In God’s Service

Text:

Acts 3:1-8:

1: Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2: And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3: Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4: And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5: And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6: Then 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.

7: And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8: And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 

Theme:

In God’s Service

 

Introduction:

• Our theme focuses on SERVICE:
  • The act of one serving another
  • In the world:
    • Restaurants provide service in getting food
    • A mechanic services a car to either fix it or prevent it from breaking down
  • In life:
    • We serve our parents as children
    • Parents serve children
    • We provide a service to our employer in order to be paid a salary
    • Depending on how we feel about them, we serve other people.

In God’s Service:

• We enter church to worship, and we leave to SERVE.
• • The song writer from the Georgia Mass Choir wrote,

How much do I owe?

I owe Him my life

I owe Him my praise

I owe Him my service

For the rest of my days.

• My LIFE – Salvation
• My PRAISE – Worship
• My SERVICE!

In God’s Service

• Our text gives us an example of being in God’s Service:
  • Acts of the Apostles is the 5^th book of the New Testament and the final book of history of the New Testament.
  • Acts was written by Doctor Luke, that “Beloved Physician” mostly during his time in Rome.
  • Although it is entitled Acts of the Apostles, the book actually focuses primarily on the activity of Peter and Paul.
  • The key to the contents of the book is in Acts 1:8, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
  • It is only a book of beginnings, a history of the founding of churches, the initial steps in the formation of the Christian society in the different places.
    • Chapters 1-12 – First 12 years of the Christian church – ministry of Peter – From Jerusalem to Antioch
    • Chapters 13-21 – Paul’s missionary years – planting of the church among the Gentiles
    • Chapters 21-28 – Paul at Rome – From Antioch to Rome

 

Body:

• PREPARATION
  • The 3^rd chapter begins with Peter and John
    • 1, “Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer”
    • Peter and John had gone through some things to now experience and difference in their daily activity.
    • We must maintain our personal relationship with God
      • Peter and John still were good stewards of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are we?
        • Daily devotion
        • Prayer and Meditation
        • Not forsaking the assembly of the brethren
        • Tithes and offering

SITUATION

• 2 then refers to a man who was lame from birth, “whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple”
  • Luke 10:2 tells us that “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
  • There is a need for laborers in God’s vineyard…whether you see it or not.
• But in the case of the apostles, V.4 says, “Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John”
  • Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I am found.  I was blind but now I see.
  • We can see the needs of others!
• Then in V.4-5 Peter says, “Look on us… And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them”
  • A couple driving down the highway notices that the gas hand in their car has moved over to the E position. After seeing a sign that clearly advertises GAS at the next exit coming, they pull over at that exit and pull into the station fully expecting for their dilemma to be resolved, their problem to be solved, their empty tank to be filled.
  • When the lame man gave heed to Peter and John, he was expecting some relief from them.
    • The man thought that the relief was money
  • 6, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:.”
    • God uses us just as we are
    • “Just as I am without one plea, but that thy Blood was shed for me.”
    • SUCH AS I HAVE – coat, food, time, love, concern, but the greatest is JESUS
      • Can’t give Jesus if you don’t have Jesus!

 

Conclusion:

• EXHILARATION
• Peter and John gave him a special gift in V.6-7, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up”
  • We are in others hands
    • Doctor
    • Parents
    • Friends
    • Loved ones
  • We are then in God’s hands
    • He holds us
  • Then we are to reach our hands to others!
    • Jesus told Peter “If you love me, FEED MY SHEEP!”
    • If God has been good to you, help somebody else.
    • If I have helped someone along the way, then my living will not be in vain!!
• 7-8, “immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked”
  • A change, a change has come over me!
• 8, “and entered with them into the temple”
  • We are alone but not alone! —  IN GOD’S SERVICE
• 8, “walking, and leaping, and praising God”
  • JOY being IN GOD’S SERVICE

 

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