WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.919 Nice chapter 3. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:09.620 I've got a confession to make. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:13.300 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.280 From what I gather, the auditions are the best bits. 00:00:34.020 --> 00:00:40.679 You never know when you click on them whether someone's going to be absolutely awful or breathtakingly brilliant. 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:43.159 Both are really good TV. 00:00:44.740 --> 00:00:50.019 Sometimes you could laugh out loud, other times you have tears streaming down your face. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:55.240 And they have something called the golden buzzer moment. 00:00:55.240 --> 00:01:04.840 That is that the judges in this kind of talent show, TV series, are committed to pressing the golden buzzer just once. 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:09.240 And so you can click on YouTube and you can see the golden buzzer performances. 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:14.340 These are the ones that really blow the audience away, or they blow the judges away. 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:22.099 As the person sings or does a magic trick or something, the audience or the judges are just gobsmacked. 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:23.820 They are in awe. 00:01:25.239 --> 00:01:29.579 And the judges mouth to themselves, how on earth did that happen? 00:01:29.759 --> 00:01:31.579 What on earth is going on? 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:36.399 And that's the question that's being asked in Acts chapter 3. 00:01:38.459 --> 00:01:42.519 Peter and John do something utterly amazing. 00:01:43.199 --> 00:01:48.419 And many people see it and the audience want to know, how did they do it? 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:50.239 What on earth is going on? 00:01:50.239 --> 00:02:00.939 And unlike Britain's Got Talent, magicians or the great singers, Peter and John are more than happy to explain it to you. 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:05.280 And they're not magicians who keep their tricks secret. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:11.319 On the contrary, they relish the opportunity to tell people about it. 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:14.840 How they healed a crippled man. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:18.039 The passage breaks down into three parts. 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:19.819 Verses 1 to 8, you have the healing. 00:02:20.799 --> 00:02:22.500 Verses 9 to 11, you have the reaction. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:25.159 And verses 12 to 26, you have the speech. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:28.900 The healing, verses 1 to 8. 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:35.740 And I want to point out to you that the key characters in the narrative are seeking one thing but finding another. 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:45.620 Peter and John, verse 1, they are seeking a time of prayer in their regular slot in the afternoon. 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:49.060 But they find another thing. 00:02:52.700 --> 00:02:54.960 Jewish people would go up to the temple to pray. 00:02:56.180 --> 00:02:58.439 And so Peter and John head to the temple for that purpose. 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:02.080 But before they get in, something stupendous happens. 00:03:03.480 --> 00:03:06.680 At the same time, there's a lame man whose legs don't work from birth. 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:09.200 And he is at the temple gate. 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.060 And he is seeking financial assistance. 00:03:12.060 --> 00:03:15.080 He's been lame from birth. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:20.500 So every day he has to be carried to the same spot in the temple. 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:22.939 And he's seeking finances. 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:24.340 Every day he's there begging. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:26.960 He couldn't work. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:27.780 There was no dole. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:29.280 No benefits. 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:32.960 And so this was his only means of survival. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:37.539 And as he did every day, he pleaded with people going into the temple. 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:38.319 He wanted money. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:45.719 But on this particular day, neither of these men found what they were looking for. 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:49.159 Peter and John got to pray. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:52.299 But they end up speaking to this guy and healing this man. 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:54.359 And preaching a sermon to the crowd. 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:56.939 They never made their prayers. 00:03:57.780 --> 00:04:00.139 And the crippled man doesn't get what he was after either. 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:01.639 He gets a lot more. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:04.379 He sought a few coins. 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:06.819 But Peter and John do not have coins to give him. 00:04:06.819 --> 00:04:09.419 But what they do have, they share with him freely. 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:12.780 They have the power of Jesus to make him well again. 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:19.839 And not in his wildest dreams that morning did that guy imagine this was possible. 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:24.959 You notice he's not sitting at the temple gate asking people as they come in, 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:25.680 Can you heal me? 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.920 He's not even entertaining that option. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.379 It's not even on his radar. 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:33.579 He is asking for as much as he thought he could hope for. 00:04:33.579 --> 00:04:37.599 Enough money to buy dinner that night. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:45.579 But in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, on this day he finds the ability to walk again. 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:49.680 And in an instant his begging days are gone. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.660 So he jumps. 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:55.319 And he walks. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:57.740 And he leaps. 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:00.500 And he praises God. 00:05:01.780 --> 00:05:03.519 And then he jumps around a little bit more. 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:05.360 And he hops. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:07.180 And he skips. 00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:09.800 And he praises God. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:16.800 And the people saw the walking and the leaping and the praising God and the hopping and the skipping. 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:21.639 And verses 8 and 9, those verses are filled, aren't they? 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.620 Telling us with what this man did. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:27.340 And they're repeated over and over again to make the point. 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:35.739 The lame man from birth did not just take tentative steps with a frame and collapse in relief. 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:37.619 He's completely healed. 00:05:39.259 --> 00:05:41.000 No physiotherapy. 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:48.019 Verse 7 says his feet and his ankles became strong again. 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:49.539 No rehab. 00:05:50.719 --> 00:05:51.219 How? 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.579 By the power of Jesus. 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:59.219 We remember, don't we, Jesus while he was still on earth doing miracles like this all the time. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:04.759 But it turns out he is continuing to do them here. 00:06:06.919 --> 00:06:15.399 Even now that he has ascended into the heavens, he is still doing them by granting his apostles his authority to carry out his ministry. 00:06:17.099 --> 00:06:20.519 And it's not surprising, is it, that the people, they are taken aback by this. 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:24.659 So secondly, the reaction, verses 9 to 11. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:25.879 Let me remind you, verse 9. 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:30.919 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:36.379 And they recognised him as the one who sat at the beautiful gate of the temple asking for alms. 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:41.379 And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:49.540 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:53.519 This is a first century golden buzzer moment. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:57.459 The people who witnessed it are gobsmacked. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:06:59.980 What they saw really blew them away. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:02.579 They knew this guy. 00:07:02.659 --> 00:07:03.339 He was well known. 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:07.199 He was the beggar out the front of the temple every day. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:13.219 They'd seen him for months, for weeks, for years maybe. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:18.800 But now he's out the front of the temple dancing and leaping and praising God. 00:07:20.099 --> 00:07:22.399 And the turnaround is miraculous, literally. 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:30.139 And so they are filled with wonder and amazement and astonishment. 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:35.279 And Luke piles on the words to capture their surprise. 00:07:35.659 --> 00:07:36.699 But they're also curious. 00:07:38.419 --> 00:07:41.959 Peter and John were not magicians in this golden buzzer moment. 00:07:42.599 --> 00:07:46.740 But they still left people asking, how does this happen? 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:49.019 Wow, what is going on? 00:07:49.579 --> 00:07:50.979 How is this possible? 00:07:51.379 --> 00:07:55.399 And when Peter starts talking in verse 12, he acknowledges their surprise. 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:58.319 And he suggests you've reached the wrong conclusion. 00:07:59.599 --> 00:08:00.979 About who is responsible for it. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:01.899 Look at verse 12. 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:06.620 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, men of Israel, 00:08:06.799 --> 00:08:07.719 Why do you wonder at this? 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:10.339 Or why do you stare at us? 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:14.759 As though by our own power we have made him walk. 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:18.759 And that takes us into point three, the speech. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:24.139 It's a five point sermon that Peter has got. 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:27.740 Point number one, power. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:37.600 Peter's speech begins by clarifying whose power it is that accomplished this miracle. 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:44.279 And as we've just seen, he begins by flatly denying that the power belonged to him or John. 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:48.279 Instead, verse 13, he starts to talk about Jesus. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:53.700 And he makes it very clear in verse 16 that it was by the power of Jesus that this moment came to pass. 00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:56.159 Verse 16. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:09:01.659 And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:03.299 Whom you see and know. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:06.879 It is Jesus' name and faith comes through him. 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:09.939 That completely healed this guy. 00:09:09.940 --> 00:09:17.500 The power here is not the power of a couple of middle-aged Jewish men who've been heading to the temple to prayer. 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:20.440 The power is the power of Jesus. 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.680 It is the power that is in his name. 00:09:25.400 --> 00:09:27.080 And only in his name. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:31.080 But point two of Peter's sermon is rejected. 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:35.000 The power that accomplished this miracle. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:37.460 This power that you notice and you are drawn to. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.900 This power of the Lord Jesus you've actually rejected, he says. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:48.060 Now, sooner does Peter start talking about Jesus, then he points out to the assembled crowd. 00:09:48.160 --> 00:09:50.500 He says, actually, you've got a history with this guy. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:10:02.659 This Jesus who healed the lame man is the Jesus who the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and the God of our forefathers has glorified. 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:13.719 But he says, prior to that, this Jesus was disowned and killed by the very people that Peter is speaking to on this occasion. 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:19.419 He uses, doesn't he, in verse 13, the word denied twice. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:23.480 In verse 13 and verse 14, they've rejected him. 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:28.759 Though he was their countryman, though he was their Messiah, they denied him and handed him over. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:30.980 And they had him killed. 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:38.659 The emphasis will become familiar by Peter in his preaching in Acts. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:41.759 Jesus is greatly honoured by God. 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:44.579 Jesus is glorified by God. 00:10:44.819 --> 00:10:47.559 But he is greatly dishonoured by man. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.559 Verse 15, there's an astonishing phrase, isn't it? 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.120 Can you see it? 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:56.980 They killed the author of life. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.959 So evocative, isn't it? 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:07.199 You cannot do anything worse than that. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:14.339 You cannot be guilty of anything more horrific than that. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:22.920 To kill the author of life is the greatest sin of all time. 00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:26.980 And Peter is not mincing his words, does he? 00:11:27.280 --> 00:11:32.139 Here you notice, they exchanged the life of the holy and the righteous one for a murderer. 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:38.620 They killed the one who had himself given them life. 00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:41.120 They reject him. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:45.580 But that wasn't the whole story, was it? 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:50.299 Because God has glorified him. 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:53.379 And God has raised him from the dead. 00:11:54.099 --> 00:12:02.120 Which is why despite their rejection of Jesus, Jesus is still at work doing things like giving this guy his legs back. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:11.679 And so when we come to point three in Peter's sermon, he begins to try and help his hearers come to terms with what they've done. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.039 Listen to verse 17. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:17.759 He says, now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance. 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:19.159 That's the third point of the sermon. 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:30.059 Peter's sermon is power. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:33.799 Power. 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:37.179 And then what was the second point? 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.039 Rejected. 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.279 The third point is ignorance. 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:49.319 He doesn't mean that they weren't culpable, they weren't guilty. 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.419 For what they've done. 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:52.899 He clearly thinks they were. 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:56.120 They've got a very serious case to answer. 00:12:56.279 --> 00:13:03.360 But I think what he means is that when they killed the Lord Jesus, they were actually ignorant of who he really was. 00:13:04.819 --> 00:13:08.079 Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, Jesus cried on the cross. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:14.919 They were ignorant of the important place that Jesus had in the plans of God. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:25.259 As Peter says in verse 18, God was fulfilling everything that was said in the prophets, even when the Jews were putting him to death. 00:13:26.459 --> 00:13:28.879 And clearly they didn't see that at the time. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:34.839 Clearly they didn't see that it was the author of life that they were putting to death. 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:38.500 In these ways they acted in ignorance. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:42.720 But he says to them, now is the time for ignorance no longer. 00:13:44.280 --> 00:13:48.920 That if you will now acknowledge who Jesus is and you will acknowledge his power. 00:13:50.280 --> 00:13:54.259 And you will see how central he is to God's purpose. 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.920 Then what you need to do is repent. 00:13:56.060 --> 00:13:56.700 That's point four. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.540 Verse 19. 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:59.779 Repent therefore. 00:14:01.339 --> 00:14:03.519 And turn again that your sins may be blotted out. 00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:06.699 That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:13.879 Peter talks of Moses predicting the coming of another prophet who would be just like him. 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:17.279 And he spoke of how important he would be. 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:19.879 And that when he arrived people needed to listen to him. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:23.319 And Jesus is that prophet. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:25.759 He is the fulfilment of that prediction of Moses. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:28.159 So it is Jesus who should be listened to. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:33.319 And listening to Jesus is what true repentance is going to involve. 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:39.659 Now frankly I think that the sermon could possibly have finished there. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:44.500 Perfectly logical four point sermon. 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:46.179 But in fact it's a five point sermon. 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:50.220 Because Peter has a point to make doesn't he about blessing. 00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:54.100 And here's the surprising conclusion. 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:56.960 That Peter gives to the speech because of what he promises here. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.240 It's far more than what his hearers deserve. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.960 Look again at verse 19. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:03.740 He says if they repent of their sins. 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:05.940 Their sins will be wiped out. 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.720 Not just forgiven. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:10.159 Wiped out. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:16.339 God won't just turn away from his wrath. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:20.419 He will actually remove their sins from them. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:28.100 He also says that if they repent they will experience times of refreshing from the Lord. 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:32.379 They'll be relieved of the burden of their guilt. 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.659 And they will know freedom and joy. 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:40.779 And that will come from being forgiven and made new before God. 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:46.199 And then he says that if they repent God will send the Messiah to them in verse 20. 00:15:46.839 --> 00:15:48.980 That he may send the Christ appointed for you. 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:52.139 And I presume Peter there is speaking about the second coming of the Lord Jesus. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.719 In fact he goes on doesn't he to stress in verse 21. 00:15:56.100 --> 00:16:00.360 That Jesus is going to wait in heaven until the time God has fixed him to return. 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:03.480 Which we look forward to. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:10.100 The time he describes here as the restoration of all things. 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:14.019 When God will press the reset button on his creation. 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:20.419 And in all these ways Peter says repent of your sins and you will know the blessing of God. 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:25.320 Your sins can be wiped out by the refreshment that you will enjoy from God. 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:29.539 And there is the hope of Christ's return and a renovated universe. 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:36.580 And this blessing Peter is telling you and I is the fulfilment of all that God has promised before. 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:41.300 Let me just read to you the last paragraph of Peter's sermon. 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.779 And listen for the language of blessing. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.680 Look at verse 24. 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:48.899 And all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and those who came after him also proclaimed these days. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.300 They were all looking forward to this. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:56.319 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers saying to Abraham. 00:16:56.919 --> 00:17:00.819 And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:07.339 And God having raised up his servant the Lord Jesus sent him to you first to bless you. 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:10.779 By turning every one of you from your wickedness. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:20.019 And that word God spoke to the people through Peter all those generations ago is very significant for us this morning. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:27.440 Because he says through Abraham's offspring, through Jesus Christ all the earth will be blessed. 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.399 All people. 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.599 On earth. 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:36.119 And when God raised up and sent his servant as he did here. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:41.939 He did so to bless us by our turning from our sins and our wicked ways. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:50.119 And that means that the lives of those of us who have turned from our sin and trusted in Christ. 00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:55.919 Are now lived in his name under his lordship. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:05.039 And so as we finish this morning I want to point out three aspects of this life in Christ. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:10.720 This lordship of the Lord Jesus that I think are prominent in this verse. 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:15.759 I want to conclude by saying something about the power of Jesus. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.980 And the forgiveness of Jesus. 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.500 And the worship of Jesus. 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:24.660 First of all. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.859 The power of Jesus. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:33.119 We've seen a desperately needy man. 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.500 Completely. 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.799 And life changingly transformed. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.819 How did that happen? 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.680 It happened by the power of Jesus. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:50.640 It was explicitly not done by the power of the apostles. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:55.160 It was certainly not done by the power of the man himself. 00:18:57.019 --> 00:19:00.839 And it was not done by the power of any other person or spiritual being. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:03.539 Jesus claims this moment as his own. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:13.599 And in this process he establishes another testimony to his power as if he needed it. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:18.139 And this power of Jesus is important for us. 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:22.319 And it's important for you and me and for the people around us. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:31.359 And I think this testimony from Acts chapter 3 of Jesus' power is one that we need to cure and absorb. 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:38.059 Because we know people, don't we, who are very unwell. 00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:45.179 And we might be, this morning, very unwell ourselves. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:51.259 And Jesus' power to heal has not changed. 00:19:51.259 --> 00:20:00.759 And we know people, don't we, whose circumstances in a range of ways seem utterly hopeless. 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:04.039 And intractable. 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:08.579 Or perhaps our own circumstances are like that this morning. 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:15.259 And Jesus' power to change our circumstances has not changed. 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.699 And has not diminished. 00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:30.559 And we are surrounded, we live in a city, don't we, of people who show very little interest in the message that is very precious to us. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:39.720 And we can feel, Christians often feel very pessimistic about the possibility of people coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:46.799 But the power of Jesus to draw people to himself is as great as it's always been. 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:54.359 And perhaps this morning you feel real despair about your spiritual state. 00:20:54.359 --> 00:21:04.119 You feel you've got these well-grooved habits, bad habits of repetitive sins that you find yourself falling into again and again. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:08.679 Or maybe it's persistent lukewarmness. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:10.559 Or lagging doubts. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:15.779 Or a seeming inability to make the changes that you need to make. 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.619 And the power of the Lord Jesus. 00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:24.019 To transform the people that he loves. 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:26.359 Jesus has not changed. 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.000 And is not diminished. 00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:32.199 And is as real. 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:34.179 And he can change us. 00:21:34.479 --> 00:21:36.559 And he can change those around us. 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:39.240 And he can change our circumstances. 00:21:39.679 --> 00:21:40.799 And he can heal. 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:44.619 He can do that easily. 00:21:47.719 --> 00:21:49.759 Of course, some of you are getting a little bit nervous. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:59.940 Jesus, in his perfect purposes, may not always answer our prayers in the way that we hope. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:05.180 But it will never be because he can't. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:11.000 No one else might be able to help us this morning, but he can. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:14.940 And we might be powerless on our own. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:17.200 But his power is very great. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.039 And he can. 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:26.940 And our outlook and our attitude and our prayers need to be fused with that reality, mustn't they? 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:30.220 Perhaps especially our prayers. 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:42.400 And I wonder whether we should start by praying that Jesus' power would today, and in our prayer meeting on Wednesday, elevate and recalibrate our prayers themselves. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:50.060 That we might call out to God for the things that we and others need. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:54.220 With a deep trust in him, whatever he answers. 00:22:56.280 --> 00:23:02.360 But with an unflinching belief that the Jesus we pray to is powerful. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:07.820 He's powerful to meet my every need. 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.700 And then some. 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:13.580 Secondly, the forgiveness of Jesus. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.860 And this is really a subset of the power of Jesus. 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:23.720 Because one of the things that Jesus is powerful to do is to forgive any sin. 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.319 And I mean any sin. 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:33.380 Because in Acts 3, it reminds us that Jesus can forgive the greatest of sins. 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:41.860 And that if he can forgive the greatest sin, then he can certainly forgive the lesser sins too, can't he? 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:47.359 Remember that the people Peter preached to here rejected the Messiah. 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:49.979 They pursued and denied Jesus. 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:52.399 They killed the author of life. 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:55.000 They killed the author of life. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:59.039 You cannot get a greater sin than that. 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:03.539 And so I don't care what you've done in your life this morning. 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:09.779 You could not possibly be guilty of a greater crime than the people in Acts 3. 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:19.039 And yet it's to these people, these crucifiers of the Lord Jesus, that the promise of verse 19 is made. 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.940 And I find that staggering. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.319 I hope you do. 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:34.220 Verse 19 really is the golden buzzer moment of this chapter actually. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.579 The healing is amazing. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.299 Don't get me wrong. 00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:52.139 But there's nothing more gobsmacking, is there, than that the killers of the author of life are told that their sins can be wiped out. 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:55.179 That's the most astonishing thing in Acts chapter 3. 00:24:57.319 --> 00:25:02.379 And if that offer is made to them, then who could possibly miss out? 00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:16.460 Acts 3 reminds you and I that there is no sinner who, if they repent, can be disqualified from Christ's blessing. 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:23.400 And anyone who repents can have their sins done away with. 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:29.600 And they will receive refreshing from the Lord. 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:38.799 They will enjoy the relief of guilt being dealt with and sin's burden being taken off them. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:44.180 And they can receive the lightness and the joy of complete and total forgiveness. 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:49.339 Please be really clear on this. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.039 Be really clear on this. 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:59.639 The promise is not that God will just stop being angry with you. 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:02.440 He will, wonderfully. 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:09.880 The promise is that you will be cleansed of your sin. 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:20.860 And that your sins will not only be forgiven, they will vanish in a purifying fountain of God's love. 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:31.119 It's like, isn't it, when you spill something on, I don't know, your suit or your dress. 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:33.639 And you scrub it and you cannot get it clean. 00:26:33.719 --> 00:26:35.159 But you take it to the dry cleaners. 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.579 And you receive it back. 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:39.099 And you can't believe it. 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.699 It's gone. 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.819 All sign of it is gone. 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:46.319 You say, you wouldn't even know it was there. 00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:47.259 That's the picture. 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:49.319 It's given back to you. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.220 It was spoiled. 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:50.819 It was ruined. 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:53.279 But now you can wear it and you can rejoice in it. 00:26:56.879 --> 00:27:01.859 I don't know for certain, but I don't think we have any murderers in our congregation. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:08.700 We certainly don't have anyone who took an active role in the crucifixion of Jesus. 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:15.839 But we do have people in our church who have hated someone bitterly. 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:21.740 We have people who have taken cruel revenge. 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.339 We have people who have stolen. 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:31.319 We have people who have been unfaithful to their husbands or wives. 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:37.480 We have people who have been abusive to their spouses and their children. 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:43.519 We have people who have lied and kept on lying. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:48.779 We have people who have coveted what others have. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:53.619 We have people who have been regularly drunk. 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:59.739 We have people who have given into anxiety or discontent. 00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:05.359 We have people who are greedy, selfish and proud. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:16.059 And for every sinner who has turned to Jesus Christ, their sins have been wiped away. 00:28:18.419 --> 00:28:19.819 And forgiven by God. 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:22.039 And forgotten. 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:28.839 And that is astounding like nothing else is astounding. 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:34.220 And if that were not true, we'd be stuffed. 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.659 But it is. 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:40.460 We sing a hymn regularly, don't we? 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:43.860 Which is a favourite to many of us before the throne of God above. 00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:45.380 I was listening to it this morning. 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:48.800 And a line of that hymn jumped out at me. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:53.640 That Jesus has made an end of all my sin. 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.820 An end of all my sin. 00:28:57.819 --> 00:29:01.799 And it's the thing I need more than anything else. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.619 And he's done it. 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.539 And I'm astonished by it. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.299 And I hope you are too. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:12.960 In fact, I'm astonished into worship. 00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:14.259 And that's the final point. 00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:16.939 That's where I want to land this morning. 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:19.099 Because the power of Jesus and the forgiveness of Jesus, 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:22.000 when they're properly understood, will lead us into the worship of Jesus. 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:26.960 And it's a wonderful chapter, isn't it, for reminding us who Jesus is. 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:30.419 And as we see who he is, 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:33.220 and we understand what he's capable of, 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:35.559 our love for him is stirred in proper praise. 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:38.740 And it rises up out of our hearts, and it spills out of our lips. 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.059 And so let me remind you, 00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:44.639 some of the ways that Acts chapter 3 describes him, 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:46.000 Jesus of Nazareth, 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.279 the servant sent by God. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:51.460 The holy and righteous one. 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:54.019 The author of life. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.519 The Messiah. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:59.619 The great prophet to whom we must all listen. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.259 That is who healed this man. 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:04.579 That is who Peter proclaims. 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:06.299 That is who they killed, 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:08.200 but God raised him from death, 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.740 and glorified him. 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.799 And it is to him, 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:14.220 that we all owe repentance. 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:17.700 And it is him, 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:19.240 that makes forgiveness possible. 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:22.200 And the hope of a whole new world to come. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:27.700 And Acts 3 invites us into this this morning. 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:30.640 To come to him anew, 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.920 and fall on our face before him, 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.779 in humble worship. 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:38.660 It invites you to leave here this morning, 00:30:38.899 --> 00:30:40.639 with a spring in your step, 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.440 maybe even a leap, 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.379 and a hop, 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.119 and a skip. 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:48.099 Because we are full of praise, 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:50.139 because we are like that lame man, 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:54.160 who have found our lives being transformed, 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:56.240 by Jesus the Messiah. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:31:01.759 And he took him by the right hand, 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.759 and raised him up. 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:05.220 And immediately his feet, 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:07.160 and his ankles were made strong. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.579 And leaping up, 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:11.160 he stood and began to walk, 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:13.019 and entered the temple with them. 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:13.779 Walking, 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.299 and leaping, 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:18.900 and praising God. 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.299 Let's pray. 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.299 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.299