Those Who Seek
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Acts 2:1-21
Acts 2:1-21
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I am going to be looking at a few verses in Chapter 2 this morning, but to build a little context, I am going to go back an just summarize chapter 1.
Chapter 1
These events occur after the Resurrection of Jesus as He was with the disciples for 40 days.
Jesus instructs the disciples and others with them to wait in Jerusalem.
They were to wait for the out pouring of the Holy Spirit.
Then Jesus reminds the people of what they are called to do.
They are to be His witnesses.
Verses 9-11 describe the ascension.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
The end of chapter 1, the disciples were waiting as Jesus instructed them.
This brings us to chapter 2
Read verses 1-13
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Verses 1-13 recount the appearing of the Holy Spirit.
These verses tell us that there were many people in Jerusalem.
From all of the surrounding nations.
Because the people were in Jerusalem from various regions, they all spoke different languages.
The text tells us that there was a noise from heaven like rushing wind.
The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and they began to speak in the various tongues.
The people gathered in Jerusalem were astonished because they could understand what the disciples were saying, even though they spoke different languages.
The disciples were speaking of the mighty works of God.
They were speaking of the promise of the Gospel.
The Lord allowed all those who were gathered in Jerusalem to hear the promises of Salvation in their own language.
Then this last statement in this passage is an attempt to discredit the disciples.
Click #1 and #2
1. The devil will uses anything to try to discredit God or the people of God.
he is going to try to use every opportunity to bring shame to the people of God.
he even tried to twist this act of God to bring confusion or misunderstanding.
2. Choose to be intentional people of integrity.
Because we know the devil will try to twist things to bring shame to us or to the name of God.
Verses 14-17
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
In verse 17 Peter stands up because there were some accusations from the crowd about what was happening.
Peter stands up and declares that these things are the fulfillment of the Word of God.
Peter then quotes from the book of Joel.
Click #3
3. God declares through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32), in the last days God will pour forth His Spirit on mankind.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Young men will have visions.
Old men will dream dreams
Both men and women, God will our out His Spirit in those days.
There will be great wonders in the sky above.
And signs on the earth beneath.
In the last days these things will happen.
Brothers and sisters, we are in the last days?
Click #4
What is a marker of the last days?
4. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
So we are in the last days until the return of our King.
We are in the last days until Jesus returns.
We are dwelling in the age of grace where the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit upon those who choose to believe.
He has done this in preparation for the final ingathering.
Jesus promised to send us the Helper.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Click #5 and #6
5. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit.
His Spirit will be with those who trust in Jesus forever.
6. God gives us His Spirit to dwell with us in the last days so that we can endure the time.
Endure, equipped, able to overcome.
I am not a Cessationist.
In a very general sense, a Cessationist is one who believes that the spiritual gifts demonstrated as God poured out the Holy Spirit during the Apostolic age have ceased.
These gifts were for the Apostles as the early church was forming.
I am not a Cessationist because I do not want to take any position that puts limits on God.
God can do whatever He wants when He wants because He is God.
Additionally, if we simply read what Peter says in verse 17.
Look at 17 again
“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
The power of the Holy Spirit will dwell with mankind until the appearing of the Lord.
The text names those who will receive the Holy Spirit.
sons and daughters.
young and old men.
Is there anyone who is not given the opportunity to receive salvation?
All people.
In other words the whosoever.
The whosoever that shall call upon the name of the Lord.
Click #7
7. The Holy Spirit is given to all who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Turn to Luke 11
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus is instructing us to seek.
To knock.
To call out to God and in our seeking.
Knocking.
Calling out, God will hear.
The door will be opened.
Click #8 ans #9
8. The door of salvation will be opened for those who seek and knock.
The whosoever is invited to enter in.
Jesus does not say before you seek, make sure you do dot, dot , dot
He doesn’t say before you knock make sure you fill out a form to gain access.
The seeking implies the unconditional invitation.
The knocking implies the entrance into His grace.
9. He will equip us, in faith, with His Spirit to bring transformation in our lives.
To deliver us from sin.
Under His authority.
This reminds me of the Passover account.
Enter into the door, under the blood to find salvation.
Jesus goes on to teach about the Holy Spirit.
He equates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the giving of a gift.
He says we know how to give gifts.
We know how to give gifts that are useful and purposeful.
So if we know how to give gifts, how much more does God know how to gift us with what we need to endure the times.
God will pour out His Holy Spirit upon those who ask.
Those who seek and receive the Name of Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Thinking back to the book of Acts.
Turn back to Acts 2
Peter tells us that the out pouring of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the last days.
Peter quotes the prophet Joel.
Verses 17-21
“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
In the last days the Lord declares that He will pour out His Spirit upon all people.
All those who seek and knock.
All those who call out to Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of humanity.
These things will take place as the Lord prepares to return.
The purpose is to witness the truth of Salvation.
Click #10
10. We the people of God have been equipped with the Holy Spirit to serve as witnesses of His mercy until He returns.
We are to proclaim the message of Salvation.
Causing other to seek and knock so that they too may enter in.
This is our purpose as we await the return of our King.
In closing, I want to remind you of verse 21
V. 21
‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Key phrase is everyone who calls.
Click #11
11. Salvation is for all who call upon Jesus.
His Name means Salvation.
In the Hebrew the Name Jesus is pronounced Yeshua- Salvation.
As I stated earlier, the seeking implies the unconditional invitation that you are welcome.
The knocking implies the opportunity to enter in.
Jesus extends this invitation to everyone unconditionally.
Our response only is to knock.
We are not required to do x,y,z before we knock.
The reason I reiterate this point is this:
While I am not a Cessationist, I am also very cautious.
Unfortunately, there are some who abuse, misuse and attempt to deceive others claiming to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
They falsely claim to be working under the power of the Holy Spirit only to bring glory to the self.
While I do not ever want to take a theological position that limits God in any capacity, it is wise to be cautious.
How are we to judge a false prophet?
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
If someone is claiming to be working in the will of God but they are bringing glory to the self, they are in the wrong.
God clearly equips His people with gifts.
The gifting is meant to bring others to Salvation.
To teach, disciple and correct us as we walk out our faith.
Click #12
12. As we function according to our gifting, the one who should receive the glory is Jesus.
Bear good fruit.
Bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
Be a living witness of His mercy.
Benediction: John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
