The Kingdom among Us: Acts 3 (7)

Pray Psalm 72.1-4.
Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.

Sing Psalm 72.1-4.
(Martyrdom: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed)
O give the King Your judgment, Lord, and righteousness Your Son;
and let Him judge by Your good Word the need of every one.

Let now the mountains ring with peace, the hills in righteousness.
Let justice rise, oppression cease, and all the needy bless.

Read Acts 3.1-26; meditate on verses 12-16.

Preparation
1. What got the attention of the crowd?

2. How did Peter respond to their amazement?

Meditation
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the long-promised Kingdom of God was established on the earth. For the Christian, seeking the Kingdom must be the defining priority of life (Matt. 6.33). We pray that the Kingdom will come on earth in the same way that it exists in heaven, with ever-increasing measures of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, and with power for making all things new (Matt. 6.10; Rom. 14.17, 18; 1 Cor. 4.20; Rev. 22.5).

But how does that happen? How does this glorious new realm and economy come into being on earth as it is in heaven? Acts 3 answers that question and lays a cornerstone for the rest of the book of Acts. The Kingdom comes by the good works and true words of those in whom that Kingdom has become established.

Christians are called to be witnesses to Jesus Christ (Acts 1.8), to bear testimony to Him and His salvation, speaking the truth in love at every opportunity (Eph. 4.15). But these words will only be credible as they issue from lives devoted to good works of love and service (Eph. 2.10; Titus 2.11-14). Doing good and speaking truth are the identifying marks of the presence of the Kingdom of God.

We who believe in Jesus are citizens and ambassadors in the Kingdom of God. This is not a calling to passivity, but to action. We must not grow weary in doing good to others (Gal. 6.9, 10); and we must be always ready, when our good works impact the people around us, to give an explanation for the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3.15).

Every day, every situation, every opportunity: Good works, true words.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Have you ever been to a church service where folks are invited to give praise to God, and it all ends up being about the person speaking? Is that the way it should be? Let’s see how Peter handled this.

In Acts 3, outside the church service, a hubbub has arisen because by a Word, the Name of Jesus, a man lame from birth is now “walking, leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3.9). Already the focus is on Peter, the man of the moment, who has done an incredible act of healing, and the folks are “greatly amazed” (Acts 3.11). Will he falter? Will he allow it to be about him? What exactly was his response?
1. Why do you marvel at this?
2. Why are you looking at us?
3. How could you think that we did this in our own power?
4. Do you really think our godliness has made this man well?

Peter is saying what John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3.30).

This miracle, as all miracles, has happened because of the Name of Jesus. “…His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know” (Acts 3.16).

This was not a miracle that they read about in the Jerusalem Times, about someone that they didn’t know. This was someone that they had seen with their own eyes every time they went to church. They knew his parents. They knew his siblings. They knew him. And now they saw him healed. And how? Healed by faith in a Name. But not just any Name. The Name of Jesus:
“…our Redeemer, from Everlasting is Your name” (Is. 63.16).
“…to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings…” (Mal. 4.2).
“…hallowed be Your name” (Matt. 6.9).
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” (Jn. 1.12)
“….God…has given Him the name which is above every name…” (Phil. 2.9)
“…hold fast to My name” (Rev. 2.13)
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4.12).

Peter was establishing the premise for all miracles henceforth to be performed. He was clarifying the power behind the miracles, and he was making clear the point of good works. He was taking the focus off himself and placing it directly upon the risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Doing good and speaking truth are the identifying marks of the presence of the Kingdom of God.”

“This is not a calling to passivity, but to action.”

True words. Good works. Pointing always to Jesus.

For reflection
1. How can you continue to be mindful, throughout the day, of opportunities for doing good and speaking truth?

2. Why are both works and words important for expressing the reality of the Kingdom?

3. How can you encourage the believers in your life to greater consistency in good works and true words?

Peter pointed to the healing of the beggar as a sign of the glorification of Christ. The people had handed Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified. Yet God had raised the crucified Jesus from the dead. It was in the name of this very same Jesus that the crippled man was healed. Earl Radmacher (1931-2014), NKJV Study Bible Note on Acts 3.13-16

Pray Psalm 72.5-11.
Pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom by the words and deeds of His faithful servants. Ask Him to show you how His Kingdom can come through you this day.

Sing Psalm 72.5-11.
(Martyrdom: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed)
Let nations fear You while the sun and moon endure on high;
refresh, renew us, every one, like sweet rain falling from the sky.

Let righteousness abundant be where Jesus’ reign endures;
Let peace increase from sea to sea ‘til moonlight shall be no more.

And let the Righteous rule the earth, and let His foes bow low;
let nations praise His matchless worth, and all His bidding do.

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to a summary of last week’s Scriptorium study by going to our website, www.ailbe.org, and clicking theScriptorium tab for last Sunday. For more about what Jesus is doing at the right hand of God, order a free copy of our book, What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? (click here).

You can download any or all of the studies in this series on Acts by clicking here.

As you work through Scriptorium each day, give thanks to God that He provides the means for us to be able to present this daily study. Pray that we might reach many new readers for Scriptorium, and consider how you might help in this effort by telling your friends about it, sharing a daily study with them, or beginning a study group of your own using our Scriptorium studies. If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal or Anedot, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

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.