I. What People Ask For
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer the ninth hour.
Acts 3:2 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;
Acts 3:3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
A. The Non-Christian
1. Wants. Sometimes frivolous, selfish, decadent wants.
We are a material nation, and material people.
2. Needs
When there are problems in our lives, it is very easy for us to focus on the immediate need.
We have all, at one time or another, experienced feelings of desperation.
During those times, we are only able to think about how to resolve our immediate problem.
It is easy (maybe)to sympathize w/lame man at the Beautiful Gate.
He was crippled, and had an immediate need: he needed money to live.
His need was real, not imagined.
He was not able to improve his condition.
He did not bring this condition upon himself, but was an innocent victim of circumstance.
His life had been reduced to being a beggar.
All of his thoughts and energy went towards begging for enough money to live on.
He was so helpless, that he even needed to be carried to the Gate, in order to beg.
3. Non Christian desire Temporal Needs Instead of Eternal
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. John 6:27 “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
4. Can We Blame Them?
We shouldn’t blame them, b/c we as Christians do the same thing.
The non-Christian doesn’t realize his highest need.
They are blinded to spiritual truths.
2 Cor 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Many people spend time in church, seeking a temporary solution for the problems of their lives.
Their needs are real, and many times not self-inflicted.
They may be so crippled, that they also need a great deal of help.
But their problems have become the focal point of their lives, and they never think about anything except an immediate cure.
B. The Christian
Like the lame man, we often think of our most immediate need.
We seek the supply of material needs, when Jesus has already promised that we shall have them if we seek first His kingdom.
We seek escape from trials.
The discomfort of having our world interrupted.
The trial of having to trust God and have faith for things and situations.
We are like the lame man.
Many times, thinking of the immediate need.
Not looking for the higher good.
May we not be critical of the non-Christian.
They can’t see the higher need unless it is revealed to them.
We were once in their shoes.
May we be gracious to them, understanding, instructional, prayerful.
II. The Christian’s Response
Acts 3:4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
Acts 3:5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from hem.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have,
A. Material Response
1. Sometimes Can’t
We don’t have money on us.
We can’t spare a room.
We don’t have a car to lend.
We should not feel guilty for not being able to fulfill every physical that people have.
2. Sometimes Can
O.T.- God commanded Israel to not glean the edges and corners of fields, that the poor might enter their fields and pick the few leftover
grapes, heads of wheat, olives, etc.
God is concerned for the welfare of those who are truly in need.
1 Tim 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Tim 6:18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Rom 12:11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Rom 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
3. Should Always Be Willing
The problems with people is that often they are unwilling to help, to be inconvenienced, to set aside their time, efforts, resources, in order to help others.
Sometimes we get taken advantage of, etc.
We need to be wise and cautious in helping others.
But we really need to be willing.
B. Spiritual Response
but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Acts 3:8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God.
The higher need was for the work of God to be brought about in his life.
In this case, it was a healing which brought glory to God, and health to the man.
The lame man simply wanted to be supported in the condition that he was in; God wanted to completely change his condition
When Peter and John gave him no money, we might hear him complain: “You
don’t care about me. You won’t support me. Look at the mess I’m in.”
But Peter and John have no interest in supporting him in his mess; they want to transform his life by the power of the risen Jesus Christ
“It is not the Church’s business in this world to simply make the present
condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to release here on earth the
redemptive work of God in Christ.” (LaSor)
Peter didn’t have any money, but he did have authority from Jesus to heal the sick, having known what it was like to be used of God in this way (Luke 9:1-6)
When Peter so boldly took the man’s hand and lifted him to his feet, he was
receiving the gift of faith described in 1 Corinthians 12:9 – a supernatural ability to trust God in a particular situation
This wasn’t something Peter did on a whim or as a promotional event; he did it
under the specific prompting of the Holy Spirit; God gave Peter the supernatural
ability to trust Him for something completely out of the ordinary
Peter and John were men devoted to God, and were on their way to prayer.
They were men who walked in the Spirit, were sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and were empowered by the Spirit.
As they approached the Temple, they saw the needy man, and then the miracle happened.
Are we the kind of Christians who go beyond the frustration of what we can’t do?
Are we aware of the higher good we can do for others.
Are we responders to their deeper need?
Are we just earthly minded?
Acts 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Acts 3:10 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.
The lame man was correct in expecting to receive something from them; but he
received much more than the monetary donation he would have been satisfied with!
Many of us haven’t even come to this place: where we really expect something
from God.
Better yet, we should expect the right things from God; we are so often ready
to settle for much less than God wants to give us; our low expectations often rob
us
The formerly lame man responded logically: with immediate praise and worship to God
Another Thought…
If this man was more than forty years old (4:22), and had been crippled since birth, and a familiar sight at this temple gate (3:10), then Jesus must have passed him by many times without healing him.
Why?
Because God’s timing is just as important as His will, and it was for the greater glory of God that Jesus heal this man from heaven through His apostles
The lame man hoped for a temporary solution for the need of the moment.
God wanted to give him a permanent solution for the need of his life.
God not only healed the man physically, but the spiritual life of the man came alive as well.
He ended up not only walking, but praising God!
May we realize that God wants to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
God not only knows our immediate needs, but knows that our greatest need is to know Him better.
May we expect greater things than what we desire.