June 24, 2018
Hymn 142 - A ruler once came to Jesus by night
Prayer
Acts 3:1-10. The disciples had been told to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit, so 120 believers waited by gathering in an upper room and praying. Once the Spirit came in chapter two, and many people were saved, they continued in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. These people were always praying; and chapter three is no exception. Peter and John were on their way to pray at the temple. You’ll notice that they no longer had to bring an animal to sacrifice, like in the Old Testament. The Gospel had changed things.
Peter and John entered the temple through the Beautiful Gate. It was a huge gate (it took six men to open or close it!), it was beautifully carved, and was covered in brass, so it shone like gold. In contrast to this gorgeous gate was the lame beggar sitting beside it. He was carried there everyday, and tried to make money begging from the people going in and out of the temple. According to the Law, he would not have been allowed into the temple because of his infirmity.
This beggar asked Peter and John for money. They were broke, however. “Look at us,” said Peter. The man looked at them, expecting to receive something. He thought that his greatest need was money. If he didn’t earn money, he couldn’t buy food, and if he couldn’t by food, he would starve. “I don’t have gold, or silver” Peter continued, “But I’ll give you what I have.” “I guess he’ll give me a sandwich,” the man maybe thought. Instead, Peter declared, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Perhaps the man was about to say, “Don’t make fun of me! I can’t walk, it’s impossible.” But then his legs started feeling funny. Peter gave him a hand, and he stood to his feet. He had been given what he never had. Then he did what he had never been allowed to do: he went with Peter and John into the temple. This was no partial healing; the man was walking and leaping.
This man didn’t go straight home to tell his family what had happened; instead he praised and worshiped God. He realized that his healing had come from Jesus. There are many people in the world today who are unsaved. They think that the most important thing in life is to have a job, earn money, and be able to buy things. They don’t realize that really their greatest need is to get saved and become a worshiper of God.
People saw a difference in this lame man who was walking and leaping. Later we will see how Peter and John used this opportunity to preach the gospel. Those around should be able to see a difference in us if we are saved and trying to glorify the Lord with our lives, too.
John 3
We can put the conjunction “but” between the chapters two and three. Nicodemus was from the Pharisees which was a rather strict sect of the time. What brought him to Jesus? Why did he come at night? He saw something different in Jesus. He saw Him as a teacher, and His miracles testified to His relationship with God. I wonder if Nicodemus as looking for an explanation. But Jesus always answers the person and not the question. He knows what is in every person (2:25).
“Verily, verily” is like saying “truly, truly”. Darby puts “born again” as “born anew”. We’re not only born of the flesh, but also from above from a new source of birth. There is a natural life and a spiritual life.
The “except” in verse three makes this issue exclusive. It draws the issue down to the point Jesus was making. The kingdom of God has an earthly and heavenly aspect. You won’t see any of it if your not saved. “Cannot” doesn’t leave any loopholes. All of this information was mind boggling to Nicodemus.
Some people say that the water mentioned here is baptism, but it actually the Word of God. The spirit is the Spirit of God.
We have life through the Spirit of God. And although we are born of the flesh, we need to be born of the Spirit again.
(3.16)
When you hang your eternal life on scripture it never changes. This is God’s eternal truth that can be trust and relied on. We don’t need to rest our future on mens’ words.
When we’re born of water and spirit we are brought into the kingdom. As a Pharisees this would have been big for Nicodemus. All of a sudden if wasn’t things of the flesh that mattered anymore. It would be a big change of heart.
(3:14) With out this there can be no salvation. That’s where it happened.
Darby translates verse seven as, “do not wonder that I said to thee, It is needful that ye should be born anew”. Verse eight shows that the Spirit wound’t be confined It goes to whosoever will. It’s universal. Wind speaks of the Spirit. We can’t see the wind , but we can see its effects. I is the same way with the Spirit.
Hymn 342 Jesus came from heaven
Prayer