Note for 20250716 - Acts - Part 3 - Acts 3 - Denied
Acts
Three
Part 3 - Acts 3 - Denied
Acts 3:1-26 KJV
[1] Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being 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 of them that entered into the temple; [3] who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. [4] And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. [5] And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. [6] Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: 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. [8] And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. [9] And all the people saw him walking and praising God: [10] and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. [11] And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. [12] And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? [13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [15] and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. [16] And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. [17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. [18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. [19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; [20] and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: [21] whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. [22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. [23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. [24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. [25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. [26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
https://bible.com/bible/1/act.3.1-26.KJV
Note for 20250716
Denied
I know. It seems like a strange title. Once more, we are dealing in today's reading with something you might have heard and know about, especially of the phrasing: Silver and gold have I none.. This we know, it is not an uncommon teaching. Nor, of healing that comes from Christ, I myself have shared my own account as testimony for Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:14 KJV
[14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
https://bible.com/bible/1/act.3.14.KJV
No, I want to look at this verse with you today, as Peter shared with those marveling about the healing the lame beggar received. Peter does not "pull his punches" speaking to those present at Solomon's Porch and remind them that it is by the same Christ whom they denied, that this man was healed.
Do we deny Jesus Christ?
Acts 3:26 KJV
[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
https://bible.com/bible/1/act.3.26.KJV
Christ came to them in the flesh, friends. But, how does He turn them away from their iniquities? Granted, what I speak of requires understanding, but since the Holy Spirit is sent in the Name of Jesus Christ by our Father in Heaven, walking away from sin can not be credited to us. No, but it is Christ working in us by the same Holy Spirit that heals the spiritually lame, to walk in His Name. We are healed from within, as we are shown the way to walk by the Holy Ghost. If we don't, then we deny the power of Christ from working in us. Jesus deserves the Glory for the good that we do, for before we were saved, we were caught in iniquity and sinned without end. It is the Holy Spirit of GOD that reminds of what Christ said, Ministering to us from within.
So, as much as Peter and John were short in coin, we might be today. But, do we give from what we have to give in Jesus Christ, or deny Him? Do we remain silent in our testimony, when we are presented the opportunity to glorify His Name? Do we give Christ to others, or do we claim some fame unto ourselves of how Holy we have become and what we achieved? That is a form of denial too. For, the good that comes of us, is through Jesus Christ, by His Blood and by The Comforter that He prayed our Father in Heaven to send unto us. Before, we were just like those we look upon, who we should be Ministering to instead of looking down on them as if we are somehow more than them.
Yet, Peter was not wrong that those he was addressing here on Temple Mount were part of the mob that insisted that Christ be crucified. I am just wondering, if our denial of Christ within is something like that?
Matthew 10:32-33 KJV
[32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.10.32-33.KJV
Does the heading still seem strange to you now? Because, to me, this is a major wake up call to testify for Christ even when I think it better to remain quiet on a matter. The one thing I am most grateful for is that there is such a stark contrast in me of the before and after Christ periods in my life and the testimony of Christ that I have been afforded to have. Yes, it required my face to be bruised and broken, but by the healing I received I have an undeniable testimony in me. Better still, that the miracle even ministered and testified to the very doctor that wanted to help me. Even he can not claim a part in the healed man I see in the mirror today, and he knows it. Just like this lame man that was restored, I was restored to the wonder of those who know me. A bigger gift than that I have received in the Spirit of GOD, that the innerman received a healing within that turned me away from my iniquities, just as the scripture said here today and it is undeniable by me, and even those that knew me before and now.
Shall we deny a testimony for Jesus Christ in us? Or worse, claim fame and honour for ourselves? What has Christ done for you? Do you testify of that before men?
Selah, Shalom
Verse of The Day
From the YouVersion Bible App
Luke 9:23-24 KJV
[23] And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [24] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.9.23-24.KJV
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