Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things
Acts 3:1-10
“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” vs. 6
Leading The Blind
An eye surgeon once went to China as a missionary. He soon began practicing in one of China’s hospitals, and one of the first surgeries he performed was on a man who had been nearly blinded by cataracts. The operation was successful, and the man recovered his eyesight. A few weeks later, the missionary was greatly surprised when 48 blind men showed up on his hospital’s doorstep. These blind men had walked more than 250 miles from a remote area of China to get to the hospital so that they might have their sight restored. They had traveled the entire distance by holding on to a rope that kept them all together. And guess who held the front end of the rope and led them all the way? The man who had his eyesight restored by the missionary surgeon!
Sometimes all we need is someone to help us. Someone to give us a hand. Today we are going to look at a man who had some good friends who were willing to help and their help led to his eventually getting healed.
Read Passage – Acts 3:1-10
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame 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. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 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.
Daily Routine
In the story we are looking at today there is a man who has lame since birth. His physical limitation did not allow him to have a life of “normalcy” so to speak. What happens is he and his friends have come up with a daily routine. Verse 2:
“Now a man who was lame 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.” vs. 2
We don’t know how long this has been going on but we have to assume it’s been a long time. Each day his friends would swing by and pick him up, both literally and figuratively, and take him to the temple. He would have to sit outside the temple because those with deformities or “issues” were not allow in. He would sit there all day and beg. This was how he made it through.
Ex. We see people all the time like this. We see them at Raley’s, the .99 cent store, the on-ramp to highway 4, Starbucks, etc.
This is not too long after the death of Christ and the people are still following the Jewish customs, and in this case the custom of praying three times a day. At three different times devout Jewish men would head to the temple to pray; 9 A.M., 12 noon, and 3 P.M. Our story tells us this is the 3 P.M. time. Probably those going to the temple had gotten used to seeing him there everyday and it was so common place they really didn’t notice him anymore.
Why Things Were Different
Though things changed overnight with the death of Christ, they were still Jews and had habits that were part of their lives. But keep in mind that things were different now. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in Chapter 2 but that didn’t change the way they felt about making their way to the Temple and that didn’t change the way they felt about spending time with God in prayer. Remember Ch.2 :4:
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” Acts 2:4
They had something new that they didn’t have when Christ was with them, the Holy Spirit. Continuing with the story. Peter and John are on their way to the temple.
Take Note: This is the same Peter who denied Christ three times that last day of his life. This is the same Peter who had to have regretted his actions during the trials of Christ and might have felt he couldn’t have been used or needed time to recover from his setbacks but here he is sticking to the faith and stepping out in faith and making his faith real. Now look at him. A man putting his faith into action.
As I said, things are different now. Christ told the disciples he had to go away so the Spirit could come (John 17). Now the Spirit had come and the disciples are discovering that having the power of the Holy Spirit is giving them confidence and a voice to spread the gospel and tell others about Jesus. This story is a huge turning point in the spreading of the gospel. This lame man who relies on friends and others to provide for him and help experiences what Jesus meant when he said he didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.
Person of Impact and Change
This year we are looking at the lesser known people in the Bible and how God used them. Let’s take a close look at this lame man and how he inspires us to be people of change.
- Everyone is welcome
First, this story shows us that everyone, and I do mean everyone, is welcomed in God’s eyes. You see this come out in verse 4:
“Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” vs. 4
I think this man had become such a fixture at the Temple gate that he never even looked up when he sat there begging. He would keep his head down, maybe because of ridicule, maybe because he felt looked down on, maybe because he felt ignored, but he would just sit there and beg with his head down. He w wasn’t used to people paying attention to him. Peter and John stop to talk with him and Peter has to tell him to look up. I love this. They truly want to connect with this man and they make sure he is acknowledged and they want him to know he is valued. Jesus said in Matthew 10:
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matt. 10:40
Welcoming people is exemplifying Godly character.
Ex. You know one thing I love about our congregation, that we welcome people. We laugh at how difficult it is to corral people after our time of worship in fellowship but that is a great sign of how welcoming we are.
Challenge: To connect out there like we do in here. We are called to welcome people in the name of Christ and we need to do that outside the church as well as we do inside the church.
- Gave What They Had (Healing Words)
Second, we learn from Peter and John that they gave what they had, Verse 6:
“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” vs. 6
There is a valuable lesson to pick up on here. The man is looking for money, food, anything to sustain him. They don’t have that to give him. Now remember things are different because they have the Holy Spirit. So…they rely on that Holy Spirit to help them and they give the man something incredibly different than what he is looking for; they give him healing words. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this man had hear many words over the years. Probably told to be quiet; to get a job, maybe words of ridicule, oppression, etc. Peter and John use the Holy Spirit to bring words of encouragement and health and words that build up not tear down. Listen to Solomon’s words in Prov. 11:25
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Prov. 11:25
I love that. If we refresh, we will be refreshed. If we bring healing to others through our words, we experience healing.
Challenge: I said a few moments ago the challenge was to connect with others. The second part or the second challenge is to be people of healing with our words. We need to be people who bring healing words and words that build others up and we should be known that way too!
- Backed Up Words With Action
Finally, third, Peter and John backed up their words with their actions. Verse 7:
“Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” Vs. 7
This is so cool. They reach our their hand and help him up. The passage doesn’t say but isn’t it cool to think of Peter and John each reaching out a hand and helping this guy up. This is where the church becomes the gospel to others. 1 John 3:18:
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18
We speak the gospel to others in our actions.
Challenge: Part three of the challenge is lending the helping hand. We help by giving food, money, jobs, helping them with things around their house, etc.
Ex. The youth group helping Evelyn Gish and Lillie Rogers.
Dazzle Them With God
The result is that God is glorified. I called this: Dazzle them with God. Verses 9-10:
“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.” Vss. 9-10
This man is given healing words that lead him to a personal relationship with God and he is walking around praising God and worshipping. SO cool.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:16
