Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1-12

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-- at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-- even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. (NIV)

Let’s start with the background to the story. Beyond the Court of the Gentiles stood the incredible 60 foot wide “Gate Beautiful.” It was also sometimes called the “Gate Susan” because it had a sculpted relief of the city of Susa. At the times of the morning and evening sacrifices, this entrance was the place of worship for the people of God. It was one of three gates on the eastern side of the temple, each one perfectly lined up with the next so a person could stand on a particular spot on the Mount of Olives and look into the Holy Place. It was to this gate where they all converged in our text. They came to pray.

Good things happen when people pray. Particularly regular prayer has a lot to do with this miracle. They were attending the evening service. Outside the Temple, evening prayers could lawfully be said any time after 12:30, according to the Rabbis.[1] Inside the Temple, the service began at 2:30 with the slaying of the lamb. At 3:30 the priests would lay the lamb upon the altar. It would be accompanied by the offering of incense and prayers. That service would go on until about four in the afternoon. If they came for the time of prayer, it would actually be around 3:30, but they were there early.

Last night we had 50 people praying in the sanctuary as part of our Saturday night prayer for the services of Sunday. When that many people are showing up the night before to pray, good things are bound to happen. I have asked you to get with a few friends and pray one time a month. I would appreciate hearing what is happening. If you would just email me a paragraph or two and tell me what is going on.

Here is an email that was forwarded to me that was passing among some of the young families in the church:

For the last few months and especially the last 6 days, I have been experiencing the presence of God like never before and seeking Him for a mighty move in our church and community.  I know that most of you have been experiencing this as well and in my prayer time with Him this morning I believe that He gave me a word for us, He told me who to send it to and I am shaking even as I type this. It is this... Isaiah 62: 6,7 and 10-12 "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.  You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.... Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people.  Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones.  Raise a banner for the nations.  The Lord has made a proclamation to the ends of the earth: Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See your Savior comes!  See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.' "They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord;  and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted."
   Friends, we are His watchmen!  Continue to pray for our church and its leaders for revival!  Share what God is doing!  Declare His Mighty Power! Have no rest, but continue to press in and pray for God's mighty Hand to move in our church and in our community. Lord, let it be so!
   Declaring God's Glory and Power! Carrie Olsen

I am also interested in how Peter commented on the miracle. He said, “"Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.” For Peter, the Father in Heaven had glorified his Son. The interesting thing is that the man was healed on this day and not another.

Jesus had walked by this man many times. When he was in Jerusalem he went to the temple every day.[2] His disciples had been walking by this man for weeks and possibly months.[3] They were in the Temple daily praising God. The begger was put in his spot “every day” to beg alms.

On this day Peter was moved to respond with more than money. This was the day that God had chosen to glorify Jesus and indirectly, to honor his church. God wants his church to be involved in the process of glorifying Jesus.

Whenever we gather, we are to glorify Jesus. When we gather for worship, people should be able to look in and be motivated toward God. Have you ever seen someone standing on the street just looking up? Pretty soon a small crowd has gathered all peering into the sky to see what others see. When you come into this house of worship, worship in such a way that others are compelled to look up.

When it comes to your marriage, your life, and your church the goal should be the same. People need to see Jesus and to give him glory.

While we want people to be able to look and see Jesus, there is an additional step that necessarily follows. After Jesus has been glorified, we should also invite others to join with us. Let Jesus be glorified but don’t leave it there. Invite someone to church. Share the story of faith. Tell someone something that reveals what God is doing.

There must be the public telling of God’s story. Most of us understand this. We certainly do this with Presentation Sunday. We pray for miracles and they happen. People are interested so we tell our story. We do it as a church and I am sure you tell it to your friends. We will tell people what a great program it is and people will come and get saved. We do that with our school. We tell people about the great program in a safe and spiritually healthy environment.

Look for ways of giving a testimony. You tell people why you are not getting a divorce. “I know that a lot of people would fold it up after what happened, I have thought about it but I am a Christian. I believe God can work miracles in relationships also.” Even if it is only to a few people at work, or to your sister, it is a public telling of God’s story. It is how the gospel spreads, one person at a time.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Volunteer Carpenters are needed to finish the children’s area.

[1]Information on the prayer service comes from Edersheim, Alfred, The Temple, Its Ministries and Services, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1986) page 144.

[2] Luke 22: 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me.

[3] Luke 24:52-53 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.