Thank all the guys who taught!
The last two times I taught we talked about our call to be the “Midnight criers” and the beginning of Acts 2. I think we have had a wake-up call to the church
We are called to wake up the church so that everyone is ready for the return of Christ. Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying Jesus is coming back tomorrow, but the church is asleep and expecting the government and others to do its job. Our world and nation are broken; we can pass laws, but that doesn’t change hearts. Only Jesus can change hearts, and He has given us His Holy Spirit so we can operate in power to understand His word and share His heart with others effectively.
Today, we will look at Peter’s first sermon after being filled with the Holy Spirit. This fisherman and disciple of Jesus witnesses the Holy Spirit in action in his life, sharing it with the people.
Acts 2:22-24
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Peter explains to the people that Jesus’ death and resurrection were part of God’s plan. Everything happening now, including the tongues and His preaching, is part of God’s call to them. Many had wrongly expected a David-like warrior king to emerge, misinterpreting the passage that follows.
Acts 2:25-31
For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Neither a David nor a David-like warrior king is who David was talking about; instead, it was Jesus, one born of the line of David, and David predicted Christ’s resurrection in Psalms 16:8-11. Peter is helping the Jews understand their own scripture; this fisherman from Galilee is teaching the leaders what God’s word has to say….
This is part of the power of the Holy Spirit…
Peter understood the word
Peter could share the word
Peter could have the confidence and boldness to not hold back but say everything God wanted said!
This is part of God’s plan for you with the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
If you have had a hard time understanding your Bible, it is the Father’s heart that you would understand it, and the Holy Spirit makes that possible. Even things you remember from reading as a kid, He will bring back to your remembrance. The Father wants everyone in your life to know that God is real and has a plan and purpose for their lives, as they are truly God’s masterpiece!
Peter is reminding everyone that a day will come—though not yet—when Jesus will be seated on a throne (Revelation 3:21), ruling over everything and everyone, not just a small kingdom. He is trying to help them understand by the power of the Holy Spirit that this thing with Jesus is larger than anyone could imagine
Acts 2:32-36
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Peter is declaring that this Jesus, whom you all crucified 50 days ago, God raised from the dead. This is the reason why all these people are speaking in languages they do not normally speak. It is a direct result of the promise of the Holy Spirit. Even the fact that this humble fisherman is proclaiming to you the deep things of God should be a sign to you that God is on the move. David prophesied this when he said that God would make Jesus’ enemies his footstool.
Anywhere from 500 to 2000 people saw Jesus alive at any one time, and thousands more saw Him during the 40 days after His resurrection. These people that Peter was talking to probably had others share with them that they had seen the risen Christ, not just Peter’s proclamation, which confirms that Jesus is who He said He is. The conviction of the Holy Spirit fell that Jesus had promised. And all of them, their hearts were convicted.
Acts 2:37-41
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one 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, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The crowd shifted from accusing them of being drunk to begging for forgiveness. Peter quickly responded to them: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit.” There’s no waiting—just as they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they were baptized in both water and the Spirit.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that when the law was given in Exodus, chapter 32, 3000 men lost their lives. And here we see that when the Spirit is given, 3000 men are saved. The law leads to death, but the Spirit leads to life!
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
So all those in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, along with the 3,000+ others, were coming together and growing by…
Sitting under the teaching together
Breaking bread, sharing meals together and practicing hospitality.
Praying together
Their unity strengthens the move of God in their midst.
They weren’t communist or socialist; no one gave out of obligation, but because they saw the need.
They were happy and they were generous
As people observed this, they gained favor throughout their communities, and those who saw this love, kindness, generosity, and spirit of unity were drawn to Christ.
The early church did go! Where did they go? They lived their lives in their communities filled with love for one another. They were devoted to living lives centered on God’s Word, prayer, hospitality, kindness, and being full of the Holy Spirit every day! Their community recognized this as they lived this way and simply loved the Lord and each other every day.
We don’t need to go overseas to change the world. As we are united, loving one another and loving the Lord, we can operate in the power of the Spirit through both the fruit and the gifts, live our lives in our communities, and the Lord will add to the Kingdom!
Do our communities need this? Yes!
Think about it—while you’re excited about what the Lord is teaching you, seeing God begin to move in the lives of others in our church, and looking forward to what God will do through you, it influences those you know as you share with them. Stay in an attitude of expectation. Start to believe that every time we meet, God will meet you. Every time we have a life group, God will meet you. Every children’s church and youth event, God will meet them.
As your acquaintances, friends, and family begin to get excited, pray for them and watch God meet them. Let’s go into our communities and expect God to meet with us there because He is meeting with us here every time we come.
Peter and John did just that and we will see the impact next week!