THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
In the early 70s, Bill Fernandez had two friends named Steve. Out walking around the neighborhood one afternoon with one of them, Bill saw the other Steve washing his car. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce his two friends.
And that’s how Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak met. The two hit it off immediately, both having an avid interest in technology. Years later, the two Steves co-founded a little company called Apple®. A chance meeting led to the founding of one of the world’s most highly valued businesses.
Wait a minute. A chance meeting? As a follower of Christ, I hesitate to call the encounters I have with people mere “chance” meetings. These unplanned intersections can be “divine appointments”—opportunities that can change the direction of a life.
In Acts 3, Peter and John took advantage of just such an unplanned meeting to do something incredible for God.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Acts 3:1-4
1Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. 4Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.”
Peter and John chose a busy intersection in Jerusalem to share the gospel. Three o’clock in the afternoon was one of the times designated daily for prayer; it was also the time for one of the two daily sacrifices. Therefore, it was a busy time at the temple with large crowds coming to pray and offer sacrifices.
Before they started, Peter and John saw a disabled man begging from those who passed. This was similar to scenes we might see in urban America. I say we might see, because so many of us choose not to see. We walk on, avoiding eye contact.
Notice two truths from Peter and John’s interaction with this lame beggar:
- Individuals matter. Peter and John had just seen 3,000 people come to Christ in one day, but they still saw and cared about an individual. They did just what Jesus did—they looked at the lame man as if, at that moment, no one else in the world mattered.
- Intersections bring opportunity. Just as we often drove through crossroads without really seeing what’s there, we can also fail to notice the people we intersect with each day. God put us on this pathway called life, and we need to be aware of those who come and go in our lives.
Up to this point, the beggar at the temple may have felt like no one ever noticed him. But no more. Peter said to him, “Look at us.” Peter was acknowledging the man’s presence and worth: “We see you. You are not invisible to us. We want to help.”
Thanks to the willingness of Peter and John to turn a divine interruption into an unstoppable opportunity, this man’s life was about to change. Forever.
Acts 3:5-8
5So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
There is an old Quaker proverb that states: “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, nor any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
Those words reflect Peter and John’s attitude toward the beggar. They didn’t rationalize the way many people do when accosted by panhandlers: I don’t have any money. Someone else will help. He’ll always be here begging. His relatives should provide for him. He should get a job. Instead, Peter and John saw someone in need and viewed his need as an opportunity God had placed in their path.
“Peter said, ‘I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’” He took the disabled man by the right hand and pulled him to his feet. The man, who had been “lame from birth” (v. 2), may have expected to topple to the ground immediately; yet his feet and ankles supported him perfectly.
Think of the wild emotional ride the man surely must have experienced: disappointment when Peter told him he would receive no money; terror at being yanked to his feet; and finally, overwhelming joy when he was suddenly whole.
Think about these truths whenever you have a chance to give:
- Peter and John gave what they had. God always supplies what we need to do His work; otherwise, He wouldn’t have brought us to that intersection. Even when we feel ill-equipped, we can take a step of faith.
- Peter and John relied on Jesus. The apostles didn’t have the power to heal; Jesus did. When they said, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk,” they were acknowledging the power and authority of Jesus to heal.
When we begin to open our eyes to the needs around us, it can be overwhelming. People in physical, emotional, and spiritual need are everywhere. Where do we begin—and how do we help with problems so deep-seated?
We must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.
Acts 3:9-10
9All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and 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.
The crowd responded with awe and astonishment. And why not? The man had been lame since birth. When a man has been unable to stand or walk for “over 40 years” (4:22), he just doesn’t suddenly get better. So when the crowd saw this man standing, walking, and even leaping and praising God, it rightly got their attention!
If you read the rest of Acts 3, you’ll see Peter grabbed this opportunity to talk about Jesus to all those who had come to the temple to worship. One opportunity to talk to one man about Jesus led to another opportunity. As a result, the number of the men alone who believed swelled to about 5,000 (see 4:4). It’s the ripple effect: one opportunity leads to another. One changed life leads to another, and another.
Edward Kimball took an interest in a 17-year-old teenager and determined to reach out to him in the name of Jesus. In the shoe store where the young man worked, Kimball led Dwight L. Moody to faith in Christ. Moody would go on to lead thousands to faith in Christ, impacting a whole generation on two continents. Edward Kimball was an ordinary man, just like Peter and John—and just like us. God will take our little acts of obedience and multiply them a thousand times over.
One “yes” to the God-given opportunity in front of you can lead to ongoing impact. One “yes” can bring further opportunities. Because Peter and John responded to the man in their path, they had the opportunity to preach to a crowd. Multitudes responded, bringing more opportunities for ministry.
What does that mean for you? Say, “Yes.”
LIVE IT OUT
How will you make the most of the intersections and opportunities that come your way this week? Consider the following suggestions:
- Look. Search for such opportunities. Allow your schedule to be interrupted in order to minister by listening, offering encouragement, praying with someone, or meeting a need.
- Go for it. Take the steps of obedience that you’ve been putting off recently. Take a leap of faith and do what you know God has been calling you to do.
- Sign up. You don’t have to wait for opportunities to fall in your lap through the regular intersections of life. Consider talking with a staff person at your church and signing up for ministry opportunities that match your gifts.
To follow Jesus is to serve a sovereign God—a God familiar with every nuance of your life and the lives of others. That doesn’t leave much room for random chance. Therefore, be ready to respond when opportunities come your way.
Teacher's Notes:
Is there really any such thing as an accident?
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UNSTOPPABLE OPPORTUNITIES
When has a “chance” encounter changed your life?
- Found a gospel tract, led to salvation
- Had a flat tire, kept me from being in a big multi-car accident
- Took the wrong turn on a trip and discovered a beautiful area
- Came upon an accident and helped rescue someone
- Stopped to tie my shoe and limb fell out of a tree just where I would have been walking
Do you really believe these encounters to be chance?
- As a follower of Christ, I hesitate to call the encounters I have with people mere “chance” meetings. These unplanned intersections can be “divine appointments”—opportunities that can change the direction of a life.
- Our lesson talked about the many intersections we go through in life. So many times, we just pass right through these intersections without even noticing what's around us. These intersections are very much like our lives.
- Every day we intersect with people, but many times we don't take the time to notice them, we just pass on by.
- God puts us on this pathway to impact and influence lives along our journey. Intersections become opportunities.
- God gives us “chance” encounters with people every day, who need Christ.
Today we look at such an encounter Peter and John had.
I. See the Opportunity
Acts 3:1-4 (NIV)
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!"
How do you typically respond (think or do) when you are approached by someone on the street asking for money or when you see someone with a sign “will work for food”?
- Suspicious, doubting, “out of the way”, don’t ask me, get a job, “try the city mission, the Salvation Army”
Why do you think Peter and John gazed at the man?
- They saw his need and remembered Jesus’ concern for suffering people.
- They realized that God could work in the man’s life … both physically and spiritually.
- Here was someone who needed the touch of God in his life.
Based on the story, how can we know the man was not faking an illness but was genuinely lame?
- He had friends carry him there each day
- The verses say he was lame from birth
- This was a congenital birth defect
Besides strangers who beg for money, what other kinds of needy folks do we come in contact with regularly?
- Neighbors struggling with family issues
- Friends who are confused about how to handle current problems
- Family members overwhelmed with life
- Strangers with whom we converse while traveling
- People who wait on us where we shop or in a restaurant
- How can we discern the less obvious needs of others? We don’t always know medical history or family background?
- Other customers we see repeatedly in the same coffee shop or quick stop
How can we discern the less obvious needs of others? We don’t always know medical history or family background?
- Pay attention to what is going on around you
- Look at people, notice their attitude, their appearance
- Listen to what they are saying
- Ask the Lord to give you sensitivity to needs around you – needs that He can meet through you
Jimmy Wayne’s Journey from Foster Care to Country Music Stardom
Point: Believers should look for opportunities to represent Christ to those outside the church.
There are people living with problems beyond their own making and need the support of others. These are opportunities for believers to see them with a compassion that probes beyond the surface need and identifies the deeper needs in life.
II. Seize the Opportunity
Acts 3:4-8 (NIV)
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
What obstacles or excuses keep us from helping people and offering hope?
- Lack of faith and interest in needs of others.
- Too busy with our own lives.
- We segregate ourselves from other socio-economic groups.
- Lack of burden for the lost.
How can you help others, even when you have limited resources?
- Point them to Jesus who has unlimited resources.
- Offer to pray for them … both right then and in the days ahead.
- Help to get them in touch with someone or some organization who works with needy people, follow up if you see them again.
There is an old Quaker proverb that states: “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, nor any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
Peter and John saw someone in need and viewed his need as an opportunity God had placed in their path.
Point: An opportunity seen should be an opportunity seized.
Believers may have limited resources to help others, but they can share the special riches of love and grace available through Jesus Christ. Our message of hope should be accompanied by actions that encourage others to have faith.
III. Build on the Opportunity
Acts 3:9-10 (NIV)
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
How can we make room now so we can say yes to future opportunities to minister to others?
- Build a “margin” into your life.
- Set aside time and finances that you anticipate spending for “chance encounters” God brings your way.
- Actively look for people and situations where you can minister to people around you.
How have you witnessed the ripple effect of helping someone in a small way that impacted others in a big way?
- Jimmy Wayne
- Someone gave money to help a college student … that student went on to be active in Christian ministry (full time or as a lay-person).
- Needy person comes to the church for a handout, while there they find Jesus as savior, eventually their whole family comes to the Lord.
- Kind word of advice and encouragement helps someone through the problem they’re struggling with, they, in turn, help someone else who has a similar problem.
If you have time, note the ripple effect or chain of events that led to Billy Graham’s conversion.
As of 2008, Billy Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion. That means that approximately 2.2 billion people have heard the gospel from Billy Graham’s mouth. That’s hard to wrap your mind around.
Billy Graham has shared the gospel with more people than anyone else in history, but do you know who shared the gospel with him? It actually is a series of events that has been traced over the years and starts out with one volunteer Sunday school teacher.
“You can count the apples on the tree, but who can count the apples in a seed?”
So it is with the influence of a single person.
Take Edward Kimball, for an example. Never heard of him? You’re not unique in that sense. Most people have never heard of him. Kimball was a Sunday school teacher who not only prayed for the often rowdy boys in his class but also sought to win each one to the Lord. If Kimball ever felt like giving up, he never talked about it. If you have ever taught the Bible to young boys, you know that the experience can often be like herding cats.
One young man, in particular, didn’t seem to understand what the gospel was about so Kimball went to the shoe store where he was stocking shelves and confronted him in the stock room with the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That young man was Dwight L. Moody. In the stockroom on that Saturday, he received Jesus Christ as his Savior. In his lifetime, Moody touched two continents for God, with untold thousands coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
But the story doesn’t end there. Actually that’s where it begins. Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God, Wilbur Chapman. Chapman became the evangelist who preached to thousands. One day, a professional ball player had a day off and attended one of Chapman’s meetings, and thus, Billy Sunday was converted. Sunday quit baseball and became part of Chapman’s team. Then, Chapman accepted the pastorate of a large church and Billy Sunday began his own evangelistic crusades.
Another young man was converted whose name was Mordecai Ham. He was a scholarly, dignified gentleman who wasn’t above renting a hearse and parading it through the streets advertising his meetings.
When Ham came to Charlotte, North Carolina, a sandy-haired, lanky young man, then in high school, vowed that he wouldn’t go hear him preach, but Billy Frank, as he was called by his family, did eventually go. Ham announced that he knew for a fact that a house of ill repute was located across the street from the local high school and that male students were skipping lunch to visit the house across the street. When students decided to go to interrupt the meetings of Mordecai Ham, Billy Frank decided to go see what would happen. That night Billy Frank went and was intrigued by what he heard. Returning another night, he responded to the invitation and was converted. Billy Frank eventually became known as Billy Graham, the evangelist who preached to more people than any other person who ever lived, including the Apostle Paul.
William “Billy” Frank Graham
Point: Every marvelous work of the Lord creates another opportunity to bear witness for Him.
The amazing work of the Lord in our lives as believers will be evident to others.
This fascinating chain of events was triggered by a Sunday school teacher’s concern for his boys. If you are like most people, you have served in some capacity and wondered at times if you were making a real difference or not. Maybe you’ve thought about quitting because you didn’t think you were making any difference.
Next time you are tempted to give up, please remember Edward Kimball, whose persistence and faithfulness was tremendously honored by the Lord. The story would have looked very differently if Edward Kimball did not take his Saturday to seek out young Dwight Moody.
You can count the apples on a tree, but only God knows how many apples are in a single seed.
Do your part today in the Kingdom and trust God for the results.
Close: This story is an example of how God has chosen to do His work on this earth – one person comes to know hope in Christ and then they seize an opportunity to share that hope with another – and so it is repeated again and again.
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
