August 12, 2018
Scripture:
Hymn 16 - God in mercy sent His Son
Prayer
We’ve been looking at the story of Peter healing the man lame from birth at the beautiful gate of the temple. That man was over forty years old, so there is a good possibility that he was at the temple one of the times Jesus was there. Maybe Jesus saw him and thought, “I won’t heal him now; I’ll do it through Peter later.” It was almost a double miracle, because this man could walk and leap immediately: he didn’t have to learn. Many people wondered at this miracle, and it gave Peter the opportunity to preach the gospel, and tell them to repent.
Acts 4:1-6
The priests, the captain of the temple, and Sadducees then came along, and were grieved at what was happening. It’s almost surprising that they didn’t want to hurt the man again, so that he wouldn’t be such a good testimony. These men took Peter and John prisoner, and threw them in jail. However, despite that, about five thousand people got saved! There is power in Jesus’ name!
The next day Peter and John were brought before Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas. These were the two men that had condemned Jesus. At that time, Peter was out by the fire, scared of maids, and denying that he knew Jesus. He’s not afraid now; in fact, the rulers, elders, and scribes noted how bold these two were. We’ll see this more later, but today let’s notice the power of Jesus’ name. That power is available to us. We pray in that name, and have it to protect us.
Some of us enjoy driving around looking at the gardens orchards and vineyards since they are all in bloom. Why don’t we take a look at what God thinks of gardens.
John 18:1-2
Jesus had just enjoyed time with His disciples. He had explained the emblems to them, washed their feet, and then prayed to His Father. They went out to a garden. Why would the Lord pick a place that Judas knew. It was a quiet place to get away from the business of everything and He had a chance to be alone with His disciples. It was a place of fellowship.
Genesis 2:7-9
God placed man in a garden at the beginning to have fellowship with him.
Genesis 3:8
One day God walked through the garden in the cool of the day, but Adam and Eve hid themselves among the trees. Sin had brought separation between God and man. But God still wanted that fellowship. He tried with Israel.
Isaiah 5:1, 4
This is speaking of the Lord with Israel. He gave them everything to grow fruit, but all He got was wild grapes. He got no joy from them.
Eden means “garden of delights”. It was to be a paradise for man. but sin spoiled it all. He then did everything for Israel and got nothing, but was spit in the face, and nailed to a cross.
Matthew 26:36-38
It started out special and perfect, but was ruined by sin, and now here we see Him in the garden of Gethsemane. A garden can be a place of enjoyment, but the Lord was exceeding sorrowful.
John 19:41
He was crucified by a garden. In the garden there was a sepulcher. It became a garden of victory because of His resurrection. We find the Lord was in so many different gardens at several different times fright from the start.
If you go back to Genesis we find that, in the garden, there was a raging conflict going on. The enemy wanted to destroy God’s beautiful creation. God gave free will to people and they chose. Satan may have thought he won, but he lost when Jesus rose in the garden of victory.
Revelation 2:7
We see that the relationship is restored. Man has gone full circle since the beginning. Adam and Eve destroyed it all, but Christ restored it all. But would we know God like we do now if none of this had happened? I don’t think so. We can now be made fit for His presence. We have something we can never lose through the work of the cross. Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, and that is where He will return in the future.
Today we (the assembly) are God’s garden.
Solomon’s Song 4:16, 5:1
Can Christ come into His garden when we gather round Him. Is there something for Him when He comes? Will He find fellowship and communion? He has given it all to us; what do we do with it?
Solomon’s Song 6:11
With nuts the enjoyable part is on the inside, and you have to break the shell to get to it. A peanut’s shell is removed easily, but a coconut’s shell is much harder. Our hearts can be compared to gardens. In order to get the fruit the shell needs to be removed, and sometimes that takes more effort for some. Out problem may be pride or stubbornness.
Mary Magdalen thought she a run into the gardener. In one way, she really had. Gardens need light and warmth. We need the light of God’s Word, and the weeds need to be removed; otherwise they choke out the fruit.
Hymn 186 - One day when heaven was filled with His praises
Prayer