"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (May 3, 2009)
*"These were men and women who went to the uttermost parts of the earth."
*"We follow a God who has defeated life, who breathes life into all who follow Him."
*"Everything may have changed, yet nothing was different."
*"Certain practices should not be abandoned after the fact."
*"This man was crippled. He didn't know what it was like to move like you are supposed to move."
*"He also got carried by people who were charitable to him. Are we carrying people to some place to bring them closer to God? Their faith should matter in your life. Be a person who brings people to the throne of grace."
*"Extend ourselves to the world around us."
*"Most people settle for what we think we need to get by."
*"People need to be treated with dignity. There is no them or us. We are all us."
*"He did not need to be shackled by shame. There is redemption. Remember the forgiveness. You are so weighed down by your past/what you have done. It is already paid for. There is no condemnation."
*"We still serve a God who heals."
*"There is no such thing as righteous indignation, if it keeps you from God. There is something in all of us that hopes to see someone made whole. People still need to see that Jesus still makes people whole."
I Peter 3:1-4
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you."
I John 4:11
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Psalms 25:5-6, 8-10
"guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
ood and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."
Romans 4:20-24
"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."
Isaiah 41:10
"o do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Psalms 139:7-10
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
