KNOWING YOUR MESSAGE AND KNOWING THE NEED
INTRODUCTION: THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE REVEAL THE MOVING OF THE EARLY CHURCH – SOME 120 PEOPLE INTO OVERDRIVE! THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME – JUST AS CHRIST PROMISED, THE PEOPLE HAVE ASSEMBLED AS A RESULT OF THE NOISE. ACCUSATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, AND NOW PETER STANDS TO PREACH AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. BUT THEN AGAIN, WE SERVE AND AMAZING GOD! AND YES, THERE IS EMBEDDED IN THIS TEXT A SIMPLE TRUTH, RIPE FOR US TO EMBRACE AS PART OF OUR OWN WALK WITH CHRIST!
Acts 2:14-41 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. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 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. 25 David said about him: "’I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 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. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "’The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’ 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.
I EXPLAIN THE SITUATION – 2:14-21
A A CHANGED PETER
1 DURING THE LIFE OF CHRIST PETER WAS AN UNSTABLE LEADER.
a REBUKED BY CHRIST – “GET THEE BEHIND ME”
b HOT HEADED TEMPER – CUT OFF THE EAR OF THE SERVANT
c DENIED HIS ASSOCIATION WITH CHRIST
2 AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST PETER WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A POWERFUL WITNESS
a RESTORED AND COMMISSION BY CHRIST – “FEED MY SHEEP”
b BOLDLY PROCLAIMS THE MESSAGE TO THE ASSEMBLED CROWD
MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO ASSESS OURSELVES AS TO WHICH SIDE OF THE CROSS WE FIND OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW – UNSTABLE IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE, OR POWERFUL IN OUR WITNESS.
B A COURAGEOUS RESPONSE
1 THIS IS NOT WHAT OTHERS WANT YOU TO THINK
a WE ARE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE
b WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
2 A RESPONSE THAT PULLED NO PUNCHES
a PETER EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED
b PETER CHALLENGED THE PEOPLE TO HEAR
NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IF WE ARE CONTENT TO ACCEPT THE LABEL PEOPLE PUT ON OUR ACTIVITIES AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, OR IF WE ARE WILLING TO CHALLENGE THE THOUGHT OF THE DAY ABOUT JESUS AND WHAT HE ASKS OF US.
C A CONTEMPORARY MESSAGE
1 THE FOCUS OF PETER’S MESSAGE
a BIBLICALLY FOCUSED
b CHRIST-CENTERED FOCUS
c FEARLESS FOCUS
d SOUND FOCUS
2 THE CONTENT OF PETER’S MESSAGE
a THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST
b THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST
c THE BURIAL OF CHRIST
d THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
e THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST
f THE PRESENT MINISTRY OF CHRIST
3 WHAT PETER SAID
a GOD IS GOING TO REVEAL HIMSELF IN PROPHESY AND VISION
1) PROPHESY – THE DECLARING OF TRUTH
2) VISION – THE WAY GOD REVEALS HIMSELF
b GOD IS REVEALING HIMSELF FROM NOW ON – “THE LAST DAYS”
c GOD IS REVEALING HIMSELF NOT FROM THE TOP DOWN BUT FROM THE BOTTOM UP – MY SERVANTS, MEN AND WOMEN
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PIVOTAL ROLE WE PLAY IN THE COMMUNICATION OF THE GOSPEL AND THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE! GOD IS USING US TO DECLARE HIS MESSAGE AND REVEAL HIMSELF. ARE WE FULFILLING OUR ROLE? ARE WE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR WALK? ARE WE EMBRACING OUR RESPONSIBILITY?
d GOD’S MESSAGE IS UNIVERSAL – EVERYONE WHO CALLS
WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN, I SHALL SEE THREE WONDERS THERE: THE FIRST WONDER WILL BE TO SEE MANY PEOPLE THERE WHOM I DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE. THE SECOND WONDER WILL BE TO MISS MANY PEOPLE WHOM I DID EXPECT TO SEE. THE THIRD AND GREATEST WONDER OF ALL WILL BE TO FIND MYSELF THERE. JOHN NEWTON
II EXALT THE SAVIOR – 2:22-36
A JESUS IS THE ONE THE SCRIPTURES PROPHESIED ABOUT!
B JESUS WAS THE ONE GOD ACCREDITED – CELEBRATED, MADE FAMOUS, ELEVATED
1 BY SIGNS
2 BY WONDERS
3 BY MIRACLES
C JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED BY GOD’S DESIGN, NOT THE ACTIONS OF MAN
1 JUDAS ACTED BY GOD’S DESIGN
2 GOD THE FATHER KNEW IN ADVANCE, AND SET IN MOTION THE PURPOSEFUL NEED OF THE CRUCIFIXION!
a BOTH JEW AND GENTILE FULFILLED GOD’S DESIGN
UNDERSTAND, GOD’S DESIGN WAS FOR OUR ULTIMATE BENEFIT – THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST PROVIDED THE MEANS FOR MAN TO STAND JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD!
3 THE REALITY OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST
a IF HE HAD NOT REALLY DIED THE CROWD WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT. MANY WERE THERE FOR THE CRUCIFIXION.
b IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN FROM THE DEAD, ALL WHICH NEEDED TO HAPPEN WAS TO PRODUCE THE BODY!
c THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST HAS SHOWN THE PATH OF LIFE THAT BRINGS REAL JOY
III EXHORT THE SINNER – 2:37-40
A THE REACTION TO THE MESSAGE
1 PEOPLE WERE “CUT TO THE HEART”
2 MEANS TO PRICK VIOLENTLY, TO STING SHARPLY, TO STUN
3 THE ESSENCE IS THAT WHAT THEY HEARD HAD A QUICK, NOTICEABLE AND TOTAL EFFECT ON THEM
B THE REPLY TO THE MESSAGE -- “WHAT SHALL WE DO?”
ARE WE READY WITH THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION? PETER WAS, AND WE CAN BE TOO!
C THE RESPONSE TO THE MESSAGE
1 REPENT
a SORROW IS INSUFFICIENT
b NEED TO CHANGE BOTH MIND AND OUTLOOK
1) TURN FROM OUR SIN
2) TURN TOWARDS GOD
c TRUE REPENTANCE ALLOWS:
1) GOD TO FORGIVE
2) US TO LIVE LIKE FORGIVEN PEOPLE
BIBLICAL TRUTH IS NEVER JUST FOR INFORMATION, IT IS FOR TRANSFORMATION!
2 BE BAPTIZED
a IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH CHRIST
b CEASE YOUR IDENTITY WITH THE WORLD
c THE REASON; YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN!
3 RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN AND NOW IS THE EVIDENCE OF A CHANGED LIFE
b WITH THE EARLY CHURCH IT WAS A VISIBLE SIGN MEANT TO SHOW THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST – YOU, YOUR CHILDREN, AND THOSE FAR OFF
c TODAY IT IS THE SINGULAR GIFT OF GOD, THE UNIVERSAL EVIDENCE OF OUR SALVATION, GIVEN TO ALL!
1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
4 THE END RESULT – 3,000 WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH THAT VERY DAY!
SO, WHAT SIMPLE TRUTH CAN YOU AND I TAKE FROM THIS PASSAGE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS? IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO EXALT THE SAVIOR AND EXHORT THE SINNER; WE NEED TO HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THEIR NEED.
IF GOD TODAY WERE TO “CUT THE HEART” OF THE PERSON YOU KNOW NEEDS CHRIST THE MOST, WOULD YOU HAVE THE ANSWER THEY SEEK?
