Title: Peter's Testimony/Acts 3:11-19
Content Peter's Testimony
Acts 3: 11-19 1994. 7. 17.
The first miracle that occurred in the early church was that a man who was born lame while begging daily at the beautiful gate of the temple arose and went up to the temple in the name of Jesus Christ while walking, jumping and singing.
This crippled figure was, in fact, a figure of us. Jesus is the young soul who came to a meaningless human in despair, gave them feet, gave them eyes, gave them ears, and gave a new life to an insensitive soul.
Jesus also raised the lame. And he performed many miracles. However, the incident in Acts 3: where the lame man happened has another meaning. I agree that Jesus can do that. But it is surprising that Peter said so. Because Jesus was God and Peter was a man. However, it is an event that showed that these things can happen to all who believe in Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit comes on them.
I remember the words of Jesus in the miracle that appeared through Peter. “You will do the works that I do, and you will do greater works than I do.” But the gospel is like that.
Greater than a miracle is nature. When a miracle repeats itself, it is natural. In a sense, miracles are the destruction of nature, but the supernatural work of God. God works both miraculously and supernaturally. We must be able to discover God's miracles even in nature.
When the people saw the miracle, they were shocked and began to gather one by one at Solomon's palace.
Verse 11 ‘--’ There are two reactions in this text.
(1) The person who was born crippled is himself. I was so shocked that I couldn't even explain it.
This man did not have faith or hope for a miracle. Here we see that miracles can manifest in two ways. You learn that miracles can work even for those you never expected. The truth is that some are given according to the will of God. It is God's sovereignty. God gives grace to those who give grace and blesses those whom he will bless.
Another is that we learn that miracles can be given to those who believe and seek.
Perhaps no one is as happy as this man.
The one who performed the miracle is Jesus, and we must hold on to Jesus, but we caught Peter and John. We need to pay attention to Jesus.
(2) The reaction of witnesses. I have witnessed the unbelievable and the unthinkable. The crippled man is standing up and walking and running. It shocked the people around him. Those who believe in Jesus must be like this. Words and thoughts must change. There must be unprecedented ways of yielding, giving up, humble, and dedicated.
Surprised, they gathered at Solomon's port. Why ? They did not know the miracle, but they did not know where the miracle came from. It seems that they thought that the miracles that followed a and that it did not come from God, but from Peter and John.
Verse 12 ‘-’ We see the greatness of Peter. People's eyes began to focus on them.
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He misunderstood that his powers came from him. Most people are silent at this point. But Peter spoke of his position.
‘Why are you amazed at what God has shown you?’ It means that supernatural things can happen. What is happening in your life? Then there is God. Where God is, there is history. Where God is, there are miracles. Believe in the living God. May the living God be your God.
Peter's Testimony
(1) This amazing thing was ‘I didn’t do it’.
Peter obviously had pity on the lame man. And I told you to walk in the name of Jesus Christ. He grabbed my hand and got me up. That's what Peter did. The lives around him also saw what Peter did. But Peter knew who did it. He knew very well that he didn't do it. It was through Peter, not Peter. The power is not in Peter's. it belongs to God. It is in the name of Jesus Christ.
Because Peter knew this, he could say, 'God did it, not me.'
What does it mean to receive grace? that I am no more. Everything that Paul said that I am like an egg because I am not full-term and that I am the chief among sinners shows how gracious he is.
When we say that God has done it, we are thankful. There are many people in the church who are upset. Why are you upset? Because I am. If there is the Lord, I am not upset. Whether I know it or not, I am good when the glory of the Lord is revealed. In this case, just thank you.
In Matthew 3:11, we meet such a humble person. This is John the Baptist. “He who comes after me is mightier than I, and I am not worthy to wear his sandals.” Because he lived such a life, he did not live long and was beheaded by Herod.
When can we be the greatest in our lives? It is time for Jesus Christ to appear rather than me.
(2) “True miracles do not come from personal power or godliness.”
Most believe that miracles occur through physical or mental discipline. It is a foreign religion. Pantheism. Yoga, Zen, Ki philosophy, and face are the abilities of the human spirit. This is the foundation of the New Age movement. Real miracles do not happen because humans develop, cultivate, and cultivate the Way. Humans do not become good by cultivating them. Even if you cultivate the Way, you are still human.
Therefore, true miracles and salvation do not come from man, but from God. This is a real miracle.
Verse 13 ‘--’ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. - It is a source of miracles. The source of salvation lies in God. That God is not the God of nature, not a transcendent God, but the God who accompanied Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in history.
Not a dead God, but a living God. He is the living God of history. It is my God.
Old Testament - He is the God who created the heavens and the earth, ruled and ruled. He is the God who saved the people of Israel and made them cross the Red Sea. You are the God who struck the rock and gave water, the God who gave manna and quail, and the God who gave the fire for work and responded.
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New Testament - It is God who revealed miracles and powers through his only begotten Son.
They brought events from miracles, but they did not stop at miracles. I turned to Jesus. Where are your interests? Is it a miracle? Are you God? Do you need God for a miracle? I need you for God. It will be his praise and song.
Peter began to testify of who Jesus Christ was, the one who raised the crippled man at the beautiful gate of the temple. The point of the testimony was that God did it, not me / it was Jesus Christ who did it.
The message from verses 13 to 15 is that you killed Jesus Christ.
If you just introduce Jesus, there is no burden. But if you killed it, it's a burden. The reason we don't change and don't feel burdened even though we believe in Jesus is because we don't think that 'I killed him'. You say you glorify Jesus, but you are painting the face of Jesus with your life. It is the crucifixion of Jesus again. Because we do not reconcile, we hate Jesus, we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, and we do not live according to the will of the Holy Spirit, so we are crucifying Jesus again.
How uncomfortable is the sound of ‘you killed me’? Salvation comes only when you hear this voice, and it has something to do with Jesus and me.
Out of 15 - You killed him, but he came back to life.
15 H - ‘I am a witness’ ‘I am a witness’ ‘I am an eyewitness of the living’ How clear and certain is the message?
To summarize Jesus introduced by Peter, he is the protagonist who performed miracles / But you killed him / God raised him up / I am a witness of that Jesus.
Verse 16 - He is the One who has risen and caused these things that you will see and be amazed and shocked.
How do miracles happen? It is through faith in the name of Jesus Christ. A miracle happened when you believed in the name of Jesus Christ. Believe in the name of Jesus. A name that is above every name, a name that brings every knee, a name that will be glorified.
When we pray, in the name of Jesus, when we cast out demons in the name of Jesus, and when we raise the lame, in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus saves you. To live a glorious life. May the name of Jesus be yours.
Here is the definition of faith. Faith is not salvation. Jesus is salvation.
It is said that you have to believe - have an active belief, live positively, have an active poem, and you can do it. But the question is where the belief comes from.
Betting on one's face or thinking positively is not faith. Faith from Jesus works miracles. Be productive. Let there be nothing. Even the dead are alive.
Verse 16 ‘--’ Take this name. Have this ability. May the blessings abound in the name of Jesus. True faith comes from Jesus.
There are several applications in Peter's testimony.
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(1) God is a miracle worker. He is the one who speaks without silence. God is always doing new things. God has no limits.
(2) Confess that I am the Jesus I killed. Only by acknowledging this fact can there be a new birth and forgiveness of sins.
(3) Believe that Jesus was resurrected. Believe that He is alive and works. Do not believe with habits, ideas, or knowledge. Believe in the living Jesus.
(4) Promise to be a witness for Jesus. like Peter.
Verses 17-18 ‘-’ Neither those men nor the rulers knew Jesus. So I killed it. But Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. But they rejected Jesus Christ because they were stiff, shameless, proud, and stiff.
He is Jesus Christ, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world. Because I was so strong, shameless, proud, and stiff-necked, I shed tears in front of my soul and confessed in contrition. The soul will be destroyed. May the stone-hardened souls become humble, meek, grateful, and praiseworthy souls.
Verse 19 ‘-’ The most blessed message of Christianity is ‘Repent’.
Some people don't like this word to repent, so they don't come to church because they feel bad. Repentance - is conversion. The conclusion of repentance - forgiveness of sins. What is most important to a sinner? - It is to be forgiven. I hope you will receive a remission of sins. I hope to be reborn. I hope to change. Repent, you stiff-necked people, you shameless souls, you proud souls. turn around Turn around and receive the forgiveness of your sins, and the days of rejoicing will come.
Have a pleasant day today. Have a blessed day from the Lord. Have a day of freedom. May you be freed from the devil. May the day be free from disease. May you be freed from worries, A, B feelings, and worries.
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