Acts 3:1-10
Introduction
In Acts 3, we meet a man who has no use of his legs and spends his days begging at the gate of the Temple. As John and Peter were preparing to enter the Temple for worship, the man asked them for money. Peter told the man that although they did not have money, they did have something greater. In Jesus’ name, Peter commanded the man to get up and walk. His ankles, feet, and legs were strengthened, and he immediately leapt to his feet. The man, accompanied by the two disciples, joyfully walked into the Temple while praising God. This was the first time he had walked in his entire life.
The story continues, and we learn of the shock and astonishment of others in the area as they heard of the lame man walking. When God does something suddenly, He does it so it can serve as a testimony that benefits others as well. The man who had been unable to walk since birth was healed, and that incident alone taught many others the goodness and power of Christ.
Getting Started
As Pastor Evans mentioned, names have meaning in the Bible. When God wanted to switch identities or a purpose for someone, He typically changed their name. With a name comes power. When Peter and John told the lame man to walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, he walked immediately. It was the name of Jesus that gave the man the ability to overcome what bound him his entire life. Think of a time that you were suffering from an affliction and called on Jesus for help. How did He help you? What might have been the outcome if you did not call His name?
Let’s Get Personal
If a man is lame in any area of his life, he can’t take care of anything or anyone else. Are there any historical or generational issues in your life that have caused you to be spiritually or emotionally lame? The good news here is that Jesus can meet you and heal you at any place, at any time, regardless of your past. Make a list of the areas in your life where you are currently lame. Confess those areas to the Lord, submit to His will, and know that He will transform and cure you of that lameness.
Kingdom Resources for Men
A Kingdom Man is a male who visibly and consistently submits to the comprehensive relationship and rule of God, underneath the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in every area of his life.
- Set aside time to meet with God daily, in His Word and through prayer, for the purpose of cultivating spiritual intimacy. Proactively seek to draw down heavenly authority and receive divine instruction. This can be done by reviewing the weekly sermon outlines and key Scriptures, reading and meditating through specific passages in or an entire book of the Bible, or using a devotional guide. The goal is to seek more of God than merely seeking things from God.
- Pray daily with your mate and share with her what you are learning from church and your personal time with God.
- Regularly use a meal time for praying with and over your family, having devotions, Scripture reading and discussing what your children learned in church or in their own time with the Lord. Remove distractions from this time. If you are single, use this time to pray for any extended family as well as for your future family.
- If your children do not live with you, engage them regularly through text or a phone call to inquire as to how they are doing, read or discuss a chapter in Scripture (you can start with the Psalms) and to give them guidance. Close with praying for them, and with them for others. If they are not open to this, text them that you are praying for them each day and ask God to cause them to become more open to this.
Resources
- My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers), paperback devotional
- Jesus Calling (Sarah Young), paperback devotional
- Life Under God: 365 Day Devotional (Tony Evans), leather version
- Prayers for Victory in Your Marriage (Tony Evans), paperback guided prayers
- Kingdom Family Devotional (Tony Evans and Jonathan Evans), hardback devotional
- One-Minute Prayers for Men (Nick Harrison), paperback guided prayers
