WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE TO YOU
Acts 3:1-26
“What I do have I give to you” is a powerful statement for the true believer. We have so much to give to this sinful age. But, when a false teacher, or charlatan utters that statement, its only words, empty and lifeless, words that plays on your emotional needs. There are many false teachers, and false claims of miracles today, and this has plagued the church over the past few centuries. Minimizing or distorting the gospel, for personal healing and wealth. The likes of: Joyce Meyers, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Todd White, Todd Bentley; to name a few among hundreds.
Modern false healers are individuals who exploit physical or spiritual vulnerabilities for financial gain and influence, frequently using deceptive tactics like stage magic, hypnosis, rather than legitimate medical or therapeutic methods. They range from fraudulent faith healers to purveyors of untested alternative medicine. Charlatans trying to deceive others to make a quick dollar for themselves, by playing on the heart strings of impressionable sinners, seeking to find relief for their present pain and sufferings.
Disclosure: I truly believe that God can heal at any moment if His will it to happen, but God doesn’t need anyone to do that, or to take credit for it as they sit in million-dollar homes and have million-dollar Lear jets to fly them wherever they choose to.
Peter doesn’t do that! The Bible warns heavily against false healers and prophets, frequently describing them as deceivers who perform "signs and wonders" to mislead followers.
The Bible is very clear to watch out for this
type of evil person.
Matthew
7:15 Jesus warns us of those who claim to be speaking on behalf of God, "Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous
wolves."
Matthew
24:24 Jesus said,
"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs
and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Paul warns how slippery these charlatans truly are, "deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ" and reminds believers that Satan disguises himself as an "angel of light."
False teachers are among us, as they were, among the early church. This encounter debunks or destroys the health and wealth charlatan of any age as we see Peter and John enter the temple to worship as they did regularly because they had no other building outside of this to worship in.
What is before us is exactly that as we look at chapter three.
The Christian life is not
private, its personal, but never private.
The gospel is for fallen
sinners to hear and respond to the call of God on their lives.
The gospel is the reason the
church exists, and that missions exit around the world.
The power of the gospel is what
transforms sinners, and points them to the power of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This
chapter reveals to us…..
The Miracle Of God Points To Christ. (v1-v10)
Four aspects of this miracle
are noteworthy
It Was Unexpected, “Peter and John fixed their gaze upon him.” (v4) “Look at us” what is this lame beggar man hoping to receive from them? Healing! No, he was looking for money. But his momentary hopes would be squashed by what Peter would say to him, “I do not possess silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you.” (v6) Let’s stop for second! What possibly do you have that would benefit me in my crippled condition since birth. What do you have that I need instead of money? I can’t work; I can’t travel without the help of others. (v2) What do you have that could possibly be better than silver or gold? Little does this man know, or understand, that this encounter was by God’s sovereign providential plan to display the glory of God, through Christ. Like all of God’s works, this miracle was based on God’s sovereign will. The reason I say that is because there were hundreds of beggars like this man in Jerusalem. Many of them undoubtedly cripped as well, seeking others for money at this busy gate. This Gate was called “Beautiful” because it was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world, all the doors and gates within the temple were huge and beautiful. This temple Gate was made with bronze on the interior; it was covered completely with silver and gold. Josephus said it was made of Corinthian brass, and it was so large it took twenty men to close it. This Beautiful Gate separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Women.
This is where the lame man was placed, though they had three locations to beg from:
The house of the rich…. Luke
14:1-2
Main highway….. Mark…. 10:46
The Temple Gate…. Acts 3:1-10
Of the three locations, this gate was the best, because this temple area is where you gave your offering to the Lord. Why? Three foundations for the Jewish faith…. This included the Torah, worship, and showing kindness (giving of alms) Also, many came through into the temple to impress God with their piety with their offering to the Lord. This prepared mindset made them think by giving alms to the poor, this would show favor to God because they were already prepared to give their offerings in the temple. This man was completely oblivious to what is about to take place, that’s why this miracle was unexpected.
Secondly, It Was Done In The Name Of Jesus Christ. (v6b) The beggar had little to no reason to believe in Jesus Christ and Peter says, “walk” Peter makes sure everyone there, including this beggar, know that this is being done in accordance to Jesus’ power and authority. What Peter is doing is that he was acting on behalf of His Lord, with the power delegated to him and to have this power was consistent with Jesus’ will to do what He would do. This is what happened when Jesus called His disciples unto Himself. “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” Matt 10:1. Peter as an apostle, who was doing exactly what Christ required of Him according His will. This miracle and all its glory doesn’t belong to the one who spoke those words, but to the One who declared it from Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Peter reminds the listeners of where these miracles come from. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.” Acts 2:22. Peter was pointing to Christ, and not himself, all glory belongs to God. Every act of ministry outside the church and inside the church is to boast in Christ alone, not man. As Paul said, “so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Thirdly, This Miracle Was Instantaneous. (v7) This beggar’s confusion and disappointment didn’t last long as we see here. “Immediately” he didn’t waste on millisecond, he immediately stood on his feet. This wasn’t a gradual healing that would require years of muscle strengthening or rehabilitation to walk properly, since he wouldn’t know how to walk since he was lame from birth. When it comes to genuine healing, the Scripture knows nothing of progressive healing, it’s here the beggar didn’t even need to be taught how to walk.
This miracle was an instant healing, as we see with others….
The Centurions son, “And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.” Matt 8:13
The
woman who was discharging for 12 years,
“And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she
was healed of her disease.” Mark 5:29
The
man full of leprosy, “And
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And
immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke 5:13
The
man paralyzed by the pool for thirty-eight years. “And at once the man was healed, and he took up
his bed and walked….” John 5:9
The Lord’s healing was perfect
and instant, not progressive
with the hopes of getting
better.
Fourthly, this miracle was complete. (v8) This man is leaped for joy; this is what happens when your life has been transformed by God, through His sovereign grace and mercy. Like a child with a new toy, he could not resist using his new-found ability. This man walked for the very first time in his life; we were taught to walk as babies, this man did it without help, or rehabilitation to his bones, and muscle groups. How amazing is this! We take walking for granted, even lazily drive to prevent from walking, and here is a man excited beyond words to use his new legs for the first time. And he does with extreme joy and worship towards the Lord Jesus Christ.
What this miracle reveals to us, is that its….
immediate.
unquestionable.
irreversible.
not dependent on special
healing services.
not solely dependent on faith.
much more than curing a cold.
accompanying a call to flee
from sin and judgement.
not dependent on continuous
confessions.
not solely dependent on
proximity.
It is God’s desire that all His children experience joy, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11. The greatest praise this temple has seen in decades was the praise of this beggar. This miracle led to Peter’s second sermon, pointing to Christ in the gospel.
The Message Is Always Christ Centred.
(v11-v26)
Peter holds no punches when he indites the people because of their ignorance.
(v13) You handed over Jesus
(v13b) You’re worse than Pilate
(v14) You traded the Holy and
Righteous One for a murderer.
(v15) You killed the One who
gave you life.
(v17) You’re ignorant
(v18-v25) You don’t understand
the Bible
(v26) You denied your privilege
(v26b) You’re wicked
In light of these serious charges, Peter has one word for them, “Repent” When you see the wickedness of these people and the wickedness of our day, you begin to ask!
Is there any hope for such
wicked people?
The answer to that question is Yes!
(v19-v21) Peter offers such hope for wicked, ignorant sinners, like them, like you and me. (v19) reveals that there is absolute hope if you turn from your sin. Paul said, “For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Cor 7:8-10. Peter says, your sins will be “blotted out” what a beautiful word picture. See! Parchment was very expensive, so sometimes scribes used acid-free ink as they wrote on it. The ink just lay on top of the parchment, so a person could take a wet sponge and wipe a message away, blotting it out. What Peter is saying is that our sins can be blotted away, wiped away by God’s divine eraser. For example, all your sins are on a dry-eraser board, pondering that list of your sin recorded on that dry-eraser board. You begin to feel the weight of those sins as judgement is around the corner.
Shame, and brokenness come upon you, and through genuine repentance God’s blots away all your sins. It’s through genuine repentance, a brokenness over your own sin, is where we see and taste the promises that He will turn us away from our wicked ways. (v26) Genuine repentance acknowledges one’s sin…. Taking full responsibility and being honest about personal wrongdoings before a holy God. Genuine repentance is a turning away from my sin….. Actively turning away from behaviors, thoughts, or sins that separate you from God. Genuine repentance is restitution….. Making amends or reversing the harmful effects of the wrong wherever possible.
This
is the call for the church to proclaim today, as Jesus said,
“Repent or you will likewise perish.”
Jesus said, No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3. This is a sobering statement spoken by Jesus, that serves as a universal warning that all people are sinners and need to turn to God. It’s a word this pampered age doesn’t like to hear or be told. But we must be confronted with this word, because we are all sinners apart from Christ….and without repentance there is no forgiveness of sins. Its this Christ, who suffered, bleed and died, on a Romans cross, as He faced the full fury of the Father ‘s wrath so that we could be declared righteous and clean. All our sins are wiped away, there is no condemnation, all our wrongs are wiped clean. And as sure as Jesus wipes away all our sin, there is a future where He wipes away all our sorrow and all our tears. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21:4
Blotted out…. It’s through repentance we can enjoy spiritual refreshment. (v20) Peter doesn’t hesitate to preach about the dreadful extent of human depravity, as he declares to the residents of Jerusalem and anyone who is listening. (v17) The listeners can clearly now know that God’s plan was for the Christ to suffer as a payment for their sin and rebellion. The gospel puts people at the crossroads; therefore, they can’t shrug off this sermon like so many people today; they must respond because you are now accountable. Peter points to the ultimate restoration of all things as we read in (v19-v21). The redeemed child, the church family, is to solely ground your hope in Christ’s ultimate finished work on the cross to reconcile us to the Father. Rather than, current earthly circumstances, we are to rest in the spiritual renewal that comes from a restored relationship with God. Peter didn't just perform a good deed; he used the miracle as a "visual aid" to preach the Gospel.
We, today, are to be looking for natural, everyday opportunities to bridge acts of service with the message of salvation, offering people the grace to turn away from their sin. Just like we tell the kids in DVBS to look for “God Sightings”, because here we can use those sightings as a means to share the gospel with those around us. The purpose for the miracles in the early church age was to reveal the glory of God to the people and reveal judgement on the Jewish people, for their ignorance. The miracles of the apostles and the gospel is what the early church was predicated upon.
Now that we have the full cannon of Scripture, and established place of worship, the church becomes witnesses of Biblical truth founded in the Scriptures.
I
don’t need a miracle to believe the gospel.
I
don’t need a prayer answered to believe the gospel.
I
don’t need to see a close friend to be healed of cancer to believe the gospel.
I
don’t need to see my name written in a cloud to believe the gospel.
I
don’t need to see or hear the audible voice God, to believe the gospel.
I need! the Christ of the gospel clearly preached into my heart, that reveals to me that I am a great sinner, in need of a Mighty Saviour. This is what Peter is preaching, this is what caused the beggar to leap and worship about, and this is what struck a chord, anger with the religious elites as we will see in chapter four. The gospel is offensive to those who love darkness, but for those who are being saved, it is the power of God unto salvation. It’s through the gospel that Christ gives us hope to endure the difficulties of this life, because He has given us the promise of glory that is to come. What do we have that we can give to people today? The unadulterated gospel truth!
Something we need to be clear about, and that is… beyond the book of Acts we never see, or hear, of another person being healed. Why? The local church was established, and the testimonies of the gospel are believed, the gospel is being followed by sinners, and people are being born again through the gospel message. In the book of Acts, thousands were being saved, and they had no where to worship other than from house to house. They had no local church, no established place like Calvary Baptist in Killaloe to attend each and every week. When Paul wrote to the established churches in the New Testament we are witnesses to death, persecution, suffering, pain, anguish; but joy and peace because of the gospel promises. No miracle accounts, but resting in pure... grace and mercy which is the greatest miracle given to sinners who have been rebellious their whole lives apart from the gospel confession.
Peter reminds the believer about this joy, “…… In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:1-9
We worship today not looking for healing in order to believe, but to find rest and comfort in the pain, in the suffering, and in the hope of healing if He wills it to. This chapter reveals to the church, that we align our personal priorities with God's mission. We do this by demonstrating tangible compassion, giving Christ the glory for all works, and persistently calling others to repent and experience spiritual renewal. Your life, and my life, must always be constantly pointing to Christ and His saving work.
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