The Reporter     Volume 46 # 13,  --  March 31, 2006

 

The Prophet Sent From God

– Acts Three  – 

 

  There are many sad situations in our word. As Peter and John entered the Beautiful Gate of the Temple a man that had been lame from his mother’s womb confronted them. The lame man was healed by the power of God. This miracle opened the door for Peter's second sermon. The man was healed with simply the speaking of a word. "Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6)

 

   The people were astonished at what had happened. "And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him." (Acts 3:9-10) The apostles were quick to let the people know that the lame man was not healed by their own power. He was healed through the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom the people had crucified.

 

   The purpose of Peter's sermon was to bring these people to Christ. They were taught to repent of their sin and be converted. The motivation for such obedience was the fact that Jesus was that prophet spoken of by Moses. The Old Testament  worthies pointed  to Jesus and to the salvation that can only be obtained through Him. Christ came as fulfillment of the covenant God had made with Abraham. The purpose of His coming was to turn sinners from their iniquities.

  

   A lame man needed help – Acts 3:1-5: Peter and John were together often. Here they go together into the Temple. Their purpose was not to make sacrifice. The Jewish sacrifices were abolished by the sacrifice of Christ. They went into the temple: (1) to pray, and (2) that they might have the opportunity to preach the gospel there. The Temple was a gathering place for many people. They entered the Temple at about the ninth hour or about three o'clock in the afternoon.

 

   As the apostles entered the Temple they come face to face with a lame man. This poor fellow had been lame from his mother's womb. He was carried by others and laid at the gate of the Temple that is called Beautiful. His affliction had caused him to be dependent on others. He was there to ask alms or beg from the ones that entered the Temple. He asked alms of Peter and John. Peter and John looked carefully at the man and ask him to look at them. He looked at them expecting to receive something from them. What he expected was a little money, not a cure for his lameness.

 

   A notable miracle was performed – Acts 3:6-10: How disappointed the poor man must have been when the apostles told him that they had no money. His disappointment quickly turned to joy when they said, "such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6) Just as Peter had seen Jesus do, he took the man by the right hand and lifted him up. Where there had been weakness, immediately there was strength.

 

   The reaction of the man was beautiful. He leaped up, stood and walked. His cure was perfect and complete. The man joined the apostles as they went into the Temple to pray and acknowledge the goodness of God. The words of Isaiah 35:6 "Then shall the lame man leap as an hart..." were fulfilled in this man. The healed man also praised God. He did not praise the apostles. He realized that his healing came from God. The people saw the man that had been lame for those many years walking into the Temple to praise God. It was clear to them that this was the beggar that they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. The people were filled with amazement at what had transpired.

 

   An opportunity to preach the gospel – Acts 3:11-18: The man that was healed to Peter and John. He knew that they were instruments through whom God had worked. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob had made this man whole. Peter was alert to the opportunity that the miracle brought to preach the gospel. The apostles were careful to show that the miracle was performed by the power of God, not by their power. The man was made whole through the name of Jesus and faith in His name.

 

   The apostles charged these people with delivering up Jesus and killing the Prince of Life. Peter explained that God had glorified Jesus by raising Him from the dead, setting him at His own right hand, and by this notable miracle that had been done on the lame man. He gave the people hope by showing that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Peter said that it was through ignorance that these people had denied the Son of God. It was no surprise that Christ suffered. The prophets had predicted that He would.

 

   Recognizing their duty to God – Acts 3:19-26: The people were told to repent and be converted, so that their sins might be blotted out. Refreshment, joy, and peace come with the blotting out of sins. God sent Jesus to give them hope. He is that prophet like Moses. The one that does not hear Jesus will be destroyed from among the people. The work of Jesus Christ is redemption by His blood.

 

   The primary and immediate thing in view here is the accomplishment of all those things that had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets. They are now being completed in and by Jesus Christ. The message was, "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:22-23)

 

   All of His doctrines are to be believed, and all His commands are to be obeyed. The person that will not believe what He says, nor do what He commands will be destroyed. God will hold us responsible for what we do with His message. Let us learn that Jesus, the seed of Abraham, will gladly bless people through the forgiveness of sins.

 

   Have you been converted? Faith in the Christ is the beginning point of an acceptable relationship with God. (Romans 10:17) None can have salvation without hearing and believing the salvation message. (Mark 16:15-16) Repentance is necessary for salvation. (Luke 13:3) Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action or a change in life. A simple confession of faith in Jesus made by one's mouth is a necessary step in conversion. (Romans 10:9-10) Those that put on Christ must be baptized into Him. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) At baptism one stops being out of Christ. If you are saved praise God for what He has done for you.

 

 - - - - Charles Box

 

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: West Florida Hospital – Pensacola: Darlene Herring. In Need Of Prayers: Malachi Beauchamp, Pattie Benson, Carolyn Duncan, Ethel Gafford, Jean Gafford, Roy Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Evan Hartsell, Frank Johnson, Jessie Kennemore, Mary Lawrence, Evelyn Lewis, Jesse Mae Powell, Mary Powell, Mary Lou Terrell (after some time in the hospital), and Anna Salter. Crowne Health Care: Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Bertha Phelps, and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Wilmer Howell. Shut-Ins: Jean Hayes, Mary Lou Phelps, and Mary Tindal.

 

2. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to the family of Mickey Piggott.

 

3. Remember To Pray: Alan Jackson needs our prayers as he serves in Iraq. Alan’s address is SPC Nathan A. Jackson, B-BTRY 1/117^th FA, APO AE09378, 3^rd PLT. Pray for him and write to him often. Also begin praying for Jason Godwin. He will go to Iraq in a few months.

 

4. Pray For: Thomas Phillips as he is on a two month trip to South America.

 

5. Biscuits Baseball Game: A trip is planned for a Biscuits Baseball game on Saturday, May 13^th. Tickets are $8 each and must be purchased by April 2^nd. See Darrell Powell for details.

 

6. Bridal Shower: All ladies are invited to a bridal shower honoring Dorothy Hope, bride elect of Nathaniel Faulkenberry on Sunday, April 2^nd at 2 o’clock in the all-purpose room.

 

7. Prom Alternative: On April 7^th-8^th high school juniors and seniors are invited to attend this formal banquet. Financial support to fund this activity would be greatly appreciated. See Darrell or Jamie Powell for more info.

 

8. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: April 4^th Samuel Cauthen, April 5^th Stacey Black, and April 6^th Andrew Cauthen.

 

9. Men’s Leadership Class: The Wednesday night men’s leadership class meets in the all-purpose room. All men are invited.

 

10. 50 Years Marriages: Donnie Hillard at Faulkner University “Cloverdale Center For Family Strengths” is searching for Christian families that have been married for over 50 years. If you are among this number contact him at 1-800-879-9816 or dhillard@faulkner.edu.

 

11. A Note From The Chavers Family: Dear Walnut Street Church of Christ, We are truly blessed to be a part of your family at Walnut Street. We’ve been in Ozark for over four months. Everything’s going well. The kids are happy at school. Things are so much better. God bless you all! Love, Edna, Doug, Krissy, Brentney & Bailey Chavers and Susie Till (Their address is 2653 South Union Avenue, Ozark, Alabama 36360)

 

12. You May Want To Consider: TY Guardian, www.familysafemedia.com has a device that will block out profanity and other words not fit for Christian ears to hear.

 

13. Web Site: Our web is improving daily. The address is www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org. Updates are frequently being made, so visit it often. The entire Revelation series is now available.

 

14. Area Events: (a) April 2^nd-4^th – Gospel Meeting – North Lowndes Church of Christ – Speaker: Kyle Butt – Time: Sunday Bible Study 9:00 a.m., morning worship 10:00 a.m. and evening worship at 6:00 and weeknights 7:00. (b) April 7^th – Area-wide Congregational Singing – Tallassee Church of Christ – Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m. (c) April 9^th-12^th – Gospel Meeting – Luverne Church of Christ – Speaker: Rusty Adair – evening services at 7:30 (d) April 10^th-12^th – Gospel Meeting – Fairhope Church of Christ – Speaker: Buck Hall – Time: 7:00 p.m. (e) April 21^st-23^rd – Gospel Meeting – Lineville Church of Christ – Speaker: Ken Butterworth – Time: 7:00 p.m. (f)   June 18^th-23^rd – “National Worship for the Deaf” – Niceville Church of Christ – call 850-678-2911 for details. (g) July 9^th-14^th – Backwoods Christian Camp.

 

The Last Chance Kick

 

   Football fans have seen it hundreds of times.  The offense gets the ball and drives down the field. They run it, pass it, reverse it, or anything else they can think of to move the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. Then, if all that fails, and if they are close enough to the goal post, they will bring on the kicker to try for a field goal. This is a good strategy for a football team, however many people seem to apply the same concept to their relationship with God. These are the ones who will try everything to make things work out the way they want. Then when all of that is unsuccessful, they will turn to God like a sort of “last chance kick.” 

 

   Of course, you can see the folly in this way of life. Yes, in football, six points are better than three points, but in life we win every time that we seek God first! Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33). When we think of God first, we can be sure that we will have what we need. Let’s think about some circumstances in which we might be tempted to handle things ourselves before seeking God’s help.

 

   There are those who say, “I just have to get the problems in my family straightened out first, and then I will begin serving God faithfully.”  First of all, Jesus once said, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37). By choosing to neglect God while tending to our families, we show that our greater desire is for family, not God. However, God wants us to take care of our families, and He knows that the best thing we can do for them is to teach them that serving Him must be our first priority. Failing to do this will have disastrous, eternal consequences (Jn 3:36).

 

   I suppose we are all tempted to try to work out our own problems in life. Even when I pray, sometimes I have to fight the idea that the burden is all on me, or that I know how to handle things myself. But the Bible makes it clear that we are not capable of directing our own steps (Jer 10:23).

 

   God never intended prayer or Bible study to be a last resort. Go to God all the time, and trust in Him before trusting in other things.

-          - - - Darrell Powell

-           

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)