The Second Warning: Life & Death

Introduction

How do you go in Life & Death situations? [Slide]

I heard a story recently from a well-known bible teacher.

He was catching a flight from Coffs to here in Sydney. [Slide]

It’s about an hour and 15, hour and a half flight.

Nothing major.

He wasn’t on a bad Aeroplane or anything...

But it was one of those ones where you can see propellors going. [Slide]

You know from out the window.

And he said he was on the plane.

Reading his book.

From the second he sat down.

Till about half way through the flight.

And you know at the start.

How they do those Safety Instructions. [Slide]

I wonder...

How well do we listen to those…

Anyway...

He had noticed how this Flight Attendant was doing something…

But he wasn’t listening.

No one was.

He was reading his book.

Kids near him were making noise.

People were talking.

No one was listening…

This was a Life & Death presentation.

And No one. Was listening.

Half-way through the flight however…

40 minutes in…

Every person.

Every individual.

All mouths were shut.

All eye were focused.

All ears intently listening.

To the same Flight Attendant as before. [Slide]

To the same Safety Instructions.

Because moments before.

They lost an engine. [Slide]

The plane had jerked.

And again, it’s a smaller plane.

Most people on the right side realised pretty quick.

Now they made it back safely.

No one was hurt.

All was fine.

But it’s interesting right?

The first time the Safety Instructions were given.

It fell on deaf ears.

Yet the SECOND.

All mouths shut.

All eye focused.

All ears listening.

Because even though both were instruction of Life & Death.

It was REAL to the people on that plane the second time.

The instructions had not changed…

Only them.

[Pause]

Today.

In this passage.

We continue where we left off two weeks ago.

In Acts 2.

In the middle of Peter’s sermon.

And we will see how like on the plane.

This is a second giving of Instructions.

Not of safety instructions.

But most definitely of Life & Death.

That they would have heard.

That they would have no excuse.

Peter has a massive crowd gathering around him.

And he tells them the most important thing they will hear in their lives: [Slide]

WHAT Jesus did.

WHO Jesus is.

HOW they should live because of it.

This is the Gospel friends.

This is Life & Death.

Let’s dig in…

WHAT Jesus Did

ACTS 2:22: [Slide]

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”

Again.

Peter has this crowd around.

This massive and growing crowd.

And he tells them of a man: Jesus Christ.

The most important man ever.

Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem.

But grew up as a man in Nazareth.

After about thirty years, he started his ministry which lasted for about three years.

And in those three years, he did many, many great things.

As Peter says here, miracles, wonders and signs.

But what Peter also points out...

Is that the people knew of Jesus.

These people. In the crowd.

What’s interesting about this claim.

Is at this time in Jerusalem, a lot of the people that would have been from all over the area.

[Slide]

If you see on the screen this map.

You’ll see they were coming from all over.

Over many weeks, people would cycle in and out of Jerusalem.

So this is a big claim.

That these people knew Jesus.

And yet, Peter makes an even bolder claim...

ACTS 2:23: [Slide]

23 “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

Now I want to be clear.

Peter is saying something bold in two ways.

First, there would have been people there who saw Jesus in ministry.

Who either walked with him or rejected him

Who were there…and screamed: “crucify Him!”

And Peter is saying…

He is telling those people: “you killed him!”

But also as we just saw with the map.

Lots, and lots of people were coming in and out.

They weren’t there.

And yet Peter can still...

IS STILL saying to them: “you killed him!”

Which is interesting…

That’s like me going to Gary on Monday morning.

And telling him Mic Cartwright heckled me last night during my sermon...

…even though Mic wasn’t there…and goes to 10am...

Our sin is the reason Jesus hung on that cross.

Peter saying: “YOU”

Is not just to this crowd gathering around him.

To this people, in this place at this time...

It is to us also.

Our sin is the reason Jesus hung on that cross.

And so Jesus died.

On a cross.

For us.

And He was buried...

But it doesn’t end there.

ACTS 2:24: [Slide]

24 “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Jesus. Is. Alive.

Friends…

He lives right now.

As we looked at three weeks ago.

He ascended.

That is, he went up to Heaven.

He went up alive.

And is alive right now.

I LOVE that last line “it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Jesus not only didn’t stay dead.

He couldn’t stay dead.

Peter then quotes David in Psalm 16.

Showing how the Old Testament is constantly pointing to Christ.

That He is the fulfilment of this Psalm.

Him rising from the dead.

Was always going to happen.

And Peter summarising in...

ACTS 2:32: [Slide]

32 “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”

Peter doesn’t just tell this crowd standing around him.

“Oh yeah, Jesus is alive and all that...

Just believe...”

He tells them of Jesus.

He points to the Old Testament as we have just seen.

And finally here, he declares in fact…he saw Him.

And not just him, but all who were with Him.

This group of people are eye witnesses of Jesus being alive.

And therefore...

ACTS 2:33: [Slide]

33 “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”

Here Peter summarises WHAT Jesus did…

That this Jesus.

Is the one who raised from death itself.

Is the one who ascended and is now at the right hand of the Father.

Is the one who “poured out” the Holy Spirit.

This is glorious.

This is serious.

This is Life & Death.

But Peter doesn’t stop there…

He turns to WHO Jesus is…

WHO Jesus Is

Peter quotes Psalm 110…in verse 34…[Slide]

“The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit at my right hand.”

Peter quotes this with purpose.

This can feel a bit bizarre....

But…

Remember.

This is David.

This is David speaking.

And remember.

David was king.

He was king of all Israel.

And remember.

The Psalms were written…

For Israel’s use.

And so…

If David is saying “THE LORD” [Slide]

That’s God.

Said to “My Lord” [Slide]

[Pause]

Who is David’s “Lord”?

Peter is pointing this out here…

And Peter is saying...

David is speaking about Jesus.

And David, knows Jesus is Lord.

And Peter uses this to conclude his sermon.

And he pulls all the things together in one sentence...

ACTS 2:36: [Slide]

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

WHO is Jesus?

He is Lord and Messiah. [Slide]

But first he reminded them of one thing…

A thing they NEEDED to know.

Before they could see and know Jesus properly.

“YOU crucified Him” [Slide]

Again.

This is not just to the crowd around Peter.

To these people.

At this time.

At this place.

It is a message to all.

For all.

Our sin is the reason Jesus hung on that cross.

These people. Then.

We. Us. Here and now.

Need to know our sin.

To say Jesus is Lord.

Means…

Jesus is in charge of all things.

Jesus is in control of all things.

Jesus is Lord over you and me.

To say Jesus is Messiah.

Means…

Jesus is God’s chosen one.

Jesus is the saviour.

Jesus is our saviour.

What Peter is saying here.

Is those second set of Instructions.

The right propeller has stopped.

The plane has jolted.

And he’s telling them:

You knew of Jesus.

You heard of Jesus.

YOU crucified Jesus.

I am giving you a second warning.

Another chance.

This is LIFE OR DEATH. [Slide]

[Pause]

Let’s see what the people say and do…

HOW they should live because of it

ACTS 2:37: [Slide]

37 “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’”

Again.

Same as the people on the plane.

They ignore the first time…

They heard of Jesus.

Some may have even been there…

At his crucifixion.

But now.

All mouths were shut.

All eye were focused.

All ears intently listening.

To the true LIFE OR DEATH presentation.

But they didn’t just hear.

They didn’t just listen.

They were cut to the heart.

And they asked…

‘What shall we do?’

ACTS 2:38: [Slide]

38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, 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.”

This friends.

Is a simple…

Not easy.

But simple.

LIFE OR DEATH Instruction.

Friends.

This is the GOSPEL.

[Pause]

REPENT. [Slide]

Repent means to “turn away”.

That we know we sin.

We know our sin.

We pray to God.

And we repent.

We change our heart.

We change our actions and loves.

BE BAPTISED. [Slide]

That once we Repent and Believe.

We get Baptised.

Put into water.

Not as some magical thing.

But as a wonderful outward symbol.

Of our inward faith.

IN JESUS’ NAME. [Slide]

Remembering.

Through all of this.

It is In Jesus Name.

That he is the one that has done everything.

He is the one that is Lord.

FORGIVEN. [Slide]

And we are Forgiven.

We are wiped clean.

And…

HOLY SPIRIT. [Slide]

We recieve the Holy Spirit.

God within us.

Empowering us.

To DO.

[Pause]

I don’t know if you’re familiar with the Narnia series written by C.S. Lewis…

But in the fifth book there is a boy named Eustace… And one day, he became a dragon.

[Slide]

[Pause]

Eustace.

He was a horrible boy.

Who did horrible things.

And one day he became a Dragon…

This happened, because he did the wrong thing.

He sinned.

But don’t worry.

He met a Lion.

It was in the dead of night.

All Eustace’s friends were asleep.

But he couldn’t.

All he wanted was not be a dragon anymore.

He would do anything!

Then he saw Him.

The Lion.

Standing in the perfect moonlight.

Just waiting…

Wating for him.

After a time.

Eustace KNEW he had to follow Him.

The Lion lead him up the mountain they were near.

Until they reached the top.

It was beautiful.

There was this garden with fruit and trees and more…

But.

In the centre.

A large well.

A beautiful bubbling well.

The second Eustace saw it…

All he wanted to do was jump in.

Bathe in the water.

Ease the pain he was in.

But before he made it.

The Lion said…

“First. You must remove the scales.”

As they were the mark of his sin.

So…

Eustace wasn’t sure it was possible…

But he started to rub.

And to scratch.

And to claw.

Scales started to fall off.

But it wasn’t enough.

He needed to get deeper…and deeper…

Until finally.

He peeled off a proper layer.

Stepped out of his old skin.

And he looked back at it.

This nasty looking pile on the ground.

But he felt great.

He got ready to step in the water.

Lifted his leg.

…and saw his reflection.

It was back.

Everything was back.

He was still a dragon.

So…

He tried again.

Dig deep, scartch, claw…TEAR…step out.

But again he was scaley.

Dig deep, tear…step out.

But again…scaley.

Dig deep, tear…step out.

But again…and again…and again…

Scaley.

He was ready to give up…when…

The Lion said…

“You must let me remove the scales.”

When Eustace had done it.

It hadn’t hurt.

It was easy.

And it meant nothing.

When the Lion did it…

It was the most painful thing…ever.

Eustace said:

“The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart”

Finally.

The scales were off.

The Lion picked him up.

Put him in the water.

The Lion dressed him with New Clothes.

No longer a dragon.

No long in sin.

A new person.

[Pause]

Eustace.

Got another Warning.

Got that second Instruction.

Repented and was Baptised.

But not before knowing he couldn’t do it.

Only the Lion could do it.

Just like we know it is only In Jesus Name.

And he was Forgiven.

[Pause]

This is Life & Death.

The Gospel is Life & Death.

They have now heard it TWICE.

They have no excuse to NOT ACT. [Slide]

In Verse 41 we are told that 3000 People were saved this day.

That’s AWESOME.

But it doesn’t stop there.

They didn’t stop there.

We shouldn’t stop there.

Verses 42-47 tell us what they did.

What they did…

Because of what they heard.

Because of What Jesus did.

Because of Who Jesus is.

THEY ACTED.

To finish.

Let’s look at final two things.

[Slide]

What they had.

What they did with it.

1. What they had… [Slide]

Community.

Peter’s sermon finished.

But he and the other Apostles didn’t stop.

3000 People Saved.

Again Awesome!

But they didn’t just go back to their old lives.

They listened this time.

To the LIFE or DEATH Instrutions…

They were cut to the Heart.

And their life was changed.

[Pause]

I think we take for granted sometimes…

That we are so used to what we have.

This Church.

This Community.

That we think…

It’s natural and normal.

Easy.

What happened here.

What continued out of here.

Was new.

And wild.

And wonderful.

People gathering together in common.

In the name of Jesus.

Not just as before to make “a god happy…”

But because he was wonderful and worth it.

Because he loved them…loves us.

Because of What He did and Who He was…

They loved each other.

And loved others.

This Community is marked in these last few verses with THREE things…

FELLOWSHIP.

TEACHING.

PRAYER.

[Pause]

FELLOWSHIP. [Slide]

First, Fellowship.

In Verse 42, when it says fellowship.

This is the very first time it is used in the entire Bible.

Here. Right here.

Because…

It’s saying something special is happening here.

Something has changed.

Something wonderful…

And NEW.

Fellowship means a ‘coming together in commonality…in commonness”

Not that we all have to like only Roosters…or only Rabbitohs…

Or have to like both…

I think Gary and Jordan are proof enough of that.

No this commonness was about Jesus.

That he was at the centre of everything.

And connected to everything.

And therefore…

They were connected and in common together.

We have this today.

We ARE this today.

A Community of people in Fellowship.

Let’s be Thankful…for this.

Be thankful for what we have.

I wonder…

How often do we talk about enjoying one another…

Telling people we’re grateful for them…

I wonder. If at dinner tonight.

Each of us could pick one person.

And tell them that we’re thankful for them.

Thankful to be in fellowship together.

And why…

TEACHING. [Slide]

Second, Teaching.

They devoted themselves to Teaching.

They continually devoted themselves to Teaching.

Being in Community means to learn from God’s Word.

It means to learn from Jesus.

Continually.

Let us be Thankful for this too!

To have teaching each week.

To have teaching multiple times a week.

Sermons, Bible Study, Kids and Youth…

Let us be thankful and active.

I wonder…

Could we engage in Teaching together.

Engage in Teaching as a Community in this Fellowship.

Again at dinner.

Could you be the brave one at your table…

To ask. To bring up something from the sermon.

You liked or didn’t like.

Found easy or challenging.

But Teaching doesn’t just for an hour on Sunday.

Or 20mins right now…

And don’t let it stop this week…

PRAYER. [Slide]

Finally, Prayer

They didn’t leave it up to themselves.

They were a community that Prayed.

They were a Fellowship of people…

That Prayed for one another.

Enjoyed one another.

I think sometimes we’re scared to pray.

There was a lady at my old church.

She’s lovely.

She is a true Prayer Warrior.

I actually taught SRE with her.

And we would almost always be late.

Not cause we were at the school on time.

We’d get there 10 mins before…15 mins before…

It didn’t matter.

Because she would see something…

Hear something…

Grab my arm and say…

“Ethan let’s pray”

She would stop where she was.

And pray.

She was the same everywhere.

In the Community of Church.

She would get a wiff that something...

Someone…needed prayer.

She would go to them and pray then and there.

I’m not saying we need to jump to that tonight.

Praise God if we do though!…

But I wonder...

If this week, we could pick a person.

And pray for them

Then message them, that you prayed for them.

Not because you’re great for praying…

But because it’s a beautiful and wonderful thing…

To be in a Community that prays for one another.

[Pause]

This is What they had.

A Community.

And it’s what we have.

Let’s see what they did with it.

2. What they did with it… [Slide]

ACTS 2:47: [Slide]

“…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

This and a few other verses in this passage make clear…

People heard the Gospel.

Peoplw were Saved.

People formed a Community.

But it didn’t stop them.

[Pause]

I think as Christians we can get comfortable…

We’ve heard the Good News.

We’re saved!

We have this wonderful community right here!

And we do.

We do have these wonderful things.

And this Community is For You. For Us.

But it is not JUST For You. JUST For Us.

The Community we find here…

Ate and drank together.

Were in Fellowship together.

Enjoyed one another.

Were thankful for each other.

Sat under teacher.

Prayed deeply.

They had this wonderful…wonderful thing.

This Community.

And Friends,

I want to say we do to.

Let us be Thankful for it.

Let us keep Growing it.

BUT.

Let’s not keep it here.

They went out.

We need to go out.

I was talking to an older friend recently.

And we were talking about what got them into Church.

What drew them in…

And even though she didn’t say the word: Community…

Everything she said pointed towards it.

Being there felt safe.

Being loved before being known.

Going out with Church friends.

Going on Church camps.

The silly and the serious.

The Community.

This wonderful…special...

Different thing.

And you may think she could have experienced that elsewhere…

Not for her.

Work friends were great.

The friends she had at school were great.

But over time…

More and more…

All she would see and notice was…

That Community was special.

Our Community is wonderful.

It is a blesssing and a gift.

And we should be so, so thankful.

But it is not JUST For Us.

It is for others.

To know and meet Jesus.

[Pause]

We’re all on the plane. [Slide]

Except we’ve heard the Instruction.

We know what’s going on.

But we’re surrounded by people who don’t.

FRIENDS.

This is Life or Death… [Slide]

You’ve recieved it.

The message.

The istruction.

That is half of our job.

Now you need to be the one at the front of the plane.

Now you need to be the one…to deliver it.

[BIG Pause]

Father,