8. Worship and Witness

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Hymns: RHC 100 He Lifted Me 27 Now Thank We All Our God 104 All That Thrills My Heart

Acts 3:1-10

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And 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; 3 Who 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. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then 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. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And 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.

Worship and Witness

OUTLINE

(1) Worshipping (v1-3)

(2) Witnessing (v4-7)

(3) Winning Men for Christ (v8-10)

INTRODUCTION

Rise Up and Walk – Acts 3:1-10. The Christian life is a blessed life beholding the glory and power of God working in and through our lives as we yield ourselves fully to His leading and guidance. It is a most wonderful life to live. The peace and joy of God flowing through our hearts and the presence of God’s power giving His people strength to live their lives and there is a sense of purpose for life. 

We know that we are on that blessed journey to our heavenly home which Jesus has gone ahead to prepare for us. 

John 14:1-3 (KJV) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 John 3:2-4 (KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

When the flesh is mortified, when sin is put away, the believer begins to bear spiritual fruit. 

Psalm 1:1-4 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

The believer begins to delight in the meditation of God’s laws and this is clearly seen as a change in the believer’s life as he is more and more transformed to the image of Christ.

How can we be children of God doing the will of God? 

(1) Worshipping (v1-3)

Recall we said last week the profile of a true church:

  • Souls Ushered into God’s Kingdom (v37-41)
  • Persevering Saints (v42-43)
  •  Sharing Saints (v44-45)
  • Praising Saints (46-47)

We see the disciples doing just that here. We see Peter and John going to the Temple to pray. Our text records the first miracle in Acts that God enabled the apostles to perform after the Day of Pentecost. 

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And 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; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 

The Beautiful gate was the main gate at the eastern part of Herod’s Temple. It was the ninth gate and the principal entrance into the Temple. The ascent to the Temple was by 12 easy steps. The gate itself was made of dazzling Corinthian brass, richly ornamented and so massive were its double doors that they needed the united strength of 20 men to open and close them. It was at 3pm, the 9th hour (Acts 3:1). The Jews observed daily three stipulated hours of prayer. These were the 3rd, 6th and 9th hour. It was when Peter and John observed the appointed time of communion with God that they met the lame man.

In the forming of a discipline to meet with God, there is rich blessings that God brings our way, unplanned!

(2) Witnessing (v-7)

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then 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. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 

Observe the blessed scene of evangelism at the Beautiful Gate. A lame man above 40 years old sought alms from Peter and John at the gate of the temple called Beautiful (Acts 3:2; 4:22). The man’s limbs were without strength and he could not walk from birth. It was no fault of his. It was sad, but it was for the glory of God.

Peter and John were mindful of the precious gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ that they could offer to the man.

The healing of the man was indeed a miracle. This was a miracle that could not be reasonably denied, a miracle that could not be humanly explained, a miracle that could not be lightly dismissed. [Rogers]

Let us realize that life itself is a miracle. The new life in Christ is a greater miracle when we are delivered from sin and the sickening effects of it. All around the sinner, everyone rejoices!

(3) Winning Men for Christ (v8-10)

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And 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.

Indeed, “…how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15)

I believe that the man was not only healed physically, but he also was healed spiritually, because he was now praising God. If he was not yet clear on the gospel, I’m sure that he responded to Peter’s sermon that followed. The man’s joy is a fulfillment of what Jesus the Messiah would do.

Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

These words were fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 11:5).

Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Imagine the joy in the heart of the man, the joy in heaven that a soul was gloriously saved and the joy in the hearts of Peter and John who took the time to help the lame man. Notice, the man did not praise Peter and John for his healing but praised God. He knew it was God who healed him!

Peter answered the people who saw the lame man walking and praising God that it was by faith in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that the lame man was made strong (Acts 3:16).

When brought before the rulers of the people, Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost testified further. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Peter spoke boldly that salvation comes only in Jesus Christ – Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

How was the lame man saved? Not by silver and gold. Peter and John said to the man that they had none to offer him. Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be bought with money.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

A significant sign happened after Jesus had accomplished His salvific work on the cross – the miraculous rending of the temple veil (Exodus 26:31-33, 36:35, 2 Chronicles 3:14).

Matthew 27:50-51 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.

The veil of the temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of holies was completely torn apart from top to bottom into two equal pieces. It was 60 feet (18m) long, 30 feet (9m) wide and 4 inches (10cm) thick. It was so heavy it required 300 priests to hang it up.

The tearing of the veil was indeed a powerful visual aid revealing Christ’s redemptive mission on earth in both His life and death, and in both His active and passive obedience. Saints can now enter into God’s very presence through Jesus Christ. This is our privilege in Christ.

Hebrews 10:19-22 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

CONCLUSION

As the Lord sends us forth to be His witnesses, may we be mindful of the gospel opportunities that can arise as it did for Peter and John when they visited the temple on that eventful day to pray. Amen.