Sharing HIM

Peter, with his ups and downs, would have almost been a psychologist’s nightmare.  However after Easter morning it all changed. He was the first to be saved and the first to preach the gospel message. He fulfilled the purpose of the church—sharing HIM.

The first thing we must do is be saved; the second is to share it. It’s the commission of the church. Everyone can be saved. We have received salvation; we have the responsibility to share it. You and I cannot be a keep-it-to-yourself Christian. To do so is contradictory to what the Lord has done for us. When we were saved, something explosive happened. By the power of the Holy Spirit we became a new creature in Christ. It gets into our being, and it should be something that we have the desire to share.

Acts 3: 1 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 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; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 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. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”

This book is so named because it is truly the acts of the apostles. The church was on the move. If we can’t remember the kind of salvation we have, we ought to kick ourselves. We saw our need of a Savior, and we should want to help others see theirs. We should share HIM.  Sharing and witnessing are a challenge. The devil throws all sorts of things in our way. The early church set a precedent. We are no different than Peter and John. We’re just as saved.

The first thing Peter and John did was set an example. Verse 1 says they went to the temple together at the hour of prayer. They went in unity. They walked into a Jewish temple in the name of Jesus Christ and prayed. Each day a crippled man was laid at the gate of the temple. The man would ask for money. They may have passed him many times. He couldn’t get inside the temple. Being lame, he could get no farther than the gate. Without Jesus an inch is as good as a mile. He was close but not there. We do live in a dark society. We may feel no one wants to hear about Jesus anymore; however, there may be more people at the gate than we realize. This man was asking for alms. We may be asked about the Lord in strange ways. Someone may ask a question about the Bible or share a problem and ask for advice. What they may really be asking about is the Lord, their greatest need.

Peter and John had not been fishing for a long time. They didn’t have lots of money, but Peter did give the man what he had—Jesus.  They could have ignored the man but saw their opportunity to share HIM. Opportunities may come at unlikely times. It may be an interruption to what we’re doing at the time. We need to be aware of opportunities and take advantage of them.

Peter made an offer. He gave the word. He said “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”  We have the word of faith.  In Romans 10:8 we read “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.”  The word of faith was offered.  Peter then reached out. He took the lame man by the hand. When we reach out, God will help us. He’ll show us what to do. The man received it and jumped up, leaped and walked right into the temple praising God.

Peter and John began that day with two going to the temple and ended up with three. This man was the loudest in his praise. It caused uproar among the people. Peter declared it was not he who had done this but Jesus. Remember it is not our job to save; we share HIM with others. We offer him and reach out.

Peter gave more than even he really comprehended.  Let’s be a Peter and John by helping each other in our efforts to win people to the Lord. May the Lord help us all to see we have the privilege to share HIM.