October 16, 2011
Evening Service

Review:

1. This morning we saw the calling of Peter,
2.  his receiving the keys to the kingdom,
3. his denying the Lord,
4. his eagerness to rush to the grave site,
5. the uncertainty of what is going on,
6. the Lord appearing to him,
7. Jesus giving instructions to His disciples which He had chosen, for 40 days.
8. and the instructions to tarry in Jerusalem until you have been endued with power from on high.
9. The choosing of the replacement for Judas Iscariot, Matthias.

 

This is where we are this evening.

• Remember 50 days from the killing of the Passover Lamb, was the feast of Pentecost.
• Jesus is our Passover Lamb.  1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Act 2:1-47  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2)  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3)  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

• So we can see that this is what Jesus, and John meant when they talked about being baptized, or immersed in the Holy Spirit.
• Remember what Jesus told them;  Act 1:4-5  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  (5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
• Without a doubt this is quite a happening.  This is to bring them power;  Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

(5)  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  (6)  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  (7)  And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  (8)  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  (9)  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,  (10)  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  (11)  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.  (12)  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 

• So we can see that this is confounding everyone.  All these different nationalities understand what is being said in their own language. 

(13)  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 

• This is the feast of Pentecost, and I’m sure that wine was very available.
• But notice our guy Peter.  Taking charge of the situation.

Peter’s first sermon.

(14)  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  (15)  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 

(16)  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;  (17)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  (18)  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:  (19)  And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:  (20)  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:  (21)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  

• Now remember this for this is the promise spoken of by Peter.

(22)  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 

• Peter first of all quotes Scriptures, which they know,
• then he tells them of Jesus of Nazareth, God showing His approval by the miracles, and wonderful works which He did, whom they knew.

(23)  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 

• Now Peter is pricking their hearts with guilt. 

(24)  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.  (25)  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  (26)  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 

• David speaking of himself at this point.  He is resting in hope, in hope of the resurrection, just like everyone else.

(27)  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,

• No, you will be resurrected one day.

neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

• Here he is referring to Jesus.  David saw corruption, but not Jesus.

(28)  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 

• Again Peter quotes Scripture, and tells them it is referring to Jesus.

(29)  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. 

•  

(30)  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;  (31)  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

• Do you see what Peter is teaching?  David died, and his spirit returned to God who gave it, and his body to the dust of the earth.  Corruption.
• But not the Christ, who is Jesus of Nazareth, He is alive and well, and somewhere in the heavens in His glorified body.  A body like we will have at the resurrection.

(32)  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

• All of us 120 that are gathered here are witnesses to this happening.

(33)  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.  (34)  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,  (35)  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 

• Paul describes this very thing in I Cor. 15.

 

(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. 

• This is quite a statement.  These are very religious people Peter is preaching too.  They have come from all over to be at this special feast.  They want to please God, and obey God, so what Peter is telling them, they are paying attention.
• Most of these people are sold out to Moses, and the keeping of the law.
• However, we will see that God the Father calls some of them to servitude of Christ.
• For us;  we can rest assured that this Jesus of Nazareth is Lord, and Christ.

(37)  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

• I’ve often thought how wonderful it would be for people today to ask this question.
• However, today most people don’t want to give up the things of the world in order to be pleasing to God.
• Like the Apostle Paul told Timothy;  2Ti 3:1-7  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The solution to all of mankinds problems.

 

And here is the first time Peter uses the keys to the kingdom.

(38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (39)  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

• Now the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the promise is the same.  You will recall I told you to watch for this promise. 

(21)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.   This is the gift of the Holy Ghost, eternal life,, salvation for all who call on the name of the Lord.

• Paul said it like this;  Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God ( who is the Holy Ghost ) is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(40)  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

NOTICE THE RESULTS:

(41)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

• Now that was a happening.  Peter speaking loudly enough that 3000 people heard what he said, and acted upon the solution.

THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST SERMON.

(42)  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (43)  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  (44)  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  (45)  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  (46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  (47)  Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.