FILLED WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT 

  "they were filled with amazement" Acts 3:10

                        Edward Proffitt, ThD

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After coming down from the "upper room" experience the disciples demonstrated their belief and faith. They did not wear labels on their clothes or around their necks to let people know. It was obvious for they were totally dedicated to the Lord.  Anyone could just observe a change in their lives.  The very first act of the disciples was "Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer" (Acts 3:1). One thing that is amazing about God's Word is He inserts many details.

 

For example, God did not have to mention that Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the hour of prayer. BUT HE DID!!!  And God had a reason fordoing it. Suppose they had not been on their way to the temple for prayer. If that had been the case, then this incident would not have occurred. Only heaven can tell all the good things that have happened to people simply because they went to church.

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The lame man was laid at the gate of the temple for a reason, he was there "to ask alms" (Acts 3:2).Those who carried him there, along with the lame man knew the character of those going to the temple. They know that they were compassionate people who could be appeal to. Did you know that is still true today. The most compassionate people today are found among those of the church.

 

Christians have given land, homes, cars, factories, buses, generators, medical and given of their time, energy and talents. It is a statistical fact that Christians give over half of all charitable giving. That lame man was wise in his place of alms asking, and wasted no time in asking, "Seeing Peter and Johnabout to go into the temple, asked alms" (Acts 33).

 

If we had been there, we would have heard Peters response "Silver and gold have In one" (Acts 3:6), causing the lame man's expectation to cave in. That was the last thing that beggar wanted to hear. The early church did not have a lot of money, but they did have something, they had the power of God. Peter told that beggar what he had "such as I have  give I thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of  Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).

 

It seems Peters statement has reversed, for it seems the now church has money but not much of Gods' power. Today we hear of all kinds of things from Christian television, radio and churches that sound supernatural. We are encouraged to believe every story we hear, even without documentation (which I have checked some out). If we refuse to believe what we hear, we are considered unbelievers.

 

Most sermons today have more illustrations about the one delivering the sermon andwhat they have done than about Jesus Christ. Bible instruction to ministers is"Preach the Word...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine"(2 Timothy 4:2). It seems churches today are centered around service fill-inswith aim to please rather than convict. The evidence of the power of God inthe life of and unbeliever by believers happened "and all the people saw himwalking and praising God" (Acts 3:9). When the people saw this, they "were filledwith wonder and amazement" (Acts 3:10).

 

The best testimony of the power of God is for people to see a person who has lived a afflicted (physically or spiritually)life, accept the witness of the gospel with salvation and cleaning up their life. the Question we need to ask self, is my life a witness to others in: WONDER AND AMAZEMENT?