A Prophet (2)
Notes
Transcript
What I needed to hear . . . but didn’t want to hear.
What I needed to hear . . . but didn’t want to hear.
A good friend confronted me on my lack of gratitude.
At times, the truth hits like a Blacksmith’s hammer. We can either let it shape us and grow or we can resist and be tossed into the scrap heap.
Last week we witnessed the healing of the man born lame. It led us to talk about our own relationship with the Holy Spirit and how we can grieve him, quench his inspiration, and completely miss his leading in our lives. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and clearly led to heal this man.
The point of the healing was to bring glory to God and to draw people’s hearts back to God.
In response to the miracle, we will see what the crowds do and what the Holy Spirit leads Peter to teach.
PRAY
READ
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’
26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Who get’s the glory?
Who get’s the glory?
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
It’s not our power.
It’s not our piety.
Jesus get’s the glory!
Jesus get’s the glory!
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Jesus is:
The Servant of God
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
The Holy and Righteous One
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
The Author of Life
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus is:
The Servant of God -- Isaiah 53:11
The Holy and Righteous One -- Hebrews 7:26
The Author of Life -- John 10:10
How should people respond?
How should people respond?
Listen to The Prophet!
One of the themes that is repeated in Jesus ministry and in the proclamation of the gospel to the Jews is the constant faithfulness of God to send prophets to lead his people.
A prophet leads the people.
A prophet warns the people.
A prophet points the way to God.
Jesus is the ultimate prophet. All the prophets before him pointed to him . . . Jesus fulfills their role by actually opening the way to God.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So, just as in the OT, the people are called to repent.
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
The choice:
The choice:
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
To the choirmaster. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?
5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.