Acts 2:14-47 "The Proclaimed Lord"

Introduction

Good morning church.

Thankful that we can still gather together today and worship our God.

Announcements:

VBS Meeting will be done over Zoom; we will send invites out for that via email so make sure that you check you email for that. This meeting will be for anyone who wants to serve at VBS.

Parents I want to point you to our Family Worship Guide.

It is posted on our Ministries page in the Children’s section.

This is a great guide on helping you lead your family in worship.

Pick a day and do it.

Lastly Connect Groups is tonight at 5pm via Zoom.

Everyone should have an invite and hopefully signed up for the free version.

We will be talking about this pandemic and what our response should be as faithful followers of Jesus.

So I look forward to that.

So let’s pray and begin to study the word of God this morning.

Prayer

Sermon Introduction

Please make your way to Acts chapter 2 verse 14 this morning

Acts 2 verse 14....

My Dad and the broken transmission on trip to Mexico.

The message that Peter has for us this morning is much the same.

The Scriptures tell us this...

Acts 2:14–47 CSB

14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy. 19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 24 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. 25 For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay. 28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence. 29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay. 32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

1st...

Peter points to the Savior proclaimed through the prophets

Peter quotes the OT Prophet in Joel 2:28-32 that told of the coming spirit of God and Salvation for all who call on the name of the Lord.

Peter is calling the listeners to understand that God has already spoke of this coming.

Joel is calling on the people to look to and rely upon the Lord

Joel chapter 2 speaks of God’s provision for the people as their enemy comes.

God through Joel calls of for the future fulfillment of the prophecy in the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Lords final day…what we just saw at today at the Pentecost is just a preview of the last day when God will do.

What God will do when all who relied on the Lord will be saved; God will save those who call on His name and Peter proclaims Jesus as that Savior that Joel prophesied.

Acts 2:22–24 CSB

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 24 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.

Jesus resurection is yet another hinge of the Gospel.

It was ordained by God…it was the plan; God used those who crucified Him so He could be raised up; because God is not bound by death.

Then Peter goes on and he quotes David, the man after God’s own heart.

Peter points to the Savior proclaimed by David

Acts 2:25–31 CSB

25 For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay. 28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence. 29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.

Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11; a Psalm of David.

God promised David that his Kingdom would reign forever…that one of his descendents would sit on and eternal throne.

Peter is saying David is dead; we have the tomb and David’s body lies in it, but David pointed us to Messiah…the one who was to come to save the Nation.

This Messiah was Jesus is whom David spoke of.

The wording used in Psalm 16 is interpreted as a deliverance from death; but looking into the NT is referring to the resurection.

Jesus would not be left in Hades…Jesus body would never see decay; Jesus is eternal and has taken His rightful place.

Peter points us and declares that Jesus is the Messiah and this would not be lost on those in Peters presence; those hearing the word of God; they knew what that meant.

The Nation of Israel is saved through Jesus…to those who believe.

David is dead but he foresaw victory through his descendent; that victory is the Christ who sits upon the throne at the side of God the Father

Lastly...

Peter points us to the victory

Acts 2:32–36 CSB

32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Peter quotes Psalm 110:1in which point us to the complete victory of the Messiah.

Peter is preaching with authority but it is not his own authority it is David’s authority…again the audience would take note of this and have full knowledge of what Peter is saying.

Look at the text.

Psalm 110:1 CSB

1 This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

You see this expression of God and Christ in the phrase and words “LORD to my Lord”; with all capitals verses the word Lord with a capital letter L and lower case for the remainder.

There is a difference in how the words in Hebrew are translated.

LORD

In Exodus 3:13-15 God reveals His covenant name as “to be,” this expresses the absolute and ultimate nature of God.

This word when people smarter than I transliterate into English characters is expressed as YHWH. 

It was written this way without vowels to help us avoid misusing God’s sacred name and to preserve the nature of the name.

It help us phonetically interpret God’s Hebrew name, the scribes took vowels from the word adonai, meaning “lord” or “master.”

This transformed YHWH into Yahweh.

So when we see LORD written in all caps, this a reference to Yahweh, the name for God’s true and complete “to be” nature, a nature that is both sovereign and divine.

This word expresses God in His fullness, Lord and Creator.

This is the closest rendering to the original Hebrew Old Testament.

Whenever we see the word LORD in our Bibles it is referring to creator God…God in His fullest expression…God the Father the pinnacle of the Trinity.

Then there is Lord....capital L and the remainder lower case.

Lord

When we see Lord with the lower case letter that is speaking of our Lord or our Master which is Jesus Christ.

This word literally means “my Lord,” and it represents God in His role as master in the context of His relationship to us.

When you see Lord in lower case, it is referring to a name of God.

It is a representation of an aspect of God, which is different than Yahweh.

So when we study and look at Lord in that light we can see Jesus; we can see this relationship we have with God through Jesus.

So what we see in the text:

Psalm 110:1 CSB

1 This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

...we see God say to Jesus…sit here…all things are will be under you; you are the King of Kings....you are Lord.

David expresses the foreknowledge of the coming victory in and through Jesus…Jesus has been elevated…lifted up to His rightful place.

As Peter establishes this he gives them one last rebuke and he makes a bold declaration.

Acts 2:36 CSB

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Peter boldly proclaims Jesus Christ…the one who you all crucified…this is our Lord and this was the Messiah; our Savior.

There they are hearing that this Jesus Christ; the one they killed, is the Messiah that was spoken to them from the Prophets, spoken to them by King David, this Messiah has died, and He is the Lord.

He is our protection, He is our love, He is the One who make all things good and right.

Jesus is our King and our Lord.

Application

So what is Peter trying to get across to the people who He is teaching?

What does God want us to take away from this today?

It is pretty easy to see in the Scripture.

Peter is saying...

God has promised a Savior

Peter is telling his audience this; he is saying ladies and gentleman…God has spoke of the coming Messiah....God has spoken of who would come and save you from your enemies.

God has spoken to us through the prophet Joel that He would send the savior to save from all of your enemies.

David foretold of One who would defeat death; who’s body would not see decay.

A Savior and a victory.

My friends we don’t have to wonder if someone will come to save us; God sent Him; we see His ascension, we have studied His life, His death, His defeat of death.

Jesus is here.

Today we face a time in our lives that none of us have ever faced.

So much uncertainty today.

But in this trial, in the invisible threat we are all facing today; God has sent us a Savior.

God has sent the One who is bigger than all of the chaos.

God is bigger than your fear of COVID-19.

I can only use my own life as an example.

There were a few moments in the these past couple months that I thought…my whole life was about to change.

I had thoughts of losing my job that Michelle and I need to live…what would we do?

I thoughts about the future of Connect Community Church; but you the people of God encouraged me in that ministry of our church was not relient upon me and ministry did not stop.

I thought about goals that I have yet to accomplish in my life; what would I do?

But it is here in these moments that I’m reminded that God is much larger than all of those fears.

I got the most comfort when I was reading the Word of God and realizing that God does not miss anything.

God knew this time would come...

A fellow church planter in Back Bay—Adam Bennet reminded me this week when he wrote this;

“ To my fellow church planters: God knew there would be a global virus pandemic right now. He knew people would be anxious & afraid. He knew there would be economic strain & products would be limited. And yet, He opened every door for you to plant a church. He knows tomorrow also.”

Most of my worry was hurt and pain that manifested itself in fear and the fear and my anxiety is not the work of God, but of Satan.

Satan wants us to panic and Satan wants us to fear.

Satan wants us to get so caught up in our fear that we miss the Savior…the One whom God foretold was coming…the One who has came and redeemed mankind.

Even in the context of the Scriptures today.

This is a time of uncertainty for the Nation of Israel.

The Roman Empire had complete control of their country and their land.

They allowed the Jewish people to continue to worship God, but the Romans threatened on multiply occasions to force them to disband.

The Romans did not believe in God...

The Romans believed in many gods…they actually just chose the god that was right for them.

Matter of fact many Roman placed of worship have 100’s of alcoves for the placement of their god.

They just chose one and worshiped it…sound familiar???

We do this…we choose which god to worship...

Fear god, sports god, pride god, worry god, party god, lust god, the list goes on and on...

Now Peter has proclaimed Christ as Messiah…as Lord…as God.

Then at last we see a question that Peter has raised up in their minds and it should come up in ours as well.

Look at what they say:

Acts 2:37 CSB

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?”

They hear the proclaimed Word of God through Peter and they ask; what should we do?

Peter answer?

Acts 2:38–40 CSB

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Repent-Turn away from what you have been doing and return to God.

Let God take control.

In all of our pain, hurt, anxiety, fear, pride, lust…in all the things that do not look like Jesus in our life-Repent; turn away and accept the Lord Jesus…the risen One…the victorious One…who death did not claim…who sits at the right hand of God!

Be Baptized- Identify with Jesus Christ

Repent, believe, and be Baptized.

Baptism is a Public Declaration that identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus Christ

Accept the Holy Spirit

Given as a gift.

There is no charge for it.

it is a helper to to give us the strength to live the life Jesus has called us to.

My friends God had given us a promise of a Savior and the Savior is here..

Jesus is the Savior…Jesus is the hope…Jesus is the One whom we put are faith and life.

Look at what happens...

Acts 2:41–47 CSB

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Many people believed and became the church....to live in harmony and in the love of God.

They became the church … a church on Mission.

Invite and Pray