Introduction

Good morning, dear friends, I am overjoyed to see your familiar faces, and I am thrilled that you've chosen to join us today as we gather in the house of the Lord. I am reminded of a quote by the great Charles Spurgeon who once said, "I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." And isn't that the truth? We all need Christ, and we are so fortunate to have a Savior who is more than enough for our needs.

As we open our hearts and minds to the word of God today, let us turn to the book of Acts, specifically chapter 3, verses 11-21: “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. 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? 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. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 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. Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."

Christ's Witnesses Walking in His Truth

As we look at the passage from Acts, we see Peter and John, two of Christ's apostles, standing in Solomon's Colonnade. They have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the people are astonished. Peter, seeing their surprise, makes it clear that it was not by their own power or godliness that the man was healed, but by faith in the name of Jesus. This is a powerful reminder for us that as followers of Christ, we are called to walk in His truth, not by our own strength or wisdom, but by faith in Him.

We see this theme of faith throughout the Bible. In Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Hall of Faith," we read about the heroes of the Old Testament who, by faith, did great things for God. They didn't rely on their own abilities or understanding, but trusted in God and His promises. This is the same faith that Peter and John demonstrate in Acts 3, and it's the same faith that we are called to have as Christ's witnesses.

But what does it mean to be a witness? In a court of law, a witness is someone who gives testimony about what they have seen or experienced. As Christ's witnesses, we are called to testify about what we have seen and experienced of Him. We are to share His love, His grace, His mercy, and His truth with others. We are to tell of how He has changed our lives, healed our hearts, and given us hope.

This can be quite challenging. We live in a world that often rejects the truth of Christ. We may face opposition, ridicule, or even persecution for our faith. But we can take courage from the example of Peter and John. Despite the threats and opposition they faced, they remained steadfast in their faith and continued to proclaim the truth of Christ.

We also see in this passage from Acts that being a witness for Christ involves more than just speaking about Him. It also involves living in a way that reflects His character and love. When the people saw the man who had been healed standing and walking, they were amazed. Peter and John's faith in Christ had resulted in a powerful demonstration of His healing power. In the same way, our lives should be a demonstration of Christ's transforming power. As we walk in His truth, His love, His grace, and His righteousness should be evident in our lives.

Finally, we see in this passage that being Christ's witness is not something we do in our own strength. Peter makes it clear that it was not by his own power or godliness that the man was healed, but by faith in the name of Jesus. As we seek to be Christ's witnesses, we must remember that it is not by our own power or godliness that we can effectively share His truth. It is only by faith in Christ, relying on His strength and guidance, that we can fulfill this calling.

Called to Share God's Love

As we continue to reflect on the passage from Acts, we find ourselves drawn to the way Peter and John shared God's love with the people around them ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO