Episode #92. Today we’ll read the 3rd chapter of Acts together. God does a miracle through Peter and John at the temple gate called Beautiful, and Peter explains the miracle.
Transcript
Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #92. Today we’ll read the 3rd chapter of Acts together: God does a miracle through Peter and John at the temple gate called Beautiful, and Peter explains the miracle.
Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast. I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together. Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should. It’s just easier to do it with a friend. So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud. I’m so glad you’re here!
Our friends, Russell and Kathi Thomas, sold all their belongings and committed to being full-time missionaries with Overland Missions. They visited with us in the fall and described the intense training they have been through and how God is working at every level. I praise Him for how He has equipped them and how He continues to sustain and energize them. Despite the bumps that Covid has introduced into their otherwise unstoppable agenda, they faithfully continue to wait on God for His perfect timing regarding their call to the island of Madagascar. Would you pray for them? Pray that God upholds them every step of the way and that they give sway to His leading. Pray that everything they need, including funding, will happen through God’s generous abundance. Pray that, in this time of waiting, all things will be done according to His order. If you want to know more either about this admirable couple or the needs in Madagascar, you can find them on Facebook at Overland Thomas Team or on their YouTube channel by the same name. Encourage them by letting them know you are praying for them.
Acts Chapter 3: 1 Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 And a man who was lame from his mother’s womb was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. 4 Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have, I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. 11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked to have a murderer given to you. 15 And you killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you. 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you did it in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. 18 But what God predicted through the mouth of all the prophets-that His Messiah would suffer-He has fulfilled in this way. 19 Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and He may send Jesus, who has been appointed Messiah for you. 21 Heaven must welcome Him until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about by the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning. 22 Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you. 23 And it will be that everyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from the people. 24 “In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also announced these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your forefathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed. 26 God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”
Peter is on fire! Don’t you think the difference is interesting? You can now say you’ve read all four Gospels so you know this man. You read in great detail of his numerous faux pas. But he’s different. Peter’s attributes have not changed, but his priorities have. His Source is not in his own strength, but in Christ’s. Jesus has taken this sometimes self-interested, always impulsive fisherman and given him direction and purpose and focus. Although uneducated, Peter has taken Jesus at His word that when he opens his mouth, he will be speaking the words of the Holy Spirit. Do you wonder like I do, that if Jesus took Peter’s simple faith – five loaves and two fish, if you will – and turned it into the Rock on which He would build His church, He just might do the same with you and me? Let’s pray. Oh, Jesus…you make life so exciting; so abundant. You cause me to consider that life is full of endless possibilities for the Gospel. Thank You that we can rest in You; that it’s not about our “own strength and godliness.” We offer our sometimes self-interested, always impulsive selves to You. We give you permission to smooth off the rough edges and use us to draw people to You. Amen.
Thank you for joining me here today. I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here. In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort. Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us. If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review. Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you right here tomorrow. Be well!
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Show Notes
- Awesome Video of Solomon’s Temple
- These will help! Overview videos of all books of the Bible
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