Save Yourselves From This Wicked Generation!

“SAVE YOURSELVES FROM THIS WICKED GENERATION!”

Acts 2:36-41

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Louie and his wife were listening to the radio when they heard the weather report: "A snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the odd-numbered side of the street." So Louie got up and moved his car.

2. Two days later -- same thing. "A snow emergency has been declared," blared the radio. "Park your cars on the even-numbered side of the street." Louie got up and did what he was told.

3. Three days later: "There will be a foot of snow today. Park your cars on the..." and then the power went out. "What should I do?" a confused Louie asked his wife.

4. "This time," his wife said, "why don't you just leave the car in the garage?"

B. TEXT

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. Acts 2:36-41

C. SITUATION & TITLE

1. We see here two wonderful effects of the outpouring of the Spirit: Peter spoke with a power he’d never had before and we see the Spirit’s influence upon the hearers. They are pricked in their hearts; they’re startled, convinced, and driven to serious examination of their relationship to God.

2. The title of this message is “Save Yourselves from this Wicked Generation!”

I. THE CHOICE OF CHANGE

A. WE CAN STAY AS WE ARE or be changed.

1. You’re good people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stand some improvement. Many Christians live in a backslidden state, living below the level of Christian life they’re capable of living.

2. Most Christians expect little, ask little, receive little, and are content with little! God doesn’t want us to choose the minimum, but to shoot for the maximum! Come on Church! Step over the line! Get out of the boat; Jesus is calling you walk on some water! WE NEED REVIVING!

B. “REVIVAL” DEFINED

1. To “REVIVE” = “to live again; to rise from the dead; an awakening of God’s people; a stirring of the Spirit of God.”

2. Revivals have altered nations. A revival would impact your family, your schools, your government, everything! Do you want climate change? Revival will even change the climate! (Revival took Israel from a drought to rain & prosperity.)

3. Leonard Ravenhill said, “The CHURCH – when we get HUMBLE enough, LOW enough, DESPERATE enough, HUNGRY enough, CONCERNED enough, PASSIONATE enough, BROKEN enough, CLEAN enough, and PRAYERFUL enough – then God will send revival from Heaven.” [from, “Sodom Had No Bible.”]

C. ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR REVIVAL?

1. NO ONE CAN GET YOUR REVIVAL FOR YOU. God has made each of us a free moral agent; we each choose for ourselves. I can’t get revival for you. You can’t get revival for me.

2. You must decide if you want revival for yourself. If you sit back and wait, you’ll never get it. If you’re waiting on someone to package it just right and put it in your lap, it’ll never happen.

3. If you’re waiting on your pastor to bring revival to you, you’ll be waiting forever. We have to get it for ourselves.

4. HUMOR

a. A fire occurred in a church. Fire trucks arrived with sirens wailing. Firemen began dousing the blaze.

b. The minister recognized one of the men, “Hello Jim! I haven’t seen you at church for a long time!”

c. “Well,” said Jim, struggling with the hose, “It’s been a long time since there’s been a fire here at the church!” [God’s waiting on YOU to desire revival!]

II. HOW CONVICTION CAME?

A. CONVICTION OF SIN

1. VERSE 37 says they "were pricked in their hearts." The Word of God was so powerful that it pierced their souls. It’s not enough that it enlightens our minds, it must touch our inner beings.

2. Next, they had SORROW FOR SIN. PETER PUT THEIR SINS BEFORE THEM. “You murdered the Messiah!” In our own eyes, we see ourselves as innocent. We think our motives are good and that most of our actions are honorable. But we don’t realize we’re looking through colored glasses – seeing things from a false lens.