Sunday, November 3, 2013

Today´s Sermon



2013.11.03                                       Acts 3:1- 11
                     Healed by God´s grace
Good morning! I´m glad you´re here…… Here at CC Wiesbaden we teach through the Bible verse by verse…. We need to see the big picture of our great God ….. and our redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ…. As we look at this text this morning I want to remind us of something that Luke wrote in chapter 2….. Acts 2: 43….
Acts 2: 43                         NKJV   Schlachter 2000
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
 43 Es kam aber Furcht über alle Seelen, und viele Wunder und Zeichen geschahen durch die Apostel.
Luke told us that signs and wonders were performed by the Apostles…. Here in our text for today we have an example…. V1…. We see that this lame man was seated at the gate of the temple…... It was the Beautiful Gate…. As Peter and John went up to the temple to pray…..  they found him there……  
Acts 3: 1- 11                     NKJV
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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 ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
Acts 3:1- 11                        Schlachter 2000
1 Petrus und Johannes gingen aber miteinander in den Tempel hinauf um die neunte Stunde1, da man zu beten pflegte.
2 Und es wurde ein Mann herbeigebracht, der lahm war von Mutterleib an, den man täglich an die Pforte des Tempels hinsetzte, die man »die Schöne« nennt, damit er ein Almosen erbitten konnte von denen, die in den Tempel hineingingen.
3 Als dieser Petrus und Johannes sah, die in den Tempel hineingehen wollten, bat er sie um ein Almosen.
4 Da blickte ihn Petrus zusammen mit Johannes an und sprach: Sieh uns an!
5 Er aber achtete auf sie in der Erwartung, etwas von ihnen zu empfangen.
6 Da sprach Petrus: Silber und Gold habe ich nicht; was ich aber habe, das gebe ich dir: Im Namen Jesu Christi, des Nazareners, steh auf und geh umher!
7 Und er ergriff ihn bei der rechten Hand und richtete ihn auf; da wurden sogleich seine Füße und seine Knöchel fest,
8 und er sprang auf und konnte stehen, lief umher und trat mit ihnen in den Tempel, ging umher und sprang und lobte Gott.
9 Und alles Volk sah, wie er umherging und Gott lobte.
10 Und sie erkannten auch, daß er derjenige war, der um des Almosens willen an der Schönen Pforte des Tempels gesessen hatte; und sie wurden mit Verwunderung und Erstaunen erfüllt über das, was mit ihm geschehen war.
11 Da sich aber der geheilte Lahme zu Petrus und Johannes hielt, lief alles Volk voll Erstaunen bei ihnen zusammen in der sogenannten Halle Salomos.
The early New Testament church went to the temple everyday……. They went to worship the Lord….. They went to pray…… They went to proclaim the Good News….
Peter and John were close friends…… They had been fishermen together when Jesus called them to himself…. They were part of  Jesus´ inner circle….
Peter does all the talking….. Peter was the chosen instrument of God to preach the gospel to the Jews….. And John was his companion….. There were three Jewish hours of prayer…... The third, the sixth, and the ninth hour…… Approx.  9 o'clock, 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock….. The ninth hour was 3:00 in the afternoon…... And this was the time of the evening sacrifice and the evening prayers…..   Peter and John went to the Temple every day….. The greek says that they were continually there…. We read that in Acts2: 46…..  
"they were continually daily with one accord in the temple."
The children of Israel had always had these three hours of prayer…... Daniel 6:10 tells us that Daniel observed them…….  In Psalm 55:17 David tells us that there were three times observed by the Jews for prayer….. It was a natural part of their lives….
So they went to the temple for the time of prayer and  It was full of people…..  Peter and John entered the temple compound through the Gate Beautiful…..
The Temple treasury was by the gate beautiful….. The people came there to offer sacrifices and to pray…. and often to give into the treasury…… This was a perfect place to come to as a beggar….   And the true worshippers….. the truly godly ones would very likely to give alms….
Acts 3 verse 2…..
Acts 3: 2                       NKJV   Schlachter 2000
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 from those who entered the temple;
2 Und es wurde ein Mann herbeigebracht, der lahm war von Mutterleib an, den man täglich an die Pforte des Tempels hinsetzte, die man »die Schöne« nennt, damit er ein Almosen erbitten konnte von denen, die in den Tempel hineingingen.

The lame man is carried there….. This Greek verb is  in the imperfect tense…. That means he was habitually being carried there…. He was 40 years old…. Who knows how many of those years he had been carried there…..
He was lame from birth…. In those days…. The fact that this man was born lame was taken as a sign that either he or his parents were great sinners….He was treated as an outcast…. His life was very hard….. I would say impossible to bear…. Can you imagine what that would be like…. To be born with such a difficult future…… Why did God allow this to happen to him…?
This passage reminds me of earlier in Jesus´ ministry…. Jesus passed by a blind man and the disciples asked Jesus who sinned…. Turn with me to John 9….v1…
John 9: 1-3                                NKJV      
1Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

John 9: 1-3                  Schlachter 2000
1 Und als er vorbeiging, sah er einen Menschen, der blind war von Geburt an.
2 Und seine Jünger fragten ihn und sprachen: Rabbi, wer hat gesündigt, so daß dieser blind geboren ist, er oder seine Eltern?
3 Jesus antwortete: Weder dieser hat gesündigt noch seine Eltern; sondern an ihm sollten die Werke Gottes offenbar werden!  
The disciples asked why  did this happen to him, but they thought they knew the answer….. They were sure that the source was sin in someone´s life…… Jesus´ answer…..  This happened so the power of God could be seen in him….. The Lord Jesus then healed him…… The blind beggar became a great witness to the power and mercy of God….. God heals some…. Even today…. We know that God heals some….. But it always His sovereign choice….. He know´s what is best….. Everything is done according to His perfect plan and purpose……. These two beggars were healed by the power of God and in their healing…… They Glorified God with their lives…..God used their transformed bodies to tough hearts and lives for His Glory….. Wonderful grace and mercy poured out to bless and heal and save…. But what about those who are not healed….?
That can also be to the Glory of God…..
In fact there are times and people who Glorify God powerfully in the middle of their physical handicaps….. I think of Joni Erickson-Tada….. Paralyzed since she was 17…. She has been mightily used of God for many years….. Today there is an amazing man whose name is Nick Vujicic….. Nick was born in Australia without arms and legs…. Can you imagine that….? When he was 10 years old….  he tried to kill himself….. He couldn´t….. He said God had a plan for his life…… He cried out to Jesus and was miraculously saved…. Today he travels all over the world…. proclaiming the Good News….. Testifying of God´s love and mercy to millions on Youtube alone….…. He sings a song…. It´s called Something More…… It´s worth watching if your feeling hopeless…… He is filled with the Joy in the midst of circumstances that only Jesus can give…. His life is testimony to the truth that Jesus still heals  Broken hearts and lives…. Nick is living proof of the miracle working power of God at work today….. even though he still doesn´t have any arms or legs…. He leads crusades all over the world…
With our natural eyes when we look at Joni and Nick…. we see broken bodies and hopeless lives….
2 Broken bodies….. Hopeless…. ? No not at all….. Their broken hearts were healed….. and they were transformed and are being mightily used by God….
Today I know that there are some of us who feel hopeless…… We have very difficult lives…. We are discouraged…. You see we focus on our problems….. and not on our great redeemer…….. Jesus….. Jesus continues to  transforms hearts and lives ……
Miracles are still happening today…. Jesus is ready to forgive and transform and save…. Today….  right now….. Do you know Him….. He will forgive you… He will heal your broken heart….. He will redeem the wasted years and wipe away all of our tears of pain and sorrow…. He will comfort and help you….
One of the great scripture passages in the Word of God is 2 Cor 1…. Paul gives us a tremendous description of our Heavenly Father… turn with me to 2 Cor 1…..
2 Corinthians 1: 3-5          NKJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1: 3-5          Schlachter 2000
3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der Vater der Barmherzigkeit und Gott alles Trostes,
4 der uns tröstet in all unserer Bedrängnis, damit wir die trösten können, die in allerlei Bedrängnis sind, durch den Trost, mit dem wir selbst von Gott getröstet werden.
5 Denn wie die Leiden des Christus sich reichlich über uns ergießen, so fließt auch durch Christus reichlich unser Trost.
Our great God is the God of all Comfort….
He comforts us in all of our hard times …. God performed the greatest miracles in them and through them…… In the middle of their sufferings and sorrows…. They were given hearts of Flesh…. The miracle that they so desperately needed was a new heart….. This ministry of comfort and encouragement has been given to us… We are called to love and comfort a lost and dying world by proclaiming the Good News….. By comforting our brothers and sisters….. These things are also part of true Koininia….
Back to our text for today… Acts 3.3…
This beggar was carried to the Temple gates every day….
He was well known…..  After so many years it could be that they didn´t even notice him anymore as they went in and out….  
Acts 3:3            NKJV   Schlachter 2000
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
3 Als dieser Petrus und Johannes sah, die in den Tempel hineingehen wollten, bat er sie um ein Almosen.
 Now he is asking for a little money…. All this man could do was beg for help from God´s people….. That means that if he had family they were not supporting him….. He was dependent on the giving of the Temple worshippers for his daily bread…. I´m sure that most days he received a little money…. Enough to get by… Today will change everything for him….. Because God in His sovereignty will pour grace out on his life…… And He will miraculously heal him  in an instant…… He will use Peter and John as His instruments to bless this poor beggar beyond his wildest dreams….
That's the scene…..
Let's look at  the miracle itself…... There are some things that we can learn from this miracle…...
First…. it was unexpected….. But isn't that how God's grace always comes…..?
It's never what you think it's going to be…… This man had no thoughts of ever being healed….. The most that he could hope for was enough money to get by….. But God had other plans for this man…… We have a great and merciful heavenly Father….. His is able to do great and powerful wonders….. We cannot even imagine what he can do…. Turn to Ephesians 3… v20
Ephesians 3: 20              NKJV   Schlachter 2000
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
20 Dem aber, der weit über die Maßen mehr zu tun vermag, als wir bitten oder verstehen, gemäß der Kraft, die in uns wirkt,
It is certain that this man never imagined the miracle that was soon to happen….
What happened next was totally unexpected…. Verse 4…
Acts 3: 4    NKJV    Schlachter 2000
4 Da blickte ihn Petrus zusammen mit Johannes an und sprach: Sieh uns an!
 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
This is a sovereign act of God here…..  I don't know how many beggars Peter and John saw every day in Jerusalem….. but I'm sure there were many….. But God chose to heal this man at this moment for God´s own sovereign purpose….. The miracle was unexpected because the miracle was sovereign…...  It was God choosing to do it…..
Verse 5,
Acts 3:5                  NKJV   Schlachter 2000
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
5 Er aber achtete auf sie in der Erwartung, etwas von ihnen zu empfangen.

He looked for money and what he got was an unexpected miracle…. I love verse 6…. These verses form a song that we used to sing way back in the einfach vergangenheit…. The Jesus people day s of the early 1970´s…
Acts 3: 6                NKJV    Schlachter 2000
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  
6 Da sprach Petrus: Silber und Gold habe ich nicht; was ich aber habe, das gebe ich dir: Im Namen Jesu Christi, des Nazareners, steh auf und geh umher!
He heard what they said and I'm sure he sensed the power of God moving in his life……
He never dreamed this would happen….. But you see that's how the sovereignty of God is…..   God reaches into his heart and redeems it….. and a miracle happens that he never dreamed possible…….
Wasn't that how it was with you when you met Christ? Something happened far beyond what you ever imagined…. Life became fuller than ever you dreamed it could be…..    
Notice that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk….. It is as if Peter said because of who the Lord Christ is….   By His authority and   power, rise up and walk…..
They were acting in the place of and for the Lord Jesus Christ…..
That´s  what every spirit filled Christian should do….. verse7…
Acts 3:7                  NKJV   Schlachter 2000
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
7 Und er ergriff ihn bei der rechten Hand und richtete ihn auf; da wurden sogleich seine Füße und seine Knöchel fest,
This man´s healing was total and instantaneous…. That´s exactly the way it was with Jesus….. People were healed completely and instantly…. So Peter reached down and lifted him up…..   "And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."
 The Lord´s miracles of healing are always instant….. There is no natural process involved….. They are instant creative acts…..
Peter was available to be used by Christ….. He was sensitive to the Holy Spirit…. He reaches down and picks him up……
The healing power was the Lord´s…. But the helping hand was   Peter's…..
That´s exactly what God wants to do in our lives…. He wants us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and move to the needs all around us….. He ministers to the people through us……... The greatest ability that we have to offer is availability…. In fact the only things that we have to offer the Lord…. Are our willingness and our availability….
That's how we are to minister…... We make ourselves available and God supplies the needs  supernaturally….  I wonder if we're as sensitive to people as Peter and John were…. Are we available to be used by God to lift them up…..
Last week we talked for a long time about Koininia….. The deep fellowship that is represented by this word includes doing life together…. Helping each other…..
Sometimes we come in and out of this place….. And we have not been sensitive to anybody around us……. Do we really look to help each other….ß or are we too busy…… Are just saying….. God bless you…. See you next time….
We are surrounded by people with broken lives and broken hearts…… There are lonely people….. There are hurting people….. There are people who are paralysed  with fear and doubt…… They are going through difficult trials…..  and they're searching for love and healing….  and they're searching for a hand to lift them up…..  If we are truly walking in the Spirit…. The love of Jesus cause us to give them a hand…..  To minister to them…. To bare their burdens…
And so often we come into this place for an hour and a half….  And then we´re out the door and we're really being insensitive…… I mean, do you know who's around you? Maybe you said hi to them this morning….. when we had a minute for you to do that….. Do you care? I mean, do you know that maybe somebody is here that God wants you to minister to….. A word of comfort….. A listening ear followed by prayer for their needs…. Remember last week we talked about the responsibilities of fellowship….. We have so much ministry that we can do for to each other….. When we´re walking in the Spirit and making ourselves available….  God will use us to lift up our brothers and sisters…. God doesn´t want us to just come to church….  He doesn´t want  our money…… He wants us to be  Ministering and caring and loving and being sensitive to each other….. That's what God wants.....
So Peter took his hand…. had time for him and lifted him up…... And God did the miracle…….
Remember God's miracles are always instant….  The miracle was also complete…. He didn´t have to learn to walk…. He didn´t start off with baby steps….. v8….


Acts 3: 8                 NKJV    Schlachter 2000
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 8 und er sprang auf und konnte stehen, lief umher und trat mit ihnen in den Tempel, ging umher und sprang und lobte Gott.
Notice how fast he starts walking….. This man has never walked in his life…… and he entered with him into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God……
I believe God heals through medicine….. I believe God uses doctors…… I believe God has given us wisdom to perceive and to find these wonderful tools that we have today to heal…... When God decides to do a supernatural miracle….. if you want to check Him in the word of God, you'll find they always have four characteristics….. They were sovereign….. they were impossible to explain….. they were instant….. and they were completely sufficient…...
That's a good checklist for a genuine miracle….. This man born unable to walk  was overwhelmed…. Walking and leaping and Praising God! What a scene…. Verse 9….
Acts 3: 9,10               NKJV   Schlachter 2000
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
9 Und alles Volk sah, wie er umherging und Gott lobte. 10 Und sie erkannten auch, daß er derjenige war, der um des Almosens willen an der Schönen Pforte des Tempels gesessen hatte; und sie wurden mit Verwunderung und Erstaunen erfüllt über das, was mit ihm geschehen war.

This guy was full of joy….. Can you imagine? Forty years of begging and now he's up and jumping around….. And the whole temple echoes his joy…..
Can't you imagine?  They were all going through the evening sacrifice and prayer….. And all of sudden this guy bursts in there and he's jumping and yelling all over everywhere….. You can imagine the surprise of the people as they turned around and saw who it was who making the scene and  disturbing the evening sacrifice……
God gives joy….. Even when we suffer very difficult illnesses….  He pours grace and mercy into our lives….. and He comforts us….. Jesus gave His joy to us…..  John 15 v11….
John 15: 11                NKJV   Schlachter 2000
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
11 Dies habe ich zu euch geredet, damit meine Freude in euch bleibe und eure Freude völlig werde.
This is a great place for your quiet times…. Especially if your going through a hard time ….. Jesus says…. Abide in me….. Then even when you suffer…… I will give you my joy…. And my peace….
Paul wrote to the Philippians…. He told them to rejoice no matter what was happening in their lives…. Phil 4:4….
Philippians 4: 4      NKJV Schlachter 2000
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
4 Freut euch im Herrn allezeit; abermals sage ich: Freut euch!
Rejoicing in the Lord is part of genuine worship……
You want to really worship God…. worship God with a joyful and thankful heart….. The first result of this instant miracle was joy in the healed man…… Secondly, he praised   God…... We saw that in verse 8 and 9. He was praising God in verse 8 and he was praising God in verse 9…… He gave God the glory…… That´s true worship…… True worship is praising God with a heart full of joy…...    
Worshipping God is giving Him praise from a heart full of joy…… Worshipping God is loving and serving your brothers and sisters…..
Look again at Acts 3….v10….
Acts 3: 10               NKJV   Schlachter 2000
10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
10 Und sie erkannten auch, daß er derjenige war, der um des Almosens willen an der Schönen Pforte des Tempels gesessen hatte; und sie wurden mit Verwunderung und Erstaunen erfüllt über das, was mit ihm geschehen war.
 What a shock for the people that were there… They knew this man….. This was impossible….. This was unbelievable….. He was born lame and unable to ever walk….. What has happened….. .
How do you handle that problem? They couldn't understand it…..
Now this was more than a miracle….. This was a sign…... Listen to what I say……
This lame man…. Leaping in the temple  was a sign to those who had eyes to see…. that the messianic age had come……   Isaiah said in 35:6 "then shall the lame man leap as a deer," When? In the days of the Messiah."
And here was the classic proof….. The lame man leaping and praising God….….. Proof that the Messiah had come….. That is the purpose of the miracle to produce wonder……
They were filled with wonder and amazement….. They were ready to listen….. They wanted to understand what had happenend to this man….. Who had healed him…. What does it mean….?
This miracle sets the stage for Peter´s next sermon….. Look at verse 11….
Acts 3: 11                NKJV   Schlachter 2000
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
11 Da sich aber der geheilte Lahme zu Petrus und Johannes hielt, lief alles Volk voll Erstaunen bei ihnen zusammen in der sogenannten Halle Salomos.

God   used this miracle to gather the crowd….. The Temple goers were amazed at what had happened…… They were ready to listen because they wanted to understand what had happened to this man…. Once again…. God miraculously drawed (drew) a crowd…… Bad grammar but easy to translate…. And  Peter began to preach….. And I want you to notice something cool….. They were in an area of the Temple called Solomon's porch….. Jesus had stood there and given the great lesson on the Good Shepherd in John 10…... So Peter and John slid into Solomon's porch with all the people massed and jammed in there to hear them explain what had happened…. And look who's up there on the platform with them?
The lame man was with them….. Can't you just see this guy? Living proof of a miracle and he's right there between Peter and John, right in the middle of Solomon's porch…... They've got a living illustration of the miraculous…. Life  transforming power of God….. He's hanging on to them….. They're hanging on to him….. Peter begins to preach…..
What did Peter say? Come back next week and you'll find out….. Today we need to close
Close
As we travel through time with Luke….we are witnessing the birth of the Church…. We are seeing Koininia in action…. This true fellowship includes loving and serving each other…. Doing life together…. We are called to help and encourage each other…. Paul has a Good word for us to take home this morning…
turn with me to Romans 12… v9…
Romans 12: 9-15               NLT
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12: 9-15           Neues Leben
9 Täuscht nicht nur vor, andere zu lieben, sondern liebt sie wirklich. Hasst alles Böse und stellt euch auf die Seite des Guten.
10 Liebt einander mit aufrichtiger Zuneigung4 und habt Freude daran, euch gegenseitig Achtung zu erweisen.
11 Werdet nicht nachlässig, sondern lasst euch ganz vom Geist erfüllen5 und setzt euch für den Herrn ein.
12 Freut euch auf alles, was Gott für euch bereithält. Seid geduldig, wenn ihr schwere Zeiten durchmacht, und hört niemals auf zu beten.
13 Wenn andere Gläubige in Not geraten, steht ihnen zur Seite und helft ihnen. Seid gastfreundlich und öffnet für Gäste euer Haus.
14 Wenn ihr verfolgt werdet, weil ihr zu Christus gehört, dann verflucht eure Verfolger nicht, sondern erbittet den Segen Gottes für sie.
15 Sind andere Menschen glücklich, dann freut euch mit ihnen. Sind sie traurig, dann begleitet sie in ihrem Kummer.
Let's pray……

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