3,000 Converted

Attention Gained from Worship

The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and and began to speak in other tongues, “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” .

Acts 2:6 KJV 1900

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Acts 2:12 KJV 1900

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Acts 2:6

Acts 2:

What were the disciples speaking out loud that caught the attention of the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost?

Acts 2:11 KJV 1900

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:

The spoke “the wonderful works of God.”

Who was being heard speaking “the wonderful works of God?”

“them” meaning ALL the disciples were praising God and declaring His acts.

It is possible that were praying, reading Scriptures and exhorting, expressing adoration and thanksgiving; whichever way, they were speaking “the wonderful works of God.”

What does that mean, “wonderful works of God?

They were worshipping God and declaring His “wonderful works” or literally in the Greek “mega works.” It is translated elsewhere as “mighty works.”

In short, it means an experience of when and how God has manifested His mighty hand to save those who have trusted in Him.

Let us gain an understanding from

The effect of declaring the works of God is that those who hear “might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” and the next verse tells us so that they might not be rebellious as their fathers were and have a heart that is right with God.

Psalm 78:4–8 KJV 1900

4 We will not hide them from their children, Shewing to the generation to come The praises of the Lord, and his strength, And his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; Who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

4-

In this chapter, the psalmist speaks of all the manifestations of God’s power during the Exodus to bring them to the promised land all the way to the time of David.

He talks about the Red Sea being divided. v 13

The visible presence of God with them in the form of a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

When out of the rocks He split them making water gush out to give drink to the people and animals.

When He rained bread from heaven forty years.

When He sent them quails by the thousands.

All these “works of God” are acts of God where He has intervened to deliver His people from their current perplexity.

Psalm 78:22 MEV

22 because they did not believe in God nor trust in His deliverance.

Psalm 78:42 KJV 1900

42 They remembered not his hand, Nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

42

Ps 78

All these acts of God are made so that we might believe and trust in Him for salvation.

Psalm 78:32 MEV

32 For all this they sinned still, and did not believe despite His wondrous works.

His works are the ways in which He has led us, and when we declare it, it reveals that we acknowledged this fact and trust in Him for salvation.

Psalm 78:52–55 KJV 1900

52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, Even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 55 He cast out the heathen also before them, And divided them an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

52-

It has always been God’s plan for His people to reach out to the world, including His church of the Old Testament, the Israelites.

How were they to do this?

Most Gentiles, that were converted to Judaism were converted through the lives of Jews that were living around them and convinced of their lives of worship. The way they lived and worshipped.

Psalm 100:1–5 MEV

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 105:1–5 LES

1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name. Announce his works among the nations. 2 Sing to him and sing psalms to him. Narrate all his wondrous things. 3 Praise in his holy name. Let the heart of those seeking the Lord be gladdened. 4 Seek the Lord and be strengthened. Seek his face through everything. 5 Remember the wondrous things that he did, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,

Psalm 47:1 KJV 1900

1 O clap your hands, all ye people; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The Jews failed in this regard generally speaking, but was fulfilled in with the disciples speaking the wondrous works of God among the nations.

Ps 1

How is this relevant for us today?

Worship (in life and church) is as much necessary in reaching the community than is evangelistic meetings.

Especially the place of worship should be something that reflects where the focus is Christ-centered and each member is actively involved in some way of expressing the wonderful works of God, and letting that be the thing that attracts visitors rather than trying to convince them of truth right from the get-go.

The place of worship should be a place that is one of the first points of contact where a visitor can become familiar with a group of people who believe in the living God and can present by experience before theory the gospel.

When people sense the presence of God in our lives, this can be a means to their conversion.

1 cor 14

1 Corinthians 14:24–25 KJV 1900

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

An unbeliever can fall on his face and worship God by simply realizing that “God is truly among you.”

The only worship that is of any value is the one that is Gospel centered and where people are living in a way not “to be saved” but because they are saved. Their obedience and peace and love are are the fruit of their faith, and not the root of it.

If we make obedience the root of faith then we fail to offer Christianity any different from pagan religions because they all depend on merits and acts of obedience and compliance to certain rules to attain spiritual excellency and paradise. Pagan religion is man finding God. True Christianity is God finding man, as a shepherd finds the lost sheep.

Christianity is not we have done, but what He has done and is doing.

It is thus that we can declare and speak “the wonderful works of God.”

Speaking and Being Understood

Acts 2:5–13 KJV 1900

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Acts 2:5–12 KJV 1900

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Acts 2:5

Verse 5: The ones that were gathered were “devout men,” a name given not only to Jews but also to Gentile converts who did not necessarily commit to being circumcised. Four corners of the Roman empire were represented there at that time, hence the statement “out of every nation under heaven.” From Palestine nations were being represented East, North, West, and South.

Verse 6: Everyone heard the disciples speak in their own language. This is significant because most of them could speak Aramaic or universal language Greek during that time. So why was it needed to speak each one in their own “native” language? Because it was more remarkable to hear an un-cultured Galilean speak fluently in multiple languages. They spoke in the language of their heart.

What does that teach us today?

Tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit, but it also tells us that we need to speak in the “language” of the culture where we want to establish a house of prayer.

It means that the truths that we have should be communicated in such a way that it will catch the attention of a bystander and engage him to listen and inquire more. The truths we have should be spoken in a language that is adapted to the culture of the community and relevant to them.

What was the impact of those who heard them?

Acts 2:7 KJV 1900

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Acts 2:12–13 KJV 1900

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Some were amazed meaning that they were impressed.

Others “in doubt” meaning that they were troubled.

They were under conviction. We can see that they desire more information by asking the question, “What is the meaning of this?”

They want to know what this is all about?

They have come to a place where they want a fairly complete and defense of the gospel.

On the other hand there were some who mocked the occasion by saying that these “men are full of wine.”

Despite the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that had just been poured out on the disciples, they resisted and still refused to believe, and not refused to believe, but were even scornful and mocking.

Job 12:4 KJV 1900

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: The just upright man is laughed to scorn.

Job

Proverbs 14:9 KJV 1900

9 Fools make a mock at sin: But among the righteous there is favour.

Pro

It is a fact that despite the presence of God in the lives of His people shining like the brightness of the sun, some people will still reject and even scorn.

It means that any declaration of the wonders of God, no matter how anointed and how effective, will not penetrate the hearts of everyone. In fact, this probably shows that the better and more effective the witness, the more polarization will occur. Some people will be brought in, while others will get harder in their hearts.

Presenting the Gospel

It means that any declaration of

Peters point 1 is the people’s point 1:

the wonders of God, no matter how anointed and how effective, will not

How hear we every man in our own tongue?

penetrate the hearts of everyone. In fact, this probably shows that the better

What does this mean?

and more effective the witness, the more polarization will occur. Some people

will be brought in, while others will get harder in their hearts.

These men are full of wine.

Peter’s first point is dealing with the accusation that the disciples are drunk.

Acts 2:14–15 KJV 1900

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Peter then brings up three important points to answer the questions of the people and at the same time reveal Christ as the needed Saviour of the soul.

He presents:

Christ’s life and ministry. v 22

Christ’s death. v.23

Christ’s resurrection. 24-32

Christ’s exaltation. 33-36