The Kingdom among Us: Acts 3 (2)

Pray Psalm 142.1, 2, 5, 6.
I cry out to the LORD with my voice;
With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble…
I cried out to You, O LORD:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.

Sing Psalm 142.1, 2, 5, 6.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
With my voice, O Lord, I cry – hear my plea for mercy, Lord!
My complaint mounts up on high, bringing You my troubled word:
Refrain vv. 5, 6
Lord, You are my Refuge strong! O receive my plaintive song!

Read Acts 3.1-8; meditate on verses 2-8.

Preparation
1. What was this man’s condition when Peter and John encountered him?

2. What did Peter do for him?

Meditation
This is truly a “beautiful” story, and not just because of where it takes place. Luke uses that location to highlight the beauty of the story and make a point about the Kingdom and its impact.

This man was going about his usual business, seeking alms from passersby, hoping merely for enough to survive. He had no prospects of anything more, having been lame from birth. He was without hope or prospects, in a body that was crippled and dying.

We note the power of grace here: Even when this man looked at Peter, he was expecting nothing more than a coin or two. He wasn’t looking to be healed. But Peter was on a mission that was more than material in nature, and he gave this man something far more valuable than what any amount of money could buy.

We note the combination of the command to rise, the invocation of the name of Jesus, and the helpful gesture. Faith acts through works of various kinds to bring the blessings of God to men. It is just such actions that make the Church and the Name of Jesus beautiful and a source of joy in any community (Ps. 48.1, 2).

Luke’s noting that the man rose up (was “lifted up”), became strengthened in his feet and ankles, and began leaping and walking about is a true picture of the healing, restoring, and reconciling power of the Kingdom of God. Human beings were made “upright” in every way (Eccl. 7.29). But sin has enfeebled us, and brings corruption into culture and society. Only words and works of grace and faith can restore us to our upright place before God – a place defined by wholeness and worship.

The power of the Kingdom flows to other people and into cultural arenas (like the temple) through the faith and work of Kingdom citizens, bringing healing and restoration to many people in many ways. Where will you make a beautiful impact for Him today?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Then the lame shall leap like a deer…” (Is. 35.6).
“There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel” (Prov. 20.15).
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn. 14.12).

Two of these verses they had read. The third they were told first-hand by Jesus.

And they had also been told this: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,  He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (Jn. 14.26).

There Peter and John are. Full of the Holy Spirit. Living circumspectly in their Personal Mission Fields. On their way to church. And a distraction happens. In the bustling crowd a voice calls out to them for help. And having already learned from Jesus that people are more important than the program, they stopped to see what they could do. And as they stopped, the Holy Spirit was already bringing to their minds the things they knew from Scripture about the potential possibilities in this moment.

And maybe even, when the lame man only asked for alms, Jesus’ response to the Sadducees came to mind, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22.29).

The lame man was mistaken in his request; unaware that the disciples had so much more to offer than money.

And so do we. Is it possible, though, that those around us don’t know the goodness we have to offer?

We know the Scriptures, we know the power of God, we have repented and been forgiven, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have been commanded to go into all the world with this Good News. But are we? Are we able to recognize that others need so much more than what they may be asking for? Pocket change, instead of the gift of becoming a whole new creation? (2 Cor. 5.17)

Let’s reach out our hand to those lame from birth, dead in their trespasses and sins. Those just like we were (Eph. 2.1). Let’s tell them about “… God, who is rich in mercy, [who] because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…” (Eph. 2.4, 5).

We just need to be ready and confident enough to say, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up!” (Acts 3.6) “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Eph. 5.2).

For reflection
1. What could you do to be more available to the Spirit for telling others about Jesus?

2. How can churches become more consistent in taking the Good News of Jesus to their communities?

3. To whom can you reach out a hand today to show them the love of Jesus?

Such was also the way of Christ. Often he healed by word, often by an act, often he also held out his hand, when the people were somewhat weak in faith, so that the cure should not seem to occur by itself. “And he took him by the right hand and raised him up.” This act made manifest the resurrection, for it was an image of the resurrection. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 8

Pray Psalm 142.3-7.
Whatever are your burdens or challenges, give them to the Lord in prayer. Roll them onto Him, then rise up, giving thanks and praise that He has heard your prayers and will carry you through.

Sing Psalm 142.3-7.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
When my spirit faints away, You my falt’ring pathway know;
Where I take my journey they traps have hidden to my woe.
Refrain vv. 5, 6
Lord, You are my Refuge strong! O receive my plaintive song!

Lord, look to my right and see: None takes notice of my plight.
Is there refuge left for me? Is my soul out of Your sight?
Refrain

Hear my cry, Lord, I am low! They are strong who seek my soul.
Jesus frees from every foe; He will keep and make me whole!
Refrain

Out of prison lead me, Lord; thanks and praise to You shall be.
Righteous men armed with Your Word will Your grace bestow on me.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.