Acts 3:11-26 Don t Make The Same Mistake Twice

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Tracey Joseph
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1 Acts 3:11-26 Don t Make The Same Mistake Twice I. Introduction II. Acts 3:11-12 Glory to God 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? A. Peter asks two questions that get the attention off of them and onto Jesus. B. Why do you marvel? 1. God had done so many wonderful things in Israel throughout her history. 2. God had recently done many mighty things in Israel through the ministry of Jesus. 3. Peter is asking the men of Israel whether they have forgotten who their God is. 4. He is asking them if they think that because they crucified Jesus that they have stopped His work. C. Why look at us? 1. Peter gives glory to God. 2. Look at our history. Our God has done many great things in our past, so why are you marveling? 3. Humility is a common thread in all godly people s lives that are used for God s glory over the long haul. 1

2 a) Others may come and go like a flash of lightning, yet the humble servant is the one God delights to use. 4. Humility is realizing who God is and who you aren t. a) This was a real test for Peter. b) Peter acknowledged that he could do nothing without Him. 5. When we begin to take credit and explain away the work of God as something that we have done, we are on very dangerous ground. 6. We should never be bothered when people don t look at us!! III. Acts 3:13-18 The sin of denying Christ A. 3:13-15a The worst trade ever 13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 "and killed the Prince of life 1. Israel made the absolutely worst trade any people or person could ever make. a) They asked for a murderer to be let go in exchange for the death of the Prince of life. 2. God raised up His Son the Christ in the life of Israel, and they denied Him, insisting that they put Him to death EVEN when a godless Roman governor wanted to let Him go. 3. Israel cried out Crucify Him! when Pilate wanted to release Him. 2

3 B. 3:15b-16 God raised up the rejected One. 15 ", whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.. 16 "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 1. Again Peter comes to the issue of the resurrection. 2. Proof: a) We have seen (which no one objected to) b) This man is made well. 3. You are guilty of the death of Jesus, the very One who has made this man well today. C. 3:17 Their denial was done in ignorance. 17 "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. D. 3:18 Christ s death was no accident. 18 "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. IV. 1. As in his last message, Peter again asserts that this wasn't an accident, but that the scriptures testified of this suffering Messiah. Acts 3:19-21 The blessing of receiving Christ 19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord A. Be repentant. 1. Therefore 2. He then calls the people to change their minds about Jesus and recognize Him as the Messiah. 3. When we repent and let God blot out our sin, we enter into times of refreshing. 4. Sin is what saps the purpose and strength from life. 3

4 B. Be converted. a) When the consequences of sin are dealt with, we begin to experience the love, joy, and peace of God in our lives. b) We are no longer found as victims of sin s awful assault leaving us empty, tired, and beaten up. 1. This a promised work of God to the repentant sinner. 2. This is not simply making a New Year s resolution or turning over a new leaf; it is a radical reformation done by the Spirit of God, making us a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 3. Conversion is what happens when a person is born again. a) The old life ceases to have control and dominance,and now the Spirit of God writes upon our hearts a new way of living and thinking. 4. You can never live the Christian life until you are converted or born again. C. Be innocent 1. Israel had made the worst mistake imaginable, yet the promise is given that if they would repent of their rejection of Christ, they could have that terrible sin lifted from the record. Isaiah 1:18 " Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Colossians 2: And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 4

5 D. Be refreshed. 1. This refers to the sweet communion and friendship that comes to a life that is walking in harmony with God rather than in opposition to God. 2. Life is hard and draining without the presence of Christ in it. 3. We were not meant to live life apart from fellowship with God. Jeremiah 2:13 13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns -- broken cisterns that can hold no water. John 7: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." V. Acts 3:20-21 The promise of restoration 20 "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. A. These verses speak of the national restoration that God will bring to Israel at the Second Coming of Christ. 1. The passage speaks of the blessing that will come not only to Israel, but to all of mankind and this earth. 2. The period of restoration of all things is another name for the future earthly reign of Christ, the millennial kingdom. B. They rejected Jesus nationally. Luke 19: Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. C. When Israel repents and calls upon the Lord, Christ will return. Zechariah 12:10 10 " And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will 5

6 look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 1. This will happen at the end of the 70 th week of Daniel s prophecy. 2. This last week will begin at a time determined by God, which I believe Scripture teaches will happen at the rapture of the Church. 3. Seven years later, Israel will call out to God. VI. Acts 3:22-26 Prophets exhort us to listen. A. 3:22-23 Moses gave this exhortation. 22 "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 'And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 1. Moses made it clear in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 that God would raise up a prophet that the people should hear. 2. Many believed (correctly) that this was a promise of the Messiah, and thus they should have been looking for the one to obey. B. 3:24 Samuel prophesied of a coming King. 24 "Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 1. Samuel gave the prophesy to David that he would have a descendant that would be the Messiah King. C. 3:25-26 Abraham promised blessing from the Messiah. 25 "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' 26 "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." 1. Notice Jesus is sent to bless us by taking away our sins. 2. How foolish when we resist His purifying work in our lives. 6

7 a) We deprive ourselves of the goodness that God waits to give us. 7

Acts Chapter 3 Continued

Acts Chapter 3 Continued Acts 3:13 "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate,