Didn't See It Coming: Be the "It"
3 Takeaways from last week’s “didn’t see it coming” miracle story
· With Jesus, silence is not absence.
· Jesus has complete authority over every situation.
· Fear can mature into faith if you keep moving forward.
· A functioning definition of a miracle is “not explicable by natural or scientific laws”.
· A heart translation is… “object of wonder.”
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Acts 3:1-10 (NIV) 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 who was lame 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 do 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.
This miracle story reveals a thing or two about miracles.
1. Miracle opportunities come out of nowhere but they originated from somewhere.
3 influential items that transformed Peter and John
· Jesus saw and reached out to them.
· They heard Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.
· They had witnessed Jesus touch socially untouchable people.
This miracle story reveals a thing or two about miracles.
1. Miracle opportunities come out of nowhere but they originated from somewhere.
2. Miracle opportunities are seized by your heart, not your pocket.
1. We learn from Peter’s 1st response (silver and gold have I none) that people’s needs are deeper than what they ask for, don’t be afraid to go deeper.
The Disciples weren’t…
· Math teachers. He needs money + we don’t have any = keep walking.
· Counselors. His emotional needs exceed our emotional capacity = keep walking.
· Doctors. His physical needs exceed our medical capacity = keep walking.
Peter and John were disciples. They offered Jesus. WOW – THAT’S WHAT WE ARE! THAT’S WHO WE HAVE!
2. We learn from Peter’s 2nd response, no person’s need exceeds Jesus’ resources.
The problem with seizing miracle opportunities is we don’t define our salvation as the linchpin of our value and we don’t view it as a miracle in our life.
Miracles Have Impact & Fallout
Impact: Acts 3:11-18 (NIV) 11 While the man 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: “Fellow Israelites, 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 completely healed him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, fellow Israelites, 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 Messiah 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 Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Acts 4:4 4 But many who heard the message believed; so, the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Acts 4:5-14 (NIV) 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” BAAM! 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
To stand against opposition we need to…
· Fill Up.
· Speak Up.
· Wo/Man Up.
With Christianity we don’t stand for something, we stand with someone!
10,000-foot view of “Be the It”.
1. Be Situationally & Spiritually Aware
2. Be Filled with Miracle Faith
3. Be Spiritually Courageous