Stop Sign Series

“STOP SIGN”

ACTS 2: 22-24, 32-41 (P771) JUNE 24, 2012

INTRODUCTION:

It’s an Octagon because scientists say that’s one of the most powerful attention getting shapes (I think a donut shape or a drumstick shape is more powerful). It’s Red; because that is the most attention grabbing color…it’s big and simple…just 4 letters in white S.T.O.P.

STOP

I remember working one summer as the life guard at Bluegrass Christian Camp…I didn’t make it home for about a month…and when I came home I took the same roads I always did…As I came down Clap Mill Road I breasted a hill…gas pedal down…it was raining, so I was at least being a little cautious in my Pick-up truck…and after crested the hill I encountered a brand new stop sign…a 4 way stop that had never existed on Clap Mill before.

I slammed on the brakes..slid sideways through the intersection and came to rest parallel crashed on the other side of the street…I go out…looked at the sign…look around and then got on my knees right there thanking God for sparing my life…and someone else’s!

That stop sign caught me so unaware…It cam completely out of the blue…

You know I had a top ten list last week you seemed to enjoy…so let me share with you some real insurance quotes that were taken immediately after the accident recording to the Eagle Insurance group… Collisions, calamities, and injuries.

*Coming home I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.

*I told the police that I was not injured, but on removing my hat found that I had a fractured skull.

*I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.

* I thought my window was down, but I found it was up when I put my head through it.

*As I approached an intersection a sign suddenly appeared in a place where not stop sign had ever appeared before.

*In an attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.

* I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.

*The telephone pole as approaching. I was attempting to swerve out of the way when I struck the front end.

* I pulled in to the side of the road because there was smoke coming from under the bonnet. I realized there was a fire in the engine, so I took my dog and smothered it with a blanket.

*The claimant had collided with a cow. The questions and answers on the claim form were – Q. What warning was given by you? A. Horn. Q: what warning was given by the other party? A Moo

* I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

“A stop sign appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before…

That’s what happened to me on Clap Mill road that day..

But more miraculously that’s what happening in our text in Acts chapter 2. God puts up a stop sign in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before…

Let’s look at some history…how we got to this place in the journey…

I THE DISCIPLES “STOP” AND WAIT FOR GOD’S SPIRIT

Go back with me…It’s after the Resurrection…Jesus has appeared to the disciples and others for a 40 day period… Paul even lists those appearances in 1 Cor. 15….”He appeared to Peter, then the 12, after that more than 500 brothers…then James and all the apostles…and last of all to me also, one abnormally born” ( v 5-7)

In fact the 3rd time Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection he reinstates Peter…

“They were fishing…just as they’d been 3 + years earlier and caught nothing…Jesus once again tells them to cast their nets on the other side into deep water…and they putt the net…153 large fish…the net’s so full it tears…He tells them to get some fish and have breakfast…but listen..

John 21: 15-17 (p 770)

Jesus…do you love me?

Peter….”Lord, you know everything…you know I love you.”

No once, not twice…3 times…1 for each denial….coincidence …I don’t think so…

There’s a lot I could say about this discussion…How Jesus uses the word “Agape” for love and Peter responds with “Phieo” the 1st two times…Basically “Peter do you love me…Peter’s response…”Lord, You’re my best friend”.

But Jesus knew that emotional friendship wasn’t enough…unconditional, godly love was what would cause you to keep going in the Kingdom…

So Peter finally got it…He wanted Jesus to know then friendship was 1st on his heart…but Jesus said…”God’s love keeps going when friendships stop.” It hurt Peter, but taught Peter.

“Lord …I love you Agape”…Jesus says…”If that’s true”…Love My Sheep then…take care of them like you say you love me!”