March 13, 2022
Evening Service

The Book of Acts of the Apostles is exciting in two ways.  It is the beginning of the church under the new covenant; all things done are new and exciting.  It is also exciting in that there really is no end to it.  We are writing chapters in it as the church progresses along the path that Jesus paved and then handed off to the apostles.  The apostles established the church and this is their story.  We as the “Bride of Christ Fellowship” are living out our chapter in this story right now.  This book is a story of our history, this is where we began to get us to where we are now.  It is also an excellent ruler by which we can measure not only how far we have come, but also to be sure we continue to preach the same message we will see Peter preach today.  We have established ourselves as a Bible based ministry to “call Bible things by Bible names” and teach and preach the foundational message of Jesus and build upon it with the Holy Spirit inspired doctrine of the apostles.  We present the gospel, and the Lord adds to the church daily those who were being saved. 

            To begin I want to return to when Jesus gave the Great Commission, but also gave a promise that we see fulfilled today.

Luke 24:45-49 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.  (46)  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And you are witnesses of these things.  (49)  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

            Jesus instructs the disciples to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endured with power from on high.”

 

Act 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

            Pentecost was another of the major festivals celebrated by the children of Israel.  It was exactly 50 days after Passover which meant this was about ten days after Jesus’ ascension (He was with the disciples for 40 days).  It was part of the Festival of Harvest and Jerusalem was again full of travelers who had come to take part in the celebration.  It makes sense that during the time of thanksgiving for the harvest, the first new believers were harvested into to the church.

 

Act 2:2-13 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  (3)  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (5)  And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.  (6)  And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  (7)  Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?  (8)  And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?  (9)  Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11)  Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."  (12)  So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"  (13)  Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."

            This is the fulfillment of the promise we just read from Jesus that they would be “endued with power on high.”  The Holy Spirit came into the room as a “rushing mighty wind” and sat upon each one of them as a “divided tongues of fire!”  The tongues symbolize the speech (communication/language) of sharing the Good News.  The fire symbolizes the purifying presence of God which cleanses us from undesirable elements and sets our hearts aflame to tell others of what Jesus has done.  This is the first time the Holy Spirit is given to dwell within the believer (filled) and not just “be with him.”

            All those in the room began praising God and speaking in other tongues (languages) “as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  This was a sign from God that He was on the move and you need to pay attention.  It got attention all right as a crowd gather quickly wondering what was happening.  One states that “these guys are drunk!”  It is Peter, a fisherman by trade not a theologian, that has been through so much now obediently seizes the moment and steps into the leadership role Jesus chose Him to fill.

 

Act 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.  (15)  For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.  (16)  But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17)  'AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS.  (18)  AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.  (19)  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 THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD.  (21)  AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.'

            Peter here quotes the prophecy of Joel of exactly what is happening at this moment.  God is “pouring out His Spirit” upon these who are now testifying of it.  Verse 21 is especially important and it is now “whosever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”  This is no longer offered exclusively to the nation of Israel, but the invitation is to “whosoever will.”  Peter continues and makes the message personal:

 

Act 2:22-24 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— (23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

            Peter points the blame for directly at the Jewish people, many of whom present here cried “Crucify Him!” to Pilate.  “You have taken…”  Each of us have to come to the realization that we are the reason Jesus was crucified.  It was my sins that nailed Him to that cross and I must own up to it.  Peter then states that it is “God that has raised Him up and loosed the pains of death.”  He now explains that with more scripture.

 

 

 Act 2:25-35 For David says concerning Him: 'I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN.  (26)  THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER, MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE.  (27)  FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.  (28)  YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE.'  (29)  "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  (30)  Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, (31) he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.  (32)  This Jesus God has raised up; of which we are all witnesses.  (33)  Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.  (34)  "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, (35) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL." '

            Peter again uses scripture, not bad for a fisherman, to prove his point that it was God’s plan all along to bring His Son back from the dead.  David did not write of his own future, but of his future descendant that God would call to rule forevermore; Jesus Christ the long awaited Messiah.  Having their attention, Peter now establishes the path we all must take to attain salvation.  His Holy Spirit inspired words ring true as a foundational statement on how to enter into the church.  They have now Heard the Word and now they need to Receive (own it) it.  Peter again makes the message personal.

 

Act 2:36"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

            Again it is very likely that some of this crowd was there when Pilate cried out on what to do with Him and they cried “Crucify Him!”  On hearing this message, they come to the point of receiving the gift of salvation; owning it, accepting it for themselves.  A point each one of us much reach, or have reached, asking this same question that came from the crowd.

 

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

            This is the point that the Holy Spirit driven message is designed to bring a person to.  They hear the message, receive it for their very own and now ask “what next?”  This is where Peter establishes the path for all of us to follow when we come to this point or lead someone else here.

 

Act 2:38-41 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39)  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."  (40)  And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."  (41)  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

            The next three steps on the road to salvation all come in Verse 38.

 

Repent:  Feel regret for the way you have been living and desire to change.  Make a 180 degree turning away from your sinful life and turning to God.  Turn over a new leaf.  Flee selfishness and surrender your will to His.   Admit your sin, asking for forgiveness and choose to follow the path Jesus has laid out for you.  It is a life changing event.  The  step that quickly follows this is baptism.

 

Be Baptized:  Baptism is an outward action that results from an inward decision.  It is an act of faith that identifies you with Christ and adopts you into the family of God (the church).  There is no magic in the water to remove your sin, but you are cleansed by faith and obedience.  Baptism is our spiritual death as we arise to be a “new creature in Christ!”

 

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

            Being in Christ and putting on Christ is done by the receiving of the Holy Spirit.  It is His presence in your life that changes everything about you.  It is the receiving of the Holy Spirit that grants us eternal life and our ticket to enter into heaven. After hearing the word, receiving the word as our own, repenting of our sins, and being baptized into Christ we reach the final and step of salvation; Live Holy.  After accepting Jesus’ call to “follow Me” we are no longer the same and a journey to become all that God desires us to be begins.

            At the end of Peter’s message 3,000 people accepted Jesus as their Savior and became the first members of the New Testament church which Jesus calls His Bride.  Were they changed?

 

Act 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (43)  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  (44)  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, (45) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  (46)  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

            I would say they changed all right!  They came together as one and were hungry for the doctrine of the apostles that Jesus had spent three years instilling in them.  They worshipped together, ate together, prayed together, shared everything, and served others together.  They were better together!  It was the perfect beginning to what soon would become an imperfect church.  This was the beginning of what we are part of today.  We must, as John wrote in Revelations, return to our first love and create that same enthusiasm for the Lord today.  It is “the Lord that adds to the church daily those who were being saved” then and it is also true today.  It is not our within our ability to save others, but it our job to faithfully, obediently share the same message Peter shared on this day.  Hear, Receive, Repent, Be Baptized and Live Holy.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for this perfect plan of salvation that is available to each one of us.  Give us a greater desire to serve You and share this message faithfully.