Fusion 2023

Intro

Go ahead and grab your Bibles and turn or scroll with me to Acts Chapter 2.

We’re so thankful that you are here with us this evening!

In case we haven’t met yet, my name is Matt, and I am a screw up, who the Lord chooses to use as an example of His mercy and love! I’m gonna be up front with ya’ll, I’m not overly smart, I’m not overly eloquent in how i talk, but I love Jesus!

I have had the Pleasure of Serving the Lord for quite a while, and i have some pretty awesome stories of how God always follows thru!

One of those stories is one i read about online last year

Several years ago a schoolteacher assigned to visit children in a large city hospital received a routine call requesting that she visit a particular child. She took the boy’s name and room number and was told by the teacher on the other end of the line, "We’re studying nouns and adverbs in his class now. I’d be grateful if you could help him with his homework so he doesn’t fall behind the others."

It wasn’t until the visiting teacher got outside the boy’s room that she realized it was located in the hospital’s burn unit. No one had prepared her to find a young boy horribly burned and in great pain. She felt that she couldn’t just turn and walk out, so she awkwardly stammered, "I’m the hospital teacher and your teacher sent me to help you with nouns and adverbs."

The next morning a nurse on the burn unit asked her, "What did you do to that boy?" Before she could finish a profusion of apologies, the nurse interrupted her: "You don’t understand. We’ve been very worried about him, but ever since you were here yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back, responding to treatment . . . it’s as though he’s decided to live."

The boy later explained that he had completely given up hope until he saw that teacher. All that changed when he came to a simple realization. With joyful tears he expressed it this way: "They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?"

That teacher provided the little bit of Hope that the boy needed to survive.

Something similar happens in our passage this morning!

Acts 2:14–15 ESV

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:22–24 ESV

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Acts 2:37–41 ESV

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Well. What did they do?

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Set the Scene

The weeks prior to our passage are pretty important for the Christian Life.

We’ve celebrated Jesus’ Triumphant entry into Jerusalem that we call “Palm Sunday”

the following Monday-thursday, that was a wild week in ministry,

Good friday,

and ultimately Easter, or as some call it, Resurrection Sunday!

And when Easter Arrives, We’re all Happy and encouraged. “He is Risen, He is Risen indeed”!!

But then what?

Well this morning, Let’s fast forward a little bit to the event that we know as Pentecost.

Jesus has risen, Walked in His resurrection body, and then Ascended to Heaven.

Now i know, as soon as i say pentecost, many in the room tense up thinking, “this guy is about to talk about them Tongues...” While that is a super important miracle that happens in this chapter, All we need to know for our purposes is that God miraculously made a way for all people from all cultures and ethnicities to Hear and understand Peter and the Apostles.

What is important for us to know today is the cultural and social context of pentecost. Pentecost is the event that took place around the time of both the “Feast of the weeks” and the “Feast of first fruit”. Why do we care? We care because these two feast celebrated the completion of the Barley harvest, and the beginning of the Wheat harvest. Now, i don’t know if yall know what type of foods and drinks Barley and Wheat are used to make, but we’ll just say that they weren’t just making breads, soups, and stews in Jerusalem during this festival.

Let’s just call it what it was, Peter and The Apostles have found them selves on Bourbon street in the middle of Mardi Gras.

It would’ve been wild, it would’ve been loud, and it could’ve potentially been a very hostile environment.

Obviously, a place where it would’ve been easy to strike up a conversation about Jesus?

Well, it would’ve been for Jesus… But management has changed, hasn’t it? Jesus has left the great commission in the hands of the Apostles.

It’s kinda like when you’ve lived your entire life with a parent or grandparent who has led the way. They’ve always been there for you to ask for advice, but then one day you come up on a situation where you really wished they were there to help, but then you notice that they were teaching you all along, and you realize that you know what you need to do.

That’s where Peter and the Apostles are here.

The Scriptures tell us that:

Acts 2:4 ESV

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)

The Holy Spirit is who guides us today. and He guided them then

This get’s us to what i believe is the question that many people ask either consciously, or maybe even sub-conciously.... “

“Now What?”

Jesus came, Died, and Rose again. What do we do with that?

Many people are trying to do what they’re supposed to do, but they’ve never found real clarity on what that is.

Mark Batterson said in his book: “All In” – “Most people in most churches think they are following Jesus, but I’m not so sure. They may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is this: they have invited Jesus to follow them.”

That hit me hard this week! Because isn’t that so much easier. To set the course ourselves, and ask Jesus to follow.

Batterson goes on to say:

Too many times I want Jesus to follow me, to serve my purposes, to do my will. But, I want you to join me in saying: “God, I want you to revive my life. I want to follow you. Help me to get out of the way. Navigate my life into following your will.”

God never wanted us to be content with just saying “I believe in Jesus”.

We live in a world where every step we take can reveal a land mine. So we need someone to take the wheel, and navigate us through every situation this world throws our way!

That’s who Jesus wants to be for us!

So there’s a few things that we have to be open to:

If we’ll allow Him to God will:

Meet us where we are

Guys - “The first Post Jesus Christian Sermon wasn’t preached in the temple. The Gospel goes where the sick are, and provides the remedy that we all need!

Jesus saw fit to Save 3000 people from eternal suffering on that day. Why would today be any different? Wanderer, Seeker, He’s here for you!!

If we’ll listen God will:

Tells us the truth about ourselves

I don’t know about ya’ll, but i don’t trust people who always tell me what i want to hear. You’re great, You’re wonderful, I would’ve never pegged you for the Sarcastic type, I know those people are lying.

We know the thoughts that we have, we know the who we really are.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Which means that even though none of us in this room were physically there when Jesus died. Vs. 23 and 36 show us that we have some ownership to take in what happened.

Acts 2:23 ESV

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 2:36 ESV

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

We aren’t innocent, We aren’t blameless, The battlefield in which we live in here on earth, is rooted in the Sin that we all share.

We have to own that!

In His mercy God:

Offer to mend our Brokenness

Acts 2:29 ESV

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Acts 2:31–32 ESV

31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

Paul describes how Jesus Mends our brokenness, How He heals us in 2 Corinthians 5:21,

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus puts it all on the table: I have the remedy, I have the Answer, I have what you’re looking for, but:

Above all else God:

Calls for us to Respond

Acts 2:37–38 ESV

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“He Saves us, then He Sends us”

So, What Now?

Well, It’s simple.

You Respond by accepting the gift of Salvation by surrendering your life to Jesus. By as Vs. 38 says “Repent and be Baptized”

I’ll be here in Just a moment if you need guidance on how to do that.

Maybe you’ve done that, you’ve been saved, and want to know “What Now?” Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Be Devoted to Christ’s Church

Take the next step that you’ve been afraid to take. Signup to go through our membership process, Join a Sunday School class, Go on Mission!

Be Glad in the Blessings of God

Stop dwelling in the Curses sent by Satan into your life

Rebuke Satan to leave, in the Name of Jesus!

Be Generous in serving Christ and His Children

Love on people in the Name of Jesus

Volunteer in one of our many different ministries here at GSBC

There is much work to be done. Let’s not get caught in a spiritual daze, and miss the opportunities that God sets right in front of our faces.

Acts 1:9–11 ESV

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

In a world that needs Jesus more than ever, Let’s change the tone of our question.

Let’s ask “What Now”, not because we don’t see the opportunities, but because we’re looking for the next one.

Pray with me.