THE MIRACLE OF PREACHING
ACTS 2:12-39
Last week I spoke on the miracle of communication, and we saw the amazement of these strangers to Jerusalem when they heard the disciples speak in their particular languages.
It was clear that they were Galileans, who knew no other language than their own...they were common people, not at all known for being educated...
But here we see that these visitors acknowledge that these believers spoke their languages both correctly and fluently. These were languages that were not readily known in Jerusalem, and probably were undervalued and even despised. (The Jews were an exclusive bunch)
And so it was a pleasing surprise for them to hear the language of their own country spoken. (ex-hearing own language in foreign place)
The things they heard were the wonders of God. It is probable that the disciples spoke of Christ...His redemption and the grace of His gospel...so they heard them both praise God for these great things - but also instructed the people concerning these things.
And the fact that they did it in their own native tongue helped to convince them that this was truly from God...and also was a plain indication of the favor of God intended for the Gentiles. The knowledge and the worship of God would no longer be confined to the Jews.
It is interesting that it was a careless, scoffing comment that prompted the first Christian sermon. Some of the people who heard the praise of the believers were amazed, and asked "What does this mean?"
Others just mocked, and made fun saying, "They have had too much wine." Now, it would be absurd for them to think that too much wine would enable them to speak in other languages which they had never learned...
But being native Jews, they didn't know that what was being spoken was really the language of other nations. They thought it was just a bunch of gibberish and nonsense...like a drunk might spew out.
I believe it is much the same today...when anything that is beyond our feeble minds is nonsense...but in actuality many of the things we write off and even laugh about may be the Spirit of God moving in a way that we have yet to understand or accept.
Well, being accused of being a bunch of drunkards got Peter on his feet! He had to explain the absurdity of that criticism. This man who just over a month earlier had repeatedly denied the Lord because of fear, now boldly proclaimed the truth to all of Jerusalem.
This Spirit-filled man now was neither afraid nor ashamed to speak out to the crowds and explain these events that had taken place.
"These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning." (Or the third hour as some translations read)
Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us that the first meal of the day was not until the fourth hour, 10 o'clock, and on the Sabbath, a larger meal was served at the sixth hour - around noon.
Peter's responses in our language and custom today would be, "What do you mean? We haven't even had breakfast yet and lunch won't be for three hours."
The Jews of that time made morning sacrifices before they ate their first meal...and wine was only consumed at the main meal. So the criticism was out of line and Peter wanted those who had made it to know just how stupid it was.
And once Peter started, he was caught up by the Spirit's power. (He fell under the anointing) A further miracle of Pentecost resulted...the miracle of preaching.
You may wonder why I call preaching a miracle...we've all heard plenty of preaching that didn't seem very miraculous. Maybe it was a miracle you stayed awake...
But the preaching of a biblical text with the power of the Spirit, to people whom He has prepared, seldom lacks for miraculous results... such as conviction, faith, and changed lives.
Authentic preaching is really prophesy...not foretelling, but forthtelling. It is done with boldness, courage, and urgency. Preaching is certainly a special calling, but it's main purpose is to proclaim the Gospel in an impelling, or motivating - driving way so that ƒaeveryƒ` member can be prophetic in sharing the faith.
Peter explained that the gift of the Holy Spirit had produced the prophetic praise that the crowds had heard the believers speaking out. It was exactly what the prophet Joel had predicted, based on what the Lord had told him:
"I will pour out my Spirit on all people...and they will prophesy"
Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit enabled him...yet he did not set aside the Scriptures, or think he was above them.
The Holy Spirit was not given to supersede the Scriptures, but to enable us to understand them and to take that knowledge and proclaim it freely and with a holy boldness.
Peter had bigger things to do than defensively explain away the sobriety of Jesus' followers. He first established the Scriptural basis for what was happening, and he then went on to utilize and exemplify the very gift that was being given.
He was a perfect example of how the power of the Holy Spirit can give us the ability to be effective witnesses.
The first Christian sermon was Christ-centered. Peter preached Christ...His incarnate life, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and also His immanent presence. And he did it in 569 words!!
Peter explained God's offer of Himself in Christ...what people did to refuse it...what God did in spite of the refusal...and what could happen now to those who would respond.
The basic thrust was a clear declaration that life in Christ is God's will for His people and all creation. This is clearly and convincingly stated right from the beginning.
Peter could preach with such obvious courage because he was convinced that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were the visible evidence of God's unchangeable, irrevocable will for the salvation of the world.
Look at vs. 23 ..."God's set purpose and foreknowledge"
Some translations read "determined counsel" There is a very strong word here that needs mentioning...
There are two words used in the N.T. for the will of God...Boule, the one we find here - translated purpose or counsel - is the strongest. It means God's irrevocable will which will be done with or without our cooperation or response.
The other word, thelema, means desire...and it expresses His desires for us which call for our response and acceptance as part of the freedom He's given us.
What Peter is saying to the crowds in Jerusalem is that God's will for the atonement and reconciliation could not have been stopped or altered by them. It was God's plan and He did it.
Those who crucified Jesus thought they were in command of Jesus' destiny...but God's greater will was being done through it all. What Peter said about God's will in the atonement stripped away the arrogance of the Sanhedrin.
They thought they had judged Jesus and put Him to death. But Jesus was God's judgment on the world. The suffering Saviors death was God's will for the judgment and atonement of sin.
But it was also of God's grace. Peter now moves to put the atonement and resurrection into historical perspective, using Psalms 16 and 110. Peter uses these Scriptures as his second source of authority for explaining this whole series of events.
This is what culminated in his and the other disciples' experience. The Messiah - Jesus - was raised up, exalted and with the authority of the Father He poured out His power on the 120 in the Upper Room.
Vs. 37..."When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart..."
What does this imply? What appeal of Peter's prophetic preaching cut to the core of their hearts? The clear declaration of who Christ is as the will of God for them.
They were not dealing with a Galilean carpenter...but God! No wonder they cried out, "What shall we do?" Peter was ready with an answer and the first Christian invitation to a congregation was given...
Vs. 38 Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
The word repent is a two-part word that means to change one's mind, to discern after a mind-changing truth or understanding. Peter wanted them to change their minds about Christ and to see their own desperate need for Him as Lord and Savior of their lives.
The call to be baptized must have been shocking to them. Baptism was used for initiation into Judaism or a radical re-consecration of one who needed forgiveness of sin.
It was the latter that Peter obviously implied. Their sins were both spiritual and moral. The word for sin means to miss the mark, and is also used to describe separation from God. The sins we commit are the result of this separation from the sovereignty and guidance of God.
The thrust of Peter's challenge is..."You've missed God's offer of salvation in Christ; you are separated from Him, and you are missing the purpose for which you were born."
What can you do about that? Change your mind! Turn around. Admit your separation from the Lord. Confess that the direction of your life runs contrary to God's desires.
Through the Holy Spirit God frees people to both repent and confess their sins. He clears the way for Himself, creating the desire and the response.
That same Spirit that filled those believers on the day of Pentecost is here today. That same message that He spoke through Peter is valid today also...what will you do about it?
There are those who need to make a decision to submit your lives to Christ...to repent, confess, and then receive Him as Savior and Lord.
Others need that infilling of the Holy Spirit that will give you the power to be the effective witness Christ wants you to be.
This morning I want to extend to you the same invitation that Peter gave on the day of Pentecost...I want to invite you to come forward and receive what you need from God.
He's here, in all His power...and in all His gentleness...to meet that longing and desire in your heart...whatever it may be...all you need to do is respond in faith.
