Acts Chapter 3:1-5

God is using you and the region, and he wants to use you on a daily basis to be open and look for people look for people who might need five might need prayer. Reach out to extend yourself and watch what the Lord will do well.

I'm a little uncomfortable with that all would forget about that when Jesus said as long as you're comfortable with this go until everyone as long as you out of your comfort zone survey when we get everyone else, especially telling welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Today we have with this is a special guest DA Brown is one of David McGee's associate pastor. He's been raised up in ministry ministry program.

This teaching about church is going to be a good one. People sometimes don't realize the opportunity churches the opportunity for us to go and be blessed but also the opportunity for us to go be a blessing you want to hear this teaching Bob about how the church can be in each one of our life. That sounds good brother. Now, here is David McGee with his teaching, God still feels turn with me to acts chapter 3 back to talk about the early history of the church. I think there's a lot of lessons on what we could be doing and what we should be doing and there's some real challenges and when we look at this passage this morning they were going to see some things that will help us to live our lives more for the Lord and less for ourselves.

Acts chapter 3 verse one says now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour what you notice a couple things number one are going to the temple what temple with this event, it would amend the temple on the Temple Mount and what happens sometimes as Christians we forget our Jewish roots. Christianity has its roots in Judaism has its roots in the Jewish faith. Jesus was a Jewish man born into a Jewish family.

He was spent a lot of time in Jerusalem. That's where he was crucified. That's where he was resurrected and that's where he ascended and that's where he promises to come back and yet so often the church now takes more its roots from happens in Greek philosophy's then Hebrew Scriptures from the Old Testament to see a lot of that as we go to this chapter does that mean we need to revert back to the law that we might need to be safe. Now that doesn't mean we revert back to the law not asking anybody do that recognize that the roots of Christianity are the Jewish faith.

That's just biblical fact, if you can talk something different.

Let me apologize to you know to you. For whoever was teaching you, but it was not good. Such a benefit in going through the Hebrew Scriptures as we look at this. They were going to the temple what for for the hour of prayer for the hour of prayer that hour was spent 15 minutes in silent meditation.

Don't let that freak you out. Meditation is not a new age term biblical term. The new age people ripped off from Christian and then 30 minutes in petition asking the Lord for things in the 15 minutes of adoration. I noticed they went to the temple mount. We should go to church. I sat with so many people that have tried to tell me pastor, major nature, I can worship God. I can actually worship God when I don't go to church up heard all this stuff before. My question usually is to that person now to church fellowship. How's it going. When I asked that question person after person, drops the rows stumbles around little bit is not going well because we need each other to encourage one another. You don't need the church to get saved to be forgiven of your sins but you know what the reality is most of us in here and most of people in general that have come to Jesus and asked him to forgive the mother since did in the church. Most of the church is not perfect. Never has been, never will be, but it's a vehicle that God ordained not man-to-man didn't come up with this God ordained the life lesson here. We should attend church, we should attend church. It gives us an opportunity to be encouraged to learn from the Bible gives us a place to bring friends that we might bring them the Jesus gives us a place where we can start to pour out our lives and get to know other people who say they're following Jesus as well so we should be in church we should be the church to assist Peter and John understand they both had made some pretty serious mistakes in their ministries. If you remember, Jesus sent John out to minister to people in an and John didn't like the reaction and tried to call down fire from heaven to Frio crispy critters you know I mean the course, Jesus had the wisdom not to give John the ability grateful I don't have that ability.

I know I use it I mean yeah I bet you would do.

I know I would not be like all echoes fall asleep so God's wisdom had given me that ability.

John was missing and Peter course with the denial but there together again. They had reason to have reasons not to serve your Peter could look to Jonathan, I'm not certain when you try to call them five course John could look at things on my sermon with you.

You need the Lord they served together, you can always come up with reasons to not serve alongside somebody else as soon as you get to know you, but you know what in love, loved ones, family those early reasons as excuses because everybody's normal into you get to know and when you get to know him got all my goodness there and I can't believe they're messed up there. There I think there is messed up as I am, made even more than you think. While not concerned with them. You can always do that but you know what there is one can only reason to serve alongside one another are keen Jesus is asked us to do that to join together to reach out to people that reason supersedes the differences that we may have with one another are weaknesses we need to understand that the first two says in a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, and they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful, to ask all from those who entered the temple to the guy had been laying from birth all of his life and would hang outside the temple and ask alms asked for money now. The temple is called beautiful other places nickel nor the word beautiful in the Hebrew is your file. It's because job which is derivation of that word was. This was the road into the temple from Joppa which is near modern-day Tel Aviv. Now this man is unable to cure himself and obviously is been there since birth. He can't cure himself.

Identify what I resonate with that especially somebody that struggled for years and years with addictions and different things. You know they had that whole just say no thing in.

I thought they said just say mode, so I got not get but that didn't work like a huge vacuum empty place in my life I can heal myself. I got a chuckle when I going to some Christian bookstores and other bookstores, as he always self-help books. There's not really any help itself helping God, God will give you everything that you need to live a life of victory, but to think that you can pull something up inside of you. That's not from God or unspiritual your flesh can overcome your flesh. Does that make any sense any more than this man, healing himself man can heal himself, but God had a plan, you may not be able to heal yourself.

God has a plan certainly we can all agree that we have no cure for sin.

The greatest diseases kill the most people in this world we don't have a cure for our good works cure for no absolutely not. Is religion a cure for no what secure percent. There's only one cure messed Jesus, you can say will ask on their monitoring. There's one cure but is often think of him standing from the doctor and he says you know you got a terminal disease. That's the bad news. The good news is I got a medication that will carry on the look of the docking to lose early will and is a man. I'm so glad there's a medication that there is a cure for the disease I have Jesus is that cure verse three this man who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for all asked for money. Let me ask you question is what he really needed a really need money not needing to be healed. So many of us think we need money I need money bye-bye could have this little bit more I'd be happy.

I thought of that different times in my life but you know when I found it when when money came through or whatever and make me happy and I was glad one day when the Lord just blew apart that illusion thinking that that's what I really needed what I need is Jesus. Sometimes you don't realize that Jesus is all you need to Jesus all you got any realize it things in your life you can do without God is not one of so this man asked not for what he really needs something else that will see Peter and John and they have three things that we should note in actually attempt to imitate. One is a sensitive heart, sensitive heart discerning mines and powerful words, sensitive heart discerning mines powerful words, they can have wisdom in dealing with this man.

I'm sure they could've gone in, got some money together discovered a few verses I didn't have any necessarily on them but just says in the last chapter that they sold everything that a common treasury so they had finances to their access you know and it's it's we have a and all given the people who are in need was an important part of the Jewish faith, and it should be an important part of Christianity. Verse four and fixing his eyes on with John Peterson look at us now understand the same temple is a large place. A lot of people a lot of people outside begging Peter and John managed. He just got through with the revival 3000 people are thinking this is a couple days later 3000 people got saved huge meetings he's on his way into the temple he's going to pray and there's a divine interruption. There's a divine interruption. I'm sure this wasn't on Peter schedule probably did have a PDA here. You know some cell phone schedule. He was going to the temple and he stopped one because there was a divine interruption, as is so important for us to realize why because God within you. Divine interruption will send people to you to minister to and if you're more concerned about your schedule, you may miss the opportunity to minister we understand as a staff that divine interruptions are going to happen and help just like yourself. You gotta figure out. It's a divine interruption or just an interruption in and see if somebody the Lord has brought somebody across your path.

You know what the Lord brings a lot of people asked us to minister to walk right past cashiers at grocery stores, waiters and waitresses and restaurants vitamin a restaurant just just felt the burden of the person that came up to help you see in her eyes it, things were going well why think God showed that they could rush him by.

We share something that we do all staff as we go out differently. We get ready. Pray for the food and we asked the waiter the waitress hey is there something I can pray for you about a divine interruption and you know what catches so many of them off guard because there they are there working the porn out there serving the last thing in the world they expect is the person that they're trying to serve as to look at them and say can operate and I've never had anybody really good. As a matter fact I had people say yeah you know what my kids are strong. I've had people begin as they talk for tears to well up as they talk about how they God and what I pray for them that they would come back to God and that minister to write the Miller wise the divine interruption and yeah I'm sure was hungry on most the time but I was willing to stop and talk to about the Lord God's goodness in people across your be open for lease divine interruption will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown wanted to just a couple minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience specifically to caccia Durrant, Edmund Oklahoma City whispered in Woodward Oklahoma, Lord, thank you for the people in these cities.

Thank you that we get the broadcast in these areas.

God, I pray that you would plug people in Bible believing churches or to pray. People haven't put their trust in you yet that today would be the day we pray for the city leaders. The mayor, the police chief fire marshal father all those in government, low acid you give them wisdom and discernment and they would look to your word for advice on how to lead and how to serve the people and their communities in God. We pray that your Holy Spirit will be poured out on the cities and that many people would be changed forever. In Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse five, so he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Something happens here in and we just see how it plays out Peter's walking in Peter doesn't do anything weird or do anything flaky this land just catches his attention. And that's the way it is underlying sometimes if you're waiting for like a thunderbolt from heaven or a voice from heaven before you share with anybody to share.

Sometimes it's as simple as catching the look and surmise on thinking and their their bird in Latin God work through you. I can't tell you the number of times it that there's been divine interruptions about some sometimes even there in minister, a member and outside of Chicago's just as during the week smaller Bible study is like six people. Erin and so you know Mr. tall in the gutter to close and also to close and the Lord said, you need to give an invitation is having this nonverbal communication with God.

And I mean when here at audible voices are an innocent got you know there's only six people in the past is everyone on my first night I think there got to give him thanks again imitation advice said they were saved under the reversal of the growth rate, and you know you're going all in razor and yes can be spiritually lower your illusion happens then going around there is this one woman.

It was just pertinent and I went to innocent you UK she said should you know I raised my hand but I don't.

Jesus missed dear St. standing behind her much older lady put her hand on her shoulder and said honey tonight. You're not divine interruption. Maybe going a preacher man sure God does divinely interruptions with you.

But you know I'm in the real world we share the story when I was teaching guitar years ago. This guy came in was really trouble me going through this and going through that is sitting on the Lord to spark, harvested to minister Messina year you're always good to be in struggling into you give your heart and your life to Jesus and asking to forgive you of your sin and that you follow him. You're always can be struggling until you do that knowing you're right. I think I'll leave you in a prayer and he said yes and I let them in the prancing house you know and at the manager. The stores Christian sources, it will credit him a lesson on attorney for lesson was that there so we did that, but didn't see him sitting there next student comes in. I'm really just Mexicans and he goes icing really upbeat and happy. Johnny just accepted the Lord may not say will teenage boy said if I was going to do some like that got stolen fruit at my feet simply because I was willing to be divinely interrupted docket with Noel at the number that we all do list look for those divine interruptions God given to any subpoena or catches this guy's attention. This guy catches Peter's attention and again don't don't hear the story that I just told think will pastor David that's you will excuse all of us each and everyone maybe why I don't know much of the Bob you know Jesus you got to share Lord wants to use and in our lives should actually come and expect patient that God is going to use us like lesson here expect God to use you in all some ways to reach others expect God to use you in all some ways to reach others.

It is so often we hear so many God stories around here. You people who just came to know the Lord that are in children's ministry.

Lacey the children come to the Lord and get say the radio TV is all God is using us. You and to reach and he wants to use you on a daily basis to be open and look for people look for people who might need fight for my need prayer. Reach out to extend yourself and watch what the Lord will do well. I'm a little uncomfortable with that all but forget about that when Jesus said as long as you're comfortable with this go until everybody, as long as it's done take you out of your comfort zone survey when we get everyone else, especially talent. In fact, Jesus said something very profound and very strong about walking past those who are in the Matthew 2545.

Speaking to the disciples and he said then he will answer them, saying, assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.

Implications are staggering that we walked past Jesus on a daily basis say well I don't really have time that person looks like they will want to argue about it.

We need to be minister and you know where young church stuff is going on and there's more stuff than you can imagine going on in really busy inside the church but it's not just about the four wall may it never be just about four wall, may we continue to understand there's people out there that don't know and that should bother should target our hearts to know that there's people in Kernersville and don't know Jesus's people at the restaurant you will be going to this people to grow, strip they don't know maybe they never even heard of solid presentation of the gospel. They just heard this hip hooray try to do better. Got all except you long you go to church and do this and do that do this. That bothers me does more than bother me drives me and I know I know in this battle, you know what I'm going to be wounded that happens the soldiers a happens, the people who were in a battle and I will be and have been wounded by those it's okay then slow Jesus down.

He hung on the cross, and his father forgive them know what they're doing in verse five against the silly game, his attention, expecting to receive something from them expecting to receive something from now. Expectations are kind of funny thing.

Sometimes we have expectations that are unrealistic like if you came this morning Mr. taken domain is the perfect church will know it's not go – those expectations are not perfect church. There's no such thing as perfect church and there was such a thing as a perfect church you couldn't going because you're not perfect and neither but I think sometimes we know we get in the same going to church right on third and then you leave anything you or expecting you know might be the problem is I know many people to come here expecting to worship God to come in here worship God.

I think when we gather as a body of believers. There should be an expectation Jesus is God being a man. I have seen them show up so faithfully and minister to people's fillip to his face to minister to us to minister through friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

God want you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you'd like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day.

From the heart. The David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts