Clear Communication

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” Robert McCloskey

“I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I said.” ― Alan Greenspan

Bringing Us Up to Date

The disciples are to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit

Not to be concerned with the political fortunes of Israel

The power they will receive will enable them to be witnesses for Christ in entire world

The disciples witnessed Jesus rising bodily into the Heavens

They went back to Jerusalem, the upper room and engaged in prayer

Peter chairs the meeting to replace Judas Iscariot

Like a Violent Wind

Acts 2:1–4 NASB95

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Acts 2:1–13 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Pentecost - Harvest Festival. One of three where all men of Israel were to gather at the Temple. 50 days after Passover so many stayed for this festival.

Wind - Violent wind from heaven. Not a storm event, symbolize Holy Spirit. Heavenly power and start of a spiritual event.

Fire - Fulfillment of . Symbol of God’s presence in respect to holiness, judgment and grace. e.g. Burning Bush,

Elijah on Mt. Carmel and when taken up to Heaven.

New Season - God now dwells with humans forever, they are His temples.

Tongues - Foreign languages for those gathered there telling of God’s mighty deeds.

God’s Actions

Reversed the linguistic confusion at the Tower of Babel

Believers given God’s power to share the Good News

All ethnic barriers broken, Gentiles invited to be His People

The Disciples

Followed Jesus and trained by Him

Trusted God’s Promises - Jesus and Joel

Obeyed Jesus instructions

Stay in Jerusalem

Wait for the Promise

Don’t be concerned with the political

Prepare for power to be His witnesses

t beconcerned with the political

Knew that blessings are conditional on obedience

Peter’s Sermon

Be the Leader

Refute the skeptics

Jesus method of speaking

Quote God’s Word

Show its fulfillment

Provide application

Acts 2:14–21 NLT

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Acts 2:14-21

God’s Word fulfilled

Acts 2:22–24 NLT

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Acts 2:

God’s Promise Kept

Acts 2:29–36 NLT

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” ’ “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Acts 2:39-

Heart Response

Acts 2:37–41 NLT

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Acts 2:

Spreading the Word

Trust and obey Jesus words

See yourself as God sees you

Know God’s Word

Be ready to lead others to Christ

What to Say

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

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