Nobody can deny God’s power when the Holy Spirit falls. This is what it looks like.
Acts 3: The Lame Beggar Healed
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
16 And his name---by faith in his name---has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'
24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'
26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."
Acts 4: Peter and John Before the Council
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,
6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,
9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead---by him this man is standing before you well.
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,
16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name."
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'---
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
They Had Everything in Common
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Things to think about…
1. This first miracle of a man now walking after 40 years after the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost concludes with “And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened”, Acts 3:10. This is what people in our community should see in the people of God. Pray our is awakened by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
2. Peter’s preaching to the crowds about the miracle is quite pointed. He says they are accountable, and he asks them to “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out”, Acts 3:19. May we never change the purpose and message of the cross.
3. The words of Peter to the rulers and elders in Jerusalem is more testament to the death, buriel and resurrection of Christ and His ongoing ministry through the Holy Spirit by the hands of the Apostles. In Acts 4:8 regarding the man who had been lame for over 40 years and is now healed Peter says “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead---by him this man is standing before you well.” The rulers and elders did not argue against any of the words in the statement. But rather they also acknowledged that the man who had been healed was seen by many and the miracle was undeniable. They couldn’t cover the miracle up and they couldn’t deny that Jesus was crucified and buried by their hand, but that God raised Him up from the dead. The testament of the unbelieving rulers of the day is one of the things that powerfully points to the truth of Christ’s ministry and His post resurrection activity through the Acts of the Apostles.
4. Acts 4:12 is true now and for eternity “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”. In a day when many want to discredit or water down the scriptures we must continue to proclaim the only way of salvation from sin and to dwell with the Lord in heaven for eternity is found in no other name than the Lord Jesus Christ. Share this truth whenever the Lord gives you the opportunity.
5. You know that the Lord is blessing in an extraordinary way when society is turned on its head and the authorities are asking for explanations for supernatural phenomenon, Acts 4:1-22. They couldn’t say too much against what was going on “seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.”, Acts 4:14. Five thousand men get saved, Acts 4:4. Pray for an outpouring of His Spirit where signs and wonders follow the preaching of the word. The greatest being the conversion of the soul.
6. Do you become fearful when you know you need to speak out about your faith? I take great comfort in the fact that the early church had the same concern. As such we see them praying for boldness in their witness, Acts 4:29. But they also pray that the Lord would “stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus”, vs 30. Let’s pray the same.
7. How is it possible for people to say that any of the things that belonged to them were not their own, Acts 4:32? The answer is because “great grace was upon them all”, vs 33. There was not a needy person among them, vs 34. Hallelujah, do it again Lord!
8. Barnabas behaves like a true Levite and sells a field he owns and receives an inheritance from the Lord by giving it all away, Acts 4:36, 37. This what grace looks like.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Redeemer and ours”
Reading – Ruth 4
1. The book of Ruth was written around the time of Judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband certainly reflected this with his decision to go to Moab. Discuss the time of the Judges and the consequences of his actions.
2. Naomi returns from Moab back to Bethlehem with Ruth. Ruth works in Boaz’s field to glean. He is a potential kinsman-redeemer, Hebrew go’el. Do you remember the things that a kinsman redeemer was able to perform for fellow Israelites?
3. Boaz buys from the nearer kinsman redeemer in Ruth 4. Why did the first relation not want any part of Elimelech’s property?
4. Boaz and Ruth have a son Obed meaning ‘worshipper’. Boaz’s mother was Rahab, Mt 1:5, discuss her significance. Discuss the line of David and how Jesus who is our kinsman redeemer.
5. Discuss some prayer points of the group. Church prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
2. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
3. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
4. Sunday’s message from Acts 6, 7 - “Stephen, full of the Spirit” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors to church on Sunday.
2. Two cell groups starting up this term.
3. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting this Sunday 23rd May after the morning service.
2. Recharge on this week all high schoolers – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
3. Kids Church for all primary schoolers. Maddison Willey is the ministry contact. Parents please check your rosters. Remember to sign your kids in and out.
4. Remember to grab a chair and put into the house to help clear the church for carpets after the morning service on May 30th.
5. Combined Church worship and prayer meeting at Beacon Baptist, 30th May 5pm.
6. Working bee – Saturday 5th June, 8:00am start at the church.
7. Outdoor service in the morning 6th June followed by lunch, Potjie on “the common”
8. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
