Ordinary

Out of the Ordinary Gods Accomplishes the Extraordinary (Acts 3:1-10, 4:1-4,13) Peter & John Ordinary people (Acts 4:13) Like Gideon, used by God to accomplish extraordinary things (Judges 6:15-16) Why were Peter & John going up to the temple? Routine Devotion? Jews prayed 3 times a day, 9:00 a.m., Noon, 3:00 p.m. Seeking an Audience to Preach? The largest crowds generally gathered at 3:00 p.m. God magnified their effort and reached many (Acts 4:4) How? First God does something to you, and then, as people see that, they ask you what happened. This is why Peter says, "Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with gentleness and courtesy," (1 Pet 3:15). That is what witnessing is! Where does the healing come from? (Read: Isa. 35:3-6, a prophecy of healing in the days of the Messiah) His healing had been by the name of Jesus (Acts 3:16, 4:10) The beggar Why was he positioned at the gate called Beautiful? The importance of our expectation So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them (Acts 3:5) What was he expecting? How did Peter respond? The importance of our focus Look at us! (Acts 3:4) (Other translation: Pay attention to us!) “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.” (Acts 3:6) Discuss: What did Peter have to give? God exceeded his expectation! There is an oft-told story of Thomas Aquinas when he visited Pope Innocent II and found him counting a large sum of money. "Ah, Thomas," said the Pope, "the church can no longer say,

‘silver and gold have I none.’" That is true, Your Holiness," said Aquinas, "but then, neither can it now say, ‘Arise and walk.’" Discuss: How is an unsaved person like the beggar? A time requiring spiritual boldness It’s one thing to teach about Jesus, it was quite another to see someone healed in the name of Jesus. Peter and John boldly proclaimed (Acts 4:10) it was in the name of Jesus. They were not ashamed to be identified with the name of Jesus. But isn’t this the same Peter who denied being associated with Jesus 3 times? So what is the source of such boldness? “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be of me witnesses.” (Acts 1:8, see also Heb. 13:6) Other scriptures regarding Paul’s boldness (Acts 13:46, 1 Thes. 2:2) In Judges 21:25, the Scripture tells us why there were so many problems during the period of the judges with these simple words - “everyone did as he saw fit” (NIV) or “so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (NLT) Sound familiar? Is boldness required in our generation? If so, how so? How can we seek to acquire such boldness? (Eph. 6:18-20) The bottom line equation: Ordinary People + Sincere Faith in God = Spiritual Empowerment (including boldness) & Extraordinary Accomplishments