Sermon Tone Analysis

Dear Congregation of …what?

Like minded, people who like to sing?

Sleepy heads, tradition lovers - spiritually interested people - No! Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

People of the Messiah, gathered call out and then sent out.

Today is Pentecost Sunday.

Typically remember event of the Holy Spirit of God sent from ascended Lord in heaven.

Tonight we will look at wonder of how the OT festival in awesome power fulfilled not just back then, but now in us!

But no where in the NT called to celebrate special holy day called Pentecost, or Good Friday, or Easter, or Christmas!

The point of marking these days, is not in any special grace we have by remembering and then celebrating them, the point is that in our regular diet of hearing God’s word - the gospel, his directions, his - we should give careful attention to the events in our Lord Jesus life and how He works salvation.

This book called what - Acts - like action - given to Theophilus, after what Jesus began to do and teach - continuing acts of now Ascended Jesus - could go on and teach wonder of Ascension - but moves quickly on - with angel - saying - why stand around - something a foot - get itching for what Jesus will do next and ready your selves for that!

Story told of a wild duck caught, tethered..all went well to the fall, then - strained at his bonds… broke free to fly free with his brethern… Like our world just tied dwon to pond keep on with your little kingdom your plans - but what if God had a next chapter with living Lord Jesus for you today, for us as a a church in Barrie - Incredibly exciting to come almost 4 years ago and see Plowing Match - Dream evangelism - what if God has new chapter in your home life, what if with friend, invite to Christianity Explored, what if in Classis Toronto, if VBS launch into Sunday School… Catechism.. .

- - gospel renewal ;

Important to see that this book not written to people who thought being a Christian meant showing up at a church building; it meant living with and for the Risen Jeuss, becoming as the name means a little Christ - Christ follower - it means to share in this ministry, CHirst’ onoinng minisrty of church and mission!

Key Truth: To become Pentecost-Ready you must first value a share in Christ’s ongoing ministry!

Four ingredients you and I need in our lives, our relationshisp here in church if we are to become pentecost ready - for the next chapter!

A. Devoted Corporate Prayer in Real Relationship with Each Other!

What is the direction of your life- caterpillar around the lid, duck around the pond?

Or do you have a clear view of God’s our lives - What direction were the first believers, not just 12, but 120 that stayed the 40 days, seem to have been waiting ten more?

What direction are they travelling in after GF,E,Ascenion?

Significant that go to what was still in one sense the holy city, gather for prayer - temple not yet to be destroyed - many priests believe - every time use form Iursalem … = spiritual city; if just earthly city, like last half of the book , when centre of church becomes Antioch .

They don’t stay at Mt. Bethany waiting for Christ, they don’t go to John Mark, or … They go to the heart of the danger, in obedience - Jesus commanded them Don’t depart but wait for the Promise of the Father!

There is something more for them - in the holy city - some further fulfillment - lives directed to it: ie.

$5 bill - church, school, hockey rink - mostly the hockey rink! - Can you say that your life is directed to the Holy City -n o longer political geo-politiical one - and expression of it is whree ever real Jesus followers gather - colony of grace ...

Think of what this meant - for 120 - unlike apsotles used to itinerrant life - came for feast see what Messiah do - business, homes, family to return to - but they go to Jerusalem.

Where?

An upper room - not same as night of his Supper, arrest, betraryl - different word = students go upto study, rented quartersfor sojourners…

But what are they doing up there -

Doesn’t say about what, - probably what Christ had proimsed - gift from Father- Doesn’t say how long or what method.

But something they were persistent/continuing in devoted to!

First picture of church!

If we want to be Pentecost ready - need an upper room - really more than one - this place - here on top of Patterson Hilll must be an upperoom - I oran elder leading publicly in prayers of god’s people - hearts knit together in the praise, the pleading, the needs of each other… But did you here the emphasis of who they were praying with?

12x in Acts with one accord inwardly and outwardly united, what to do / how they felt.

|together with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethern (lit borthers, probably pbelvieres).

You need an upper-room of friends and family to pray with - kitchen table - withreal interecessions - lifted up from the heart - praying the proises, the needs, the thank yous! Waitingon the Lord for next chapter!

Can you picture aged Mary mother of Jesus praying with big yougn fisherman of a disicple in prime of his life - At the Cross - Jesus earthly relationship with Mary changed, now committed her to John and John to her! Is there anyone you are committed to in prayer like that here.

Anyone in different generation, different life situation - Doesn’t have to be from our church, doesn’t have to be every week - upper-room of your closest Christian frinedships?

Disicipline - probably felt strange for them too - had Jesus to lead in so much praying, - first time pray aloud with another.

Some of you part of a prayer group -learn from doing don’t you - all the theory and belivef about prayer - but like wood working something that must be doen - learn from each other!

Parents gets your children to praya t table, at bedsdie!

|together with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethern (lit borthers, probably pbelvieres).

You need an upper-room of friends and family to pray with - kitchen table - withreal interecessions - lifted up from the heart - praying the proises, the needs, the thank yous! Waitingon the Lord for next chapter!

Can you picture aged Mary mother of Jesus praying with big yougn fisherman of a disicple in prime of his life - At the Cross - Jesus earthly relationship with Mary changed, now committed her to John and John to her! Is there anyone you are committed to in prayer like that here.

Anyone in different generation, different life situation - Doesn’t have to be from our church, doesn’t have to be every week - upper-room of your closest Christian frinedships?

Disicipline - probably felt strange for them too - had Jesus to lead in so much praying, - first time pray aloud with another.

Some of you part of a prayer group -learn from doing don’t you - all the theory and belivef about prayer - but like wood working something that must be doen - learn from each other!

Parents gets your children to praya t table, at bedsdie!

Anyone see need to re-boot or transform our prayer chain!...

Of course God works beyond and inspite of poor prayers; but wonderfullly chosen to included prayer of believers in the smashing down of strong holds of evil and suffering, and the advance of His gospel!

And won’t see Pentecostal power, without this kind of prayer!

Think can operate in kingdom without it: either underestimate the Father’s generosity or our urgent need - take our place calling out to God in prayer!

Remember the disciples seeing glory of Transfiguration - … like you and me belie in heaven, Christ, Resurrection - but those disciples went down into the valley of life right way - terribly troubled daughter and parent situation - Jesus said: this type only comes out with what prayer and fasting!

So encouraged and hopeful to hear - Mrs Larmaan on Sunday morning announcement get up - invite prayer Tuesday nights!

Really interesting Rosarie Butterfield - - yellow picni table - prayer walk there neighbourhood every Thursday night!

Think can operate in kingdom without it: either underestimate the Father’s generosity or our urgent need - take our place calling out to God in prayer!

Remember the disciples seeing glory of Transfiguration - … like you and me belie in heaven, Christ, Resurrection - but those disicples went dwon into the valley of life right way - terriblely troubled daughter and parent situation - Jesus said: this type only comes out with what prayer and fasting!

So encouraged and hopeful to hear - Mrs Larmaan on Sunday morning announcement get up - invite prayer Tuesday nights!

Really interesting Rosarie Butterfield - - yellow picni table - prayer walk there neighbourhood every Thursday night!

But why this need for prayer?

Why not get busy - activism of many immigrants - 101 organizations and committees.

Great task requires a great gift.

And Jesus says that gift will only come with prayer!

Today is Pentecost Sunday.

Typically remember event of the HolySPirit of God sent from ascended Lord in heaven.

Tonight we will look at wonder of how the OT festival in awesome power fulfilled not just back then, but now in us!

But no where in the NT called to celebrate special holy day called Pentecost, or Good Friday, or Easter, or Christmas!

The point of marking these days, is not in any special grace we have by remembering and then celebrating them, the point is that in our regular diet of hearing God’s word - the gospel, his directions, his - we should give careful attention to the events in our Lord Jesus life and how He works salvation.

This book called what - Acts - like action - given to Theophilus, after what Jesus began to do and teach - continuing acts of now Ascended Jesus - could go on and teach wonder of Ascension - but moves quickly on - with angel - saying - why stand around - something a foot - get itching for what Jesus will do next and ready your selves for that!

You know how typocal; Jeiwsh movements would operate, leader killed, next steps up - implements new rule of order, maybe relocate -try again!

And we see that don’t we, to some degree - Peter takes the lead, and it is striking that the first of the great speeches - not the sermon of Peter, but the prayer of Peter!

This is not in the expected brash way and not it’s not the same old Peter!

This is the second ingregdient if we are to be Pentecost Ready:

B. Coming Under & Alongside Humble Godly Leadership!

Here is a necessary part of life even life in the kingdom of God - we are all called in some relatinoships to lead - even a child will lead them, but in many other relationshisp we are called to come under and alongside!

Premarital class - list of household repsonsilbiiies - both do them - no one ends u p doing them, taking responsibility initiative for that area.

That’s a household, how much more the household of Faith.

That’s how this paragraph starts off…

compnay gathering, was the official number needed to start a synagogue.

Apostle Peter careful study of Scripture and relfection on Jesus verywords, understands - like 12 tribes of Israel, church founded on teaching by Holy Spirit that Jesus promisesd, these twevle trained by Him, now Holy Spirit taughtin days to come - they would become the foundation builders of the church - 12 to be with him; {eter taking led, but only as Christ building His church- sense from Ps69 second most quoted Psalm and 109 = Messiah’s program, in sp battle, and office to fulfill.

All so Jesus ministry written of inall Scrip, esp Psalms go forward, and we can seize promises and do our duties ..building Kingdom among us!

Understand that iti Jeuss ministry -but by Jesus own choice after much prayer - Jesus chose -those 12 and allotted them a particular share in the minsitry!

i. Biblical Humility

But listen carefully to the tone of this passage - Peter who denied our Lord at the charcoal fire.

Peter who had the seed of the same kind of sin of Judas, still feels the sting of that sin of his, humbledto konw that gospel and the Saviour of the gopsel can deal with it - and his weakness - yet still calls him - Peter knows if he had not turned to Lord in weakness - he too woud have been lost!

Last Sunday night applied to us - think on what we do with our sin, our repeated sin - don’t given into despair - but new repentnance - fruit of turning to Jesus in weakness… And the assembly remarks in v.25 about Judas:

Humility is not just self-deprecation, I am no good; lead to wrong kind of self-loathing that paralyzies.

But realizing our weakness, we are not to turn aside and leave Jeuss never turning back to Hiim, No in our wekaness, even our back sliding like Pter, we turn back to the living Saviour - not just to our own place, but to his ministry and our part in it!

We take our weakness and failure in one hand - not just woe is me, and then recalibrate our identity in Christ with that failure!

How we all should wake up: prayer adapted from Richard Lovelace: “I am accepted because the guilt of my sin is covered by the righteousness of Christ, I am free from the bondage to sin through the power of Jesus in my life, I am not alone but am accompanied by the Counsellor, the Spirit of the Messiah.

I am in command through Christ, with the freedom and authority to resist the powers of darkness.

- Creed Bishop Mole: I believe in the Son of God, therefore I am in Him, having redmeption of his blood, and life in His Spirit.

And He is in me, and all fulness is in Him.

To HIm I belong, my purchase, conquest and self-surrender.

To me He belongs for all my hourly need.

There is no cloud between my Lord and me.

There is no difficultuy outward or inward that He is not ready to meet the need to today.

The Lord is my keeper.

Understand what Peter has done with his failure, not define him.

He doesn’t deny it or dwell on it.

See it through different lens - as part of the all things work together for my good - Failure can be.

Apple founder - Steve Jobs, attirubtes success to reassessing his life to learning from 3 set backs - droppping out of college, fired from compnaay he started, and cancer.