to look at Acts chapter number 3. My son reminded me a second ago, he said, Dad, the reason that you think that 3 is both is because that's what the Bible teaches, both in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, which just reminds me, I still have things that I need to teach you all, okay? He said, you were right. I am going to print that off and frame it, all right, at home. And so today, Acts chapter number three, beautiful song. I think Jonathan probably picked that one out. You picked that? Yeah, you did. As soon as it started, I love that. I hope we hear that one some more. Any form of song that says praise the Savior is certainly something that we want our heart resonates with. Here's Acts chapter number three. If you know it, sing it with me. and praising God, walking and leaping and praising God. In the name of Jesus Christ, now rise up and walk. How many of you sung that as a kid in here? Some of you did okay. Some of you sung a different version. I heard you saying all right, but walking and leaping and praising God. And that's what happens here in Acts chapter number three. That's what we're going to see. We're going to start second John, I didn't mention that, the first of November, and when we're not at a book study and I get to choose the passage we're going to preach, eight out of ten sermons are going to sound alike, all right? And I know that, and that's one of the reasons it's so important we stay in book studies. But I believe with all my heart, from God's Word and from experience, that your simple acts of obedience this week of compassion could give you a platform to share the gospel that could change a family, that could reverberate through generations. Simple acts of obedience can, and that's what we see here in Acts chapter number three. We see something in Acts chapter number two that we're not replicating, but in Acts chapter number three, we see two men going to pray, showing compassion, and then God doing a wonderful work through their obedience. And so the gospel goes forward. And so in our series we did earlier in the year, Long Story Short, what we're saying here is that I'm telling you the long story is how the gospel went from the people who saw Jesus on the cross, and it made its way all the way to your ears. It made its way to your family, that long story. What I just explained to you was that long story in short. People being obedient to do what the Holy Spirit told them to do, and then having that opportunity to share the gospel. So beginning in Acts chapter number two, the disciples are gathered, the Holy Spirit comes down upon them, and they begin to speak in known languages, and as they're speaking, people recognize it, and then Jewish people from all the nations hear what's going on, and they come, and they recognize that they're understanding, and they come to a saving faith in Christ. And then at the end of Acts chapter number two, it said that the apostles, they continue steadfastly, the believers do, and the apostles' doctrine, the things that these apostles were teaching, and fellowship, and the breaking of bread, communion, and in prayers, and fear came upon all the souls, and many signs and wonders were done by the apostles. And that's how chapter 2 ends. And then you're like, tell me more about that, all right? Chapter 2 was so exciting. I want to know more about that. And that's what we're going to see here in Acts chapter number 3, is more of that, what happens at the end of Acts 2. And so, instead of just reading all 16 verses, I'm going to give you a little bit. I'm going to help try to bring you into the story. because I've spent time in Acts 3 today, but you're going to have to jump in right now, all right? And I'm hoping you'll jump into this story here with me and follow along, and your Bibles will be on the screen. I hope you'll follow along with me. So now, Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer being the ninth hour. That's 3 p.m. and afternoon. Peter and John went together. And if you've read the New Testament, you understand that these guys are kind of different, all right? Peter says that the only time he opened his mouth was to change feet, all right? He's always putting his feet in his mouth. And then he's very aggressive and going after it. He's the one who's going to answer. And John, the beloved, laid his head upon the chest of Christ and more contemplative. But these two men were going to pray. And I'm so challenged by this spiritual discipline. After spiritual high like Pentecost, what do they do the next day? Let's go and pray together. And they went at 3 p.m. to the temple. And until 70 A.D., when Jerusalem is destroyed, the connection of seeing believers go to the temple would have been very natural there. If you would have asked them, are you Jewish? They'd say, of course we're Jewish, and the Messiah has come. So they're going to the temple, and they're going to pray together at this ninth hour. The ninth hour is when Jesus cries out from the cross. So it could have been tradition that that's when they would have went to the temple to pray together. I just think that is, it's beautiful there. And so, in the certain man, verse 2, lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they, and that's those around him that would have pity upon this man, laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. So the name of this gate was called Beautiful. That's not its official name, but that's what they referred to it. And from my understanding, they refer to it as that because it's covered in bronze, which means when the light would have shined upon it, it would have been absolutely just amazing. And 75 feet tall, double doors, and the light would come down upon it. And you could see why people would call that beautiful. And that is the backdrop for this lame beggar on the ground who spends his days outside of a gate called beautiful. Bible mentions it here a couple times. It's not the official name given to it. When you're reading the Bible, when I read the Bible and I see something like that, I think there's something that God wants to gather my attention about in regards to what is beautiful. So here I see a lame man, he's not just outside of any gate, but he's outside of a gate called beautiful. And this layman, verse 3, who's seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple and ask alms. The law said, Levitical law said, that this man was not allowed passed into that gate, that he was born deformed. And so he was as close to that gate as he was allowed to be. He is on the wrong side. And he sees Peter and John walking as they're now going to the time of prayer. And when Peter fastens his eyes upon him with John and said, look on us, So as he's going by, he looks at him and he says, look at me right here. Typically, when you see somebody in need, you try not to make eye contact with them, right? Josh and I were driving back from Florida and we had a conversation of, what do we do when we see homeless people? And we said, well, we try not to make eye contact until we develop the plan, right? As if you see them, then you feel the sense of responsibility. And what we have here is Peter demonstrated a confidence that's available all of us believers. is that he didn't have to turn his head from something, from a brokenness or somebody in need. He could look right at that man, and he could say, look at me, and make eye contact with that man. But just think about it. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people every day, this man had become an expert. He couldn't walk, but he became an expert on ankles, right? Because there he is sitting on the ground, and nobody's making eye contact with him. Nobody's going to reach down there and befriend him. eye contact with him, he fastened his eyes. And it says in verse 5 that the lame man, he gave heed unto him, expecting that he would receive something. He looks at him, expecting something. What is one word that we use when you say an expectancy to receive? What would be one word for that? It would be the word hope. This man looked there with Peter and John with hope that he would receive something. Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none, but such as I give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. He couldn't give what he didn't have. What I do have, though I'm going to give unto you, was his answer. read a story as I was reading about this about a monk that visited Rome and he was looking at how amazing the Vatican was and very proud of his riches he said in the hymn, we no longer have to say silver and gold have we none and the monk looked at the Pope and said maybe that's why we can no longer say rise up and walk. Peter and John, Peter knew, I can look to this man and regardless what he needs, I have more than enough inside of me to help meet this need. And he took him by the right hand, verse 7, and lifted him up. Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Ankle bones is not something you'll find in other gospel records. Luke has a bigger vocabulary than the rest of them. He's the doctor. We have a doctor verifying what is happening here, that when he stands up, that his ankle is put together, he is made whole. It could be that Luke interviewed this man. Remember we said that the research he did for these books that he writes, this letter of the Theophilus, he might have sat down with that man that might have said, look right here, look at these things, all right, and showed that to him. Then verse number 8, we see what happens after this man is made whole. and walked and entered in with the temple and walking and leaping and praising God and all the people saw him walking and praising God and they knew that it was he which sent for the alms at the beautiful gate of the temple and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which they happened upon him. It could have been that Jesus passed by these same gates and that man was there. It says he was about 40 years of age that he was sitting there. His life would have been spent there. But part of what's beautiful in the story was God's timing. What God is going to do as a result of this miracle, which is a sign. The miracle being a sign means that it's not just for the one that receives it, But it is a blessing to everybody around. This man is going to walk, but in doing so, many people are going to follow Jesus. Verse 11, And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the ports that is called Solomons, greatly wondering. The crowd needed more than a testimony. They needed a clear telling of the good news. All the people are going together around. They've seen with their eyes the difference that is made in the name of Jesus and the testimony. And now Peter is going to take this opportunity. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we have made this man to walk? He says it's not our power, it's not our holiness. What is it? Verse 13, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son, Jesus. He, the Father, has glorified Jesus. the one that you delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate when he was determined to let him go. But he denied the Holy One, but ye, all of you, denied the Holy One and the just, and desired that a murder would be granted unto you. If you don't know that story, I tell you, do not pascal, do not collect $200 a day until you go home and you learn the story of Barabbas. Just another way, as Jesus goes to the cross, that we see that the world has chosen ourselves and our sin over our Savior. And so there, there was an option. Somebody was going to be let go, and the people chose Barabbas over Jesus. Verse 15, And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses. of this miracle of boldness that Peter has. It was the Jewish people who sent Jesus to the cross, but not them alone. Jews and Gentiles were responsible for the prince of life, that he died and that he was raised again, and that they were witnesses. And these people in this story, they are witnesses to the power of the name of Jesus firsthand by seeing a life that has changed. And in verse number 16, making sure that we don't miss what is happening, it says this, And His name through faith, and His name has made this man strong. His name through faith, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yea, the faith which is by Him hath given Him this perfect soundness in the presence of it all. And thus reads the reading of God's Holy Word, and all God's people said, Amen. The best part is just the reading of the story. I'm going to give a little bit of comment on it, but what an incredible thing coming out of Acts chapter number three. First thing I want you to see from what we just read is simply this, is that understanding God's healing in your own life, the power of the gospel in your own life, helps you face the world's brokenness without turning away. When you'll recognize, when we, like Paul says to Timothy, you stir up what's inside of you. One of the reasons it's so wonderful and necessary for us to gather together, sing these songs, hear the Word of God taught, is we need to be reminded of what God has done inside of us. So we said there in verse 4 that Peter, he fastened his eyes upon this man. We can't know all the thoughts that were going on through Peter's mind. The Bible doesn't tell us. We could put ourselves in that story and kind of imagine, and he walks by and he could say, why is this man sitting down? Why isn't he going inside of the gate? It's time to pray. Noticing that the man was not able to move. We should invite this man. What does this man have the need of? What am I able to give him? All these different things that could have been asked. We don't know what he was thinking, but we know what he saw, and he saw opportunity. He saw opportunity for the name of Jesus to be glorified. G. Campbell Morgan says about this passage, he says, That is humanity's position. In the midst of beauty, but not of it. In the realm of things lovely and of a good report, but excluded. That is the position of humanity everywhere. It sighs and sobs and is in agony at the beautiful gate. But it cannot get in and there is the church's opportunity. You see, Peter had nothing to help maintain this man's crippled life. What the man wanted. This man knew more than others about walking, but he wasn't able to do it. And you see here that Christianity doesn't teach a man philosophy. It comes to give man life. Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I'll give to you. He had more than needed. Let me help you learn a poem here about John Bunyan, all right? You're going to have to trust me here because I'm going to say something and you're going to repeat it, all right? Let's see if you're still with me. Run, John, run, the law commands. Say that with me. Run, John, run, the law commands. But gives us neither feet nor hands. Say it with me. But gives us neither feet nor hands. Far better news the gospel brings, far better news the gospel brings, it bids us fly and gives us wings. It bids us fly and gives us wings. The gospel, not a philosophy, not helping a crippled person maintain another day, but new life, and that's what the man needed. He wasn't guilty of asking too much, he was guilty of asking too little. The man's asking for new shoes, and he needs new feet, right? And so he was, and he says, I can't help you and your crippled to live your days like this, but I can offer you something in the name of Jesus. We may not think that we have what they need, but we have more than enough. And Peter says that. Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I'll give unto you. You know, Christians can never say, I ain't got nothing for you. Not because it's not grammatically correct, because it's not theologically correct, all right? Grammar is not our problem. We can't tell people we ain't got nothing for you because we do have something for this world. And so Peter and John had no earthly resources to offer. Empty pockets, silver and gold, have I none. Like the preacher who went to cash his check at the bank, and the banker said, I hate to give these old dirty bills to you. And the preacher said, that's all right. No germs could live on my salary, all right? And so some of you feel like that before you say, my pockets are empty. I don't have any resources. I know there's all kinds of problems and all kinds of needs, but I don't have anything. But we as Christians cannot say, I don't have anything for you. We can look the problem in the eyes, knowing that God has given us something we can share. The good news that we share, it is not a be ye warmed and filled message. That's what James 2 warned us about, right? Somebody comes to you and they're in need and they're hungry and you say, well, be you warmed and filled and go on your way. The gospel is not that. The gospel is so much more than that. The gospel is real. It is life-changing. It's not a fairy tale. Adrian Rogers, one of my favorite preachers to listen to, and as you go down the road, I'd recommend you listen to him. He tells the story of a little girl who's outside of a tent at an old Salvation Army revival, and her dad is giving testimony of how Jesus had changed his life. And as he's sharing the story, a man off to the sides tells him that he needs to... He says, oh, why don't you just shut up and sit down? You're just dreaming. And this little girl walks up to him, very mature for her age, and she tugs at his coat, and she looks up at the man, and she says this, Sir, that's my daddy that you're talking about. You say that my daddy is dreaming. Let me tell you about my daddy. My daddy used to be a drunkard. He used to come home drunk. He used to hit my mother. She would cry most of the day. And she said, we didn't have good clothes to wear because my daddy spent all of my money on whiskey. Then she said, sometimes I didn't even have shoes to wear to school. Look, she said. Look at those shoes. Look at this dress. My daddy has a good job. Over there is my mother. She's happy now. She doesn't cry around the house now. She sings around the house, listen to this, ladies, even when she's ironing, all right? My mother is happy now, and Jesus changed my daddy, and Jesus has changed our home. And if my daddy is dreaming, then please don't wake him up. The power of the gospel is real, and it's life-changing, and we get to share it with the world. So wonderful. I'd like to recommend a book to you, they'll put it on the screen in a quote here by Joni Erikson Tada, a book written by Kristen Getty, and it tells the story of a girl who wants to serve the Lord in a wheelchair, and she says, at that great marriage supper of the Lamb, and the first thing I think I'll do on resurrected legs, she became paralyzed from a diving accident, is fall on my glorified knees and praise the God of resurrection and healing, and then I'll stand and dance before Him with all my might." See, she may have a problem with her legs, but she no longer has a problem with her heart, and she's eager to bend a bended knee. And I don't care how well off you are today, if you don't have a desire to bend your bended knee before the Jesus, then you are broken, and you need healing today that only the gospel can bring. So here's my offer to you today, okay? Such as I have, I give to thee. Such as I have, I give to anybody yet here today. After the service, I always stand down front, and some of you come up and talk to me, because you're sad that the preacher's down here by himself, all right? But I'm going to keep standing there because it's not the only time during the week that I would like to tell you that I can't heal you physically, but I'll speak to the Heavenly Father and ask Him to bring healing in your life. I can't address all your financial needs, but I can show you how one day we can receive an eternal inheritance. I can't restore all broken relationships, but I can show you how to be reconciled to God. It's an invitation that's always extended, and it's also an invitation that ought to be mobile. It's an invitation that you should be extending to other people and not looking away and see them. Fasten your eyes upon them. Because greater what God is doing inside of you than what's in this world. Ephesians 3.20, Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. Extend that. Peter and John are walking after all the things that are seen at Pentecost. They're going to pray, and as they're going, they see this man, and they look upon him, and that becomes the direction that the gospel is going to spread. You see here, sharing the hope, this God-glorifying message has given you, fosters wonderful relationships in this world. Wonderful relationships. So many people are hungry for real, meaningful relationships. But you can't develop real meaningful relationships just around anything. There has to be a substance to it. Look what happens in verse number 11. And this just stuck out to me as I read this in preparation. And the layman, which was healed, hailed Peter and John. He embraces them, and all the people ran together into the porch, and they're holding them out, holding them. You see, you and I miss out so much As we try to manage our time, and we manage our wealth, and in all of our management, we don't have enough time to pay attention to other people. If you have all the money in the world and you have all the time management in the world, but you don't have enough time to pay attention to other people, then you're missing out on what God would have for you. Acts chapter number 4 verse 4 tells us. This story seems to be about a man walking. Acts 4 chapter number 4 tells us that 5,000 men came to know Christ as a result of what's happening here. 5,000. If we took the ratio of men in this room, we would say that's nearly 20,000 people come to a saving knowledge of Christ. And this story doesn't start with something that's just incredible, like in Acts chapter number 2. It just starts with two men were going to a prayer meeting, and they looked upon somebody else that other people ignored, and with compassion, they looked at him. In 1955, pre-social media, C.S. Lewis said, I cannot quite understand why a man would wish to know more people that he can make real friends of. Why would anybody want to know more people than you can make friends of? And he didn't understand that we like people to have like buttons and hearts on our stuff, all right? We don't need to know who you are, we just need to know you like us, all right? We want thousands and tens of thousands of people to say that they know us and to say that they like us, all right? But why would we want that? Meaningful friendships. It's costly, but it's so wonderful. What a special moment. Peter and John and that layman embrace together as people are gathered under Solomon's porch, and then Peter's gonna proclaim the gospel. It's those types of moments in life that are just so wonderful and special. But seeing the needs of other people can become costly. I have a little bit of bad news, all right? We're not in a series of the Book of Acts. When we get through all 66 books, it'll be one of the first ones that I come back to. I love it so much. But let me tell you something in the book of Acts. Those that help others are the ones that are always getting in trouble. Alright? In the book of Acts, you see, helping, miracles, they're going to get in trouble. The same thing that happened here. It's the same in Jesus. Jesus poured out his life for us so that we could be saved. It's taught, the substitution, that one will voluntarily suffer for another person. that Jesus becomes our substitution. We follow an example of Jesus. Jesus heals Lazarus from the dead, and the next verse said, from that point on they were determined to kill him. By taking Lazarus out of the grave, he put himself in it. And when Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood, who came behind him and grabbed the robe, it says the power went out from him. In the same way, This guy gets the walk and in the next chapter, Peter and John are going to prison. But they were going to pursue what God has for them. And all the busyness of life and all the planning, you know, Mark, if you and I are working together like in the early days and we had a Sunday that was like Pentecost, we would say, how do we make it happen again, right? What is the next big plan? What is a marketing campaign? What is it that we could do? And the path for Peter and John and for the early church there was on the other side of just simple obedience to helping the next person they could. It's on the other side of that lame man that 20,000 people are going to come to Christ. Nobody could have orchestrated that. Nobody could have planned it. And despite all the odds, this beggar stayed hopeful. He looks at them desiring to receive something. Pastor in North Carolina, he was sharing recently about how The church, we're kind of typecast. In a movie, in television, where a person, they play the same type of actor and they can't be seen as anything else, no matter what they are in. And it says that the church has become like that. We're seen as the antagonist of progress, that we're seen to be people that are against the progress of science and development of culture, which is so not true, that we're irrelevant, that we're so focused inwardly, that we don't care about the real needs of this world. But we should be able to say to our community, need counseling? We see you. We'll help. Need a bag of groceries? We see you. We'll help. You need a safe place? We see you. We'll help. Need parenting insides? We see you. We'll help. Need community and friendship? We see you. Have questions and doubts about faith? We see you. Have an addiction? We see you. Have a desire for a fresh start? We see you. We'll help. that we set our eyes upon this because we know what God has done inside of us is enough and that it will make a difference. We set our eyes on people in their current state so that we're able to help them with their eternal soul. If you weren't here on Wednesday, you've got to go back and watch it on YouTube, the story of Amy Carmichael. And I love how Stephen made sure that you saw that she was quite feisty as a missionary, all right? She created some issues for her co-workers and the things that she wanted to do, and they didn't hide that at all. And I'm asked even if we could sing some of those songs today, but he chose not to, all right? And so there was the one where they kept sitting her down and said, this is the woman's place, and she kept getting back up and says, I got to do something for those orphans. Well, one of the things that she says, and everything she's writing just has It's just so powerful. She says this when they're saying that she cares too much about all that's going on. She says this, one cannot save and then pitch forth souls in the heaven. Souls are more or less securely fastened to bodies. And as you cannot get the souls out and deal with them separately, you have to take them both together. You cannot save souls with a pitchfork and put them in the heaven. I'm not saying that we are not eternal souls that are now in a body. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that you cannot separate a person that's sitting on the ground that's in great need from addressing that and seeing him and sharing the gospel message with him. They're not separated. And she knew that and it was demonstrated so well on Wednesday. So lastly here, we reach down, lifting others while guiding their eyes upward to the beauty of our Savior. As we reach down, lifting people up, we want them to look upward, past us. Past us to Jesus. Verse 12, it says, you men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us? See, humility doesn't cause you to undervalue what has been done, it just causes you to recognize that God did all of that. And so in answer to say, oh it's no big deal, it's nothing, that's not appropriate. What it is, is yes, we give all praise to God for what He has done in and through our lives to help you in this. The men of Israel look earnestly upon them. As a kid, you're probably told not to stare at strangers, right? Acts 3 has a lot of people staring at each other, right? And it starts off, the layman's looking at them, Peter's looking at him, the thing happens and they all show up and they're staring at Peter and John and they're saying, you gotta help us make sense of this. What happened? We know this guy. We've seen him. And he says he immediately doesn't miss the opportunity. The content is the same as the message in Acts chapter number 2. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and the God of Jacob and the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son. If you and I are truly serving others for God's glory and not for our own, then His fame will be our priority. When we serve other people not for our own fame and not for only feelings of pleasure of doing good, then His fame will be our priority, which means that when the stage is set and the opportunity is given, we take it to talk about the name of Jesus. And God still allows us today to do this. You're saying, well, I don't have the ability, I can't walk up to a lame man that's sitting outside and make him heal the day. You are able to help the gospel, see the gospel change the life of a person. You are able to do that. He is doing it. Around the world, as we speak today, around the world, people are coming to a saving knowledge of Christ and they're going back into their communities and they're saying, I saw that man. He used to be that. There's little girls today putting on shoes today that they would have never had money before because the dad was wasting it on things to meet a need that was met by the gospel and lives are being changed. And it's an act of mercy to help people understand their spiritual condition. It's an act of mercy. Just like it was an act of mercy for Peter to reach down and to lift this man up and point to the Savior, it's an act of mercy for him to look at these other people. Because even though this lame man is on the ground, all these other people are walking around, they're in need as well. So he tells the lame man, get up and walk. He tells other people, you may need to sit down for what I'm about to tell you. And he sits them down and in an act of mercy, he tells them that your sin has put Jesus Christ on there, that your sins have murdered him, that you are in greater need than you understand. And then here we see a man walking and leaping and praising God and it reminds us that the joy of salvation is our greatest platform for proclaiming the gospel to others. Several verses here that make sure that you see that there is a response by this man and as he does this And so in Acts 2, the Pentecost gathers a large crowd around because they're hearing people speak in different languages. Acts chapter number 3, another large crowd gathers around because they knew that man that was set at the alms outside of that beautiful gate. And now they're filled with wonder and amazement because a life had been changed there. And as I told you before that this is a sign, means it's not just for the person that gets the healing, but it's for everybody that's watching. And it's a sign that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. In Isaiah chapter number 35 verse 6 it says, And that's what is happening there here. Those that knew the word were seeing it, the prophecies fulfilled. Matthew Henry summarizes this passage like this, that Peter, he sowed the gospel seed in the ground which was thus broken up and prepared to receive it. The simple act of obedience of compassion tills the ground in an incredible way and in the clear proclamation of the gospel. I don't imagine it's unique to me, but as a pastor, I like looking at different design blueprints for pulpits. I like replicas. I really like Spurgeon's pulpit, and I like the blueprints for seeing it. And I've seen a lot of different blueprints for pulpits. But what we see in this passage here is that obedience to God, shown in compassion, makes a platform for the gospel that couldn't be made in any other way. out in real life with real people. A simple act of compassion followed by a clear proclamation of the gospel is the short story of the long history of the spread of the gospel. That's how it got to your family. And if it's going to go forward, it's going to go in the same way. Let's look at the ending here that tells us that Jesus is the healer of all broken things. It was in his name through faith in his name has made this man strong." I love that, as was said about him. This man standing there, right beside them, probably still embracing, and he said, Jesus did this. He has made this man strong. Whom you see and you know, yea, the faith which is by him has given him this perfect soundness, wholeness in the presence of you all. Look, there is something here that we're not supposed to miss, that it's in His name. Peter and John, nor the beggar, are the hero of the story. When I was a teenager, the pastor of the church would take me squirrel hunting. That's what he always said, we're gonna go squirrel hunting, but he always fell asleep real fast, all right? And we didn't see many squirrels, but we'd go walking, and when we would go, and he would always be telling, we gotta be quiet, but every time there was ever quiet, he would begin the saying, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There's just something about that name, Master, Savior, Jesus. Like the fragrance after the rain, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim. He preached hundreds of messages when I was a kid, and I remember some of them, but I'll never forget that every time he had an opportunity and his mind would go to wonder, it came upon Jesus, and how there was just something special about that name. You know that. You know how you know that? Because you and your friend met outside today, and you walked in. You walked right past into the beautiful gate. And God has given us just a beautiful life. See, the thief, he came to steal and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life, and to give us more abundantly. And we have been given such a beautiful and abundant life. Friendships, those moments, you think about it. You think about embracing somebody. I've had that pleasure with you before, where God saved somebody that we were praying for, that friendship that develops, that the whole world looks upon, and they just have a hope that one day they would have it, but they're outside of that beautiful gate. You know what that should look like for us? It should look like opportunity. You and I have been given a beautiful life, so let us help those that are sitting outside of this gate. And so, a few questions, a few thoughts here before we pray together. What God has done inside of us for the believer is greater than anything this world has to offer or can do to harm us. The power of the gospel in you is greater. That thing that you've been afraid to get involved in, that you keep avoiding and not looking at because you're afraid that it's going to pull you in, I want to tell you that the gospel inside of you is powerful enough for you to make a real and lasting difference. Stop turning your eyes from all the deeds of this world. And don't check your pocket, don't check your wallet and say, do I have enough to get involved? Just look at it. and then realize that God will work in and through you, because it's on the other side of that opportunity is the path that God has for you. When we've been given beautiful friendships, seeing John and Peter going to pray together, and then this new friendship that will join. The greatest friendships you may have are people right now that are outside of the knowledge of Christ that God is going to use you to bring inside. And then we have the most beautiful message to share with this world. It's beautiful. Peter does it so clearly when given the opportunity. And then we just kind of take assessment. You know, I think I do things that are good for other people, but one of the ways that I got to measure that is in doing good and then given opportunity to speak, whose fame am I promoting? And if I have been given a good opportunity, and that's given me an audience, it's given me an influence, then will I have the courage that Peter has and says, the God of Abraham is the reason. It was in his name today that we're able to do this among you. God will move in our lives as we care for others. And as he does it, it creates beautiful opportunities to share the name of Christ. What a wonderful story, just wonderful. It comes right after Acts 2 and Pentecost and we can be part of that. And so let's be mindful of it today. My answer to Josh when he said, what do you do when you see homeless people? I said, it always brings conviction to me because what I ask myself is, if God was to lay upon my heart to do something right now, would I be able to hear Him and would I have the courage to do it? Am I living life sensitive enough that He can redirect my steps out of what seems rational and logical to something that's sacrificial for the sake of somebody else? And He will do that. The church and all the miraculous ways in which the gospel could have went forward. Acts chapter number three, two men go into a prayer meeting and they meet the need of somebody else and the gospel gets to 20,000 people. What is on the other side of your simple act of obedience this week? Let's be looking for it as its people. Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters in here today. Lord, I know that they are here today celebrating beautiful lives because other people have been obedient. Lord, I know they have been as well. But this is a new week, Father. We have new opportunities. So Lord, we prepare our hearts. We prepare our eyes as we look for the opportunities in which you have for us. With your heads bowed and your eyes closed, the Christmas begins to play. And as I do every Sunday, I want to just speak for a moment to the person in here today who's not a believer. Maybe you sit just right outside of that gate, beautiful. You're around us and are coming and going. And you know a lot about what's going on. But you have never recognized that you are completely helpless without Jesus Christ. As in with offering devotion today, you have not been willing to say, I'll give all that I have in exchange for this gift of life that is offered because it's a far greater value what Jesus has. I want to encourage you today, do not leave here today just staying outside of the gate beautiful. Today, come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Today, in this moment, repent of your sins, recognize your need for a Savior, and put your faith and trust in Him. And I would love nothing more to help you in your next step of discipleship, or help you as you look at God's Word and consider this. My wife and I will be down here at the front, and I give you that same challenge. I know silver and gold have I done, but what I have and what He's done, I want to share with you. And believer, would you make that same decision right now in your heart? As you go out, we are people with a message that can absolutely change this world. But we must first recognize that it's changed us. and that it is changing us. Heavenly Father, Lord, I want to pray right now, Father, for the opportunities that my brothers and sisters are going to have, Lord, for the gospel to go forward through acts of compassion, acts of obedience. Lord, we want to be mindful. Lord, may you direct the steps of your people. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.