EXPERIENCING THE GOSPEL’S POWER

Experiencing The Gospel’s Power
(Acts 3:1-8, 11-16, 19-20)

People today want to control their lives but often feel powerless.
Young:
     – No independence; no assets.
Middle Age:
     – Circumstances prevented them from achieving their goals.
Elderly:
     – Moving from independence to dependence for basic needs.

Question:
     Where do people place the blame for being powerless?
          – Parents.                   – Boss.
          – Friends.                   – Time.
          – Environment.        – Money.
          – Management.        – Health.
          – Children.                – Education.
          – IQ.

Non-believers have to depend on what the world offers for power;
but Christians have the true source of success – God’s power.

ACTS 3

VERSES 1-2:
“three in the afternoon”
     – There were 3 daily times for prayer: morning, afternoon, sunset.

     – In the early years of Christianity, believers
        continued going to the temple and synagogues.
             – Since most of the early believers were Jews,
                they maintained their Jewish heritage.

     – (Acts 2:41-47)
          In the days after Pentecost, the believers worshipped daily
          in the temple (and from house to house) (Acts 2:46).

     – When Paul came to Jerusalem years later, even though
        he was an apostle to the Gentiles, he went to the temple.

     – The temple was a place of high (and constant) activity.

“man crippled from birth”
Question:
     How many years had he been a cripple?
     (40 years (Acts 4:22))
     Question:
          What assumptions would you make
          about someone crippled for that long?
               – He has no hope of getting well.
               – He accepts the life of a beggar.
               – He is dependent on others.
               – He is grateful to others for help.
               – He is jealous of those in good health.
               – He has periods of depression.
               – He worries about not getting help from others.
               – He feels insignificant and unimportant.
               – He has become calloused.

Question:
     Why would they set him at the temple to beg?
          – It was a great location
             because there was a constant flow of people.

Giving alms to the poor was one of the
expected religious acts of the Jews. (Matthew 6:2-4)

“gate called Beautiful”
(this was probably a popular entrance to the temple).
Note:
     Josephus (a 1st century Jewish historian)
     wrote that there were 10 gates.
          – Nine were overlaid with gold and silver.
          – The tenth was made of bronze
             and exceeded the value of the others.
             Note:
                  This might have been where the beggar sat.

VERSES 3-8:
VERSE 3:
“saw Peter and John”
     – Beggars learn how to recognize potential givers.

VERSE 4:
“looked straight at him”
     – Peter and John saw the man for who he was
        and noticed his desperate need.

     – They could have tossed alms and kept walking, but
        like Jesus, they saw interruptions as opportunities.
        Note:
             On the Day of Pentecost, Peter had preached to thousands,
             but like Jesus, he still had time for a single lost person.

“look at us”
Question:
     What do you think the beggar was thinking at this point?
          – They were going to give him some money?
          – They want to speak to me…I have been noticed?

VERSE 6:
“silver and gold I do not have”
Question:
     What do you think the beggar was thinking now?
          – They aren’t going to give me money after all?
          – I’m going to get either excuses, or a lecture?

“walk”
     – This is similar to what Jesus said (Luke 5:23-24, John 5:8),
        with one exception: Jesus healed in His Own name;
        Peter and John did not heal in their own name
        (they healed in the name of Jesus).

VERSE 7:
Apparently the touch
and lift by Peter was part of the healing.
Note:
     This is the method Jesus used
     (Mark 1:30-31, Luke 8:49-54).

VERSE 8:
“jumped to his feet and began to walk”
Question:
     What does this indicate about the beggar?
          – He either believed he was healed,
             or he could feel the healing?
          – He couldn’t wait to see what it was like to walk?

Question:
     We see that he was healed,
     but after 40 years what does that include?
          – His leg muscles that were dormant, were also healed.
          – His motor skill for walking was healed.
          – His circulatory system to his legs was healed,

“went with them into the temple courts”
Question:
     Why?
          – He wanted to give thanks.
          – He wanted others to see his healing.
          – (Leviticus 21:17-21, 2 Samuel 5:8)
             For 40 years he was prohibited from entering the temple,
             but now he could go where he had seen others go all these years.
             Note:
                  In our world today, in some countries crippled
                  children (from birth) are either poisoned,
                  or left in the wilderness to die.

“jumping and praising God”
     – He was uninhibited in showing his joy and gratitude to God.
        Note:
             It’s a shame that believers
             aren’t as uninhibited about being saved.
             Question:
                  What are some deterrents to Christians
                  openly admitting their faith and belief?
                        – Ridicule?
                        – Exclusion from groups?
                        – Peer pressure?

Summary:
     – Regular worship and prayer (in a place of worship)
        is the mark of a true believer.
     – Followers of Christ are sensitive to the needs of others.
     – When we serve the Lord, we need to be sure He gets the
        credit, and that what we do is in accordance with His will.
     – Jesus set the example by accepting people who have been excluded.
     – We should continually praise the Lord for what He has done for us.

VERSES 9-10:
Describes the scene in the temple.
Question:
     Wonder what they were saying to each other?
          – Is that the same crippled man we have seen begging?
          – Are these men miracle healers?

VERSES 11-16:
Question:
     Why would he hold on to Peter and John?
          – He wanted to be their friend?
          – He felt they were the source of his healing,
             so if he let go, he would no longer be able to walk?

VERSE 11:
As the people rushed toward them, Peter used
this opportunity to preach the good news of Jesus.
Note:
     The people were much closer so he didn’t have to shout.

Just like Paul, Peter wanted to
make sure God received the credit.

VERSE 12:
He also wanted to make sure they understood that
the power to heal was not from them.
Note:
     We should never try to take credit for what God
     does through us; we should always give Him the glory.

VERSE 13:
“servant”
     – This parallels how Jesus described Himself. (Mark 10:45)

“handed Him over”
     – The Father handed over the Son
        to die for the sins of men. (Romans 8:32)
     – The Son handed (gave) Himself over. (Galatians 2:20)
     – Judas handed Him over in betrayal. (Luke 22:21)
     – The Council handed Him over to Pilate. (Mark 15:1)
     – Pilate handed Him over to the will of His accusers.
        (Luke 23:25)

Peter accused them of their part in the death of Jesus:
     – They handed Him over to be killed.
     – They disowned Him before Pilate
        (when he was determined to let Him go).
     – They asked for the release of a murderer when given a choice.
     – They killed the author of life.
        Question:
             Why would Peter be so harsh in his comments?
                  – He wanted to get their attention?
                  – He wanted to arouse their emotions?
                  – He wanted them to realize their guilt?
                  – He wanted to prepare them
                     for what he planned to say next?

VERSE 15:
Peter explained how God reversed
the world’s condemnation of Jesus…How?
     – By raising Him from the dead.
        Note:
             Sin and love were on a collision course
             since the Garden of Eden.
             They collided at Calvary; God won the victory
              and offers salvation to sinners.

VERSE 16:
“By faith in the name of Jesus”
Question:
      Whose faith, the apostles’, or the cripple’s?
           – Peter and John.
             They performed the miracle because they fully
             trusted Jesus to give them the power to heal.
             Note:
                  This is shown by their giving Him the credit.

A few points about the healing miracle:
     – The miracle was not to honor man for his divine power.

     – The miracle was not for entertainment,
        but was an act of compassion for someone in need.

     – The miracle was a testimony of the love and power of God.

     Note:
          Of course, the greatest miracle is the salvation
          of lost sinners, however this healing shows that God
          is concerned about the welfare of the individual.

Summary:
     – Jesus is the Son of God,
        and also the suffering servant of God.
     – Sinful people delivered Jesus to death.
     – God raised Jesus from the dead.
     – God cares about the individual.
     – Faith is crucial to experiencing the power of God.

VERSES 17-18:
Now that he had their attention, Peter
said two things to soften his accusations:
1. What they did, they did out of ignorance
     (implying that if they had known Who He was,
     they quite possibly would have acted differently).
     Note:
          This does not absolve them of their responsibility.

2. What had happened was part of God’s plan.
     Note:
          This doesn’t mean the people didn’t have a choice.
     Note:
          Look at how this perfectly sets up
          what he is about to tell them in the next verses.
          (they were participants in God’s plan before, and
          they should continue to be participants going forward,
          but in a different way).

VERSES 19-20:
They may have made an earlier choice out of ignorance,
but now they could/should make an informed choice.
Note:
     Peter has given them a full understanding of Christ’s true identity.

Peter calls them to repentance:
     “repent”
          – A change of mind.

     “turn to God”
          – Implies a change in direction
             (desires, goals, habits, emotions, character, etc.).

     “sins may be wiped out”
          – The things that separate
             our fellowship with God are removed.

     “times of refreshing”
          – Experience relief from guilt.
          – Discover a new peace and happiness.
          – The worries of the world are diminished, because
             problems are viewed from a new and different perspective.

     “may send the Christ”
          – A new relationship/fellowship with the Lord is developed.

     Summary:
          – God calls sinners to turn from their sins, and turn to Him.
             Note:
                  When the scriptures tell us to turn FROM something,
                  they frequently tell us to turn TO something else.
          – God blots out the sins of those who repent.
             Note:
                  If we have a contrite heart, then we have
                  the responsibility of accepting His forgiveness,
                  and the challenge of forgiving ourselves.
                       – God promises times of refreshment for those who belong to Him.

Summary:
     – We should all be prepared to be used by God.
     – We can do nothing without the power of God.
     – We need to look for opportunities to share our faith…boldly.