The Resurrection Makes You Feel So Alive!
We’re talking about Peter today.
How must he have felt living thru all of these events in his life?
Galilean fisherman called by Jesus to be an apostle.
Peter walked on the water!
Saw Christ transfigured.
It shall not happen to you! Get thee behind me Satan!
Gets temple tax from a fish’s mouth.
Who do you say that I am? You are the Christ!
Cut off the ear of ?Malchus?.
Denied Christ three times.
Experienced Jesus’ crucifixion and burial
Entered the empty tomb
Huge catch of fish.
On the road to Emmaus - dinner they realized it was Jesus! wow!
Do you love me? Tend my lambs. Feed my sheep.
saw Christ’s ascension (40 days after)
So before Christ’s resurrection and ascension, Peter was maybe not too bright and maybe a bit clumsy and maybe spoke before engaging his brain (which was beautiful a few times - You are the Christ!).
But after Christ’s resurrection and ascension what happened to Peter? He became a different person!
If you saw the things that Peter saw, (spoken about earlier) what kind of person would that make of you?
At what point do you think Peter really got it? Some say right away on the shores of Galalee. Some Say when he said You are the Christ! Others think it was after the resurrection. In any case, after the resurrection, it became so real for him that he exemplified a different person!
Acts 2
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
“They have had to much wine?” That doesn’t even make sense!
They declared the wonders of God in their own tongues. Don’t get bogged down on whether they were each one speaking one language or each hearing in their own language.
A miracle that certainly got people’s attention and got them listening to what was going on!
Would this event get your attention if you were there?
14 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 people 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 heavens 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.’
Peter explained what was happening. They are experiencing prophecy!
22 “Fellow Israelites, 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 deliberate plan 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.
Peter boldly shared the Gospel / salvation message.
(next section could be skipped depending on time)
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 rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not 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 “Fellow Israelites, 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 to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 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.” ’
Jesus a descendant of David was prophesied to be on the throne!
Jesus is the promised Messiah!
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 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.
Again, Peter shared the Gospel / salvation message.
The people realized their state and many were saved!
He pleaded with the people to be saved.
Story: I once saw a street preacher who was sharing God’s word and the salvation message, and one lady walked up and said very loudly, “Why don’t you just shut up!” Then many people there started yelling, “Preach the word! Preach the word!” The preacher then continued sharing the Good News. It was very inspiring and when you see something like that you really are glad that God’s Word is being shared even on the street corner because people need to hear it even if they don’t want to.
If someone’s house was burning would you knock on their door and warn them to get out? It’s the same with salvation! People need to know that without Jesus they are lost and doomed!
It says 3000 were added to their number that day! Wow! So certainly there would have had to be more than 3000 there because Peter preach again and even more were added again.
Imagine how Peter used to be this clumsy Galilean fisherman that was a nobody! He made all sorts of mistakes and here we see how he is now a full blown preacher man getting 3000 saved and becoming a great man of God. (My baby is all grown up!)
What was the thing that changed Peter? If Peter didn’t believe Jesus was resurrected for his sins would he have converted and become who he had became?
What about you? You know the Gospel story of how Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again and ascended. Is it real for you? If it is, how is it affecting you? Does the Gospel story live in you and is it causing a change in you? Does it make you want to share the Good News?
Some of the things Peter went on to do after Acts 2...
Miracle at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-11)
Peter preaches again (Acts 3:12-26)
Arrested, tried, and released (Acts 4:1-22)
Peter judges Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-16)
Jailed, but released by an angel (Acts 5:17-42)
Peter rebukes Simon the erstwhile sorcerer (Acts 8:14-25)
Peter raises Tabitha to life (Acts 9:32-43)
Peter sent to Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48)
Peter reports to the other apostles (Acts 11:1-18)
Jailed, but released by an angel again (Acts 12:1-17)
Peter's leadership at the council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-11)
Some people when they “get” or “understand” salvation, and understand what Jesus has done for them, they become zealous! When you’re first saved, you run around like a chicken with your head cut off, a zeal without knowledge! Be that! However, on second hand, don’t be that. Be a Zeal with knowledge. Get educated with the Bible. You must put forth a little effort and study the Bible! Absorb those great stories and get even more excited and zealous! When you are equipped you can be more effective.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Since you know by faith what Jesus has done, that He died on the cross, was buried, and on the third day was resurrected and after 40 days ascended, what kind of person does that make you? Like what do you do with that news?
Does that even register with you? Or does that make you alive? Woke? Stunned? Excited! Zealous! Amazed? Awed! Does Jesus’ resurrection make you feel alive??? ;-) Jesus did this for you so that you could be saved! Trust in Jesus to save you!
1 Corinthians 1:18
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
If you lived Peter’s life, how would you feel at seeing all of the amazing events he went thru and witnessed? Would it affect you as it did Peter? By faith we too even though the events of the Bible and knowing the history of Jesus is true, we can also believe and trust in Jesus and know the truth and the reality of Jesus and His salvation! I'm sure Peter had an interesting life and from what he experienced, you know it had to solidify his faith and just all the more inspire him to preach the word!
