Fill in the Blank: If I could get ________, my life would finally be good?

"13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." -Jeremiah 2:13

The Point: True life is only found in the person of Jesus.

"Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple." -Acts 3:1-2

"3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms." -Acts 3:3

"6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." -Acts 3:6-10

"One thing we see in this story is that we often expect too little of God. Or perhaps more accurately, we fail to see the true depth of our need and thus fail to seek out a legitimate solution to our state. This beggar thought the best he could get was money for his next meal. By the end of the story he would learn that Christ gives far more than he could ever have imagined. Like the lame beggar, we ask for alms, rather than seeking healing. We often fail to see that our deepest needs are not physical but spiritual. We often ask the Lord to change our circumstances, rather than asking him to change us so we can find joy in any circumstance." -Al Mohler

1) The miracle is because of Jesus

"12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?" -Acts 3:12

"16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all." -Acts 3:16

2) Jesus is the source of all life

"13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant[b] Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. " -Acts 3:13

"14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." -Acts 3:14-15

"21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’" -Acts 3:21-23

"24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”" -Acts 3:24-26

3) You must respond in repentance

"17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out," -Acts 3:17-19

"Change as our Lord describes it involves more than cleaning up our visible acts. He intends us to do more than cleaning up our visible act. He intends us to do more than sweep the streets; He wants us to climb down into the sewers and do something about the filth beneath the concrete. He directs us to enter the dark regions of our soul to find light, to experience His presence when we feel most alone. Biblical change never requires us to pretend that things are better than they are. Christ wants us to face reality as it is - including all the fears, hurts, resentments, and self-protective motives we work hard to keep out of sight- and emerge as changed people, not pretenders, not perfect, but more able to deeply love because we're more aware of His love." -Larry Crabb

"19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago." -Acts 3:19-21

1) Have I responded to Jesus?

If I could get ________, my life would finally be good.

2) Who do I need to point to Jesus?