Acts Chapter 3:1-11

Godly God heals people. I don't think we struggle with the fact that God heals people that you can show me in this book the God no longer heals the gun at a plan now wonder discuss at that date me, Jesus thought he could heal people.

He won't write that you may remember there's a story in John chapter 5, Jesus goes to the pool of Bethesda and there's all these people that are sick and laying in an and had been me be honest about having just like that, like the ability like Jesus had the healing. I probably would've walked in the yard so Jesus walked to one job. The far end of the pool and healing. I don't that's all right I don't think we struggle as much with the issue of healing is much as we struggle with me of healing.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Some may question whether God continues to heal. Even today will the truth is that God does is just a question of when and how is going to do it today. David explains how healing works in our current church age. As he continues in the book of acts chapter 3 is David McGee with part two of his teaching, God still acts chapter 3 verse one Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour 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 those who entered the temple, who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for all asked for money and fixing his eyes on with John Peterson look at us. Verse five so he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them now something happens here in and winning see how it plays out walking in Peter doesn't do anything weird or do anything flaky.

This man just catches his attention. And that's the way it is underlined here 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 bird in Latin God work through. I can't tell you the number of times it that there's been divine interruptions about some sometimes even there.

Administer a member outside of Chicago knows just as during the week smaller Bible study is like six people.

Aaron and so you know Mr. tall in the gutter and closing a closing the Lord said, you need to give an invitation. This nonverbal communication with God. You know me when hearing audible voices are an innocent you know there's only six people in the past is everyone on the first night I think there got to give him game imitation and by said they were saved under the reversal you raise your hand. You know you're going all in razor and yes can be spiritually blow your illusion, then going around there is this one woman. It was just pertinent to innocent you okay she said she said you know I raised my hand but I don't know Jesus. This dear saint standing behind her much older lady put her hand on her shoulder and said honey tonight.

You divine interruptions. Look for those divine interruptions God given to verse six then Peter said silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk three verse 11 point Peter said have a silver and gold. Now wait a minute, we all know the disciples were rich, some people teach that the disciples were rich in here because I have any money. Money wasn't what the guy needed without having money and this wasn't just the first time we see this in Scripture.

Remember when they asked Jesus about Caesar. They said hey should we pay taxes to Caesar think Jesus reached into his pocket and pulled out a calling member what he said he was the first guy that ever said my nails ripped it off in a movie later obeys for Jesus was actually first guy that ever said. He turned him and said show me the money is in the bottom they ripped them off on so anyway to show me the money. Scissors images on this visit, Caesar given seizures.

What is Caesar's, given the gods, what is God and in another time when they were trying to pay taxes. As you know, a unit Jesus is what you have acquired on going problem I think was Judas was a thief and he was a treasure. Don't go together well and so you know pieces will go down there and get a fish looking fish's mouth and the be according will pay the temple tax with what's really cool sea of Galilee, beer there today. There is an evil place in the side we go there we do the tours, there's a place where they serve fish and is called St. Peter's fish and we know it is tilapia lives in the sea of Galilee. There's an interesting thing that this fish does to its young actually will gather some shiny in its mouth and then when danger comes, it opens its mouth, but the young ones will see the shiny object and toward you in the mom's mouth shut her mouth to protect him from the there's a reason fish on the coin is now, but the point is. I don't now before anybody in your Google phone, Peter, John, you know, we're so blessed. We are so blessed.

I don't think we understand how blessed we are.

They would take a lot for granted. We see other people who are in need. We think will I need this money that there's a multibillion-dollar industry to make you discontent advertising, you realize. If you own a car here this morning, you realize that only 8% of the world. 92% of the world would look at you driving a car owned and according to man are pretty well off but we look at ourselves and go. This is the clean drinking water. A billion people in the world today do not have clean drinking the fact that you can go over and turn your sink on the Somme in this world makes you wealthy.

We have America bashing American. There's just simple statistics of the reality America makes up 6% of the world population and consumes 40% of its resources on how much money you have on your pocket and in your pocket right now, I'm not hit me up on my window passably here. Don't get nervous but wonder how much money you have, what change over a billion people in this world live on less than a dollar a day. The experts say that in order to care for everybody in this world with proper healthcare and nutrition, clean water would cost about $20 billion. That's the number that America spends annually on ice cream.

Am I saying that you should feel guilty when you need a ice cream is not the only point is we've been blessed. Why have we been blessed with this book is very clear. God blesses people so they can bless others.

That's why God has blessed us so that we might bless others some lasting is so guilty about being American and and if you're new here your center going okay is generated to support a child or something pass around envelopes that were not known as matter fact, if you think I'm going to be served cheaply satisfied… Just a couple blocks from emotional life you want your heart you will so and with blessings. We need to look for opportunities to bless others. Peter could've went and got this guy money.

I believe going back to where they had stored what it says. They sold goods in and store up for the common good.

I think Peter could become innocent.

I need some money.

I don't do this is a lingo very arguments about so I did. He gave him what he needed, not what he wanted.

Verse seven. Then he took my right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

I miss you question me to make light of the situation, but what you think Peter was thinking this is different. Here Jesus would look at people usually say you rise up and walk out number one pleasing people around them thought when Jesus said that all that is that's cruel he's he's telling the lame man to wall to wall is laying when they got Cody told dead men to come out of his grave.

Jesus often told people to do impossible things is what he told us to love one another since he told us that guess. What is no longer possible because he never tells us do something that's impossible with his strength. I think I know in part what Peter was thinking as he reached down to pick up a copy was thinking. I hope this works me think about each of the limbs of the lame guy the lame guy falls down the big will go away got out there was faith in Peter's heart something miraculous was going to happen and he was willing to risk it.

Reality is in ministry. You know what's can happen. Sometimes you go pull somebody up all right back doesn't matter. What matters it will tear your heart out, but we do what we do for our key we may have to pick him up half a dozen times we may have to pick him up 490.

But Jesus says keep it, keep love this guy gets up and walks. What is the power of God can make a lame person will understand there is nothing, not a thing that the power of God can't cure someone I don't find this well.

I was born and added I'm sorry I don't bother God can heal.

You can cure you of addictions of selfishness and loneliness of despair and depression of homosexuality, of any anything he can cure anyone of anything he can do it and he wants to do through us and understand when these people are getting beat up and get her there made in the image of God enemy hates that he wants to beat him up. He wants to torture them when they've picked a fight with those among us picked a fight with her king, and when they picked a fight with her king pick a fight with us, we have to understand as we pass people every day. The need that hand walk past so many of you 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 broadcasts 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 that 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 they receive strength and see what first thing see what he does so he leaving us then walked and entered the temple with them walking leaving praising God and all the people saw him walking and praising God like to know something that happened here. You may have read the story before this morning, knowing we were to be in this portion.

Or maybe you're just familiar with the passage or maybe you've never read it before but something that you may miss out.

The man was at the gate of the temple. Why second Samuel chapter 5 verse eight says the blind and the lame shall not come into the house. Leviticus 2117 to speak to Aaron say no man of your descendents and succeeding generations who has any defect may approach to offer the bread of his God.

For any man who has a defect shall not approach a man blind or lame marketplace, earning them to all the men could not come into what happened when he got healed but look at verse eight. Again, so he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them. He never been in there before he laid there for years and years knowing he couldn't go in. Couldn't go into the temple couldn't go into if you will, the presence of God. Again we see these people all the time we we see people we talk to people. It I can go to church man I'm struggling I'm struggling with this. I'm struggling with that manager struggle with that church is the place you need to be.

I don't know where we got this concept of the church is the place you go.

We got it when you have everything worked out and sorted out. That was never a biblical concept of the church is the place where you go when you messed up and receive love and healing to the people of God. Often times I walked the same road that you've long had somebody come in the office yesterday, never close sweet mom sweet daughter says my daughter she is recovering. Praise God. Jesus said I came to minister to the sick, those who are hurt and those sinners, not the righteous. So this man who never been in the temple before Peter reached out to him picked them up to the skilled man is going to the temple's going to the presence of God. This is what we need to be doing first and then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the beautiful gate of the temple and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what happened to that was the lame man who was healed held on the Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. These guys were prepared. They were looking for an opportunity for the love that they had for God to express itself to somebody else that's what were supposed to be doing. The church is supposed to be an active thing a living thing in Matthew 22. They asked Jesus a teacher, which is the great commandment in the law, thinking he was going to mention one of the 10 he says, Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment in the second is like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. If you can do this you can love God you love God's word.

He God's word you going to come into a saving relationship with and then you look around to see who you can minister to those of the words of Jesus.

Don't make me shirtless. I don't buy into the nonsense that crept up 25, 30 years ago that dream that doing okay what you know what you really got these got learn to love yourself first.

You know what we we all care about ourselves best for the following sinful human nature. I mean, you this morning. You were preoccupied with what what you were going to wear I mean I understand that I did same thing.

You probably did wake up and think it will work. Some of you may have on so now you sit there and you think about what well you probably think I'm really unison or go because you think about yourself because you care about yourself. It was a foregone conclusion. When Jesus said that you love yourself descending on any put two things ahead of yourself, God and others. You comfort got those to some impossible right there than he, but he will give us the strength to do what's interesting this gate was one of the main entrances into the temple, we can say with pretty reasonable assurance, Jesus walk through this gate passes God godly.

God heals people.

I don't think we struggle with the fact that God heals people you can show me in this book the God no longer heals people.

I'm open to that discussion but all were new others of drought, but God had a plan.

Now wonder this guy sat at the gate and thought I Jesus thought he could heal people.

He walked right past you may remember there's a story in John chapter 5, Jesus goes to the pool of Bethesda and there's all these people that are second lay in and and had been me be honest about having just like that, like the ability like Jesus had the healing. I probably would've walked in there to all our healed, so I Jesus did Jesus walk to one guy at the far end of the pool and healing. Be honest with you I don't understand that's all right I don't think we struggle as much with the issue of healing is much as we struggle with the timing of healing because reality is here and here and you know Jesus you will be healed. I don't care what your infirmity is what's going on in your life. What's wrong with you what ailment what disease you have one that you will be healed. You will not take that in you may be healed here. I don't know but I know that you will be healed them because there's only going to be one person walk around heaven was nest Jesus and that beautiful place, it will be the one thing made by man. Jesus set up in the synagogue, the Jewish place of worship, and he quoted from Isaiah. The book of Luke and he said this, the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor you sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord must be honest with one another, the church is really not that hard. Even reading about not that difficult for most there may be some that have some type of challenge with doing these things challenge you might even say it's about what's at stake, the eternal destiny of men and women. I don't see how we can see our King here. I can watch arcing learn about our king, and so Jesus I don't care about the other people don't. I know your offering me the power the ability to speak and the ability to do these things but I just don't care. I can't be an option. Some of you may have become jaded over the years maybe came to know the Lord and you're just not doing anything at the end of service on selling where always ask people if they want to receive the Lord.

But if you're here and you've asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins and love, and in all humility, let me ask you question what are you doing with it. Are you hiding it under a bushel or you shared with other people trying to be an island in the sea. People here are you rolled up your sleeves and join with your brothers and sisters to make a different Jesus is the one that said if you don't do it to them. You didn't do it to me.

The flipside, if you did it to them like doing it to me. May you be able to see the face of Jesus and minister to people in your minister into your king because love when you are.

You see that walking in the Lord, open our eyes to see how blessed we are to look for opportunities to pour out dollars in year here this morning and you don't know Jesus, knowing about Jesus, knowing Jesus in your heart. I mean you've asked the Lord to forgive you of your sin.

You're not sure you ever done that.

Or maybe you did that you wandered off maybe been thinking and hoping your goods get out way your bad coming to church your God good thing. At the end of this like my good outweighs my best know what you're good no matter how good you are never going our way. Your bad as the Bible says if you broke the law. One place you broke it in every place and even if you can live with sinless life from here on out. You still have the sins of yesterday in your new campaign for those God Jesus offers to make the payment for friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. 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 friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, 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.

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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