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"The Power Of Pentecost"
Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Mar 26, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Certainly "Power comes through Prayer," but the purpose of this message is to convey what was so powerful about "Peter’s message" on the day of Pentecost. Why would three thousand souls repent and come to Christ?
A Prophet is Coming!
Moses was old and the Children of Israel were concerned with who was going to replace
him. The immediate answer would be Joshua. But Moses also mentioned that a "Prophet
would arise from among them." He was speaking of Christ.
(Deu 18:15) The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,
of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
(Deu 18:18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,
and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall
command him.
The test of the Prophet?
How would the people know if the prophet was really a true prophet? The test would be
whether or not the prophets prophecy would come to pass.
(Deu 18:22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not,
nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath
spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
The punishment of a false Prophet?
What if the prophet’s prophesy did not come to pass and the prophet was a "false
prophet?" He was to be put to death.
(Deu 18:20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I
have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even
that prophet shall die.
Jesus: Are you that Prophet?
The people in the day of Christ were awaiting "That Prophet" to come. They first asked
John, "Are the that prophet prophesied by Moses?" John said, no, but he was the
forerunner of "That Prophet."
Then they asked Christ, "Are you That Prophet?"
(John 6:14) Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is
of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Show us a sign?
If Christ was indeed that prophet, they wanted him to prove it by showing them a sign for
that was the test of the prophet.
(Mat 16:1) The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that
he would show them a sign from heaven.
(Mat 16:4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no
sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Jesus is that Prophet.
The sign that Christ gave to them was simply this, (and herein is the message) "Kill Me!
...and in three days I will arise again from the dead." That was the sign of Jonah. As he
was in the belly of the whale for three days, so must the Son of Man be in the heart of the
earth. He also mentioned that the Temple would be destroyed and in three days, He would
raise it up again!
The prophecy of Christ came to pass upon his resurrection proving beyond any doubt that
he was the Christ! The Prophet’s prophesy had come to pass! No wonder Peter’s message
had such an impact on the Day of Pentecost!
(Acts 2:32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
(Acts 2:36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that
same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Application:
How do people know that you are for real?
Just as in the day of Christ, they wanted to know if Christ was for real, people want to
know if what you claim to possess is real.
You are to take up a Cross.
Your response should be similar to the response of Christ, "Kill me, and you will see.
Cause I will rise again!"
(Mat 10:38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
God will give you resurrection power.
The Christian is to "die daily." But with our death comes resurrection power. If we want
to prove to the world our faith, the world can only see our faith, by our works.
The more the world tries to put out the flames of the Church, the more the Church grows.
We have resurrection power!
Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of
his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Conclusion:
"That Prophet" is still coming!