Give What You Have by Phil Kinney
Acts 3: 1-10 “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
1. Give What You Have
3:5, So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:
When you go to work, when you are with your family, when you are with your friends, when you are at the shops – everyone is expecting something from you.
This man expected something from Peter and John – but they didn’t have what he expected. The man expected money. The world expects you to give to it and it will keep taking. This is the mentality of the world – what can I get.
Peter and John had no money on them but they did have something to give – the power and presence of God. You and I have the same God inside us that Peter and John had.
Romans 8:12-17 " Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
We have received the Holy Spirit within us, the same as Peter and John. We just need to give what we already have. Peter sees the opportunity because he is tuned into the Holy Spirit and what He is doing. No matter the situation you always have something to give, because Holy Spirit is within you.
2. When you give it will change your world
Peter and John gave what they had and God worked through them. It is the same with you. When you give what you have into your work place, your home life, your church, God will work through you and change the world around you.
Mission is a daily walk, mission is you and I every moment of every day being witnesses for Jesus. Mission is praying for our neighbours, our families, our work mates because we have that to give.
Mission is giving generously where there is need, it is bringing the tithe into the church for the work of the gospel, it is making a meal for a neighbour or friend who needs it, mission is sending a card or small gift to encourage somebody. Mission is essentially denying ourselves and putting others first – it is doing unto others and we want them to do to us.
And as we do mission it changes our world. We become the lights shining Jesus those around us. We change our circumstances and the atmosphere around us by our attitude and our actions. When we walk missionally minded we see the opportunities before us. Peter and John did, and a guy walks whose been lame all his life, and 5000 people get saved. And they were just two people in touch with God
Imagine what we could do if we all were missionally mined and looking to touch our world. If we smiled a little more, if we prayed for our neighbours, friends and family, if we reached out and gave a little encouragement. And from there we got a little bolder and prayed for those around us who are sick and they got healed.
3. When you give others may not understand
Finally understand that when you change the way you behave, when you let God influence you by His Spirit, some people wont understand. Why? Because when you act like you should it exposes them as not acting as they should. And rather than change it is easier to criticise.
But know this. When you act like you should it will bring greater change than you though possible in others. 5000 people were saved because Peter and John acted as they should. You too will influence and change peoples lives when you act like you should.
Starfish story
While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.
He came closer still and called out, "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
The old man smiled, and said, "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."
When we choose to change our behaviour and put Jesus first, we influence and change those around us. I often think after hearing that story – what did the elderly man do. The reply surely would have jolted him into helping throw some of the starfish back into the ocean. So together they were able to make a difference to twice as many as one could. And when the next person comes along and sees what they are doing and asks the question...?
By becoming missional in your life’s purpose you have the opportunity to change one persons world. Then that makes two of you who can change others, and so it goes on. Transformation starts with you – will you take up the challenge to pray for your neighbours and friends, will you take up the challenge to give a little more, will you take up the challenge to give a kind word every day, to smile a little more.
Questions:
1. What are you good at? What can you do well (church, home, work, sport, craft etc)?
2. How can you use what you do well to connect with or help someone?
3. What need in the community around you do you think you could help with? (gardening, meals, visiting etc)
4. What areas of church are you involved in? What could you be involved in?
