Welcome Home everyone. Happy (almost)Independence Day! We are midway in Acts chapter 3 Peter and John have just witnessed a miraculous healing. Today were going to talk about their responses.
My Big Idea for today is that together we will give God the glory. My prayer for us today is that by hearing this message we will live out a complete gospel and those who are bound will be free. If you have your Bibles today you can join me in Acts chapter 3, verse 11.
While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:11-26
In order to help me share with you today, I have separated my thoughts into 3 sections or points.
POINT #1: Give God the Glory
While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Acts 3:11-12
Peter and John resist the desire for self-glorification. This healed man is bouncing all over the place hanging on to Peter as if to draw attention to him. But Peter responds in a very Jewish way. He says, “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you?
He continues to say, “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”
He instantly begins to shift the focus away from himself and towards God. In our day and age this is totally out of our character. People today have companies and publicists and every devise to make themselves look good and to manufacture glory for themselves. But we must remember a couple things about God. 1. God wants you to remember that He is holy! And 2. The most important thing to God is his glory. God will not share his glory with anyone he has not personally found worthy of His glory.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Let look at another verse.
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.
Acts 5:31
Let’s continue the pattern.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:17
If we give God the glory here on earth he will share his glory with us in Christ Jesus when we are glorified in His presence. Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 5) wanted to purchase the Power of the Holy Spirit for his own glory, and he was severely chastised by Peter and John. Ananias & Sapphira attempted to manufacture glory for themselves by lying to the Holy Spirit. And they were judged the same day. We must be careful to give God the glory.
In this case, Peter puts it this way.
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:16
When glory is offered the response is 2-fold. 1. We can accept the encouragement. 2. However, we give the glory to God. In life either through work or ministry we will be give recognition for this or that, and that’s great. There are natural rewards to hard work. But our work should always honor God.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:7
We should always want to give glory to God. And in turn He will glorify us though His son Jesus.
I’ll move on to my next point.
POINT #2: Give the Complete Gospel
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
Acts 3:13-16
This sounds pretty harsh for our day, but for these first century Jews it was right on time. They needed to hear the truth about Jesus. For our day its the same, we need to live the truth about Jesus not just tell it.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
They were testifying/witness to what they had seen and heard. About their rejection of Christ and their dilemma with God.
The dilemma they had with God is now implied in the statement of v.13.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.
Acts 3:13
The disowning of the holy and righteous one speaks to a cutting off of a kinsman. The Messiah Jesus.
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
Deuteronomy 18:15
Under the law of Moses the penalty for various transgressions was to be cut off from the people, Israel. Separated from family, friends, livelihood, safety, nationality, religious feasts/worship, and an interruption of legitimate blood lineage. In this case the whole of Israel was cut off from the promise of God by their own rejection of Christ. Now they themselves were on the outside, cut off from the promised Messiah. By giving them a complete gospel, he brought to them a correction with a sign. This was very powerful for them in this moment.
Here’s what’s different today. We’ve gotten really good at sensing someone’s sin. We can see it. Hear it. We can smell it. Oh yes, we know just by looking at you. Wrong. We think were helping God out by pointing out someone’s problems. Don’t tell them about them, we all have the same issues. When we need to be telling them about Jesus. We will never win the lost by discerning the obvious. We must live in such a way as to give glory to God and tell people a complete gospel.
I’ll close with this.
It Is the Person of Christ and His Message That Draws the Lost to Faith.
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Acts 3:16
Jesus brings hope to the darkest of places. And when He follows up with a sign or wonder he grabs ahold of their attention. And the drawing of the Holy Spirit that’s been working in them, for God only knows how long, will start to get traction. It begins to take hold and lives are being transformed. Tomorrow we celebrate our freedom, but the real freedom is in Christ Jesus. And he wants you to tell someone about Him. Testify to what you have seen and heard. As believers, we of us carries the Holy Spirit with us.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Glorify God, give a complete Gospel, and spread the freedom of Jesus Christ.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, If we love God and abide in Christ we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late. It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here. Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me?
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’