Rise Up
Acts Chapter 3:1-10
We are continuing in the Book of Acts this morning and Chris and I have wanted to clear off this time to take a look at this incredible book of history, where God lays out His plan and power for this church age.
Really, we want to go back and look at some of the things He was doing in order to glean what He may be seeking to do in and through our lives today.
God is still alive and well – He still has a plan, and is still quite aware of what is going on today.
Our message this morning is entitled “RISE UP” goes right along with “WE ARE WITNESSES” (Cavaliers around the corner) – but the man in today’s passage was able to do exactly that – he was able to RISE UP!
Acts 3:1-8 1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And 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; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then 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. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
In our passage today we find – Peter and John: God used these two to accomplish many things in the early church – they were the first two disciples to see the empty tomb – Notice, they are still operating in TWO’s.
We see these TWO going into the temple “at the hour of prayer”
1) THEIR PRAYER
As a “good” “law-abiding” Jew, there were certain times in the day that you were required to go to the temple and pray to God.
Psalm 55:17 17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Daniel 6:10 10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
There were three times of prayer recognized in this day: the third hour, the sixth hour, and the ninth hour. According to the way the Jews kept time: our 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
In our passage today, it is the ninth hour, or 3:00 PM.
In the book of Acts, it is amazing to see how God transitions His plan; from the Jewish Nation of Israel to the Gentile church, and though we are in transition, God (and the disciples) are taking every cultural opportunity that they are given.
Do you know what time it was when Pentecost broke out?
Acts 2:14-15 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Here are all these devout Jews praying to God – and all of a sudden they hear the message of Christ and the wonderful works of God proclaimed in their native tongue – by a bunch of Galileans.
God is very calculated in His strategy!
As Peter and John are faithful in the small things – worship / prayer / hospitality – God works in and through their lives to accomplish AMAZING THINGS!
A lot of people want to do BIG things for Jesus! Just not to many willing to be faithful in the little things.
We need to be people who have mastered the little things in life.
Acts 3:1-2 1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And 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;
I would like to take a look at this “certain man” today – we are not told his name in this passage – he is simply just another “certain” man. We really don’t know too much about him -
Acts 4:22 22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
We are told that he has been lame from his mother’s womb. Not that he became lame, but that he was born lame. BROKEN FROM BIRTH.
We see an incredible picture start to form here. The Bible tells us that when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. When we turn to Him, repent of our sins, trusting in His death, burial, and resurrection alone for the gift of eternal life; that He comes and lives within us.
Before accepting Christ, we were just like this man. Spiritually Lame: without the ability to walk because:
Romans 3:23 23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
But after we accept Christ – it is another story, we are able to walk as He told us:
Romans 8:1 1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:10 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Colossians 2:6-7 6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
They lay this lame man at the temple gate – which is called Beautiful “DAILY”, so that he can beg for money – survive in this life. Well it just so happens that this certain lame man has a request.
2) HIS PETITION
Acts 3:3 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
This lame man here is doing the only thing he knows to do – begging for change.
For over forty years this man has been without hope of ever being able to support himself.
I wonder how he felt. I wonder how depressed and overwhelmed he must have been.
He doesn’t need a hand-out – he needs a healing!
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE DO THE EXACT SAME THING?
Turn to and look for a physical solution for our spiritual problems?
How often do we short change the power of God and settle for less than His plan for our lives?
We need to turn to the real solution for the problems in our lives:
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
This man needs exalted Well, it is amazing to see how the disciples respond to this petition in the POWER OF GOD:
3) GOD’S POWER
Acts 3:4-8 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then 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. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
You know, Peter and John could have just kept moving – they could have stepped over the guy – after all, they were important individuals on their way to spend time with God!
But they didn’t. They took the time to meet this guy where he was at – they fastened their eyes upon him.
Asked him to do the same – “Look on us”
Check out the lame man’s response – it says that he gave heed to them – EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING OF THEM – He looked on them IN FAITH!
Peter explains his financial limitations to this man, but he is happy to share what he has – which is so much more amazing that any amount of money!
Watch how this healing happens – I think it shows us something so very important.
Peter speaks the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, but he doesn’t just stop there – it is as he physically touches this man, taking him by his right hand (hand of power) in the Bible and lifts him up that this man receives healing.
Mark 1:30-31 30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
Mark 5:41-42 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
Perhaps Peter is just following the example of Christ by placing his hands on this lame man, but I believe it shows us something that we must know.
It is God’s intention to use His disciples as vessels of His power to change and heal the lives of men.
He still wants to do this today – remember this lame man is an incredible picture of the hundreds and even thousands of unsaved individuals we come into contact with each day.
For God to use us in this life, not only do we need to “BE A WITNESS” as we discussed last week, and we also need to “BE WILLING TO TOUCH” those He sends to us!
Because of the incredible power of God a miracle takes place in this mans life!
His response: leaping up he stood, walked, entered, walked, leaped, and praised!
Now that sure sounds better than a little loose change to me – but this is how and why God works the way He does – so that He and He alone may get the glory for what He does!
Ephesians 3:20-21 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The thing is – it didn’t stop with this man praising and glorifying God – he goes into the temple!
Where people are worshipping and praying to God – being the ninth hour – and he praises God!
Watch what happens:
Acts 3:9-10 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And 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.
What an incredible testimony of the power of God and what it can do in our lives.
Is the power of God on your life today?
Do you see Him at work? Is He working through you to heal the lame individuals He puts in your path?
Is He receiving the glory for all that He has done in your life?
All we need to do is give Him His rightful place, be faithful in the little things, trust Him to do what He can only do, and watch Him move in incredible ways.
Lets pray.
