1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,120 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,480 time of prayer at 3:00 in the afternoon. 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,960 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:17,040 gate, called Beautiful, but he was put every day to beg from 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,600 those going into the temple courts. 6 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,920 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,600 money. Peter looked straight at him, as 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,600 did John. Then Peter said, look at us. 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,480 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get 10 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:40,960 something from them. Then Peter said, silver or gold 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:46,480 I do not have, but what I have I give you in the name of Jesus 12 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:52,440 Christ of Nazareth Walk. Taking him by the right hand, he 13 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,360 helped him up and instantly the man's feet and ankles became 14 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,600 strong. He jumped to his feet and began 15 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,600 to walk. Then he went with them into the 16 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,360 temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. 17 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,720 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they 18 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,160 recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the 19 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,400 temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder 20 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,520 and amazement at what had happened to him. 21 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,400 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people 22 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,120 were astonished and came running to them in a place called 23 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,520 Solomon's colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to 24 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:37,040 them, Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? 25 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,640 Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we 26 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:46,440 made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and 27 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:51,040 Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. 28 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,040 You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him 29 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,920 before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 30 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,200 You disowned the holy and righteous, 1 and asked that a 31 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:09,240 murderer be released to you. You killed the Author of life, 32 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:11,840 but God raised him from the dead. 33 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:16,400 We are witnesses of this by faith. 34 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,160 In the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made 35 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,280 strong. It is Jesus's name and the faith 36 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,840 that comes through him that has given this complete healing to 37 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,720 him, as you can all see. Now. 38 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,800 Brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your 39 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:40,520 leaders, but this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold 40 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,960 through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 41 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,360 Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 42 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,720 that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he 43 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,920 may send the Christ who has been appointed for you, even Jesus. 44 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,680 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to 45 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,320 restore everything as you promised long ago through his 46 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:10,200 holy prophets. For Moses said, the Lord your 47 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,080 God will rose up for you, a prophet like me among your own 48 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,120 people. You must listen to everything he 49 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,360 tells you. Anyone who does not listen to 50 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,320 him will be completely cut off from among His people. 51 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,360 Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have 52 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,520 spoken, have foretold these days. 53 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,880 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God 54 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,600 made with your Father's, He said to Abraham. 55 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,960 Through your offspring, all peoples on earth will be 56 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,560 blessed. When God raised him up, when God 57 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:51,040 raised up His servant, He sent him first to you to bless you by 58 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,440 turning each of you from your wicked ways. 59 00:03:54,360 --> 00:04:00,880 This is God's word. Don't we live in a broken world? 60 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:08,280 We've already heard about the conflicts in Sudan and in 61 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,600 Algeria. In Israel and Gaza there's been 62 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,680 68,000 people killed, many more injured, displaced. 63 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,279 Russia and Ukraine, there's been hundreds, 10s of thousands 64 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,120 killed, hundreds of thousands displaced. 65 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,120 Last month we saw Charlie Kirk, political activist, in the 66 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,040 middle of a debate on a campus, shot dead. 67 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,520 We saw two Jewish men in Manchester killed just this last 68 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:38,040 week. Each year 400,000 people are 69 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,120 diagnosed with cancer, 700,000 people are diagnosed with 70 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:47,000 depression, 3 in 10 children in the UK are living in poverty, 71 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,440 13,000 a year are born with the congenital abnormality that they 72 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,000 have to live with. These are really heartbreaking 73 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,600 things to think about. We're in a fallen and broken 74 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,360 world. Don't we long for an end to evil 75 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:08,800 and injustice and sickness? And people have longed for an 76 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,760 end to this human history. But the true God of the Bible 77 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,480 has always given his people hope that the end, an end to those 78 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,240 heartbreaking things will come one day Throughout the Old 79 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,600 Testament we see the prophets who are telling of this great 80 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,640 day of restoration to come, and God will restore creation to how 81 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,880 it was meant to be, how it was before the sin of Adam brought 82 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,720 sin into the world. You can read some of that 83 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,440 through the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel, 84 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,720 Jeremiah, Joel. There'll be one day when there's 85 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:46,280 an end to sickness, there's an end to evil, end to the fallen 86 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:48,080 nature of the curse in this world. 87 00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:52,480 There'll be one day when there's a return to joy and to beauty 88 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,680 and to intimacy with God, the God who made us unity and peace 89 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:59,840 with one another as we live with him. 90 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,920 So the question then we have is when will this happen? 91 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:09,360 If anything seem things seem to be getting worse, not better. 92 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,040 So how long are we going to have to wait for this day of 93 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:13,640 restoration? How are we going to know that 94 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,960 this is true and that it's coming? 95 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,080 Well, one way that we can do that is to look to see the 96 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,600 things that the prophets prophesied about to look out for 97 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,200 them. When we see those things that 98 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,680 the prophets prophesied about, the things that God promised in 99 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,720 the Old Testament, that's a sign that God's new Kingdom is coming 100 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,720 true. The day of restoration is 101 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,560 coming. This is where we are in Acts 3. 102 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,520 We're going to see and hear some of the signs that God's day of 103 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,520 restoration, the restoration of all things, has begun because 104 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,160 Jesus is continuing his work through his people. 105 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,520 We're going to see a miracle. We're going to see a miracle 106 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,160 worker and then we're going to think about what our response 107 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,680 should be to such a miracle worker. 108 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,640 So Acts chapter 3, please have that open and follow along as we 109 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:02,960 go in. It's quite a long chapter, so 110 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,320 I'll try and help you help you to do that. 111 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,680 Miracles In verses 1 to 11, we've already seen Jesus 112 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,360 spending time with the apostles. That's in chapter 1 of Acts. 113 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,360 He teaches them the law and the prophets. 114 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,520 He commissions them to be His witnesses to the ends of the 115 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,440 earth in the power of the Holy Spirit. 116 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,800 In chapter 2, we see that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell on 117 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:29,120 His people, to empower each of the apostles and Jesus, other 118 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,960 followers to do what He's asked them. 119 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,280 Last week we saw how the early church devoted themselves to the 120 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,440 apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of 121 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,040 bread, to prayer. There are two other descriptions 122 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,120 of the early church that we heard last week, which we get to 123 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,200 see in Acts chapter 3. So they continue to meet 124 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:53,080 together in the temple courts and they performed many wonders 125 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,720 and signs. The temple course is where Peter 126 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,720 and John are going. They're they're Jewish people. 127 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,240 That's the thing that Jewish people did. 128 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,760 They went to the temple because that's where you go to worship 129 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:04,480 God. They continue to worship God and 130 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,720 on the way they meet this man by the gate. 131 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,200 We don't get this man's name or where he's from, but we do know 132 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,000 a few things. We know that he's Jewish. 133 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,800 We had friends who helped him to the temple gate every day. 134 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,680 He clearly thought this was the right place to go to. 135 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,680 This is the place where he could get help for the condition that 136 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,920 he was in. We know that he had a 137 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,880 disability. It wasn't an accident, but he 138 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,320 was born with a disability. From birth, he'd never been able 139 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,559 to walk. It wasn't because of his sin or 140 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,679 because he'd made a mistake or someone had attacked him or 141 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,559 anything like that. It's just part of the fallen 142 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,840 world that he lived in. For the world that we live in, 143 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,680 we know that he was poor. His disability probably meant 144 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:52,040 that he wasn't allowed to go into the temple to beg, let 145 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,560 alone to work. He had to get to the gate. 146 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:58,240 That's as far as he could go. So here he stayed, as close to 147 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,880 God and the presence of God in a temple as he could possibly 148 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,680 find, hoping that the goodness of the worshippers coming in and 149 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:06,960 out would give him the money that he couldn't earn himself. 150 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,680 We see what he said. He clearly thought that his 151 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,040 greatest need was money. He needed money to eat, to be 152 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:20,240 clothed, to live as good a life as he could possibly manage. 153 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,640 Could money really help him? Maybe short term, but he'd still 154 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,640 have to come back to the gate every day and beg for more. 155 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:33,240 Of course he needed healing. He'd never been able to walk. 156 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,680 I mean, that's difficult enough today, let alone 2000 years ago. 157 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,520 Maybe some of that going to the temple courts every day was part 158 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,240 of his hope that there could be healing found with God. 159 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,960 But I think he'd probably given up hope of that healing after 160 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:53,040 going back there day after day. He might have received some 161 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,800 silver, even some gold from the people going in and out of the 162 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,360 temple, but he didn't receive healing. 163 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:01,360 So this is where we find Peter and John. 164 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,360 They walk up to this man. They walk about to walk past 165 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:04,800 him. I think he calls out to them. 166 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,400 But they knew that he needed not money or even healing really. 167 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,680 They they knew that his greatest need was to encounter Jesus. 168 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,800 Read in verse 6. Peter said to the man, silver 169 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,720 and gold, I do not have, but what I do have I give to you in 170 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,080 the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 171 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,720 Walk. That's a pretty crazy thing to 172 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,280 say. But instantly the man's legs 173 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:36,280 were strengthened, his muscles became strong, and he could not 174 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,480 only walk, but he could jump around. 175 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,280 He finally walked through the gate into the temple court for 176 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:47,400 the first time in his life by himself and he gives praise to 177 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,600 God. Notice the healing doesn't come 178 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,200 because Peter has some sort of superpower. 179 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,040 He can go around like healing people whenever he likes. 180 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,680 It doesn't come because the man has such a strong faith and he 181 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:00,840 really believes that he could be healed. 182 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,720 And then he was healed as like a reward. 183 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:08,040 The miraculous healing we read comes through the power of Jesus 184 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:12,880 name. So by God's grace, this man has 185 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,560 had an encounter with Jesus through his people. 186 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,800 He's not met Jesus himself, but he's encountered the power of 187 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,280 who Jesus is. It's the name of, excuse me, the 188 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,240 name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that heals this man. 189 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,040 Money would have given him a short term relief, but would 190 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,040 have been used up. A miraculous healing would have 191 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:37,240 given him something in life, but also short term relief. 192 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,440 He would still get tired. He could still get injured. 193 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,520 He would eventually his body would die. 194 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,680 This man's greatest need, though, was to have an encounter 195 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,160 with Jesus Christ, and that's what he got. 196 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:55,320 I wonder what you think your greatest need is right now. 197 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,920 I don't dismiss the needs that you have, the real needs that we 198 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,840 all have, financial needs, healing needs from physical 199 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:09,880 conditions, from mental conditions, strength and energy, 200 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,200 just to just to deal with the difficult things that are up in 201 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,320 our lives, reconciliation in broken relationships. 202 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,880 But I want you to know that yours and my greatest need is to 203 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,840 encounter Jesus. To know Jesus more, to learn 204 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,960 him, to learn his ways, to experience power to deliver us 205 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:39,320 from sin and suffering, power to give us joy and comfort, to know 206 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:44,400 the forgiveness that he brings, to know eternal life both now 207 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:50,680 and in eternity. This is our greatest need as we 208 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:53,800 seek to help others. It is good to offer financial 209 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,280 help. Please, please do that. 210 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,600 Please help people's real needs. It's good to care for the sick, 211 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,720 to come alongside the broken hearted, to be there for one 212 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,800 another, for others, especially the vulnerable. 213 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,400 But the greatest help that we can offer anyone is to point 214 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,680 them to the powerful name of Jesus. 215 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,400 This looked like healing for the man who was at the gate. 216 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,480 Might not be that dramatic in our lives, but when people 217 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,560 encounter Jesus, miracles do happen. 218 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,920 Hearts of stone are turned into hearts of flesh that love God 219 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,720 and love others. Lives are transformed from those 220 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,280 who seek their own good to those who seek the good of others. 221 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,600 Greatest need of all of us is to encounter Jesus. 222 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:47,440 Back to the story. The lame man is fully healed in 223 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,680 the name of Jesus. This is where we get to at the 224 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:53,720 end of verse 11. It's an amazing miracle, and 225 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:58,000 it's a sign that the day of restoration that God's Kingdom 226 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:02,080 is near and it's coming, and it's here on the prophecies of 227 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,360 God's restored Kingdom we find is in Isaiah 35. 228 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:10,960 It's on the screen now, Isaiah 35, five to six, as I wrote 229 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,560 about the day of the restoration of God. 230 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:16,760 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the 231 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,440 death unstopped. Then will the lame light lame 232 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,640 leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. 233 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,720 This idea of leaping and jumping. 234 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,440 We see the parallel here with this lame man. 235 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,480 We saw these kind of things in Jesus ministry. 236 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,040 John the Baptist once said, Jesus, you're the real deal. 237 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,160 And he said, yeah, this stuff is happening. 238 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:42,320 Look, the lame man here with Peter and John is leaping like a 239 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:46,680 deer into the temple. His tongue, which basically only 240 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,400 begged others for silver and gold before, is now joyfully 241 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,160 praising God. The Jewish people there, maybe 242 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,840 even this man himself, would have known about these signs for 243 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,400 the prophets like Isaiah. That's why everyone rushes to 244 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,680 find out what's going on. There's a man who can walk, 245 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,280 who's leaping like a deer. We need to find out what's going 246 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,880 on here. The attention of the Jewish 247 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,640 people in the temple and probably outside have been 248 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:13,600 grabbed. And Peter then takes the 249 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,080 opportunity to explain exactly what has just happened. 250 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:23,000 He tells him about the miracle worker Peter and John, who just 251 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,280 spent three years with Jesus, seen him crucified, seen him 252 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,200 rise again, you know, ascend into heaven. 253 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,000 It's no surprise that Jesus is continuing to work miracles. 254 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,160 The miracles are still happening, as Luke implies right 255 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,520 at the beginning of Acts. The gospel was about what Jesus 256 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,760 did. Acts is about what Jesus 257 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,800 continues to do through his people after he descended to 258 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,560 heaven. But for the Jewish worshippers, 259 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:53,640 this is a lot to take in. That's why Jesus gives him a 260 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:57,080 hand by showing him this miracle through his people. 261 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,640 The point of miracles in Acts aren't really the miracles 262 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,360 themselves, as amazing and wonderful as they are. 263 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,560 The point of them is to authenticate the message of the 264 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,880 apostles, to make people take notice of what they have to say 265 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,680 and to believe them. To give the apostles the 266 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,080 opportunity to do what Jesus commissioned them to do, to take 267 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,000 the gospel to the ends of the earth. 268 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,440 Now people are listening to what Peter and John had to say. 269 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,760 So he points the true miracle worker, it's by faith in the 270 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,960 name of Jesus that this miracle has occurred. 271 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,240 So we read in verse 16, it's through Jesus powerful name. 272 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,720 His name means all that Jesus is, all that he did, all that he 273 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:45,240 continues to do, and his name has this healing occurred just a 274 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,360 few weeks before These people, even the people there of Peter 275 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,680 and John are even calling for Jesus to be crucified. 276 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,680 But Jesus is in fact the one who's bringing God's restoration 277 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:56,840 of everything God's Kingdom to reality. 278 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,280 There's a reason why Christians will often end their prayers in 279 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:05,599 Jesus name, because there's power in the name of Jesus in 280 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:08,800 who he is. It's not a magic phrase to make 281 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:12,000 your powers come to your prayers come true, but it's an 282 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,119 acknowledgement that there is power in Jesus name to do all 283 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,960 things. All things are possible with 284 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,319 God. When we pray in Jesus name, we 285 00:17:21,319 --> 00:17:26,560 are believing that that is true. And to explain more about who 286 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:31,280 this miracle worker is, Jesus a pizza gives him three titles. 287 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:36,880 So look in in Acts chapter 3 of verses 14 and 15 we have the 288 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,720 Holy one. Jesus is the holy one. 289 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,080 This is a title used throughout the Bible for God himself, for 290 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,840 God's special messenger that speaks to his people, for the 291 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,440 Redeemer of God's people, the Messiah, Christ. 292 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,120 To be holy is to be set apart, to be higher and greater than 293 00:17:56,120 --> 00:18:00,640 anything or anyone else, to be purer and more faithful, to be 294 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,880 more beautiful than anything that exists. 295 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,720 Jesus is the chosen one of God who redeems his people. 296 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:12,280 He's the Holy One, the name above every other name, that at 297 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,600 his name every knee will bow and every turn will confess that he 298 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:21,360 is Lord. Of course, his name is powerful 299 00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:23,840 to heal. It's powerful to save, because 300 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:30,000 Jesus is the Holy One and he is the righteous one. 301 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,080 Jesus is the righteous one, the one who never sinned, who lived 302 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:39,000 a perfect and right life of obedience to God, of loving 303 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:43,760 neighbor and serving others. This is another title given to 304 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:48,600 God throughout the Bible. Because only God is good, He is 305 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,960 fully righteous in himself. Jesus is the righteous. 1. 306 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,120 He lived a perfect life of righteousness, one that we can 307 00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:57,280 never live ourselves in our sinful nature. 308 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:03,640 He never insulted others, never reviled in return, never stole 309 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,400 or lusted or held anger in his heart against others. 310 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,360 He is the righteous one of Israel, the righteous one of 311 00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:14,840 God, and He is the Author of life. 312 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,560 He's the One who created each one of us, each one of those 313 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,600 people who are listening. Then He gave each of us a life 314 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:27,080 in the 1st place. He sustains us and brings us joy 315 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,240 and brings us goodness to our lives. 316 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,160 By His Spirit. He gives us new life when we put 317 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:37,400 our trust in Him, spiritual life, to turn our dead. 318 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,720 Our dead turn us from being dead in our sins to being alive in 319 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,000 Him. And this Author of life, the one 320 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,280 who brings life to everything, was killed by the very ones that 321 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:54,240 he gave life to. But the author of life cannot be 322 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:58,040 defeated by death. He was raised to life again, 323 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,440 resurrection life by because it's the first fruits of all 324 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,320 those who believe in him. So this is what all of God's 325 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,680 people can hope for. It's how the resurrection life 326 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:13,400 that the author of Life has, yet they die, and through the Author 327 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:18,440 of life they shall live. So Jesus is the Holy 1, the 328 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,240 righteous one, the author of life, such a powerful name, a 329 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,600 powerful person, powerful miracle worker, demands a 330 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,600 response. And this is what Peter goes on 331 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,520 to call the Israelites to, to respond to Jesus. 332 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,800 There was God's plan of salvation all along. 333 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,720 For Jesus, the holy and righteous one, to die, be raised 334 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,720 to ascend to heaven in glory, that was the plan all along. 335 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,080 The prophets in the Old Testament spoke of this many 336 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,560 times too. In the Psalms and in Isaiah 337 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,600 especially. The Messiah would suffer so that 338 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,520 God's people could be forgiven and refreshed. 339 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,240 So for those people, those Israelites, the time is now. 340 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,080 They've seen the lame man leap like a deer. 341 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,760 They've seen and heard that Jesus is the Messiah, the one 342 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,600 who'd been promised. The time is now and the time is 343 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:18,400 now for us as well. Read verses 19 to 21. 344 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,520 Peter says repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be 345 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,320 wiped out. The times of refreshing may come 346 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,080 from the Lord and that He may send the Messiah who has been 347 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:29,920 appointed for you. Even Jesus. 348 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,680 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to 349 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,120 restore everything as He promised long ago through His 350 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:43,320 holy prophets. Now is the time to repent. 351 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,240 To turn from your sins. To turn full 180° from your 352 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,960 sins. To forsake the things that take 353 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,800 God's place in your life. To remove those things that 354 00:21:54,800 --> 00:22:00,000 destroy yourselves and others. To cut out pornography from your 355 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,840 life. To stop following those 356 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,680 unhelpful social media accounts that cause division and 357 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,160 discontent. To exercise self-control in the 358 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,960 things that you read, things that you watch, things that you 359 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,840 say. Now is the time to turn from sin 360 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,680 to God. To have faith in God and God 361 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,920 alone. To live for Him and not 362 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,360 yourself. To prioritise time with Him in 363 00:22:24,360 --> 00:22:28,400 His Word and in prayer. To make an effort to be with His 364 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,400 people so that you can be encouraged and you can encourage 365 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,960 others. To love Him with all your heart 366 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:39,960 and soul and mind and strength, and so to love others as 367 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,280 yourself. Why is this the right response 368 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,720 to Jesus, the holy, unrighteous One, the author of life? 369 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,840 Well, Peter gives 3 reasons why this is the right thing to do. 370 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,440 That your sins may be wiped out because there's forgiveness in 371 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:00,920 the name of Jesus. Our past mistakes, our current 372 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:05,840 bad habits, can be forgiven, forgiven completely because 373 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,600 Jesus died on the cross. And pay the punishment for each 374 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,200 one of them. And his righteous life can now 375 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,960 be given to whoever has faith in him. 376 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:20,920 Sins are wiped out, so the times of refreshing may come from the 377 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,240 Lord. As well as wiping away the 378 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,360 consequence of those sins. We can be freed from those sins 379 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:28,120 and the power they hold over us right now. 380 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,520 Trust in Jesus means freedom from the power of sin in your 381 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,480 life. When you confess to Him and ask 382 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,920 for forgiveness. It means that we can know the 383 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,200 peace that surpasses all understanding. 384 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,520 We can know comfort from Him in our anxieties and our 385 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:47,160 difficulties. Means that even as we suffer and 386 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:52,400 are heartbroken, we can know peace and joy in Him, refreshing 387 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,840 from the Lord. And because God will. 388 00:23:55,840 --> 00:24:00,280 Restore everything. One day as the. 389 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,760 Angels told the apostles in Acts chapter 1, and as Jesus taught, 390 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,160 and as the prophets also promised, the Messiah will 391 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:11,680 return to restore all things. Jesus is in heaven now, but 392 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:13,160 there is a time when he'll come back. 393 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,160 Then there'll be. No more lame men in need of 394 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,760 healing. There'll be no need of healing 395 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,400 at all. There'll be no more war or 396 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,360 murder or oppression. There'll be no more injustice or 397 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:31,320 sickness or poverty. Who will wipe away? 398 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,440 Every tear from their eyes there'll be no more more death 399 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:38,080 or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has 400 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:38,800 passed away. That's. 401 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:43,440 In Revelation 20. One the very good in the Garden 402 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,840 of Eden before the fall will be restored. 403 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,480 But even more than that, it'll be renewed because God's people 404 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:51,640 will live with the God that saved them. 405 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,280 We may never experience. Healing in this life like the 406 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,040 lame man did, physical or mental. 407 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,720 But we know that one day we will. 408 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,320 Because when God restores. All things that includes our 409 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,400 bodies and our minds. Healing for all those who 410 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:15,320 believe in Jesus. God's Kingdom first arrived. 411 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,200 When Jesus was on the earth, His miracles proved that as wrong, 412 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,720 things were being made right wherever He went with all the 413 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,880 people he met. And the Kingdom continued 414 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,920 through his people as Jesus continued working miracles, 415 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,800 signs and wonders through physical healing like this, but 416 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,520 also spiritual healing as thousands of people were added 417 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,720 to their number each day. And one day. 418 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:42,760 The Kingdom will be fully fulfilled when Jesus returns in 419 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:48,360 glory to restore all things. Peace was speaking to. 420 00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:51,080 The Israelites then and he confirmed his message by going 421 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,840 to more testimonies that they would have known from the Old 422 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,520 Testament. He says Moses, he prophesied A 423 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,960 Messiah that would come that would be like him from among 424 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,360 Israel. Abraham he promised the one that 425 00:26:02,360 --> 00:26:05,040 one of his descendants would bring blessing to all peoples, 426 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,680 the ends of the earth. The Islam's were known about 427 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:11,400 Samuel and the other prophecies, Joel and Ezekiel and Jeremiah 428 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,840 and others. This good news came. 1st to the 429 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:19,360 Jews in Jerusalem, but as we know it'll go out to all Judea 430 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,680 and Samaria and the ends of the earth. 431 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,720 We'll see that in the rest of. Acts next. 432 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:28,760 Week we'll see in. Chapter 4. 433 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,600 What the Jewish leaders straight away did with this message. 434 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,520 But the question. That we have this morning is 435 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:36,640 What are we going to do with that message? 436 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,000 Well, I urge you. 1st To have faith in the name of Jesus. 437 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,600 How often do you call on the name of Jesus for miracles? 438 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:49,960 When we're in distress. When we're in crisis. 439 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,280 For healing. Yes, we see that in the Bible. 440 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,240 Through history. We see that in our own church. 441 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,480 We see how miraculous healing has come in the name of Jesus 442 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:01,760 might. Not be as dramatic. 443 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,680 As a lame man leaping for joy. But let's trust in the powerful 444 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,120 name of Jesus. With him, all things are 445 00:27:08,120 --> 00:27:11,720 possible. Let's trust in his. 446 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:16,520 Name for spiritual healing too. Conversion becoming. 447 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,920 A believer putting our trust in Jesus is an even greater miracle 448 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,560 than this lame man experienced. Every time someone puts their 449 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:28,840 faith in Jesus is a miracle. Every time someone continues to 450 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:34,080 believe in Jesus is a miracle. So if you're a Christian. 451 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:38,120 Today I urge you to keep trusting in the name of Jesus 452 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:42,680 for the things you need and for your loved ones and friends and 453 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,080 family. Trust that He's able to do more 454 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,560 than you can ask or imagine or think, including saving your 455 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,240 loved ones who don't yet believe in Him. 456 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,560 Keep praying in Jesus name for their salvation. 457 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:59,040 And if you're not? A Christian here today, then. 458 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:00,960 I urge you also. To have faith in the name of 459 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,560 Jesus, you can heal your spiritual condition. 460 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:09,600 Have faith in him. Ask for his forgiveness and know 461 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:16,560 his power to save. Secondly, take. 462 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:21,280 Opportunities to share Jesus it. Wasn't the apostles ministry? 463 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:25,240 To go around healing people. They did do that, and we'll meet 464 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,600 some of the people and acts who wanted that ministry so they 465 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:31,080 could go around healing people. But their business was to share 466 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,720 the gospel. God's Commission was to take the 467 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,840 gospel to the ends of the earth. So these miracles were. 468 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:42,520 God-given opportunities for the apostles to do that to an 469 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:45,720 engaged audience. So how can we take the 470 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,720 opportunity in the same way to share the gospel? 471 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:51,200 How can we take the opportunity, what God has done to tell others 472 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,520 about him? Tell your story. 473 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:58,440 Maybe you've had an amazing story of turning from a drug 474 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:02,520 addict to a Christian and hand delivery and that maybe you've 475 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,480 grown up in a Christian family and just day by day slowly 476 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,640 realise the truth of who God is. Either way, a. 477 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,280 Miracle has. Happened in your life. 478 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:14,680 So tell your story. Share your story and use it as 479 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,880 an opportunity to tell others about Jesus. 480 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,800 Maybe you have received an experience in miraculous healing 481 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,000 or something miraculous in your life that you contribute to 482 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,680 Jesus. Tell people about it. 483 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:29,440 Don't be ashamed. People will be like what are you 484 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:31,600 on about? But use it as an opportunity to 485 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,640 tell them about the Jesus who you believe in, who can work 486 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,720 miracles. Live a distinctive. 487 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,880 Christian Life. Of loving. 488 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:45,120 Others and loving God. When someone says why, you can 489 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:47,760 turn about the Jesus who worked a miracle in your life. 490 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:54,400 And finally do. What Peter said, repent and 491 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:56,680 believe end of your sins and turn to God. 492 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,040 Sometimes we think where. Where do I fit into this story? 493 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:04,680 Who do I relate with most? And I'm kind of tend to think, 494 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,840 well, I'm like Peter and John. I can go around like healing 495 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:08,040 people, telling people about Jesus. 496 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,680 I mean, we should be praying in Jesus name and telling people 497 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:14,160 about Jesus, but we're probably more like the beggar in our own 498 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:18,600 sense because each of us are spiritually disabled. 499 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,000 In fact, the Bible says we're spiritually dead in ourselves. 500 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,320 And our greatest need? Is an encounter with Jesus. 501 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,000 Jesus is the Holy. One the righteous, one the 502 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,720 Author of life. Here's the way to forgiveness, 503 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:39,800 to blessing, to refreshment. Here's the way to. 504 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:44,240 Enjoy the restoration of all things that God will one day 505 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:47,200 bring. Time is now. 506 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:52,080 Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, 507 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,800 that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, that He may 508 00:30:55,800 --> 00:30:58,800 send the Messiah who has been appointed to you. 509 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:07,760 Let's pray. We praise you, Jesus, the holy 510 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:11,680 and righteous 1. You have the name above. 511 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:16,160 All other names, you are the author of life itself, yet you 512 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:20,200 were killed taking the punishment for our sins. 513 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,480 We praise you for. That and we praise you, that 514 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:28,040 death couldn't hold you because you rose again, because you live 515 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,400 forever. You're at the right hand of the 516 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,760 Father. Please help us to trust in your 517 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,800 name all that we need, please. Give us boldness to. 518 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,960 Share what you have done in our lives that others would have an 519 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:43,320 encounter with you, please. Help us to turn. 520 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:48,280 From our sins and to turn to you until the day when you return 521 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:53,120 and restore all things in. Your powerful name. 522 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:54,360 We pray. Amen.