Unexpected Outcome
Unexpected Outcome
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Peter admitted that he and John had neither gold nor sliver to give away. That admission must have been disappointing to the bagger. Peter, again raising the man’s hopes, did offer to give the man what he had. Boldly telling the man to rise up and walk In the name of Jesus. Peter then reached out and took the man’s hand, and helped him stand up for the first time in his life. The man couldn’t help but to begin to leave around and praise God. His praise showed gratitude for an unexpected healing and spiritual life.
Event: Crowd Listening to Peter
Event: Crowd Listening to Peter
Crowd’s Expectations
Crowd’s Expectations
The Crowd couldn’t help but notice the formerly lame man jumping around. They felt compelled to find the source of Peter and John’s power.
And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
The crowd gathered around Peter and John, and Expected Peter to reveal that he had special healing powers. Peter, deflecting the attention from himself, asked the crowd why they marveled at him and John.
Ask: what did Peter and John understand about the power to heal the land man? That it came from God by grace and that they didn’t deserve the privilege to heal people.
Unexpected Outcome
Unexpected Outcome
Peter directed the crowd to marvel at Jesus, whom God glorified and raised from the dead.
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Many of these Jews also stood in the crowd before pilot and Jesus. And cried out “crucify him! Crucify him!” They were all guilty of Jesus’s death. Peter than used old testament names for Jesus to point out that he was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. What a shock from The crowd to learn that they already killed the Messiah and they were still expecting him to come.
And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Peter gave the crowd Hope, instead of pointing out their guilt. Jesus was no longer dead. God had raised him from death unto life. The man they had just healed was living proof of what faith in Christ could do to a person. By faith, the Lane man was made whore both physically and spiritually.
As the onions begin to understand the concept of their choices, Peter urged them to repent. The word repentance indicates a change of mind. In respect to salvation, repentance means to think differently about the savior, about sin, and oneself. The result is the blotting out of their sins, including The sin of calling for Jesus‘s death.
Peter than helped the crowd to understand that Jesus death was a part of god’s plan for salvation. Their own profits send a Messiah with suffer and die in Isaiah50Peter then helped the crowd to understand that Jesus death was a part of god‘s plan for salvation. Their own prophets said the Messiah would suffer and die in Isaiah 53. Those who accept and trust in the Messiah will be saved. But those who reject him will be utterly destroyed. Peter also shared that one day Jesus would return and take his throne it as he sets up his kingdom on earth.
we too can expect a certain outcome of a situation. Many times are expectations are not the realities that come. But when we do things for Jesus our expectations will be upgraded when we stand face-to-face with our Savior.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Maybe you this morning didn’t expect to be faced with the reality of your sin, but if you accept Jesus Christ and be gloriously saved your expectations will be upgraded as you have a home in heaven. But we to but except the reality that Jesus Christ died for your sins. But the choice is yours, what will you do?
Next week we will learn about a couple more events were the expectations were not the same as the outcome. Even when Peter and John face threats from the religious leaders.