2015.3.8　礼拝

179th Life Church Service
Today’s service was held with a visit of a team from Sengawa Baptist Church led by the pastor and six member including a hula team.
A testimony was given by Mr. Ahn followed by gospel hula before the message from pastor Yamagishi. Lunch fellowship was held after the service with some tips on gospel hula with demonstration and practice.
Message: Acts 3:1-10 “Life Being Changed”
Acts 3:1-10 – One day Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate call Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ o Nazareth, walk.”
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. The he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate call Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
As Peter and John were going to the temple, a crippled man was carried to the temple gate. In those days, handicapped people were ill-treated and was believed to be a result of a sin. The people carrying the lame man made it a business. Probably the lame man was made to beg at the temple beyond his choice with much of the income being taken by the people carrying him.
The encounter with Peter and John had drastically changed the life of the crippled man. At the same time, Peter and John had been changed through the work of God. Our life itself is also the work of God.
1. Change in human relations. Peter liked to be noticed and always wanted to be first. On the other hand, John was easy to burn with rage. For instance, after the women went to the tomb of Jesus, Peter was the first to run to the tomb; however, John overtook him on the way. This Peter said to the crippled man, “Look at us” and not “Look at me.” They both changed to talk about Jesus – attention on Jesus rather than on themselves – “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”.
2. Change in the point of view. Peter and John looked at the crippled man with interest – “looked straight at him.” Jesus looks at us totally, both the good and the bad, clean and the dirty, with his love. The opposite of “love” is “neglect” – showing no interest. Peter and John were taking the point of view of Jesus.
3. Change in what you want to show. When they saw the people running towards them in astonishment, instead of boasting their performance, they transferred their attention to God and Jesus (verses 11-13). Also verse 16 reads, “By the 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.” Our faith is also made possible with the support of Jesus.