Focus on Jesus a faith message

Acts 3:11-3:20

It is not an everyday affair that you see a miracle. These men just did and they were shocked.
• The people stared at Peter and John as if they were the ones who made this man walked (v.12).
• Peter directed the people’s attention to JESUS. He did not explain much about the miracle.

Acts 3:16
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

(1) Direct the People’s Attention to Jesus.

That’s the most important thing we do.
• Not to focus on the miracle, the crippled or the Christians who prayed, but on the Name of Jesus.
• The crowd was amazed and wanted answers – what happened, how it happened, why it happened, can it be done again.
• In his entire explanation, Peter only mentioned one Person – Jesus. He did it, the One whom you have rejected and crucified!

The miracle is a SIGN that point to Jesus. It is nothing by itself, without Christ.
• People usually are distracted by the signs – we go for the miracles, the prayer to say, or the method to use – but lose sight of the SOURCE or the CAUSE of it all – Jesus!
• When people look at creation, they end up worshipping the sun, the moon, the stars, but creation points to a Creator. We are to worship the Creator!

DISCERN THE SOURCE
Peter says, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.”
• Man can do whatever they want, but God is going to HAVE THE FINAL SAY. He will do what He wants. He is uncaused – not influenced by anything or anyone.
• Jesus cannot be contained. He is not restricted in any way.
• He is alive today, Peter tells them, and He healed this man.

THE LORD IS STILL WORKING TODAY
He is working today, even though unseen by our naked eyes.
• He is the Source of the power behind the miracle.
• His power has not departed. It is as if Jesus was still around.

And He is, really, just that we cannot see Him with our eyes.
• We’ll see Him if we use our eyes of faith.
• Peter says, “In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” That’s seeing with eyes of faith.
• If He is still alive and present, then acknowledge His presence and engage Him. Engage him in the issues of life.
• Pray in the Name of Jesus! That’s how we engage Him in life.

So point people to Christ. Not to a religion, theology or set of doctrines.
• Peter knows none of these, except Christ and His crucifixion.
• The crippled man was scanning the crowd for kind people who might be willing to drop something into his cup. Peter redirected him to Jesus.
• The crowd thought that Peter and John cured this man. And he redirected them to Jesus.

Our focus is on Jesus. Our focus needs to be set right.
• Jesus is the ultimate Source of our strength and our help in times of trouble.


Acts 3:16 - By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…

(2) Place Your Faith in the Person of Jesus

By faith in the Name of Jesus… the faith that comes through him…

The emphasis is on Jesus. And this is what we need to remember.

It’s all about the faith you have in Jesus. Can you trust Him?
• The healing happens because this man has faith in Jesus. If you trust Him too, then times of refreshing will come.
• Peter took a lengthy time to tell them about Jesus. Nothing was mentioned about the miracle. How did it happen? What did he say that does it? How are we going to pray for healing?

Those aren’t important. It’s all about our faith in the Person of Jesus Christ.

DON’T PLACE OUR FAITH IN ‘FAITH’.

Sometimes we get carried away by the idea that a miracle happens because of faith, and began to focus on faith.
• Faith itself has no power. It is not faith that moves mountains, it is God.
• There is a big difference between having faith in faith and faith in God.
• The power that heals this man comes from Christ. Faith releases the power to execute God’s desire and will.

Sometimes we carry this thought into our prayer. I used to say, “PRAY HARD!”
• But it’s not really an issue with ‘harder’ or ‘softer’, longer or shorter. It’s not about your effort in praying but about faith. We PRAY IN FAITH, believing God to hear and do His good work.
• Jesus did not criticize short prayer – many come to him with a simply cry; “Lord, have mercy on me!” In fact, some didn’t say much, just weep. Jesus heard the unspoken prayer!
• But we see Jesus criticizing long prayers. Matt 6:7 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

It’s not about length, or the amount of efforts you put in, but faith in God.
• Pray in faith, believing God will act. The crucial thing is not faith, but the object of faith.
• So we see Peter explaining the Person of Christ to the people. They need to know and believe this Christ, whom they had once denied and rejected.
• And when he has finished with that, Peter asked them to repent and turn to God.

Once the disciples saw the fig tree that Jesus cursed a day ago withered away. They were surprised. Jesus responded: “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22)
• John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
• If someone says, “Have faith.” We need to ask, “Have faith in WHAT?”

If we have faith in God, then come what may and we are not afraid.
• If you have faith in faith, then you are going to be worried. Sometimes you really feel lousy. You never know if you have enough faith, if something is going to happen. You’re guessing.
• Faith in faith is actually faith in ourselves, faith in my own expectations, in thinking positive. On what basis am I thinking positive?
• We are asked to put our trust in Jesus Christ.

Peter did not draw their attention to the miracle; he uses it to draw them to Christ.
• The MORE YOU KNOW CHRIST, the more your faith is established and strengthened.
• The less you know Him, the more questions you have. And your faith is shaky.

Focus on knowing Jesus, and your faith will grow.
• Rom 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.”
• James McConkey writes: “True faith pays no attention whatever to itself. That faith is the strongest which pays no attention to itself. Do no worry about your faith… Take care that you are depending upon Jesus and faith will take care of itself.” [James McConkey, Give God a Chance, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1975), p. 19.]

We have been reciting the Apostle’s Creed – it expresses the core of our belief.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting. Amen.

We are called to love the miracle-working God, not the miracles themselves.
• There is a world of difference here. Do you love the gifts or do you love the Giver? Love the Giver and the gifts will come. Love the gifts and you’ll lose sight of the Giver.
• We put our trust in the Person of Christ.

Trust Him even if He did not give you what you want.

Trust Him even if He did not answer your expectation. That’s what trust means.
• In 2 Sam 12:15-20 David pleaded with God for his dying child. He fasted and spent many nights lying on the ground. He refused to get up and he would not eat any food. On the seventh day, the child died.
• Then David got up from the ground, washed up and changed his clothes, and then went into the house of the LORD and worshiped Him. After that, he ate.
• That’s why it means to trust God.

If you do not know God’s will, you pray and pray and pray. If you are not sure, keep praying.
• And when God answered, trust Him. It’s is the Lord’s will. Obey Him and carry on with your life.
• Accept the will of God as the best thing that can happen.

Conclusion:
1. Direct your attention to Jesus.
2. Put your faith in the Person of Jesus. Get to know Him through His Word.