THE PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH
ACTS 2:1-24
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE FOCUS ON WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE. SOMETIMES THE MAIN THEME FOR THE PASSAGE IS LOST IN OUR ATTEMPT TO PUSH OUR THEOLOGICAL AGENDA. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE MAIN THEMES OF THIS PASSAGE ARE THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE DISCIPLES WERE GOING THROUGH A VERY DARK TIME. THEY HAD LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST. WHAT A GREAT ADVENTURE THIS WOULD BE. THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS THOUGH, BROUGHT THEM TO THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR. SOME LIKE PETER HAD LEFT THE GROUP AND WENT BACK TO THEIR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, FOR A TIME. WITH CHRIST THEY HAD EVERYTHING AND NOW THAT HE WAS GONE, THEY FELT AS IF THEY HAD NOTHING.
THIS IS A GOOD COMPARISON FOR PEOPLE IN GENERAL TODAY, FOR WE ALL WALKED THIS ROAD AT SOME POINT, AND IN FACT MOST PEOPLE STILL ARE.
BEFORE BECOMING A CHRISTIAN PAUL TEACHES US THAT WE ARE IN A STATE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.
EPHESIANS 2:1-3:
“1 ¶ ONCE YOU WERE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOUR DISOBEDIENCE AND YOUR MANY SINS. 2 YOU USED TO LIVE IN SIN, JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, OBEYING THE DEVIL-THE COMMANDER OF THE POWERS IN THE UNSEEN WORLD. HE IS THE SPIRIT AT WORK IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO REFUSE TO OBEY GOD. 3 ALL OF US USED TO LIVE THAT WAY, FOLLOWING THE PASSIONATE DESIRES AND INCLINATIONS OF OUR SINFUL NATURE. BY OUR VERY NATURE WE WERE SUBJECT TO GOD’S ANGER, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
AS SUCH WE ARE LOST TO THE THINGS OF GOD. THEY DO NOT MAKE SENSE TO US. OUR ROAD, IS A ROAD THAT LEADS TO HELL.
AS THE DISCIPLES DID, WE LOOK TO THE PLACES AND THINGS THAT BROUGHT US COMFORT AND PEACE, NOT KNOWING THAT GOD IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF THAT PEACE.
THE DISCIPLES WENT BACK TO THE UPPER ROOM IN JERUSALEM. THIS WAS A PLACE OF GREAT PEACE AND A LOVING, SENSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS.
IT WAS IN THE UPPER ROOM THAT JESUS OFFERED THE COMFORTING WORDS OF JOHN 14.
JOHN 14:1-3:
“1 ¶ “DON’T LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. TRUST IN GOD, AND TRUST ALSO IN ME. 2 THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM IN MY FATHER’S HOME. IF THIS WERE NOT SO, WOULD I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU? 3 WHEN EVERYTHING IS READY, I WILL COME AND GET YOU, SO THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME WHERE I AM.”
IT WAS HERE THAT JESUS PROMISED ANOTHER COMFORTER: JOHN 14:16:
JESUS PROMISED PEACE HERE: JOHN 14:27
IT WAS HERE THAT THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION WAS MADE KNOWN TO THEM: JOHN 20:23
YET THIS SURPRISINGLY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BRING THEM PEACE AND EMPOWER THEM. THEY STILL FELT LOST WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES.
THAT IS THE WAY IT IS FOR PEOPLE TODAY. WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THEIR LIVES, PEOPLE ARE LOST. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. WE SAY THAT WE MAKE A DECISION TO ACCEPT CHRIST, BUT THIS IS ONLY BECAUSE THE SPIRIT DRAWS US TO HIM. PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, OR THEY SEE IT IN THE ACTIONS OF HIS PEOPLE, AND IT WILL ATTRACT THEM.
PEOPLE MUST BECOME CONVINCED OF THEIR LOSTNESS, AND THAT GOD’S GRACE IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF ETERNITY. PAUL SPEAKS OF BEING PERSUADED UNTO SALVATION, BUT ALSO TEACHES THAT A PERSON CAN ONLY BE TRULY SAVED WHEN DRAWN TO GOD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JOHN 6:44: “FOR NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS THE FATHER WHO SENT ME DRAWS THEM TO ME, AND AT THE LAST DAY I WILL RAISE THEM UP.”
THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN BEGIN THEIR SPIRITUAL WALK ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN SCHEDULE. THE FEELING IS THAT ONCE I’VE WALKED AN AISLE OR BEEN BAPTIZED THAT I’M IN THE KINGDOM. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE.
IF OUR LIVES ARE NOT SHOWING THE FRUIT OF A SPIRITUAL WALK, IF THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR CHARACTER OR BEHAVIOR, THEN THE QUESTION MUST BE ASKED “HAS THERE BEEN AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE WITH GOD?”
AN AUTHENTIC CONVERSION EXPERIENCE IS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. PART OF THIS EXPERIENCE IS THE CONSCIOUS CHOICE NOT TO FOLLOW A SINFUL OR WORLDLY LIFESTYLE, WHILE OTHER PARTS ARE VERY NATURAL AND THE CHANGE IS NOT EVEN NOTICED. AN AUTHENTIC CONVERSION EXPERIENCE WILL KEEP A PERSON WALKING CLOSER TO THE LORD, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO, BUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.
WHEN THE DISCIPLES RETURNED TO JERUSALEM, WHERE THEY WERE TOLD TO WAIT TO RECEIVE POWER, BUT WHAT POWER, AND WHAT WERE THEY TO DO WITH IT?
THAT IS THE QUESTION OF THE CHURCH TODAY. DO WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER THAT IS AT OUR DISPOSAL THROUGH THE ACTIVITY HOLY SPIRIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES.
CONSIDER PAUL AFTER HIS SHIPWRECK:
ACTS 28:1-6
“1 ¶ ONCE WE WERE SAFE ON SHORE, WE LEARNED THAT WE WERE ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA. 2 THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND WERE VERY KIND TO US. IT WAS COLD AND RAINY, SO THEY BUILT A FIRE ON THE SHORE TO WELCOME US. 3 AS PAUL GATHERED AN ARMFUL OF STICKS AND WAS LAYING THEM ON THE FIRE, A POISONOUS SNAKE, DRIVEN OUT BY THE HEAT, BIT HIM ON THE HAND. 4 THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND SAW IT HANGING FROM HIS HAND AND SAID TO EACH OTHER, “A MURDERER, NO DOUBT! THOUGH HE ESCAPED THE SEA, JUSTICE WILL NOT PERMIT HIM TO LIVE.’’ 5 BUT PAUL SHOOK OFF THE SNAKE INTO THE FIRE AND WAS UNHARMED. 6 THE PEOPLE WAITED FOR HIM TO SWELL UP OR SUDDENLY DROP DEAD. BUT WHEN THEY HAD WAITED A LONG TIME AND SAW THAT HE WASN’T HARMED, THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND DECIDED HE WAS A GOD.”
MARK RECORDS AS PART OF HIS GREAT COMMISSION:
MARK 16:17-18
“17 THESE MIRACULOUS SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS IN MY NAME, AND THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW LANGUAGES. 18 THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE SNAKES WITH SAFETY, AND IF THEY DRINK ANYTHING POISONOUS, IT WON’T HURT THEM. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY WILL BE HEALED.’’
I’M NOT SUGGESTING WE SHOULD DRINK POISON OR PICK UP SNAKES. WHAT I DO TAKE FROM THIS IS THAT IF WE ARE ACTING IN THE WILL OF GOD, THAT WE WILL HAVE THE POWER WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE TASK THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
ON THIS DAY OF PENTECOST, THE PROMISED COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BROUGHT THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL, THROUGH THE APOSTLES, TO THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BECOME THE CHURCH.
THIS WAS THE ESSENTIAL MIRACLE OF PENTECOST. IT WAS NOT JUST THAT THE PEOPLE HEARD THE GOSPEL IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, IT WAS THE FACT THAT THE GOSPEL WAS PRESENTED, AND ACTED ON IN AN OVERWEALMING WAY. PENTECOST WAS A REVERSE FORM OF BABEL. GOD USED LANGUAGE TO CONFUSE THE PEOPLE AND STOP THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER OF BABEL. HERE HE USED LANGUAGE TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL AND TO BEGIN TO BUILD THE CHURCH.
IT IS AT THIS TIME THAT WE ARE FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE TWO ASPECTS OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH. IT IS THE SAME PROCLAMATION FOR THE CHURCH TODAY.
POINT ONE: WHY PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE (ACTS 2:16-21)
ACTS 2:16-21:
“16 NO, WHAT YOU SEE WAS PREDICTED LONG AGO BY THE PROPHET JOEL: 17 ’IN THE LAST DAYS,’ GOD SAYS, ’I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL PEOPLE. YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY. YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS. 18 IN THOSE DAYS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT EVEN ON MY SERVANTS-MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE- AND THEY WILL PROPHESY. 20 THE SUN WILL BECOME DARK, AND THE MOON WILL TURN BLOOD RED BEFORE THAT GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD ARRIVES. 21 BUT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”
WE ARE LIVING IN THE TIME OF THE FULFILLMENT OF JOEL’S PROPHECY. WE ARE O PROCLAIM THE WORD OF THE LORD TO THE WORLD, FOR THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD IS GOING TO ONE DAY ARRIVE. FOR THE CHRISTIAN IT WILL BE A GLORIOUS AND TRIUMPHANT DAY. THE UNSAVED HOWEVER ARE GOING TO BEGIN THE WORST NIGHTMARE OF THEIR LIVES. MOST WILL NOT SURVIVE THROUGH IT.
19 AND I WILL CAUSE WONDERS IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW- BLOOD AND FIRE AND CLOUDS OF SMOKE.
THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL IS THAT THOSE WHO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED. IT IS THE GOAL OF THE CHURCH TO BUILD GOD’S CHURCH, TO BE HIS AMBASSADORS IN THE WORLD. THIS MEANS DOING GOOD EVEN IF THAT GOOD IS NOT RECOGNIZED. WE ARE NOT CALLED TO BE THANKED, BUT TO DO GOOD NOMATTER HOW IT IS RECEIVED.
THE SECOND THING THAT THE CHURCH HAS TO PROCLAIM IS THE HOLY SPIRIT’S COMING.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE A PERSON’S WITNESS. IN THIS PASSAGE PETER DESCRIBES THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH WORLDS LIKE FIRE, AND FLAMES.
FIRE ALWAYS PURIFIES. I REMEMBER WATCHING MANY SHOWS WHERE THE HERO HAD TO HELP SOMEONE WHO WAS HURT. THEY ALWAYS PREPARED THEIR INSTRUMENTS BY PUTTING THEM IN FIRE BEFORE THEY USED THEM.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE WILL CONVICT US OF WRONG DECISIONS AND ACTIONS AND HELP US TO WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE HAVE THE WRONG IDEA ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE FEEL HE IS THERE FOR US ONLY, TO MEET OUR DESIRES. THIS IS NOT THE CASE ENTIRELY.
WHILE THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES DO THIS, THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT JUST TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD, BUT TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE OUR COMMITMENT AND COURAGE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO CONVICTS THE UNSAVED OF THEIR NEED FOR THE LORD.
ACTS 2:37: “PETER’S WORDS PIERCED THEIR HEARTS, AND THEY SAID TO HIM AND TO THE OTHER APOSTLES, “BROTHERS, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?’’”
THE GREEK WORD HERE FOR “PIERCED” IS WHAT WE WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE “THE STING OF A HORNET.”
MY BROTHER AND I WERE TALKING OUT IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO NOW, WHEN I FELT A BURNING SENSATION COMING FROM MY HAND. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW A YELLOW JACKET THERE. MY BROTHER HAD STORED SOME CEDAR BOARDS IN THE GARAGE OVER THE WINTER AND THE HORNETS DECIDED TO BUILD A NEST BY IT.
IT WAS EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND IMMEDIATELY GOT MY ATTENTION. LUKE’S CHOICE OF THE WORD WAS DELIBERATE, TELLING US THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT PIERCES OUR HEARTS IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY NOTICE AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THE CHURCH PROCLAIMS THE MESSAGE BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL.
ACTS 2:21: “BUT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”
ANYONE WHO RESPONDS TO THE GOSPEL CAN AND WILL BE SAVED, BUT THE GOSPEL MUST BE PROCLAIMED IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
NOW SOME ARE SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITNESSING OR THAT IT IS FOR SOMEONE ELSE. WE’LL DO ANOTHER JOB IN THE CHURCH AND LEAVING WITNESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IN A COURT OF LAW WHEN WE WERE CALLED AS A WITNESS, WE SAID WE WERE TO NERVOUS AND DECIDED TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE GO IN OUR STEAD. CAN YOU SAY WARRANT FOR OUR ARREST FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN TELL YOUR STORY. YOU CAN’T PASS OFF THAT OBLIGATION.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL? THE ANSWER TO THIS IS YES, UNDER THREE CONDITIONS:
1. YES. WHEN WE ARE READY TO FORGET THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD.
2. YES. WHEN WE ARE READY TO FORGET ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS PURPOSE.
3. YES, WHEN WE ARE READY TO FORGET ABOUT THE WORLD AND THE NEED FOR SALVATION
POINT TWO: WHAT DO WE PREACH?
WE HAVE CONSIDERED WHY THE CHURCH PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL, WE NEED NOW TO TURN TO WHAT THAT GOSPEL IS. WHAT DO WE PREACH?
THE PRIMARY MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH IS THE COMING OF GOD IN CHRIST AND HIS DEATH FOR OUR SINS. OUT OF THIS TEACHING WILL COME WHAT A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO BE ONCE THEY HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR.
THERE ARE TWO TERMS TO DESCRIBE THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH:
KERYGMA
AND
DIDACHE
THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH TO THE LOST IS KERGYMA. THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE GOSPEL A PERSON MUST ACCEPT TO KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR IS THE KERYGMA.
DIDACHE LITERALLY MEANS “TEACHING”. THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH ONCE A PERSON HAS FOUND CHRIST AS SAVIOR, AND TRAINS THEM TO ACCEPT HIM AS LORD.
ALL PREACHING TO BE BIBLICAL PREACHING MUST INCLUDE BOTH KERYGMA AND DIDACHE TO BE OF VALUE. PETER’S SERMON HERE IN ACTS CHAPTER TWO CONTAINS BOTH OF THESE ELEMENTS.
IT SPEAKS OF:
1. THE LIFE OF CHRIST (V. 22)
2. THAT THE CRUCIFIXION WAS PART OF GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN (V.23)
3. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AS A TRIUMPH OVER DEATH AND SIN (V.24)
4. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST (V.36)
5. FORGIVENESS IS FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE (V. 38)
THE RESULTS OF THIS PRESENTATION OF THE GODPEL WAS THAT FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE MADE PROFESSIONS OF FAITH. IF EACH OF THE DISCIPLES WERE TO BAPTIZE THIS CROWD EQUALLY, EACH DISCIPLE WOULD BAPTIZE, 250 PEOPLE. THAT’S JUST ABOUT WHAT THIS SANCTUARY WOULD HOLD.
CONCLUSION:
THE WORLD TODAY IS SEEING A DECLINE IN GOOD BIBLICAL PREACHING TODAY. IN AN EFFORT TO BE A UNIVERSAL FRIEND TO ALL WE HAVE STOPPED CALLING SIN SIN. AS A CHURCH WE MUST GET BACK TO THE KERGYMA AND DIDACHE.
IN THE CHURCH WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTERRUPTED BY GOD. THE MESSAGE OF GOD;S GRACE AND MERCY IS THE MESSAGE THAT IT IS TRUE TODAY AS IT WAS IN PETERS TIME.
IT RESULTS IN THE SAME QUESTION THAT PETER POSED TO THOSE WITHIN THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE. IT IS THE QUESTION I PUT TO YOU TODAY. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH CHRIST?
