We talked last week about the community of believers, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, doing two things.
- Regularly coming together in unity, to grow in the Lord and together, support one another, and bless one another
- Being blessed and strengthened by each other, they follow Jesus’ command to go out into their community to change their world and the people responded
Today, let’s take a look at the power that comes from the people of God united in loving one another and loving God.
Acts 3:1-3
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
The disciples went about their daily routines; they didn’t seek out specific situations. Instead, they allowed the Lord to bring opportunities into their everyday lives. Peter and John regularly went to the temple for the 3 o’clock prayer. How many times had they passed this man before? How many times had Jesus passed him? He had been placed in front of the gate every day of at least his adult life. Had they given him alms before? It’s possible, but now they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they have a “God appointment.” Today, the Holy Spirit guided them to respond to this beggar.
Acts 3:4-10
And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The Holy Spirit likely guided them at this moment. The man was probably beginning to look for his next target when Peter called out, “Look at us!” Once he focused fully on them, Peter told him what he was about to do… In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!
The Greek words here imply that the lame man had his hips, knees and legs re-socketed as if they were not socketed from birth. Notice it was not the man’s faith, he had no idea what was about to happen. God just did it.
There are times when it is the people’s faith; there are times, like with the centurion, that it is the faith he had for his servant. Other times, it’s simply God—well, it’s always God, but most of the time, He works with our faith. We are simply to always believe, and it’s always up to God to perform the miracle. Peter and John didn’t heal that man; the Holy Spirit did, through Jesus’ name!
As they walk into the temple, God gives Peter another opportunity to “Feed God’s lambs.” Miracles are always an opportunity to share the “Good News.” That’s why God still performs miracles today. An argument usually gets you nowhere, but a clear move of God forces people to acknowledge that something out of the ordinary has happened.
Acts 3:11-15
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Peter begins by making it clear that neither he nor John healed the man, but it was indeed Jesus—the one God glorified, raised from the dead, who was God in the flesh. The term “author of life” is telling them that Jesus is God. Peter emphasizes that even though just a month and a half ago, when they were all there for Passover, they thought they had killed Jesus, he is still alive and performing miracles. That is why I stress that, with anything done in this next move of God, only Jesus should receive the glory. People need to be reminded that he is alive and well!
Acts 3:16
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Can you imagine what they were thinking? Jesus, whom we saw crucified, we heard stories that he resurrected, but is he still alive and performing miracles now? That is the role of the Holy Spirit—to glorify the Father and the Son—and he did so by healing this man.
Acts 3:17,18
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Peter is saying, as Jesus proclaimed on the cross, “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing!” Because of this, forgiveness is available for them. Here is a list of some of the scriptures from the prophets Peter was referring to: Psalms 22; 41:9; 69:4, 21; Isaiah 50:6; 53:4-11; Zechariah 12:10; 13:7.
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
What great news they are hearing: without the sacrifice of sheep or goats, they can now have their sins forgiven by believing in all that Peter just stated. Peter emphasizes salvation by grace alone through faith alone, not of works.
Acts 3:20,21
That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Peter is saying that with this relationship, you can experience peace, joy (basically the fruit of the Spirit—that is a promise from God, made to be good for all eternity as Jesus establishes his millennial reign. This period involves the restoration of all things and reflects the cities of refuge and the freedom that came to those in the cities after the high priest died, as described in Numbers 35:24-28.
We have joy and freedom in Christ. All your sins are forgiven; no one can condemn you. Even if you still feel guilty, your feelings are lying to you because you have been forgiven. This isn’t because of a “work’ you’ve done, but through grace by faith.
Acts 3:22,23
Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
In Deuteronomy chapter 18, Moses prophesied that Jesus would come. It is very important for us to understand that the Holy Spirit, through Peter, is claiming this prophecy is about Jesus. It is not only essential for the Jews to grasp this, but 700 years later, Muslim apologists would also use this scripture to argue it’s about Muhammad. The Holy Spirit is clarifying that it is about Christ and Christ alone.
We need to remember that it is the Father’s desire for everyone to have a relationship with Jesus. That includes the 1.3 billion Muslims. I believe the next move of God will involve many Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and followers of other religions turning to Christ because of His Spirit being poured out on and through His people.
Acts 3:24,25
And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Peter is reminding people of God’s word. We must know God’s word to remind others of it. Many people currently need to hear what you know. They need hope, love, forgiveness, and more. The Holy Spirit will give you the boldness and wisdom you need if you allow Him!
Acts 3:26
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Jesus came to bring people back to God, ending their conflict with Him and their desire to do things their own way. Does it seem like Peter’s sermon should be preached again today?
Full of the Holy Spirit, Peter is able to challenge the culture to return to God. The audience of this sermon was good people, even religious people, and yet He is calling them back to God.
If you asked your friends and family, “If they died today, what reason would they give God for allowing them entrance into heaven?” some might say they are good people; others might say they were baptized as a baby; some might say they belonged to a particular church or denomination. The only correct answer is because of the grace of God, because of Jesus’ blood, and my faith in that blood that I am forgiven and saved.