God's Phone Booths

I love superman!

If you know me at all then it is no surprise to discover everything with me will eventually come back to the guy with the red cape! I named my firstborn son Clark, I have a man cave stacked floor to ceiling superman artifacts, I have Kryptonite on the dashboard of my truck, and it is not uncommon to find everyone in my household wearing superman embossed clothing on any given day.

Why do I love superman so much? I think I have been a fan because it is the story of a guy who is unique to this world by birth, and he takes the ability his birth provided him to make a distinct difference in his environment.

Whenever evil appeared, he was off like a shot to change from Clark Kent, mild mannered news reporter to SUPERMAN!!! Fighting for Truth, Justice, and the American way! Leaping tall buildings with a single bound, running faster than a speeding bullet, and more powerful than a locomotive. What is not to like?

My childlike faith can embrace all that is superman except for one thing. If there was one thing I never understood it was why choose a phone booth to change in. I am not sure if you have ever been in a phone booth, but they are tight, compact, and uncomfortable. So why choose a phone booth?

The fact is, phone booths are necessary if you want to fly. No one likes them, but they are what is needed if you want to wear the red cape.

Paul puts it this way:

"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" ~Philippians 3:4-9

Paul was listing his "Religious Resume" and how in this resume of "doing" he found no satisfaction. The law will only produce failure if you are honest, and hypocrisy if you are dishonest. It was meant for one thing only, it was meant to bring death.

Paul was on the road to Damascus to persecute, in the name of God, Christians who were there when God introduced him to a phone booth.

The phone booth is the end of ones self.

Superman was still super even without the phone booth experience. Under the mild mannered guise, he was still different by birth. If you are a child of God, then you too are different by birth. Your sin nature has been eradicated, and you have the ability now to make an impact for the kingdom.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." ~Romans 6:1-14

This is a hard concept for many Christians to swallow. We were made righteous by the blood of Christ. We are made righteous by this new birth.

The problem is, we walk around when we should be flying. God brings us to a phone booth. It is a tight uncomfortable place where we feel like we cannot move. Ever been there?

It is precisely those places where we are forced to see our efforts to succeed in the flesh are just that, efforts in the flesh.

In the letter to the church at Philippi, Paul stated that everything he had found his identity in, he counted it to be dung. Why?

Phone booth time!

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.   Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:10-14 

Paul emerged from the phone booth and took to the skies!

In the movies, it always makes me smile when I see superman step into the phone booth wrenching off his tie and glasses, because I know what is about to happen. He steps out as Superman to the amazement of all the onlookers. They are always stunned to see someone go into a tight situation, and emerge in power. Better from the phone booth, not worse.

If you have been in church any time at all, you no doubt have heard this phrase, "God never puts more on us than we can handle." I have said this statement before to people, but after much searching I have to say, this is a lie. This, my friend is a lie. It is a comforting lie, but still a lie. This is found nowhere in the Bible.

What I do find in the Bible is people who God put into situations that brought them to the end of themselves.

 "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;" ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Paul said, "I was overwhelmed to the point I was ready to die...". Pressed out of measure, above strength...There has to be a place where we end, so Christ can begin. A point where Clark Kent will no longer cut it, and Superman is needed.

However he was able to tell the church of Corinth and through them tell us today, "He will yet deliver us!"

The world does not need anymore religious Clark Kents. Apologizing for taking up space and bumbling awkwardly around in social gatherings. The world needs us as Christians to "Be" who we are in Christ!

  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." ~ Romans 12:1-2 

Conformed to this world (Age) is not wearing pink hair and piercing your face like a tackle box. That is not worldliness. Worldliness is EGO (Edging God Out). Operating in your own strength. Worldliness shies away from a God's phone booth experiences because they make us look weak and helpless. "What would people think of me?"
Paul says rather to be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our mind, that we may PROVE what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God!

Stepping out of the phone booth and saying, "I am different by birth, and because of these circumstances I can through Christ, make an impact on my environment for the Kingdom!

                                                   ( Thanks for posing for the blog Clark!)

Are you in an end of yourself phone booth experience? Has a crowd gathered to watch you emerge?

( Chalkboard message that I left in a High school classroom )

 

 

 

 

Phone booths are necessary if you want to fly!

Up, up and away!!! (That is superman lingo for Philippians 4:13)







Climbing with you,
~Dan

Can you hear me now? (Part 2)

 

On Monday, we looked at the story of Moses in Exodus chapter three. We saw that God used an unconventional way to speak to His man, and His people.

Let's pick up where we left off on that study.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
 ~Exodus 3:2-3


Moses was walking, and saw the voice of God before he heard the voice of God. This hit me like a ton of bricks the first time God brought this to my attention.

1.GOD SPEAKS IN MANY WAYS.

God spoke creation into existence, yet on day six God formed man. Personal in nature, His touch created us. God understands what makes us tick, in fact He referred to us as "very good". All of His other creation was referred to as "good".

God knows us, and He designed us to be visual. 95% of our communication is visual. God ignited a bush to blaze like a neon sign for Moses in the wilderness. A hunk a hunk o' burnin love if you will!
I love that!!!

God shows us through this passage that He speaks in many ways. I want to point something out that is crucial to tuning in God's voice.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
 ~Exodus 3:2-3

2.TAKE THE TIME

Time is the single most valuable thing that you can give God this side of eternity. In heaven, time will be no more, and what we do with that here is extremely important. Moses took time to stop and see what God had done.

What God used to teach me this is found in a passage that many of us have memorized already:

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Acknowledge. This word means: to search for, to discover.

It means in every thing I do, every place I go, and in everyone I meet I search for God.

God used a lady named *Charlotte to teach me to ask God, "What is it you are trying to teach me?"
*(See Can you Hear me now part 1)

I am not sure of what you are going through at this moment in time, but have you searched to find Him in this circumstance? Have you asked Him to reveal Himself to you?

I do not know much, but I do know that when one asks his or her Father to be found, He reveals Himself. We rarely ask Him to reveal himself to us. Think about it. You have asked Him for His help many times, maybe even already today, but when have you asked Him to reveal Himself? To speak?

It takes effort to be alert, but it takes time to hear.

The real question is, Is God worth your time?

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:.." ~Hosea 4:6

Knowledge is from the word Knosis. It means "know how".

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:..."~Proverbs 29:18

This is a passage that is often twisted into pushing people to complete the agenda or program of the one who is using it. The word vision means revelation, or revealing. The word perish here means to wither away slowly, like strangulation. In other words, where there is no revealing of God's word, the people die slowly.

For years, this is how I felt. Like I was withering away. I loved preaching, church, reading my Bible, being around other Christians, and serving God; but I was dying on the inside. God was trying to speak to me, but I was passing every burning bush I came to. God was displaying His voice all around me but I was so busy with life that I missed it. There was no time devoted to searching for Him in what I did, where I went, and who I met. I was perishing.

Is God worth your time?

Take Time:
To Pray
To Read
To Meditate
To have quiet time
To Listen

Exodus 3 teaches us:
GOD SPEAKS IN MANY WAYS
TAKE TIME
3.WHAT MOSES SAW WHEN HE TOOK THE TIME TO SEE THAT GOD SPOKE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, WAS THAT GOD SAW MOSES.

"And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I." ~ Exodus 3:4 

One of the greatest truths to remember besides salvation is that God sees you!

We forget this one so often, but God never forgets us.

I think one of the greatest thoughts that I can hold in my mind as my day goes along is the thought that God sees me.

He is aware of my location, my fears, insecurities, doubts, achievements, victories, temptation and joys.
God sees my heart, and He notices the times that I "turn aside to see this great sight". It is then that I can hear His plan for me.

I need to tie this together.

My car is trying to decide if it wants to give up the ghost. I keep trying to explain to it that it is needed but, it is slipping away. Last Monday night, I was driving it for its weekly appointment at Dr. Auto Zone and I was asking God to show me what He wanted me to see through all of this.

I stopped at the drive through of McDonalds to bring home some food for my family. I ordered food for them, but I was too upset to eat. It was late, and I just wanted to get the car fixed. As I sat there in the drive through, I saw a man walk by me. No shoes, army backpack, a dog on a rope, and overgrown hair and beard. God said through a little thought, "Buy him something to eat."

I was in hurry to get home, so I  pretended not to hear. When my order was complete, the voice at the other end of the loudspeaker asked me, "Will that complete your order?"
"Yes" I said.
"Are you sure?" The voice asked. They were trying to get me to buy an apple pie...or were they?
"No", I said, "I need another meal...bag it separately please."
The line would not move fast enough. I had to get this guy his meal. I kept thinking to myself, "God, if you want me to feed him, let him be still there in the parking lot when I come around."

When I got around to the other side of McDonalds, there was no sign of the man or his dog. I pulled out to the main road and was about to turn left to go home thinking that the Lord must not have wanted me to feed that man after all. God then said, "Dan, turn right and find that man! I told you to feed him."
I turned right and drove a few blocks when I saw him. I pulled up and rolled down my window.
"Hey bud! Are you hungry?" I called out.
He ran over to the truck and gratefully took the meal. "What is your name?" I asked him.
"My name is John", he replied.
"John, can I tell you my story?" I  pressed. "Sure man," he answered while stuffing the cheeseburger in his mouth.
"John, I used to be a zombie" I started. John stopped chewing and his eyes opened wide.
"John, I was alive on the outside, but I was dead on the inside. I had no real direction and I thought my life was just supposed to be spent being a good moral person. God was real enough, but I did not know him" at this point I had John's attention. "I knew about God John, but I did not know Him."
John and I were meeting the way God had planned.
"John, I discovered that if I searched for God in everything I did, everyplace I went, and everyone I met, He would personally direct my path...John, He gave me direction." John was locked onto every word I said.
I decided to go for the gold, "John, God told me to buy you food, and He would not let me be in peace until I found you. I was going to go left, and He made me go right. He made me find you, so that you could have a meal."
"Do you have any idea what that means when He goes to that kind of trouble?" I asked. "John, that means that He sees you, and that He loves you enough to hear just the simple request that you have for food. John, that means that someone has been praying for you, and holding your well being up to Him!" I leaned forward and said, "John, I do not know who has been praying for you, a mom, a sister, a brother, a grandparent, or a dad...someone has been praying for you, and God revealed Himself."
I pointed to his dog and I asked, "Do you love that dog?"
"That's my buddy..." John said.
"John, God loves you enough to reach out to you and provide for the one that you love as well. He gave you food enough for him too." I said.
"I don't know why you are on the path you are John, but if you ask Him to reveal himself to you, He will direct you into a future that far outshines your past!"

As I drove home, God said, "Dan, if I love John enough to provide him with a meal, how much more will I take care of you and a car that wants to die".

God used a burning bush for Moses, and a man named John for me. For you it very well might be just taking the time to read this post. I don't know, but I do know if we can miss God speaking in Genesis 1:3 than we can miss Him today. He is very much around you, and He is very much interested in speaking to you!

Climbing with you,
~Dan

Can you hear me now? (Part 1)

 

Genesis chapter 1:3 is probably one of the most overlooked historic passages in the Bible. I say that with confidence, because I know that I have overlooked it before as I have read the account of creation.

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." ~Genesis 1:3

Did you catch it? No? Well, I did not either, let's look again, and this time I will underscore what both of us missed the first time. I will underscore what just about everybody missed the first time they saw this.

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." ~Genesis 1:3

This is the first recorded words that God spoke. There is a lot to what He said in the first recorded words, because this is something that Jesus came to earth to say as well.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." ~Matthew 5:14

Paul put it this way: 

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"    ~Ephesians 5:8 

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:5 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
 ~ 1Peter 2:9 


This is another thought for another post, but the point I am making in Genesis is that God spoke, and man missed it. You missed it, and I missed it. The fact is, we seem to be very good at missing God's voice in our lives.

This is perplexing because Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." He also said repeatedly in scripture, "He that hath an ear, let him hear." He spoke in parables, and even his disciples missed it many times.

Why is that? I believe that we often make the mistake that Elijah made in 1 Kings 19

"And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?" ~ 1 Kings 19:9-13 

We expect God to speak in the way we understand Him to be. In many cases I believe we have just given up on God's voice in our lives because it has been a long time since we "heard" His voice.

Last week I introduced to this blog the story of Moses in Exodus chapter three. The blog post was entitled, "Hunk a Hunk O' Burnin Love". We looked at God's love resonating to Moses and God's people who were in bondage. God used an unconventional way to speak to His man, and His people.

Let's pick up where we left off on that study.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
 ~Exodus 3:2-3

Moses was walking and working when God came to Him. (God will not use a lazy man to do anything for Him other than be an example of what not to do)

Moses was walking, and saw the voice of God before he heard the voice of God. This hit me like a ton of bricks the first time God brought this to my attention.

1.GOD SPEAKS IN MANY WAYS.

I was always taught growing up that God spoke through the preacher at the local church. "Listen up and don't color during the preaching because that is when God is speaking" or "Be sure to be faithful to church, because the time you miss may be the time that God speaks to you." Like the voice of God was a lottery call, you may get it and you might not. I understand that phrases like that are attention getting for a boy, but the problem with that approach is that a boy is what God uses to make a man.

I grew up with that mentality, and I rejected any other "Frequency" that God broadcasted across my airwaves with.

I was in my mid twenties and I was working at a trucking company. I had been given an area of the 250,000 square foot warehouse to oversee. I was honored at the confidence placed in me and was determined to be the best at what I did. The area was new to our company, and I had the freedom to create process and procedure action plans.The only problem was that no one followed them. I was frustrated.

I was also serving as a youth director for a tremendous church, and had a similar situation going on there as well. I poured my heart out to the teens each week, and invested a lot of me into that area as well. I laid out with clarity what God wanted them to "do" and had similar results as at work. I was frustrated.

Then she came . Her name is Charlotte. Her "Assignment" was taking care of the computers in the warehouse. She walked back into the area that I worked and asked me how I was doing. I was busy trying to make people "do" what they were supposed to "do". I was rude, and annoyed when she asked, "Why does God have a preacher working in this area, at this time, and with these types of problems? What is He trying to speak to you about?"
"I don't know Charlotte, I have work to do and don't have the time to talk about this with you." I replied. (Yes, I can be rude too, and no I do not sleep in a three piece suit either)

Then she gave me an Elijah moment.

"Dan, could it be that God doesn't want you to make anybody do anything, He just wants you to show them how to be what He wants them to be. The teens at church are no different than your co-workers, you cant make them do what you want them to do, you just need to help them fix things when they are broken and you need to be willing to be that for them as often as they need you to be that.", with that message she turned and walked away.

I could not believe what just happened. How did she even know about the teens at the church? She spoke, and it resonated with my Spirit. I jumped on the forklift and caught up with her.

"Charlotte, what just happened back there? What did you do to me when you spoke to me?" I asked, thoroughly concerned at this point. She just casually looked up and said, "God used me to speak to you."

God used her to teach me that God speaks in many ways. Over the rest of her "assignment" there, she would teach me about God's voice, and God used her to help me tune in his frequency on the airwaves of my heart.

We are very visual people, and 95% of our communication is through body language. As we read the story of Moses, I love the fact that our personal God revealed his His voice visually to see first if Moses was alert enough to catch it.

Before God spoke to Moses with His voice, He first spoke to Moses with a burning bush.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt"
~Exodus 3:2-3 

How much have I missed because I was not looking to be spoken to? How much have you missed because you have not anticipated God speaking to you?

It takes effort to be alert.

I posted the picture for this blog post that I did because at first glance you see a road sign, but if you look closer at the shadow you see another underlying message.

Do you anticipate hearing from God?

God has been waiting for you to wake up this morning so that He can speak to you! Think about this, of all the things that you could have read right now, He let you read this post. Why?

I want to continue this thought on Wed about the voice of God. How He speaks, and How to "Tune in" to His broadcast. I want to use this story in Exodus three to give you what God allowed Charlotte to give me. I cannot wait until wed!

God's voice has changed my life!


Climbing with you,
~Dan

So close, but lame.

 

My heart froze in my chest. I could not believe this was about to happen.

My mind was racing, " "Are you serious? There are people everywhere and this guy is actually going to start this?"

The thing which made it all the more surreal was this was about to happen right in the middle of a crowded place. His name was Leroy, and God was about ready to open my eyes!

This was a divine appointment, and the thing which makes these appointments divine, is the fact you have no control over the scheduling.

Before I tell you what happened with Leroy, I want to share something with you.
I have been reading in the book of acts, and when God opened my eyes to this thing, my paradigm was changed.

"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 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; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.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.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: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. 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."  ~Acts 3:1-11

The early church is about ready to explode. The book of acts summed up simply would be this: JESUS WENT UP, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME DOWN, AND THE CHURCH WENT OUT!

The catalyst in sparking the church being born is found here, and it starts with some of the saddest words I have ever heard in verse 2 “…a certain man lame from his mother’s womb whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called… beautiful.”

I have read this passage many times, and I have placed myself outside this gate many times in my mind. I would like for you to imagine if you would you and I are at this very spot in time, and I would invite you to notice with me a few things about what we see here at this gate.

 How meaningless did life must seem for him? Everyday the same as the last. The moment this man breathed his first breath, he was lame. 

From birth, his greatest need seemed to be centered on just eating enough today to gain the strength to wake up the next day and beg… beg for just enough money to buy just enough food to eat just enough that day to wake up the next and beg.

1^st  thing I notice is something that you and I can immediately identify with.

HE WAS BORN INTO A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HE HAD NO SAY ON.

 
“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;”   ~Acts 3:2

We can identify with him in this regard because like this man, we were born into a circumstance we had no say on.

”Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”  ~ Romans 5:12

You and I were born spiritually behind the eight ball. If anyone ever tells you differently, put one hand on your wallet and one hand on your wife, they are up to no good.

HE WAS BORN INTO THE STATE OF DEPENDENCE ON THE GRACE OF ANOTHER.

 

“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;”   ~Acts 3:2

We can identify with him in this regard because like this man, we were born dependent on the grace of God.

“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”    ~Romans 5:15

 
He did have one very powerful thing going for him in this season of life that we find him.

Please notice what is written in verse two.

“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;” ~Acts 3:2

Did you see it?

“…whom they laid daily..”

 

He had a “THEY” in his life. Thank God for the “They”.

This group of people did their very best to get him to a place where he could get help.

You know, I cannot imagine where my life would be tonight if I had not had a “They” in my life.

It was my Mom and Dad who helped me find Christ.

It was a pastor by the name of Gary Roberts who helped me find the way to walk with God as a 14 year old boy.

It was a retired engineer from Monon Trailer Corporation named Tara Banerjea who helped me learn how to talk to my heavenly father as a 15 year old boy.

It was a lady named Charlotte Mann who helped me as a young man understand How God speaks, and how to listen to his voice in every current of my life.

These people were the “They” who carried me to Christ, and to new aspects of my relationship with Him. Thank God for the “they” in my life, and the “They” in your life.

Who were the “They” in your life?
They brought him daily to the best place in life they could.

“…whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,..”

Every day, they “CARRIED” him to a gate called beautiful. Misery and Beauty met here every day. An un-beautiful circumstance lay in the gate of beauty every day. Here he lay every day, scanning the faces that streamed by him, asking for them to give him help.

 

WATCHING TIME, LIFE, AND PEOPLE WHO HAD WHAT HE DID NOT SLIP BY.

As we look at the scene unfold in front of us, I would ask you to notice something else.

 

“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;” ~Acts 3:2

He was content to meet the smallest of his needs, but in his mind he was lame as well.

His thought process was crippled. In his mind, the greatest need that he had was money for his crippled existence. This is not completely crazy, because our churches are full of people who come on routine, lay at the gate, and on routine ask in their own way for the surface needs.

When I was preaching during a Friday night ministry at our church, a lady and her husband came in to visit. They both accepted Christ as their savior and they began to grow spiritually. One night this lady was involved in a severe car wreck that badly damaged her leg. I remember her coming into church on a wed night in a wheelchair and asking for me to pray for God's comfort and mercy. The doctors were going to amputate her foot on the following Monday. I asked her if she would rather us pray for God to restore her foot? She readily agreed, but reiterated to me what the doctors had said.

I was able to get ahold of some people who would believe God's healing hand, and anoint her with oil and prayer. She went for the surgery, and this was the last I had heard from her for a bit. Several weeks later, I remember seeing her walk into the place we met each Friday. She had both of her feet! God had healed her, and the doctors told her the day of the surgery the foot would not need to come off. Her testimony each Friday would not be a well memorized speech, she would simply stand to her feet and say, "I can do this because of Him!"
                    
Day after day, the “THEY” of their life will continue to carry them to the gate to beg for the surface needs. I do not want to minimize surface needs, but most surface needs are symptoms of a root need. This man begged for alms, (Symptom of being crippled) his root need was that he needed to walk. He did not know to ask the right questions.

 Thank God that two faces that were in the crowd were different that day.

 

   “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.”  ~ Acts 3:3

 Of all the people who passed him under that gate beautiful that day, here were two that God would use to transform this lame man, shake the city, and set off a chain reaction that would ignite the early church.

What separated Peter and John from the others that passed by that day? This man was in the beautiful gate. I imagine just by the gates name that this was the gate of choice for the religious people. It looked beautiful.

Let me just draw this thing a little closer here. Of all the people that passed by this lame man…

this gas station attendant
this sales clerk
this neighbor couple
this shaggy looking homeless man
this rough looking lady
this teenager no one has time for
this spiteful co-worker
this relative that should know better
this forgotten nursing home inhabitant
this hospital room mate
this employer
this employee

Of all the people that pass by these that lay at the gate…carried their perhaps by the prayers of a grandparent, or the guidance of another…asking for the surface needs to be met, simply because they do not understand how to ask the right questions.

What separates someone that God could use and a nameless crowd of faces too busy to notice an opportunity?
 

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 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; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.”  ~ Acts 3:1-3

Act 3:4  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

What separates someone that God could use and a nameless crowd of faces too busy to notice an opportunity? The first thing I notice here is:

FIRST,THEY SAW HIM.

They saw him, and they saw the true need.

You will remember when Jesus SAW the multitude, it was more than just “Hey, look how many showed up” multitude. It was a multitude of individuals, and He was MOVED WITH COMPASSION. A moving inside… a yearning, a troubled pain….

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” ~Matthew 9:36

“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”   ~ Matthew 14:14

“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.” Mark 1:41

“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”   ~ Mark 6:34

The spiritually lame are all around us folks. The “They” in their life faithfully carry them to the gates we pass by every day… Do you see them?

 "And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them." ~ Acts 3:5 

 
SECOND, THEY SPOKE TO HIM.

I am not the smartest guy in the world, but I have figured out the best way to start a conversation is to speak.

When you ask God to help you see the people needing to see Him most in their life, the next thing to ask of Him is to give you the words to speak.

"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." ~ Acts 3:6 

The Father will give us the words to speak to those who are lame.

"And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." Acts 3:7 

THIRD, THEY TOOK HIS HAND AND LIFTED HIM UP.

Peter and John were willing to do more than look at him, they went farther than speaking to him…they reached out and they touched.

I think this is the step most people never reach. We see sometimes very well how much people need the Lord. We notice the characteristics symbolizing the lame.

Seeing with the intent to speak is a bit more difficult step…If we get to this one, we rarely go beyond.

 

Healing most often requires a touch.

 I want to  point something beautiful out here.

" THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW. AND ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD, WHO HATH RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST, AND HATH GIVEN TO US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION;  TO WIT, THAT GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM; AND HATH COMMITTED UNTO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION.   NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, AS THOUGH GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US: WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S STEAD, BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD.  FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM."  ~2 Corinthians 5:17-21

God does not ask us to point out to a lame man that he cannot walk. We have been given the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. Our job is to show people the love of Christ. The law brings a man to the knowledge that he is a sinner, grace is what saves a person, not law.

Would you be willing to ask God to help you SEE the ones He would Have you SPEAK to, and empower you to TOUCH them so that they could have the root need met?

"And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 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." Acts 3:8-10

Awesome things happened because of this moment in time.

I wonder after this moment, how prone this former lame man was to stop at the beggars he saw in the gate. What would he tell them do you think when they asked alms of him? Let me throw a suggestion out there...

"Hey, I was like you. I mean, I was born into a condition I had no say on. In fact, I was born into a situation that required me to rely on the grace of another." Then he would smile and say, "Then I met someone who introduced me to a name that changed my life forever!!!"

This is the part where I need to tell you about Leroy.

 I was pumping gas when Leroy approached me. He needed gas, what a coincidence? He began to tell me about all of the ways that society had held him back, and I opened my wallet.

"I have eleven dollars Leroy, how much do you need?" I asked.
He looked at me warily. "I need eleven dollars." He replied nervously.
When I handed him the eleven dollars he thanked me and started to turn away. "Leroy" I called out.
He took a step back toward me and I said, "Leroy, don't thank me. Jesus told me to give to ANY man that asked. He did not say, only if they have a legit story, or only if they are going to use the money for moral purposes. He just said to give."

He just stared at me but he never left, so I continued, "Leroy, what do you need?"
"I need a job" he stammered.
"Is that all? just a job?" I asked. "Is there anything else?"
Leroy began shifting uncomfortably, "No man, I just need a job." he mumbled.
"Leroy, I believe that God would give you a job if we asked Him." I moved in closer to him and held out my hand. "Leroy, I want to pray, right now that God would give you a job. Would you ask Him with me?"
Leroy took my hand. He scooped his cap off his head with his other hand and bowed his head. Right there two of the Father's kids talked to Dad about a need. I say Kids because Leroy did not yet know he was one of the Father's kids.
As I was praying for a job, the bizarre happened. The Holy Spirit told me of Leroy's real need. Leroy had been lied to. I am not sure who it was that lied to him or even why, but this was someone that had enough of Leroy's respect for Leroy to live his life in the shadow of that lie. I asked the Father to break the power of that lie, and release Leroy from that lie and lead him into the truth about who he was to Christ. As I prayed for this, Leroy began to shake. Literally shake convulsively. Then he began to cry. God broke the barrier. Leroy wasn't a bum. Leroy was a prince. He was worthy of God sending His Son to die for. When we finished praying Leroy looked up at me, still holding my hand, looking at me he said, "Thank you, God bless you for that... I felt God here man...I can't explain this, but He is here."
I have no idea how many times Leroy had asked for money, but I do know that this appeared to be the first time asking for money that he discovered God was real enough to touch him.

 

The lame are all around us, for some the need is to meet Christ, for some the need is to grow in the grace God gave them, for others the need is to be disciple in their faith.

I wish that I could tell you that I am diligent to SEE the lame lying in the gates I pass through all the time…I wish I could tell you that I have the boldness to always SPEAK to the lame I do SEE…

I wish I could tell you that I have always been faithful to reach my hand out and TOUCH, and lift up those I SEE….The truth is, this hits me very hard. This kind of stuff is called being a Christian.

 

Let me show you a verse that most preachers apply exclusively to money.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." ~Luke 6:38

This verse is a favorite to twist when an offering needs to be raised. The truth is, it is not about money at all. This is referring to surrender. The amount of you whichyou give to Him, is the amount of you that He will use!

The amount of your emptiness determines the amount of your filling. The Child of God who would ask God to help them SEE, SPEAK, and TOUCH is the one who God can use to make the difference.

Climbing with you,
~Dan