“What shall we do with these men?…But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”  -Acts 4:16a, 17

“So they called them an charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right to listen to you rather than God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”  -Atcs 4:18-19

And so the story goes that these men and many more would not, no, could not be silent for they could “…not but speak of what they had seen and heard.”

I wish this were always true for me.  I mean, that I was so filled with passion and zeal that I could not be silent about my Jesus.

The Christian life today (in the western world) is becoming more and more parallel to the that of the Christian life of the early church.  In Acts, the disciples were met with threats for spreading the gospel in the streets not only from the common people of the city but also by the authorities.

Today, a father and son doing the same were met by the local police with the same threats.  The only difference today is whereas Peter and John had the support of the local church (Acts 4:23-31) for what  they were doing, we cannot say the same is true today. (Link to video here)

And Rob Bell is not the only one.  He is among  many other confessing Christians who portray anything outside friendship evangelism as simply rude and unloving.

Many Christians are told to “preach the gospel and if necessary use words.”  Along with these ideals are making sure when one “has to” use words never to use the words: sin, wrath, hell, judgment, penalty, death, etc.  Instead we are to use exclusively words like: love, peace, hope, etc.

There are at least two major problem with these ideals.

First, sharing, teaching, preaching, telling the gospel requires words because the very definition of “gospel” is “good news.”  It is impossible to share news without words.

Second, excluding words such as “wrath” eliminate for the sinner a reason to being saved (not to mention exclude in the gospel what the person is being saved from).

I am not opposed to frienship evangelism.  I think there is a place for it.  However, I don’t think it is always the best method for all circumstances (i.e. airplane ride, dieing person etc.).  I am also bound by Scripture; which sees a place for passionate filled saints to preach the gospel in the streets, whether culture sees it acceptible or not.

And finally, when you do proclaim the gospel, please don’t eliminate words that would defeat the very purpose of sharing it.

Let us stand with the Apostle Paul who has seen the risen Christ and could not be silent of Him thereafter.  And let say with him:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it (the gospel) is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… -Romans 1:16 (parenthesis added by me)

We saw this at the d’Oursay museum in Paris and were halted in our tracks. I was so impressed, i tracked it down for Rod’s office wall. The rush, expectancy is what I experience each Easter, too.  — Gwen White

Les disciples Pierre et Jean courant au sépulcre le matin de la Résurrection.
Eugène BURNAND, 1898. Musée d’Orsay.

Here’s the sermon I’m preaching tomorrow, Sunday, April 26, 2009. I hope your Sunday is wonderful wherever you gather with God’s people.

The Power of His Name
Acts 3:12-19

12When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, 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? 13The 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. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By 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 given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

17″Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”

The Back Story

I really like preaching from the revised common lectionary. In three years of scripture passages you cover all the Bible, and you do so in concert with the Christian year, from Advent to Pentecost to Ordinary Time, and back again. I like the rhythm of readings, I like preaching from texts I would have never chosen, and I like reading the same texts publicly that millions of other Christians are reading on the same Sunday in their churches around the world.

But, sometimes the lectionary reading just takes off or ends up right in the middle of something. You need the rest of the story, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, to understand what that particular reading is about.

And that brings us to our text today, from Acts 3:12-19. We jump right into the middle of a scene, just like we parachuted in, without knowing what went before it unless we back up to the beginning of Chapter 3, which we are going to do.

Here’s the story: Acts 3 is the first chapter after the account of Pentecost, and the effects of Pentecost on the followers of Jesus. Pentecost is, of course, 50-days after Passover, so Jews are still in Jerusalem until Pentecost. Jesus has been crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended back into heave only 10-days before Pentecost. Still, a week-and-a-half is a long time for nothing to happen — no miracles, no more appearances of Jesus, no heavenly messengers, no angels, nothing. So, we find the disciples hunkered down in a secret location, for fear that the Jewish leaders will do to them what they did to Jesus.

Then, Pentecost comes, and the Holy Spirit descends upon the house where the apostles and others are together. The sound of a rushing wind, the visible tongues of fire, the boldness of the Holy Spirit in their speech, and their ability to speak in foreign languages they had not learned drew quite a crowd. Peter used that moment to tie the events of the past month or so together with Old Testament prophecies.

Peter said, “This is what the prophet Joel prophesied — your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my spirit in those days and they will prophesy.”

With that explanation Peter then talks about Jesus — his life, his death, his resurrection. Peter says, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Lord — Adonai. A name for God, the most commonly used name for God because the tetragrammaton — the four-lettered name — was unpronounceable and unpronounced. We filled in the consonants with vowels, and it came out Jehovah. But others now think it might be more likely that it was Yahweh. In either event, no one said it. But, Adonai was the name for God, and now Jesus is Adonai.

Christ — Mistakenly we have spoken the two words “Jesus Christ” so often that we treat the word “Christ” as if it were Jesus last name; or at best, his other name. But, Christ in Greek — christos — would have been translated into Hebrew as “messiah.”

So, Peter was saying that God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah. The Jews worshipped God and longed for the coming of the Messiah to save Israel. Salvation meant to return Israel to health, freedom, and self-rule.

In other words, Peter was telling the Jews on Pentecost that they had missed the biggest event of their own history — God revealing himself in the man called Jesus; and, Jesus as the Promised One, the Anointed One, the Messiah.

When Peter gives the invitation, 3,000 repent (turn around in their thinking) and are baptized, becoming followers of Christ.

Then, they meet together, these new followers of Jesus, in each others homes, in the Temple, and miraculous signs and wonders are done by the apostles.

Now, we get to Chapter 3 finally

But, we’re not quite there yet. Peter and John are on their way to the temple one day at one of the three hours of prayer, this one in the afternoon about 3 PM. To get into the Temple, they pass through one of the gates called Beautiful, and there encounter a lame beggar. Luke, who writes Acts and is a physician, gives us the medical detail that this man has been lame since birth.

Perhaps in his 20s or 30s, this man is brought to the Temple gate daily so he can beg. He himself cannot enter the Temple because he, not being whole, is not ceremonially clean. So, here’s a man who for his entire life, certainly since he was old enough to talk, has been brought by someone to the Temple entrance to beg. No doubt he was brought by his parents early in his life, and now perhaps by those who take a portion of his earnings and who might provide the lame man a place to stay and food in return.

As far as this beggar is concerned, there is absolutely nothing special about this day — his is doing what he always does with no expectation that life will be any different today than it has been for all the years he’s been alive. He is resigned to his fate, the fate of a lame man in the first century where his condition is seen by many as God’s punishment for either his sins or the sins of his parents. Remember, Jesus had that conversation about a blind man one day.

So, the lame man, and we do not know his name from the Acts account, holds his beggar’s bowl out toward Peter and John, who look him square in the eye. Again, Luke gives us a detail that might have been overlooked by anyone else.

Why is that important? Have you ever passed a beggar or homeless person panhandling? What do you do? Well, if you’re like most people — me included — you do not make eye contact because you do not want to give them anything. Same thing is true for those folks at the street intersections with their signs — “Will work for food.” You don’t want to make eye contact. That’s another sermon for another day, but that’s they way most of us are. There’s nothing we can do or want to do for most in that situation.

But, Peter and John look this guy squarely in the eye and say to him, “Look at us!” They are obviously not hiding from this guy. Now remember that the Temple is a huge complex, with thousands of people pushing their way through all of its entrances, especially to get in for daily prayer. So, if the beggar doesn’t really see them, then Peter and John want to be sure they have his attention.

You know the next line. Peter says, “We don’t have any silver and gold” which I am sure came as a big disappointment to the beggar. “But what we have we give you, ‘In the name of Jesus the Messiah of Nazareth, walk!”

With that, Peter reaches down, takes the man by his hand and lifts him to his feet.

Have you ever known anyone lame from birth? I have met one or two. Their legs are useless appendages without muscle tone or movement. Usually curled to oneside, or hanging limply as they sit in their wheelchairs. These are not legs that can move, much less support weight, or move even if the person was somehow stood upright.

But, that’s the miracle. “Instantly” Luke says, “his feet and ankles became strong.” Another doctor’s note. The man himself “jumps” to his feet and begins to walk.

But then he does something he has never done — he walks with Peter and John into the Temple courts. And he doesn’t do it quietly — he jumps, walks, praises God, and generally causes a scene. Those who know the beggar recognize him as the same man, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Here’s the Deal

So, finally, with all that background, we arrive at our passage today — Acts 3:12-19.

The formerly lame beggar is clinging to Peter and John. His life is totally transformed, and everybody who sees it is amazed. Word spreads and others come running to see what all the fuss is about, and Peter gets a chance to preach his second sermon. And he does.

The sermon is a good one. It starts where the people are, explains that this is not the work of Peter and John but of God. But, then Peter really gets going. He says that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified his servant Jesus.

The word servant is a description used by Isaiah to speak of the one coming to do God’s will:

13 See, my servant will act wisely [b] ;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [c]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—

15 so will he sprinkle many nations, [d]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

– Isaiah 52:13-15

So the Servant was expected, just as was the Messiah. Peter then lays out his case.

* “You” handed him over to be killed, even though Rome’s representative was willing to let him go;
* “You” disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer instead;
* “You” killed the Author of life, but God raised him from the dead;

Peter says, “We are witnesses.” One supposes Peter means that the followers of Jesus witnessed it all, including the crowd turning on Jesus.

The Peter says, “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”

Then, after a few more words of explanation, Peter says, “Repent, then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” There’s more, but we have to stop there.

What Does It All Mean?

This is a great story, but what does it all mean?

* Well it could mean that given the choice, we prefer the past to the future. “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the God of our fathers” is a reference to the past. This is the God who in the past did great things for us. This is the God who in the past chose great leaders for us. This is the God who in the past had great plans for us. The whole story of Pentecost, the whole story of Jesus’ life and ministry is “behold I am making all things new.” The new has roots in the past, but that which God is doing now has a different shape to it than anything before. And that is why we have a Savior.

* It could mean that we still make the wrong choices. They disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for Barabbas. Where have we heard this story before? How about the Garden of Eden? Or Noah and the flood? Or the Tower of Babel? Or Israel’s rebellion against God any number of times. We still make the wrong choices out of fear, anger, selfishness, stubbornness, and willfulness. Not much has changed. That’s why we need a Savior.

* It could mean that we thought we were in charge, but God really is. “You killed the author of life, but God raised him up.” Even our most willful act, the killing of Jesus, is undone by God who loves us. There is no sin, even the sin of “theocide” if I can make up a word, that is too great for God to make right.

* It could mean  the invitation to change is still open. We are given the chance to “turn around” or change our mind or repent — whichever way you want to say it the outcome is still the same. We choose God’s future, not our past; we make the right choice for once, not the wrong one; we see God at work and acknowledge his Sovereignty and Love; and we act in faith, given to us by this same Jesus, and turn to God in new and life-giving ways. And that is why we have a Savior.

Our time began with stories. I love stories. They carry messages of the heart in a way that “information” cannot. It’s one of the reasons Jesus used parables.

The question that generated those stories was “who was the first Christian in your life to live in such a way as you could clearly see Christ?” … in other words, an authentic Christian. Some of the stories we heard were about:

• a grandmother who was joyful, kind, uplifting, and always encouraged her grandchildren to say their prayers;
• a “foster” mother and father who took in a little girl and raised her because her blood parents couldn’t provide for their daughter;
• a daughter who came to Christ before the mother and “demonstrated” her faith in such a way that it drew the mother to Christ;
• an aunt who was known for her gentleness and quiet spirit;
• a former teacher known for her calm in the midst of a storm, her direct line to the Lord throuh prayer, her “glow;”
• a woman who demonstrated Christ in practical ways, serving through parenting a large family and fostering over 17 children;
• a priest who showed me unconditional love.

Each story was powerful in its simplicity and confirmed the power of a “Mary heart.”

Then we discussed which areas of our lives we are hoping will be our truly “growth areas,” and where we can demonstrate our faith in authentic ways. These are areas where we want “more” to show: love, compassion, gentleness, wisdeom, intimacy, forgiveness, faith, joy, order, graciousness, peace and calm. My sense is that these were some of the same areas that we recognized in our “stories of the saints” at the beginning of class.

In John 13:1-17, we learn of the service Jesus performed for his disciples–washing their feet. This was an expected example of Christian love. This was a service that was generally considered “beneath” his station. We talked at length about the areas where we might serve in today’s world. There were plenty of examples like working with the poor, or in a nursing home, or with the mentally ill, or with prisoners, with orphans, with people who are sick (e.g. HIV), or doing someone else’s task for them “secretly” or just “turning the other cheek” when we are offended by another person.

Joanna Weaver liked to talk about Christ-centered service as being either “on the way” (coming across opportunities in our daily lives) or “out of the way” (going outside our normal path to meet a need). Mark 1:29-34 is a good example of the first type of service and Mark 6:30-34 is a good example of the second. We talked about our own areas of responsibility and how these opportunities might manifest. Will we respond?

Acts 3:1-10 tells the story of Peter and John who responded to a beggar asking for money by saying, “silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you….” and then proceeds to heal the man because what Peter “had” was the Holy Spirit. So often, we do not respond to service opportunities because we don’t believe we have what is needed. We make judgments about our own abilities or compare ourselves to others thinking, “I could never do that.” I believe that we all that it takes within us to have intimate relationships with Christ. Nothing is missing. And as we build upon that intimacy, the rest comes along. We are able to serve with grace. We are able to serve in all stations of life, whether above or below. We can do the very thing we thought we could never do. We are serving in our immediate circle (families, friends, neighbors, church, work) and we are serving in the greater circle of life (community, nation, world).

Remember, both are needed, living room intimacy and kitchen service. This week, the Lord will bring an opportunity to us. Come to class next time ready to share your service along the way.

Special thanks to Marion C. Honors, CSJ, for the use of the artwork called Grandmother. For more information about her work, see her website, http://www.marionchonorscsj.com/index.html.)

]]> http://bradbeaman.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/warned-not-to-preach/ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:14:21 +0000 Brad Beaman http://bradbeaman.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/warned-not-to-preach/

You have probably received many warnings before. Some common warnings are: slippery when wet, caution bridge out, don’t remove the mattress tag. Warnings are helpful and we appreciate these warnings.

What we don’t appreciate is when warnings are really threats. If you do such and such we will do thus to you. A threat is more like; trespassers will be shot. The early believers received these kind warnings that were really threats.

This story begins with the account of a dramatic healing miracle described in Acts 3:1-11. Peter and John visit the temple and a beggar is dramatically healed. This crippled man was in such a bad state that he had to be carried wherever he went. People would carry him to the temple gate and leave him there every day to beg.

This was not the only miracle in the very early days of the church. In Acts 2:43 is says there were many wonders and miracles. In this instance however a crowd gathered and Peter used it as an opportunity to preach the gospel.

After the gospel was preached there were two very different reactions. One way people reacted to the message was with joy and encouragement. Many accepted the gospel. It may be that one thousand people accepted the gospel at that time. The Bible says that the number of believers increased to five thousand. There were three thousand that believed at Pentecost so a large crowd (very possibly about one thousand) responded and believed in Christ.

The other reaction to the preaching of the gospel is discouragement from people who resent the gospel. Some people were greatly disturbed by the preaching and they arrested Peter and John.

What was the offence that got Peter and John thrown in jail? Part of the problem is found in Chapter 4 Vs 2. They were preaching the resurrection of the dead in Jesus.

Acts 4:2
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

Pentecost was 50 days after the crucifixion of Jesus. This miracle is probably about 90 days after the crucifixion. The Sadducees controlled the temple. They were the religious elite. They didn’t believe in a resurrection of the dead. Furthermore they had already spread a false report that Jesus did not rise from the dead and that his disciples stole the body. Anyway you look at it this miracle in the name of Jesus, it made them look bad.

If Peter and John are preaching the truth then: their beliefs are wrong, they are exposed as liars and they actually crucified the awaited messiah.

In Chapter 4 Vs 3-4 we read that it was evening so the temple guards put Peter and John in jail.

Acts 4:3-4
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

Then Peter and John had a whole night to sit in jail and think about what was happening. This is where Luke mentions the great number of believers. They spend the night in jail with the excitement of a great number turning to the Lord.

But there is a problem of being in jail. Peter is not single like Paul. He was married and has a wife to think about. He had a lot to think about since the people who put him in Jail had just crucified Jesus. The last time Peter denied the Lord and he was not going to do that again.

In Vs 5-7 we read that the next day the leaders met. The council consisted of Annas the high priest and Caiaphas.

Acts 4:5-7
The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

The name of Caiaphas is a very prominent name in because of his active role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Now it is hard to imagine how intimidating the questioning by this council would be. Peter and John must have thought they would become the first Christian martyrs.

Peter and John are given the opportunity to deny Christ again or make a potentially life threatening stand for Christ. It will take boldness to proclaim Christ under this situation.

It takes courage to stand in the face of threats. One modern day believer in Christ who faced threats for proclaiming Christ said, “Your ultimate weapon against me is death, but my ultimate weapon is dying. I have my tapes and written sermons and if you martyr me they will spread all over the country. If I die for the cause of Christ the message I preach will ring out louder than ever before possible.”

In Vs 10 Peter spoke the pointed truth. The words he spoke in Vs 9 We are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown a cripple” are very similar to Jesus words John 10:13, I have done many miracles for which do you stone me.

Acts 4:9-10
9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

In Vs 11 Peter quoted their own scripture The stone you builders rejected has become the cornerstone Psalm 118:22. Peter was clearly telling them that Jesus was the messiah and they killed him. All of this was prophesied in scripture.

Peter made a statement that was controversial then and controversial even today. 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” It is the exclusivity of Jesus Christ that can evoke anger. Just prior to going to the cross Jesus prayed if there is any other way let this cup pass from me. If there were any other way to come to God other than faith in Jesus Christ the cross and the suffering Jesus endured would not have been necessary. But there was no other way. There is no other name but Jesus that saves men from eternal separation from God.

They made note in Vs 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Peter and John were not taught in rabbinical school.

One time someone told John Wesley, “God doesn’t need your book learning,” Wesley’s reply was, “God doesn’t need your ignorance either.” The point is not education but having the power of God. Peter and John had the power of God and it was demonstrated in an undeniable miracle that was witnessed openly by a huge crowd of people.

The Holy Spirit gave Peter and John wisdom and boldness. This was the main ingredient in their ministry. Yes they had been with Jesus. This confrontation was reminiscent of their times with Jesus.

Peter addressed these leaders sharply. The leaders had a big problem, Vs 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. They sent Peter and John out and had a conference.

The council had their private discussions: Vs 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. They can’t say this miracle did not take place. That line won’t work. Then what can they do? They can threaten them. They can warn them not to preach in the name of Jesus.

Chapter 4:17-18
But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Today many people live under the shadow of violence in an environment of threats. You can expect opposition when you are on the cutting edge of ministry in Jesus name.

It is not persecution that causes the gospel to spread, but it is bold response to persecution that causes the gospel to spread. We see a bold response from Peter here.

Acts 4:19-20
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Wow! Here is a holy boldness under God’s leadership. They recognize that there is a heavenly court that is higher that any earthly court.

One day Hugh Lattimer delivered a sermon before Henry VIII. The king was greatly offended by Lattimer’s sermon. The king ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday to make amends for the offence which he had caused.

Lattimer thought much about how he would preach the following Sunday. He remembered he was preaching before the king and he should not offend him.

Then he remembered that he was preaching before Jesus the king of kings and he should not offend Jesus. Ultimately Lattimer chose to offend the king rather than offend Jesus. Ultimately it cost Lattimer his life.

Peter and John were bold, but they were released from prison. We do not read in scripture of Peter’s death but history tells us Peter died for his faith. He was faithful to Jesus unto death.

Peter lived the words he spoke here:
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

What is our response to warnings and threats? It is a call to boldness in Christ.

]]> http://bradbeaman.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/more-than-silver-and-gold-the-power-of-god/ Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:18:50 +0000 Brad Beaman http://bradbeaman.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/more-than-silver-and-gold-the-power-of-god/

                                                      
The reports were astounding. There were so many professions of faith, baptisms and new house churches that formed that it seemed to come right out of the pages of Acts. I was more than happy to lead the team of twelve researches tasked to better understand how the gospel was moving so rapidly. We interviewed 207 believers from that movement and asked them everything we could to understand what God was doing among them.

One thing became clear, miraculous healings were extremely important in this movement of God. In almost every occasion the sick had tried to find help elsewhere (local tribal gods, medical doctors and witch doctors) to no avail. Then, they would hear about what was happening around them. That the power of God was moving and that Jesus could help them. They would call the believer to come who might help them. When praying for miracles, the believer would tell the sick “If you believe, Jesus will help you.” I could imagine it would be much the same if I were interviewing the lame man from Acts 3. He was healed after being crippled for forty years.

Acts 3:1-10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

This passage centers on a great miracle. This is a story of the miraculous. It is a healing that goes contrary to all natural laws. Here is a man born crippled. In his whole life he has never walked. He is over forty years old and never walked one step (Act 4:22). He is so crippled that he had to be carried to this place at the temple gate. Suddenly he is healed and he is walking and leaping and praising God!

The public nature of this miracle caused a snowball effect. There were salvations that resulted almost to the extent of Pentecost. Severe persecution followed. Most of Acts Chapters 3-4 is about is about the aftershocks of this miracle. The account says that the number of believers grew to 5,000 (Acts 4:4) so since three thousand were baptized at Pentecost probably more than 1,000 came to faith in Christ as a result of that miracle.

This whole chain of events starts out with Peter and John going to the Temple to pray. OK, So far so good. They are still worshiping at the temple even after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Peter and James are confronted with the uncomfortable situation; a beggar at the temple wanting them to give money when they went to pray. Beggars would strategically place themselves at the temple gates hoping those who go and worship will give some money. Sometimes in relating the bible setting we have to describe what the situation was like. So much has changed from that time to now.

In this case what it is like to be in the presence of beggars is known to us. Back in those days some people were down and out and had to beg for money. Today it’s the same. Some people are down and out and are reduced to begging. In this case the beggar asked Peter and John for money as they passed by him.

This man was there every day. Apparently he did not even look up. He just had his hand out saying “alms for the poor” or something like that. It may be that Peter and John passed by him many times before. It is suggested even Jesus may have passed by him, since he was at the temple so much. Maybe Jesus even saw him 21 years earlier when his family left him at the temple. This man was there every day with the other beggars.

Peter looked straight at him. “Look at us” Peter said. The man is now expecting Peter and John to give him some money. “Silver and Gold I do not have” Peter told him.

Both Peter and John had left their fishing business. They abandoned it. They had no source of income for three years. They spent the years with Jesus living by faith. The followers of Jesus were meeting needs of these men of faith. They had abandoned their business for spiritual matters. Because of this they did not have money to give.

They could have ran and got Barnabas. He had money. He had already been selling his property to meet people’s needs. That is not what John and Peter did. They give this man the power of God. The Holy Spirit – Power of God. They gave up their income to pursue the ministry of the power of God.

If the church loses its power it may pathetically say: The power of God we have none, but take this, I have silver and gold. The Church should not just make the worlds present condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to give people new life in Jesus; the power of God.

The power of God is of more value. This man received a miracle in the name of Jesus.
This crippled man just wanted to be supported in the condition that he was in. But God wanted to make him whole. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Peter claims no power in himself. There is something about that name-Jesus. Peter stepped out in faith and the man is healed. Instantly his feet and ankles became strong. It was a miracle. It was supernatural. A crippled man who never walked in 40 years. It wasn’t the power of suggestion. There was no natural explanation. This is a miracle of God.

This man would receive much more than some silver or gold. With money he would merely subsist in his terrible condition. He received the touch of God and was made whole.

This went contrary to all natural laws. It can’t be explained. If we could explain it then it would not be a biblical miracle. It was done in the name of Jesus, not Peter or John, but Jesus transforming power.

In those days people considered handicaps a curse. They asked, who sinned, this man or his father? Jesus miraculous power transforms the useless into the useful. Jesus transforms the water into wine. This is Jesus miracle not Peters or Johns.

Jesus changes the lame into leaping and jumping. He changes beggar into one who praises God. Jesus changes the lost to the saved.

This is the explanation of Peter to what happened.
“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 given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:16)

I heard the same thing happening today. I remember the testimonies well. A man who had been too sick to work for years. Healed and his whole village came to Christ. A woman with a tumor on her stomach. Jesus healed her and it is gone. She is walking and leaping and praising God. It is by faith in the name of Jesus.

Silver and gold will never answer your spiritual need. That only comes when you put your faith in Jesus Christ. You need the power of God. There is something more vital. That is the power of God in your life. Turn to Jesus by faith.

]]> http://myrealstuff.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/proverbs-and-riches/ Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:27:42 +0000 jeanetteb1 http://myrealstuff.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/proverbs-and-riches/

Tonight, I was presented with this question:

On reading through Proverbs, over and over it says things like, “The righteous will be blessed,” “Work hard and you will be wealthy.” Basically, “God will bless the wise, and they will be happy and rich.” Or, even more basically, “If you are good, your life will go well.”

So, if you’re a Christian, and you’re not happy and rich, what does that mean? It seems there are three possibilities.

* You are poor and struggling because you aren’t working hard enough.
* Or, you are poor and struggling because you aren’t good enough.
* Or, the promises in Proverbs DO have exceptions. The Godly just won’t always be rich – for other reasons. The promises in Proverbs are not ALWAYS true.

Well, here’s my thoughts:

Proverbs and riches?

Someone has said Proverbs are principles, not promises. So it ain’t always necessarily so!

What about James, where it says that God made the poor to be rich in faith. And it says that it’s the rich who exploit people. (2:2-6; and also in Prov. 22:7; 14:20)

And also, how do you qualify riches?

And David says, in Psalm 73, that the wicked increase in wealth.

So I don’t think riches are a good measuring tool. I think, if you are a Christian, and you happen to be wealthy, it’s a gift from God, so that you have the opportunity to be generous in a material way.

If you are a Christian, and happen to be poor, God blesses you in other ways, like FAITH. And also, it is to show that God doesn’t need money, to make you a blessing to others. We are generous in other ways, like in time.

And I always think of Peter and John and the crippled beggar. God didn’t need their money to bless that bloke. He gave them something far better…. the anointing! The man was healed!!!  (See Acts 3)

So who was richer? The wealthy people giving this poor beggar money, or Peter and John who helped him to walk?

And Paul knew both sides. He says, he knew what it was like to have plenty and what it was like to be in want. But he said he learned to be content in whatever situation he was. (See Philippians 3:10-11)

So, I see it these days, that if we don’t have much money, God must have a higher purpose that supersedes finance.

Well, that enough for my preach!! But it’s only the stuff the Lord’s taught me over the past 18 months or so. I really had questions about wealth, and why we didn’t seem to have any.

But I have discovered since how rich we really are! And when it comes to money, our heavenly Dad, who owns the whole universe, could change things overnight if He chose to. Hey, I’m rich because my Dad is rich!!

Now, I thank God for the experiences we’ve gone through because of no money. I feel my life is richer because of it. But, for us now, there could be a turnaround coming with finance. We’ll see! Whatever, I know the Lord has it all in hand.

One more thing!!

I think too, the enemy likes to use the guilt trip. He uses wealth as a measuring stick to make us think we’re not good enough, and that we should be working harder, as if this life and its wealth is all there is.

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