2013 Acts #6: an exposition of Acts 3:1-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 23, 2013.
Intro:
Everyday for years he went. Faithful friends carried him to his usual spot. It was hard at first. There was of course some initial embarrassment but he had gotten over that years ago. Besides he had a prime location. There he was at the gate leading into the inner court. For a beggar, this was prime real estate. Not that he was getting rich but he got by. Hardened by the years he cried out for alms mechanically, more out of habit than anything else. Occasionally someone would toss him a token gift. A good number of travelers were still coming to the temple. Passover and Pentecost had passed but not everyone had left the city. It was a day like any other day…
Their hearts were filled with the joy and excitement of what God was doing. So much had happened in such a short period of time. A joyous reception to the city on Sunday was followed by a hate-filled execution on Friday. The darkness of the crucifixion was followed by the brilliance of resurrection. Forty days of teaching and instruction were ended with a promise of power. Within days that promise was fulfilled in dramatic fashion. Peter still could not believe the power by which he spoke on Pentecost. Tongues of fire, the violent, rushing wind, shouts of, “Brothers what must we do?” 3000 souls brought to the kingdom in one morning! Peter and John were overjoyed as they made their way to the temple for prayer. In their thinking there were no longer any “ordinary days.” Who knew what today might bring?
Our text this morning is found in Acts chapter 3. If you were to give this text a title it might be, “A funny thing happened on the way to prayer meeting.” The early chapters of Acts give us valuable insight to the life of the early church. I sometimes wonder how they ever got anything done back then without the home office in Nashville, no Sunday School literature, no buildings, budgets or committees! It really is amazing to consider what can be done with just the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I know some of you are amazed that those words – “power and anointing of the Holy Spirit” did not stick in my throat! After all, I am a Baptist. But the fact is we Baptist believe in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. In fact we Baptist believe in the necessity of the spirit-filled life. In our text this morning, we find a portrait of spirit-filled living.
Text: Acts 3:1-20
This is life as God intends it for his people.
In the routine of life we accomplish great things for God.
Peter and John did not set out that morning to find a “project.”
They were not on a visitation assignment – they were gong about their normal business and God provided an opportunity to demonstrate his grace through them. We say it often enough but do we believe it? “God is not as interested in your ability as he is in your availability.”
Old Testament Israel was instructed to teach their children the things of God daily. When you rise up and when you lay down. When you come in and when you go out. As you walk along the road etc. In other words, take advantage of the teachable moment in the midst of your daily routine. When our Lord commissioned the church he said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” That should be interpreted, “As you are going, preach the Gospel.” “As you go into all the nations make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Ministry is not something that we plan and program. It is to be the fruit or the overflow of our lives. That is what we find in our text (Read the text).
I’m convinced that this text serves to remind us that:
Thesis: Every child of God is called to minister out of the overflow of a spirit-filled life.
Sharing the gospel, reaching out to those who are in need, caring for the afflicted should be the natural result of our walking with Christ. As we study, pray and fellowship with Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, ministry naturally results.
In this text we find three characteristics of spirit-filled living.
- Spirit-filled living seeks to meet the needs of the hurting. (3:1-10)
- Spirit-filled living seizes every opportunity to preach Christ. (3:11-16)
- Spirit-filled living simply calls others to repentance and faith. (3:17-20)
Conclusion:
A cripple who was passed unnoticed daily.
Two followers of Christ – caught up in the joy of what God was doing.
Brought together in the providence of God – for His glory and their good.
This is the spirit-filled life we are to pursue.
It isn’t about spectacular gifts, great wealth or material possessions.
It is about the joy that belong to those who walk in communion with Christ and the amazing privilege of being his instrument in touching the lives of others. Today is a day like any other…but what if it isn’t?