We, The Church: Acts 2:14-21: What Happens When You Call The Lord's Name?

Introduction

Premise: Peter’s sermon explains how speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost is a sign of God’s faithfulness to Israel.

Our study today, is focused on studying Peter’s response to a critical question and accusation concerning the Pentecostal reality.

Question: Acts 2:12 “12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.”

Accusation: Acts 2:13 “13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!””

Premise: Peter’s sermon explains how speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost is a sign of God’s faithfulness to Israel.

In fact, the entire sermon is about RESTORATION!

Peter’s sermon response demonstrates:

God explains the supernatural experience of speaking in tongues, which without explanation will be defamatory and desecrating.

God provides understanding on the meaning of speaking in tongues and how it fulfills Christianity.

**Read Acts 2:14-21**

Understanding Acts 2:14-21

**Recount the story of Israel’s exile and rebellion: Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome.**

We have discovered that speaking in tongues is a sign to the unbeliever. 1 Corinthians 14:22 “22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.” Paul’s explanation helps us connect the event with the story of the nation of Israel. It is important to accept that the entire event of speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost was intended to communicate a message to the nation of Israel. Well, what was the message?

The message is that Israel’s God has come in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ to deliver Israel from her exile and grant access to kingdom of God, the age to come.

According to Peter, all of this was a direct fulfillment of the prophecies prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-32). Furthermore, the speaking in tongues that occurred means the following fulfillment:

The Spirit would be poured on all people.

The sons and daughters of Israel will prophesy

The young men of Israel will see visions.

The old men of Israel will dream dreams.

Israel’s servants and handmaidens have the Spirit poured on them.

There will be wonders in heaven.

However, these signs fulfilled from Joel’s prophecy means one more important event: the day of the Lord has arrived. That is, the last days have arrived. The question is last days of what? In the primitive world, the belief was that there were two ages: the present and the age to come.

Deuteronomy 28:45–53 ““If you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and to obey the commands and decrees he has given you, all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed. These horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants forever. If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. “The Lord will bring a distant nation against you from the end of the earth, and it will swoop down on you like a vulture. It is a nation whose language you do not understand, a fierce and heartless nation that shows no respect for the old and no pity for the young. Its armies will devour your livestock and crops, and you will be destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine, olive oil, calves, or lambs, and you will starve to death. They will attack your cities until all the fortified walls in your land—the walls you trusted to protect you—are knocked down. They will attack all the towns in the land the Lord your God has given you. “The siege and terrible distress of the enemy’s attack will be so severe that you will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you.”

Zephaniah 3:14–17 “14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. 16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.””

Isaiah 2:11–12 “11 Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. 12 For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted.”

Amos 9:11–15 “11 “In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. 12 And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine.” The Lord has spoken, and he will do these things. 13 “The time will come,” says the Lord, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine! 14 I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. 15 I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.”

The present age was the age where evilness reigned, unbridled. It was the age where Satan ruled and God’s people were oppressed.

The age to come was the age where the Messiah reigns and God’s people are vindicated. It is the time where Israel’s enemies are judged and the people of God are inaugurated into the rule of God. It is the world of eternal life, kingdom, and salvation.

Salvation, then is the deliverance from death.

However, all of these great promises are contingent on one action—calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 2:21 “21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Conclusion/ Application: Calling on the Name of the Lord

When Peter says, “call on the name of the Lord” he means invoking the Lord into the situation from which one needs deliverance. The power of God Yet, how do we implement this in our day-to day world? Calling on the name of the Lord is about avoiding the proclivity to trust in oneself, and trust in/ depend on God. When you find yourself in an adverse situation, here are three things you can do to call on the name of the Lord:

Calling on the name of the Lord in Worship

The more one faces difficulty, the more they should worship.

Genesis 12:8 “8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.”

Calling on the name of the Lord in prayer

The more one faces difficulty, the more they should pray.

Psalm 50:15 “15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.””

Calling on the name of the Lord in confession (of faith).

When held captive by sin, confess your faith in God.

Romans 10:9–10 “9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

In this context, when one calls on the name of the Lord, the following happens:

Receives cleansing and forgiveness of sin,

Receives protection from the coming judgment, and

Receives entrance into the family and kingdom of God.

Furthermore, calling on the name of the Lord would have been a concept to be practiced in the reality of Jesus, the Messiah. Therefore, to call on the name of the Lord means to dismiss whatever assistance one would have sought from the law or the temple—works. Here, the Lord is Jesus.

Application: The church is the body of people who places their unwavering faith and confidence in Jesus Christ—the risen, resurrected Savior.

Personal Reflection of what it means to call on the name of the Lord:

After nearly 12 years of pastoring, I found myself extremely anxious—constantly worrying if things would work out, if people would "receive me", and how I would be perceived.

What I didn’t realize was that much of that anxiety was unintentional sin, disguised as commitment to God and ministry. I thought I wanted to win souls to Christ, but deep down, I was more concerned with winning them to my church. And when the numbers didn’t add up, the disappointment produced unnecessary grief and anxiety.

The truth is, the pastor’s role is actually very simple—love God, love people, tell the truth, and trust Him. Everything else is in God’s hands. Most of the issues I carried, were God's responsibility.

Will the church grow? Jesus: "I will build my church.” – Matthew 16:18

How can we get people to show up? “God gives the increase.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

How can we get help? “He gave pastors and teachers...” – Ephesians 4:11-12

I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. “If you lack wisdom, ask God...” – James 1:5

It feels like the ministry is not going to work out. “He who began a good work will complete it.” – Philippians 1:6

What if people leave? “No one will snatch them from my hand.” – John 10:27-29

We don't have the money for this. How will we afford it? “God will supply every need.” – Philippians 4:19

I don't feel like I'm being effective or impactful. “My word shall not return void.” – Isaiah 55:11

I feel incapable. God: “I will be with you.” – Exodus 3:11-12

I feel alone. God: “I will not leave you comfortless.”* – John 14:18

I finally realized—trying to build a kingdom for myself will always lead to stress, anxiety, and heartache. But joining God in His work brings peace, excitement, and hope. My job is not to grow the church, prove my worthiness, or build a platform. My calling is simple: love Jesus, serve His people, and proclaim His testimony. The rest is up to God.