Acts 3:1-10
Quite an event!
What goes on inside you when you hear a story like this?
Who would like to have been there to see it?
Probably more exciting than anything you saw on TV last week!
BUT! If you are thinking about how good it would have been to be there and see it you have missed the point!
If you are thinking like a spectator you are missing God’s plan for your life!
Your desire should be to live a supernatural lifestyle – not just to witness supernatural events!
At the swimming pool you can buy a spectator ticket – the kingdom of God has no spectator tickets for sale!
There are opportunities to watch and learn, there are apprenticeships but there is no unemployment and there are no spectator seats
Acts 3:11-12 Why does this surprise you?
Quite a question! Probably think the answer is obvious!
David Blaine’s 17 minutes and 4 seconds breath hold was amazing – we should be amazed when people do things like that by their own power
Peter’s point though is that we should not be amazed when God’s people do his works in his power
V16 It was nothing to do with Peter and John!
We are used to the idea that there are people who can do things that we can’t – people who are fitter, stronger, younger, older or more intelligent that we are – such is life
But read the book of Acts and you will see another factor – not a natural factor – the supernatural – the power of the Holy Spirit
If you are born again then you are born for more than the ordinary – the trouble is we too easily settle for the ordinary
Many Christians live at the level “parking place” faith – just asking that God will smooth the path and make the journey a little easier
Will you pray with me right now that we will all grow in the supernatural? Are you ready for increase?
Some practical observations – how did it work for Peter and John?
Acts 4:8-12
1. Uncompromising there is no other name!
To compromise is to take a step towards mediocrity
Need to remember that our faith is based on radical truths – what Peter (filled with the Holy Spirit) said here was not PC then and it isn’t PC now – but it is true
We need to remain clear minded about the things that matter
Do you read your Bible? Do you take seriously what you read in it?
Two very basic questions – the honest answer to which for most Christians in this country is actually no!
NB to answer yes you really need to do more than read “Word for today” or similar and you need to obey the Bible even when it seems neither sensible nor safe to do so
A rock climber will tell you that sound anchors allow exploits!
Acts 4:13
2. Unexpected they were astonished!
Unschooled, ordinary men who had been with Jesus
Peter and John exceeded expectations – do you?
Are you a born again Christian? If so it is not enough to be what you are naturally
If you do not regularly exceed your natural abilities then you are not living the Christian life!
David Blaine – “stunts are not about magic, but about pushing the limits of the human body”
It’s amazing what unbelievers can achieve through determination and training – its amazing what we have at our disposal – remember who lives in you!
Not all called to hold our breath for 17 minutes – we are all called to do more than we can do
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
Do you exceed expectations or are you totally predictable?
Life is too short to play at it – we need to step out of the boat a whole lot more!
Are you worried about getting it wrong?
Worried that you might not glorify God if you make a mistake?
What is the worst scenario?
Step out and risk making a fool of me, or do nothing and risk missing the purposes of God?
When we use pious language about glorifying God we are often covering a fear of embarrassing ourselves
Are you expanding or contracting?
Biology – expansion is a sign of life
Physics – expansion is a sign of warming up
Contraction is a sign of death or cooling down
Are you growing? Is there more in you now than there used to be?
Acts 4:14
3. Undeniable there was nothing they could say
Before the Sanhedrin – the high priest and the rulers, elders and teachers of the law were there
There was no group more opposed to the message that they were preaching than this group
They were up against people who were fundamentally opposed to what they believed and yet those who opposed them were left both astonished and unable to deny that something amazing had happened
A man in the woods arguing that there are no bears can convince his companions that the woods are safe just so long as they don’t catch a glimpse of a bear!
Many people find it easy to dismiss the idea of a supernatural God but when the people of God begin to go beyond their natural limits it gets noticed
Don’t get all tied up with the idea of crippled people jumping out of wheelchairs
This is part of what God delights to do – but the really big issue is whether or not you as an individual are growing in your experience of the power of God
There is a whole load of stuff that is smaller than emptying wheelchairs but bigger than praying for parking spaces that we need to be living in
Don’t look to break other people’s records so much as breaking your own records!
What are the boundaries on your life? Break out of them and see for yourself who notices!
Acts 4:15-22
4. Uncontainable all the people were praising God for what had happened
When we learn to live supernatural lives word soon gets around
The rulers and authorities were not on the side of the Christians yet news spread and people saw that something good was going on
Many rulers and authorities in this country are not on our side – they would much rather that we were neither seen nor heard – yet if we live as we are called to live then they will not be able to put a lid on what is going on
When we see the supernatural released among us then testimonies will become more frequent and they will start to touch more people
Arguing with people who disagree with you can really do your head in and tie you in knots but speaking of what God has done in your life is dead easy – especially when a lot is going on!
When you speak out of what you are rather than trying to know the answers to the difficult questions that people throw at you it is so much easier!
What kind of life are you living? Is it: