5 Dollar Nachos

Acts 3
⁸ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God. ¹⁰ Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

He was once a sick beggar. Now he is entering the temple praising God. You could not have a story that was more symbolic of what we should be doing as Christians.

From my commentary:
As soon as he was healed, the formerly lame man did three good things. First, he attached himself to the apostles (entered the temple with them). Secondly, he immediately started to use what God had given him (walking, leaping). Finally, he began to praise and worship God (praising God).

What will you do with your miracle?

Acts 3
³ who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. ⁴ And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” ⁵ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 

Fixing his eyes on him: The man must have been happy and encouraged when Peter and John looked at him intently. Most people who want to ignore beggars are careful to not make eye contact with them. When they looked at the lame man so intently, he probably thought he had a big gift coming.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 

 “It is not the Church’s business in this world to simply make the present condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to release here on earth the redemptive work of God in Christ.” (LaSor)

It is time the Church starts to walk in the power that Christ Jesus died to give to us. We are not just a source of knowledge. We are faith and power thru Jesus. We must covet the gifts of the Spirit so that we can walk in the POWER of the Spirit.

Acts 3
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 

I saw this in my commentary and I loved the wording:
The lame man simply wanted to be supported in the condition that he was in. God had something better in mind; Jesus wanted to completely change his condition.

God’s healing of the body for continued service in the ministry is what it is all about!

Acts 2
⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added ^[q]to the church daily those who were being saved.

This is where we should be right now. We should be adding to the church and walking in favor because we are showing love and kindness.

It is EASIER to have favor with all people when you walk in love and you are kind and giving.

Acts 2
⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and ^[o]sold their possessions and goods, and divided^[p] them among all, as anyone had need.

I love this topic, because it tends to ruffle feathers. The government creating a socialistic economy is TERRIBLE.

HOWEVER, as Christians we should choose to live our lives like socialist. I do not want the government TAKING my surplus and giving it someone else. HOWEVER, I want to take my surplus and with the Lord’s wisdom GIVE it to someone to bless them.

The government would just give it to the next person in line, I would CHOOSE who I gave it to.

The church should be a community of love and fellowship. If a brother or sister is in need, we should WANT to give from our abundance to help them out. No one should want inside the church body.

Acts 2
⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 

Commentary:
Then fear came upon every soul: This was evidence of the power of God. One of the greatest, most powerful works God can do is to change the human heart towards a reverent honor of the Lord.

This is the fear that recognizes you are not the higher power. You acknowledge the Lord and you submit to His will. This is the one thing that is lacking from most Christians, including myself; The fear of God.

Here is another commentary:
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). As with our parents and the police officer, a healthy fear of the consequences of doing wrong gives us the wisdom to be obedient and to do that which is pleasing to God.

Acts 2
⁴¹ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

You’re saved. Now what?

Step 1: Be hungry for more!
Step 2: Fellowship with other believers. This will strengthen you and give you hope!
Step 3: Participate in communion and group prayers with the other brothers and sisters in Christ.

They heard Peter preach, and they received what he offered. Then they got baptized, and started fellowshipping and becoming a community of love and sharing.

Acts 2
⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this ^[l]perverse generation.”

So from this verse, it is very clear that the full sermon is not written here.

From my commentary:
Be saved from this perverse generation: Any generation that is responsible for putting Jesus to death is a perverse generation. But since every generation is responsible for Jesus’ death, every generation needs salvation.

Peter’s sermon caused the people listening to want to act. Peter gave them instructions. Get saved. Get baptized. Salvation is the first thing.

There is truly only one message, Christ and Christ crucified.

Act 2
³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the ^[k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The gospel needs a response. You will either reject it, or receive it. The people listening to Peter’s sermon received it.

This was not because Peter was an amazing preacher. It was because he was used by God and the Holy Spirit was flowing through him.