Sunday Mesage 22/7/07 - The Power of The Gospel

Text: Acts 3:1-10

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Paul in Romans 1:16

Reading Acts 3:1-10 in NKJV......
Fresh from their Pentecostal experience in Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts where the HS came upon the Apostles, they spoke in tongues of other nations. All the pilgrims from distant lands gathered at Jerusalem for the Pentecost heard their native tongues being spoken by the Spirit filed apostles! Then Peter gave a sermon….

When the presence of God is there, there is always “presents”
Now, there was another incidence – the disciples were still Jerusalem and they were still very Jewish in outlook and lifestyles. They would go up to the Temple to offer prayers and sacrifice still - 3 times a day. Day break, Afternoon and Sunset.

1. A man lame from birth (literally means from mother’s womb) - such a picture of us all. We all have an inborn defect in us – the sinful nature. The self-centeredness and selfishness.
2. Fix his eyes on him – concerned and compassion – Dallas seminary – a test of 10 pages 3000 words assignments on Jesus’ teaching on compassion. Yet they failed to see a homeless man planted by the professor en-route to their class on the next day! Compassion in theory is useless. Compassion without the power or resources to deliver is just as frustrating!
3. Eye contact - And perhaps to let the lamed man recognize who they were. He would have heard Jesus’ teaching some time before as well as Peter’s preaching the day before. From the perspective of the beggar – “hey! There is hope – eye contact! But there is an unexpected twist in the story.
4. After meeting the resurrected Lord, Peter was endowed new found power and unction of the holy Spirit – Perhaps Peter’s spirit was reminded by Jesus who said in John 14: 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
5. “Silver and Gold I have none” – now listen, Peter was not that poor. He would have a few coins. But he had some thing better and greater - A power of the Holy Spirit.
6. According to Cornelius a Lapide, the great theologian Thomas Aquinas once called on Pope Innocent II when the latter was counting out a large sum of money. “You see, Thomas,” said the Pope, “the church can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” “True, holy father,” was the reply; “neither can she now say, ‘Rise up and walk.’” You see, we have turn the power and miracles of God into some theory and speculation. My heart desires is that we would reclaim our heritage, reclaim what is due to us. Reclaim what God desire for us to have.
7. A Doctor’s record – details - leg bones and then angle bones. So no ignorant country bumpkin or fisherman’s tale.

3 MAIN POINT AGAIN–

1. We are all inherently Lame – in so many ways lame in deed, lame in love, lame in faith

2. We need the power of God manifest – so that e may have power to cause a stir – jumping & leaping

3. A Good Name and good tradition is never Good enough, we must have the manifestation of God’s power. - Now let me tell you the irony and paradox in this simple record of healings of the lame

1. The place where this happen is called – the beautiful gate – but nothing is beautiful until God’s presence is around. I don’t care what you call a church. What’s pt of a Powerless church with a nice name?
2. The gate belongs to ands entrance to the Temple of God – but why? Human has the tendency to go on the routine – they have great scholars, theologian, traditions and rituals. But do not have God because all these good things have taken the place of God!
3. Every wave has become the staunch opponents of the new move of God.
Do we want a more tangible presence of God?
Then we must admit we are lame!
Do you agree that we are lame? We are lame because we cannot even get out of bed for God this morning!
We must not rely on our human resources or knowledge or cleverness alone.

Having a good name is not enough; we want to see God show up! And when God show up, people will notice.
They would Not just hear about God they should always see the signs that follows.
And when this happens, you will upset some people. – eg the Sanhedrin – the Jewish council – they have all the human power, they have their gold and silver, But they cannot get the lame to walk or the dead to rise!

Prayer & Conclusion:
Come Lord Jesus! We are not satisfied with just theories and principles of how to be good.
Because we cannot even change our old mind set or our bad habits or addictive behaviors.

Come Holy Spirit! In the Names of Jesus make us strong and make us walk, skip and praise!

Let us not pass man’s test and fail God’s test. So help us God.