Bearers Of The Message Of Life Series

Intro

Today we are continuing in our series entitled Roots; rediscovering our Foundations. We are seeking God to speak to us from the Biblical Book of Acts. The Book of Acts gives the accounts of how the church began following the resurrection of Christ. In essence… it is the family story of the church. It is where we discover our roots.

Jesus had called them into the ultimate mission.

I was reminded of the Mission Impossible theme song. The stories always begin with that moment that some huge mission is presented… and then the statement is made: ‘This is your mission… should you decide to accept it.’ Then it all begins.

Well… Jesus invites each of us into a mission of eternal proportions … and today we see how it was accepted… and began for those who first joined.

Acts 2:1, 4-6, 12, 14-17, 21-24, 32-33, 36-41 (NIV)

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. …4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. …12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ""What does this mean?""

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ""Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ""'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. …21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' 22 ""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. …32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. …36 ""Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."" 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ""Brothers, what shall we do?"" 38 Peter replied, ""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 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."" 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ""Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."" 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

A rather dramatic inter-change.

The whole scene is filled with a wild intensity. There is excitement… as well as hostility.

A crowd has swelled to massive proportions… we can assume by the number who respond… that it had grown to well over 3,000.

They had come as part of the feast of harvest. Most had likely come at Passover 50 days prior… and been drawn into the crowds that turned on Jesus… played a game with Rome… to execute him. His claims were deemed blasphemy. Any who declare him to be the Messiah… would now be guilty of joining in blasphemy.

This is what fills the crowd now surrounding the group on Pentecost

… and it is surrounded by this crowd that we read…

Verse 14 - “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice…”

The result is powerful… three thousand lives joined in the life of Jesus. [1] What began as just being perplexed ended in being pierced.

What began as just confusion… ended in clarity and a crossroads into new life.

> Because Peter first stood up and raised his voice.

Many of us know what Peter may have felt…

• ‘People have so many misconceptions about … they won’t understand… they might think I’m crazy.’