Timing is important. We should "make hay while the sun shines" so to speak, or "strike while the iron is hot..." It is important to be in the right place at the right time, as we will see in this text.
I. Vss. 1-2 - Peter and John were at the right place. A. Without really realizing it, they had a divine appointment. We need to watch out for those opportunities too. B. It was the place of prayer. C. Ironically, it was where the crippled man was - where the opportunity was. It was the place to say "yes" to God. II. Vss. 3-7 - The man received the right gift. A. He wanted less than Peter and John had to give. He was looking for a pittance, when Peter and John had true wealth. B. Look what he got: A. new legs B. new life C. new outlook on life.. C. Don't settle for the least when you can have the best, and don't settle on less than what God can lead you to do. III. Vss. 8-11 - The right reaction. A. The man praised God...............He saw the real source of his blessing. B. He did something he had never been able to do: He leapt....... C. Other people saw it an wondered. What a witness. In the final analysis, in vss. 12-13, Peter gave the right credit. That is ultimately important. Thank God that Peter and John were in the right place at the right time. Think of the timing in your life, your home, your church, the places where you shop or eat, etc. Get with God's timing as Peter and John did.
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This incident is in all four gospels. John, written later that the synoptic gospels, added details that the other gospels did not have. What we can learn from this text is if we think that we have nothing to offer in Christian service, just look at what the little boy put in the hands of Jesus.
I. There was a real need. A bid crowd of people had followed Jesus upon a mountain. It was past time to eat and they had no food to give the people. Remember they did not have Macdonald's or Kentucky Fried chicken to get "take out." II. Vs. 9 - The young boy had what was needed to fill the need. A. No one else had food.............. B. The young boy had to be willing to share what he had with everyone else. He could have said, "This is mine and is just enough for me," and kept his meager meal for himself. (What are you keeping for yourself?) C. Would you have shared???? III. Vss. 10-13 - The young boy gave what he had and Jesus multiplied it. (Pay attention to the message here.........) A. What do you have to put into the hands of Jesus? Think about it: Do you have Jesus? Do you have a testimony? (Preacher, at this point you could share a testimony of how you put a little bit in His hands when you entered the ministry and He has multiplied it.) Do you have Bible stories in your head or heart? Do you have love, joy, peace, etc. If you are saved, you have a testimony that can be shared. B. Jesus will take what you have and multiply it. What you have might seem as little as what the boy put in Jesus' hands, but the message of this text for you is that a little bit put in the hands of Jesus can end up being a lot. C. Will you share yourself? Give your life to Jesus and let Him use you to help people who need what you have. Jesus can do for you what no one else can do, and He can use you as no one else can., All of us want to be wise, or be thought to be wise. Well, there is wisdom and there is biblical wisdom. If we want to be wise people based on the Bible, we need to pay attention to this text.
I. Vs. 13 = His, or her, description A. Good conduct - behave yourself........ B. Works (James' favorite word) C. "Meekness of wisdom......" II. Vss. 14-16 - What he, or she, is not. A. Vs. 14 - "Envy and strife..." B. Vs. 15 - Seeking power in the wrong place... C. Vs. 16 - The result of seeking wisdom in the wrong way. III. Vss. 17-18 - Read wisdom is wisdom from above. A. Vs. 17 - Description of real wisdom. B. Vs. 18 - Good results of real wisdom. C. Does this look something like you??? If you want to be a wise person in the eyes of God and the eyes of people, you will pay heed to this text. |
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