Acts 3:1-11 (Click title for audio access)
"Unexpected Favor" • 5.29.11 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- In our day and age, there is a greater variety of life and livelihood than has ever been. Represented in this room is a proof of that truth.
- Each of us wake daily, some to creative jobs where we feel fulfilled and filled with purpose and some to mundane, if not well paid, routine.
- Still others are waiting for a new job in this difficult economy and are therefore living another type of life. That life is filled with waiting and praying, and I assure you, that we pray with you.
- Within whatever form we find our existence, there is great freedom available to all of us. We have our vacations, certain days off each year and certain recreational activities that fill our off time.
- Vacations are difficult to manage these days, as most people are choosing the "staycation" option. If you work for the city of Colton, you have off every possible holiday!
- Then there are our recreational hobbies that divert our attention from it all, keeping us sane and giving us something to look forward to.
- That is our life. Whatever esteem we hold our life in, it's a veritable paradise compared to the man that we are looking at this morning.
- He has a congenital disease in his legs. He's a cripple. A parapalegic.
- Every day for 40 years has looked and felt the same for him. Everyday, rain or shine, he has been brought to the temple where he "worked."
- The temple was the center of Jewish life. It was the place of religious sacrifice, as well as the bank. For a man in his condition, this was the only place for him.
- The location would bring in the best of society. Devout men would have money and charity would only enhance their position with God.
- In addition, the Pharisees loved to give to him, especially when everyone was watching!
- He was a fixture at this place where God set His name. There's nothing to support it, but there may have been a time when he wondered about his physical condition.
- There may have been a time when he hoped for something out of the ordinary, but those days are now long gone. He sits there, waiting for whatever comes His way.
- He has no idea what this day will bring him. In the same way, this crowd that has come believes that this will be an ordinary day in the temple, for many this was just another routine visit.
- For that matter, Peter and John are walking into something that God had planned for them. They are coming to pray and meet with God, but beyond that is beyond them!
- None know what is about to happen, but most all of them will be pleasantly surprised by the wonderfully unexpected providence of God.
Text
• Acts 3:1-3 : "Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms." : It was 3pm in Jerusalem which Luke calls the hour of prayer. Religious Jews continue to this day to pray three times daily.
- 9AM was the first hour, 12PM the second and 3PM the third.
- Peter and John went together for prayer. Luke had mentioned last week that one of the pillars of the inaugural church was commitment to prayer.
- Here they are committed to it in a formal way, just as any Jewish person would be.
- They were interrupted in their course when they came upon this lame man.
- The word "lame" refers to one who is "deprived of foot," a medical term used by Doctor Luke.
- As much as coming to the temple was habitual for Peter and John, it was his habit to have someone carry him daily to this gate where he stationed himself to beg for alms or charity.
- It's likely that the person that brought him was a family member, or at the least one who shared in the daily profit.
- The gate is called "Beautiful" by Doctor Luke, which may have been a local name or a description. There are 11 gates into the city of Jerusalem, some of which are sealed today.
- Most scholars believe that this was another term for the Double Gate which is closest to where this story ends.
- This gate was really quite ornate and is described by Josephus as being made of "fine Corinthian brass at the temple, seventy-five feet high with huge double doors, so beautiful that it 'greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.'"[i]
- One commentator noted that it was so heavy that it took 20 men to open and close the door!
- This was truly a beautiful gate, but that is not all that is meant by the word that is used.
- Our word "beautiful" does not describe the irony here, as the word in Greek indicates that this was a gate associated with the vigor of life. It's picturesque of blooming life in the spring.
- Here was a man who had been deprived of what many might refer to as a whole body, but he is here at this gate of blooming life, asking for a donation.
- Isn't that interesting? He is sitting there in a beautiful location, with the connotation of life springing all around him, yet there is no life in his legs.
- He sits there asking for alms. He sits there simply asking for mercy in the form of money.
- He has quit asking for miracles. He's quit looking for divinity. He has settled for what he can get if he can get anything at all. I think that might be the saddest part of the story.
- He has come to the place where God wants to meet with Him and meet His need.
- It is the only place on earth where such a thing is possible, and yet the man sits there with no faith, no desire and no hope that his condition can be anything but what it is at that moment.
- Adding to this feeling was the fact that Jesus Himself might have passed by this man and not healed him! What can God really do for me?
- Some of you might be able to relate. You've come with your burdens and dropped yourself off here at church, but there is little thought that God might want to meet with you, or meet your need.
- It's been too long and the hope that you might've once had, has long expired.
- I pray that you'll see things differently and learn to hope again, for this was the day that this man had stopped waiting for!
• Acts 3:4-7 : "And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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 ankle bones received strength." : Peter fixed his eyes on the man. Literally, Peter fastened his eyes upon this man.
- Something drove Peter to stand at attention and to stare intently at this man in this moment.
- Peter was intent upon dealing directly with this man, who only figured that Peter was going to give him some money.
- These guys were just regular looking guys. They didn't look very special. He didn't expect anything but something from them.
- He was just hoping for something, anything, even just a little something. They were good for at least that much weren't they?
- This man was not expecting any miraculous, but had he known who these men were, he might have. He expected something earthly, but God was about to give him something divine!
- Isn't that just the way it is: We sit by life giving sources, at a lack, and expect anything but what God desires to give us! After a while, we'll settle for something temporal or simple.
- "Silver and gold I do not have!" Well, that is a disappointment!
- Peter's statement is a universally true financial statement of most true believers: Silver and gold I don't have! Yep, that much hasn't changed!
- He did not have earthly riches, but he gave of what he did have! He had authority. He had power. He had a mandate from the Lord to share the miraculous life of Jesus Christ!
- In the name of Jesus Christ. With His authority. For His sake. Rise up and walk. Luke does not tell us of any hesitation or fear. Peter, it seems spoke this with confidence.
- I wonder if when he fixed his eyes upon him, if God's Spirit did not give Peter a word of instruction. "I want to heal that man right now through you!"
- Alternately, I wonder how many times we have walked by unaware of what God wanted to do in a person's life. God's Spirit reveals that to us if we are listening.
- When Peter said it, he simultaneously helped the man to his feet and something awesome took place. Immediately, without delay, this man's feet received strength. Literally, "made firm."
- In just the span of a few moments, this man who had had no strength was given strength by the power of Jesus, through the hands of the Apostle Peter.
• Acts 3:8-10 : "So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." : There was no halfway with this guy. He leapt to his feet! He did not do several months of physical therapy, learning to do what he had never done.
- He went from having never walked, to leaping and walking. Thankfully, he also praised God!
- God had touched him and there was now a great outpouring of thanksgiving.
- The people in the temple were witnesses, recognizing this man immediately as that same guy that had been begging.
- These details are more than just a part of the miracle. This was to be a sign to those who had come to the temple that day.
- Turn over to Isaiah 35. The Prophet Isaiah gave specific signs that Israel would recognize as only possible through the agency of the Messiah.
• Isaiah 35:1-6 : "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.' Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." : The Messiah's work and presence would make this scene a possibility and a proof of His authenticity!
- These worshippers were struck in disbelief and thrown out of their mind! Those are the words that describe them. This miracle was beyond their ability to comprehend.
- Again, the Lord has opened a door of opportunity, bringing attention to His power. The witnesses abounded and their curiosity was piqued.
• Acts 3:11 : "Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed." : This man put a death grip upon Peter and John. These guys weren't getting away from Him! As he grabbed onto them, the people in the vicinity gathered around them!
- God has put people in a position to find meaning and purpose in Him and Peter and John were standing right there at that exact moment! Look at the providence of God.
- There are no accidents. For Peter and John, they are uniquely positioned to make the most of an opportunity. Do you ever wonder why you are where you are?
- I pray that you'll be bold to make the most of whatever opportunity that you might have.
- Notice also that this was this man's day to be healed. It had been 40 years, but this was the day that his healing would mean the most! This is the day that his healing would bring the most glory!
- God never wastes a life. Today, you might be in the middle of your trial. It might have already lasted years. You wonder why this is the case, just like any of us would.
- In the middle of your trial, God is most glorified by your continued worship and trust. Your worship is sweet to Him and a witness to us.
- Your trust in Him to make things right or hold you until He does gives God the opportunity to show off in heaven! Remember Job! God said to the devil, have you seen my boy Job!
- In the same way that God providentially chose this moment to heal a life long cripple, He chose the appointment of all who had witnessed it!
- Who will explain what had taken place? Oh, for sure, it's easy to explain the event: Man was crippled, man was healed, end of story.
- That is what happened, but not why it happened! Peter is there to prophecy and make sense of it all for this crowd of people. We'll cover that next week.
Text
- As we close for today, I remind you to keep yourself in hope. God is providentially working in your life today, even if you don't see it. He is working to put you in position to bring Him glory.
- It might be that He is using your trial or walking you into an opportunity.
- Either way, He is present and active, working behind the scenes to create an environment in your life that will bring Him the most glory. It might come in your healing, or in your preaching.
- Or it might come in your testimony and witness to what has happened! In any event, be on the lookout and be ready!
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