This study was first taught on September 6, 2020

Topic: Sitting at the Gate

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we looked at "<em>Silver and Gold and the Work of God</em>" or "<em>Money and Ministry</em>". We saw that:
 You can be a minister of the gospel and not be rich in terms of silver and gold.
 What you should be rich in is good works which includes, suffering for Christ.
 The work of God can sometimes be done without the minster of the gospel possessing money—the feeding of the 5,000 is an example.
 Erecting a church building is not always the work of God, but building lives is always the work of God, which does not require as much money as people need for building physical structures.
 In erecting structures, the main goal of building lives suffers.
 God does not require you to give what you don’t have; only what you have, which He provides you with.
 As it turned out, what Peter had, which was not silver and gold, did the job, which would not have been done otherwise.
 God’s desire is to give us the kingdom, not money! So, if He gives you money, the purpose is for the kingdom!
 The pursuit of money is unscriptural.
 Each one of us have been given gifts by God, so let us use them for His purpose!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 3:1-8
As we look at these verses of scripture, we see a progression from the lame man sitting at the gate, to standing, and finally, singing in the temple. We shall over the next few weeks look at this progression one at a time.
Sitting speaks of being sedentary, docile, inactive; but it is not just the activity of sitting that is our interest, but where and what you are doing where you are sitting that is the issue.
Luke 8:35; 10:38-42; 2 Timothy 3:6-7; John 8:31-32; 17:17; Exodus 32:1ff; Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1; 26:2-5; Jereniah 15: 16-17; Proverbs 1:20-33; 1 Kings 18:21; James 1:5-8; Exodus 32:26; Joshua 24:14-23; 2 Kings 7:3ff: Acts 3:2; Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 3:1ff; Romans 3:10-19; 5:12; Mark 2:1-12; Romans 7:5, 7-24; 5:20-21; 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-12; John 9:1-3; Acts 16:16-19: Matthew 4:12-17.

Conclusion
Where are you at? Are you:
 Sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning and living?
 Sitting idly by doing nothing or meditating?
 Sitting on the fence and have not yet picked a side?
 Sitting in the seat of the scornful, mocking God? (<strong>Galatians 6:7</strong>)
 Sitting at the gate of the temple begging?
How did you get to where you are sitting?
 By choice or by force?
 Did you follow people willingly? (<strong>Proverbs 1:10-15</strong>)
 Are you there against your will or desire? Then there is deliverance for you! (<strong>John 8:31-32, 36</strong>)
You need to sit down though, but it must be to meditate on the count of following Jesus (<strong>Luke 14:25-33</strong>). Have you done this het? If not, you need to do that now!

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