Acts (6)

Introduction: Last week, we focused on Acts 2:1-13 which records the Day of Pentecost when Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit upon those gathered in the upper Room in Jerusalem. This would have been around 33 AD, when Jesus’ church was born. As we saw, the filling of the Spirit caused quite a ruckus in Jerusalem.

This morning I want you think about this as if you were there. Imagine being in Jerusalem, celebrating the festival of Pentecost, hearing an enormous wind like disturbance. You show up to the house where it came from, and all of a sudden you hear your own native language being spoken by Galileans, telling you about the mighty works of God. We would each probably respond much like the crowd did. Some were questioning: What does this mean? Some were mocking: These fellas are drunk.

Today, from Acts 2:14-41 we are going to hear the explanation from the apostle Peter about what all this means. From his sermon we are going to notice three key answers to our question… First, God’s Word is being fulfilled. Second, God’s plan is being accomplished, and Third, God’s people are being saved. Lets begin by reading Acts 2:14-21 (Pray)

God’s Word is being fulfilled.

2:14-21

Peter gains the attention of the crowd. He corrects the mockers, and then proceeds to explain what all this means.

It is important for us to consider how the apostle Peter is preaching this passage. First, keep in mind that just days before , Peter and the rest of the apostles had been spending personal time with Jesus where He had opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He had Jesus as His teacher and now the Holy Spirit empowering Him to recall that teaching and speak to this crowd. He begins by quoting the prophet Joel. We should keep in mind the context in which Joel was prophesying. He was speaking to the nation of Israel at a time when they were enduring famine and unrest. Joel was calling the leaders and all the inhabitants of the land to repent. As Joel explains how the Lord will be gracious and merciful to them when they repent, he launches into this prophetic truth that Peter is quoting from. Joel is calling his people to repent and giving them hope of God’s deliverance and restoration. Peter is using this passage to explain the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, even while he too will call his fellow Jews to repent and receive the deliverance and restoration of God provided to them through Jesu Christ. He will preach so that his listeners would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. However, as we will see in a moment… Peter will go on the explain exactly who the “Lord” is.

Now, What can we conclude from this?

We can be certain that what God declares, will be fulfilled. God’s word is trustworthy and sure. In seasons of sorrow and great distress, God’s word is a salve to our hearts and peace to our mind. His truth is a foundation in times of trouble as well as seasons of joy. Peter had confiedence in what was happening becasue he had onfiednce in God’s word. The holy Spirit empowerd him to speak up. Just consider the impact of transformation that the Word and the Holy Spirit had in Peter’s life. (make note) And his transformation wasn;t finished. We too can enjoy such a transformation. We are reminded of the signs of the time.

The days in which we live are on track to a final crescendo of God’s purposes. This truth clarifies the “last days” we are living in. The kingdom has come and is coming. We live in the already and not yet fulfillment of God’s last days agenda.

Application: Disconnection creates confusion. The crowd was amazed, bewildered, astonished, confused at what was going on because they were not filtering their experience through Scripture. Anytime we disconnect from God’s word, we will be confused about what’s going on. Focus upon the truth of Scripture. God’s word is still being fulfilled… even in your life!

Application: Being filled with the Holy Spirit means we will point them to Jesus. The special miracles happening were a demonstration of God’s power to give credibility to the apostles authority and message. This is the very point Peter is making in verse 22 about Jesus. The through the attested mighty works, wonders, and signs that Jesus did… his identy and message are validated. Today, we do not require such validation because we have the written word of God to validate the turth claims of Jesus and teh paostles. However, today we are still being filled with teh Holy Spirit. And we the Holy Spirit is in conrol of our lives, we look differnt among teh world. When was last time somone noticed your love, joy, peace, paticne, kindness, gentelness, or self controll? Frankly, this singular fruit of teh Spirit can cause quite a ruckus in our families, work places, schools, and commnities. WHen people see the power of the Spirit in us, they cannot help but ask questions. What does this mean that she is showing that perosn love? What does this mean that they are being patient even though everyone around them is in hurry up mode? What does this mean that he will not retaliate to that nasty coworker even though the punk deserves a good trashing. What does it mean that she shows gentleness to a friend or neighbor even when that person has treated them harshly. How can he speak truth when all I want to hear are lies.

You see church… when we , like those on the day of Pentecost, are empowered by the Holy Spirit some folks will take notice. Some will ask questions. Some will mock you for being out of your mind. However, the power of the Holy Spirit in us will make us point others to Jesus.

Transition: Interestingly enough, this is exactly where Peter goes with his sermon. He moves from showing the fulfillment of God’s word as the explanation for the Holy Spirit activity among them, to pointing his listeners to Christ Himself. Notice..

God’s plan is being accomplished.

2:22-36

God’s people are being saved.

2:36-41

At this point, I want to offer a caution that what is described here about the crowds response does not prescribe the necessity for God to always operate in this way. Beacsue Acts is an historical account about what actually happened in teh first days of the early church, often times we are so enthralled by these truths that we think we need to experience salvation in the exact same way. Keep in mind, this is not the purpose for which the Holy Spirit had Luke record this history.

For example, there might be a temptation for us to conclude that what we read here is the prescribed pattern in which God brings salvation to His people at all times and in every way. Rather than go through a list of the ways in which Christians have accumulated false notions about salvation over the years by doing interpretive overreach, I was to give you of what this passage tells us about the various components involved in salvation.

Proclamation of the word about Christ. As we saw in verses 22-36 According the the Scriptures, the life, death, and resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. 36= Jesus is both Lord and Christ. This answers the question, Who is Jesus?

Cutting of the heart. vs 37 Which reveals guilt. Which reveals conviction of sin. We should, and must be cut to the heart for our personal culpability for the death of Christ. It was our sin that (quote a text on sacrifice…

Repentance,

Baptism (publicly calling on the name of the Lord and Christ vs.21), read our BFM???

Forgiveness… the word forgiveness in verse 38 means, to have a formal release from debt. To be pardoned. In this case that means that salvation includes the release from our debt of sin.

Holy Spirit (vs 38d -39, promised gift from Jesus to all whom the Lord God call to Himself.) The Holy Spirit is not a gift that we initiate on our own terms, but that the Lord gives by calling Jews and gentiles to Himself. This word calls to himself in verse 39 means… an authoritative demand for participation. It is likened to the summons of a king. Later, in Acts we will read of an account where a man thought he could buy the Holy Spirit with money. He soon realized, this is impossible.

Reception of the word... about Christ. vs 41 In Acts 20:21 the apostle Paul will remind the elders in the church at Ephesus that he...

Acts 20:21 ESV

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The crowds reception of Peter’s words about Christ reveals faith. The evidence of salvation was observable in that they trusted and received the truth of the gospel. And in this case, on the day of Pentecost, about 3,000 of these believers were baptized and added to the church.

Something about following Jesus not being a private matter??