“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!”
Peter couldn’t do that with the emotion of friendship…it would take something much deeper than s Sunday School Class connection…or a bond of friendship…He could only become a real shepherd…through the power of God’s Holy Spirit…The spirit of Jesus invading His heart…
So the final words of Jesus to Peter and the others are recorded in Acts 1…”do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about,. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (v. 4-5.
Jesus put up a “STOP” sign for Peter and the other apostles…stop what you’re doing...Don’t go anywhere…wait for the gift I’ve promised…
And then…
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnessed in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (v 1)
After the said this He was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud he’d Him from their sight. (v 9)
So they returned to Jerusalem and waited …”Stopped” in an upper room where they were staying…Peter took the lead in talking (surprising huh?) there are about 120 believers…including the 12, many women including Mary,…they all join together in constant prayer according to Acts 1:14
While they wait and pray…they choose Martha’s to take Judas place as an apostle…and as they are at this “Stop Sign” waiting and praying and listening…God speaks…He gives the gift.
Acts 2: 1-14 (p 771)
Pentecost…It’s the closing festival of Passover. Another name for it is “Atserret”…meaning “STOP”…It’s the end of the harvest season…7 weeks after Passover on the 50th day…the harvest is celebrated…Pentecost is the Stop Sign of God’s growing season…when the harvest is gathered.
No wonder it’s this day god chooses to give the gift of His Spirit to the apostles…No wonder it’s this day the baptism of God’s power comes upon them…it’s given for a reason…Today is a day to Stop and glean the harvest.
It’s also a day for
III THE PEOPLE TO ‘STOP’ AND REALIZE GOD’S PLAN
God fearing Jews from every nation under heaven are gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost…On this day when the Holy spirit enables the Apostles to speak in their native tongues and they hear the gospel message…it’s the opposite of the “tower of Babel” in the Old Testament when God heard sinful man say, “Come let us build a tower that reaches heaven so we can make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the earth.
Genesis 11; 5-9 (p 7)
Sin, pride, self suffering…God had a plan…confuse their language, scatter the people…
Now, after Jesus the Messiah has fulfilled his purpose…”God’s set purpose and for knowledge… (Peter looks at the people and says) “You with the help of weekend men put him to death..Nailed him to the cross…But god raised Him from the dead.”
Remember, the man preaching had denied even knowing Jesus to a “servant girl just 7 weeks ago…Now he’s given a history lesson to the same individuals who were directly responsible for the crucifixion…and he’s doing it on their home court.
What has happened to him and the others….God’s Spirit is the one speaking through them…providing the message…and providing the courage.
In fact Jesus has promised them….”when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the spirit of your Father speaking through you” ( Matt 10: 19, 20)
How about that for a promise!
So Peter zeros in on the resurrection…remember they are in Jerusalem..And it’s only been a month and a half since the resurrection took place.
Peter quotes from King David, the Patriarch King of Israel…”God …you will not abandon me to the grave, or let your Holy one see decay (Ps 16)
“Brothers, I can tell you confidently David died, he was buried…I can show you his tomb…but he spoke of a descendant that would ascend to his throne He prophesied about this very event…
Acts 2: 31-36 (p771)
This was a Holy Spirit inspired history lesson for the Jews that were gathered for Pentecost…The miracle of Tongues covered the message in God’s power…and the truth of these words hit hard…it made the people who heard it “STOP”
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.”
The people…these Jewish people who were fully aware of what had happened and was happening in Jerusalem…and were aware of the Old Testament and King David…Came to fulfill their religious duty…many were trying to teach their families their religious heritage… They weren’t planning on something miraculous happening…”And God put up a Stop sign, where there had never been a Stop Sign before1”
The message cut their hearts…put them on their knees in fear and regret and conviction.
The heard, knew and understood God’s plan in Jesus the Messiah…and it STOPPED them dead!
[I’ve been there…the place where God’s Spirit dais you’re lost and going to hell…You’re dead in your sin…you need a Savior…You need forgiveness…You need the hope of a resurrection…
You can’t be saved until you understand what being lost is…and only god’s spirit can do that in the human heart through the message of the gospel.]
The answer for these people…stopped and “cut in heart” the answer for me, and for you who say…”what should I do?”
“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.
The promise is for you and your children and all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he (Peter) warned them and he pleaded with them…”Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”
Makes sense doesn’t it…the crowd experience the power of the Holy Spirit in the message…now is asked…do you believe God’s plan…do you believe His promise…If you do “turn from your sin towards God (Repent)…be baptized… you unite yourself with the Saving death burial and resurrection of the Holy promised one…and the same spirit that gave life to his dead body…will give life to yours!
3,000 accepted that message…3,000 were baptized and added to the 120 followers of Christ 3, 120 now followed a risen savior on this day…Pentecost…the harvest celebration day.
[I don’t know why god spared my life that day on Clap Mill Road...or any of the other hundred times before…I’m not sure why he continually extended his message of grace to me…time after time until his love broke through…but he did…and I’m grateful…
I’m sure there were more than 3,000 people in Jerusalem on Pentecost…and more than 3,000 experienced the power and miracle of God’s Spirit…that means some of them said “No…on the most powerful convincing, amazing day possible…God stopped them…but they said….I think I’ll continue down the road I’m on”.
Amazing…maybe as amazing as the number that were saved…god can stop you…and He will…but you have to choose whether you turn towards him….or keep going your own way]
