A PLACE WHERE HEALING HAPPENS

A Place Where Healing Happens
DANGEROUS CHURCH – 5
September 14, 2008 • Chris Goins

Here are some "extensive notes" from last evening's message at a2 Church.

The Big Idea: Is there a place where the lonely can find acceptance? Where the broken get a second chance and a glimpse of hope? Where the hurting can find healing?

The first century church was that kind of church. The church began with a group of misfits and rejects. When it was at its BEST, its heart was HUGE for the lonely, hurting, beat up, bruised and broken. It's our prayer that God will make a2 that kind of church… Regardless of the hang-ups, hurts, pain and baggage you’ve experienced in life, we want a2 to be a place where we belong and A PLACE WHERE HEALING HAPPENS.

Four Simple Practices
That Can Make a2 “A Place Where Healing Happens”:

1. Open Your Eyes. Be Perceptive.

Acts 3:1-5 (NIV), One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

Acts 3:2-3 (NIV), Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.


Ken Blanchard is a best selling business author who also happens to be a Christian. Blanchard believes that over time too many leaders begin to see the people in their organization as interruptions. Everyone coming to them has a question, a problem, a need that will demand time and attention… And far too often, leaders go into “people avoidance” mode… People are interruptions and savvy leaders take steps to avoid the “time drain” created by people…

But Blanchard challenges that thinking by saying, “Take a look at the life of Jesus. If it weren't for INTERUPTIONS, Jesus Christ wouldn't have had a ministry.”

He's right. Jesus was constantly being stopped or interrupted everywhere he went… Sometimes he was asked a tough theological question… Sometimes someone desperately needed healing… Sometimes his family had a problem they wanted him to fix… Sometimes one of his followers needed encouragement or correction… But if you look through the life of Jesus, he was constantly being interrupted and constantly viewing those interruptions as an OPPORTUNITY sent from God to get involved in somebody’s life.


QUESTION: How do you view the interruptions life brings your way? Do you view them as nuisances that need to be avoided, or opportunities for God’s grace to be revealed?


Acts 3:4 (NIV), Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

I can guarantee you that wasn’t the NORM… Most people looked away…

Underline the phrase Peter "…looked straight at him…" It means they "fixed their gaze or focused their attention on this crippled man."


This is where COMMUNICATION begins… It begins with the EYES…

Pete and John didn’t look “through” this guy… They didn’t look “over” this guy… They “…looked straight at him…” Why? Because looking at someone indicates that you RESPECT and VALUE them.


2. Give What You’ve Got. Be Responsive.


Four Aspects About This Miracles:

(1) It Was Completely Unexpected.

Acts 3:4-5 (NIV), Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Acts 3:6 (NLT), But Peter said, “I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”


The man asked for money, because it’s usually easier to ask people for money than to ask them for clothing, housing, food or friendship…

But this is one of those occasions when you ask EXPECTING one thing, and God blows you away by exceeding your expectations… Peter didn’t give this guy what he WANTED, but he gave him what he NEEDED…


(2) It Was Supernatural! It Was Done “In The Name of Jesus Christ”!

“In [Jewish] thought, a name doesn’t just identify or distinguish a person; it expresses the very nature of [that person’s] being. Hence the power of the person is present and available in the name of the person.” ~ Longnecker quoted in Holman New Testament Commentary


To pray “in the name of Jesus” literally means, to pray “by virtue of Jesus’ character, authority and power.”

To do anything in “the name of Jesus Christ” means to “…act consistent with His will; to do what He would do if He were here, to act in His authority and with His delegated power.”


John 14:13-14 (NIV), And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 14:13-14 (AMP), And I will do - I Myself will grant - whatever you may ask in My name [presenting all I AM]. 14Yes, I will grant - will do for you - whatever you ask in MY name [presenting all I AM].


(3) It Was Instant.

Acts 3:7 (NIV), Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.


(4) It Was Complete.

Acts 3:8 (NIV), He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Acts 3:8 (MSG), He jumped to his feet and walked. The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God.


3. Instead of “Pointing A Finger,” Why Not Lend A Hand? Be Accepting.

Acts 3:7 (NLT), Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up.

I really believe that acceptance opens the door to influence…

I wonder whether or not this guy would have continued to “sit” for another forty years had Peter not “…took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up…”


4. Always Point People To Jesus. Stay Missional.

Acts 3:9-16 (NLT), All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out to Solomon’s Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so astounding about this? And why look at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power and godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of all our ancestors who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him to life. And we are witnesses of this fact!
16 “The name of Jesus has healed this man—and you know how lame he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has caused this healing before your very eyes.

Peter basically looked at the crowd and said, “It’s all about Jesus…” He presented the gospel and after his message, approximately 5,000 were converted.