Scripture: Acts 2:22-41; Acts 5:27-34, 38-39
Even
though this is actually Memorial Day weekend, which we acknowledged during our
prayer time - for the message today, we will be considering additional thoughts
as an extension to the message of Pentecost that we considered last week.
Why
am I doing this? The scriptural
significance of Peter’s message to the thousands who gathered outside the disciples
house that day is just too wonderful to choose only a portion of those incredible
words. First, he addressed the
misunderstanding that some had over the “tongues” that they heard, but
apparently did not understand, and instead, attributed their lack of
understanding to the assumption that these believers were drunk and inept.
Have
you ever heard people speak disparagingly about the work and faith of
Christians and their churches? I’m not
going to repeat the words that they used, but trust me when I say that they are
usually anything but complementary!
So
today, we will be considering the power that the Spirit brings to our lives by
faith in our risen savior, Jesus Christ.
Read Acts 2:22-41
We
won’t be considering each and every verse of Peter’s message in detail, but we
still must remember that his initial words were in quotation of Joel’s
prophecy regarding Jesus as Messiah, and here he continues to explain that all
that was prophesied has now come true. There
have been many prophesies offered that we should very carefully listen to and
remember, but when they begin to come true, that’s when our lives should
always respond immediately to every single thing that they tell us!
And
not only should we be alert to all that are offered for our lives, but when 1
or 2 actually are fulfilled, why would we ever hesitate to believe all of the
rest? Why would folks believe that God’s
words exist in a “hit and miss” category?
That’s just not who our Almighty God is!
His prophetic word is both a warning regarding our need to make changes
to the life that we are living, and are also words that call us to preparation
for the great blessings that will soon be coming into our hearts.
Notice
verse 36 where we read “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Even though it is addressed to Israel, these
are words of glory for all of humanity.
We may not have driven the nails, but we all are the sinners who drove
Jesus to the Cross to be God’s redemption for our sinful and broken lives.
Peter
also quickly assures us that this Jesus who was crucified to death at Calvary,
was also raised into life by God from the same death that would have held fast
to anyone else until we decayed into nothingness! He would also have us know that Jesus is now
living the same life that each person who believes in His teaching and life will also receive,
including the life He now lives! Would
the true and faithful God we all know so well ever require His Son to die in
such a horrid way for nothing? Jesus
died so that all who were created in His image could have the chance to continue
in God’s way for eternity! (Genesis 1:27)
Peter
also quoted the writings of King David who reiterated these same words (Acts 2: 26-28). Do
you see the truth of God being proclaimed in several ways, and at different
times? Why would the Lord do it this
way, if we weren’t supposed to believe and accept them?
And
then Peter gladly proclaims that the once crucified Jesus is now the
resurrected and living Lord and Messiah.
And these words touched the hearts and souls of many who were there,
hearing and absorbing the truth of God that had been given for their
lives. They had heard that even through
Jesus was no longer with us in a physical way as He once was, is now living
eternally in heaven. This doesn’t mean
that we have been left alone and on our own.
This is what brings the meaning for this day to a glorious promise.
The
Spirit was working in powerful and mighty ways in the lives of the faithful
that morning, and from the moment when those common and uneducated Galileans began speaking in languages that they had never learned, to the Messianic prophesy of
Joel that Peter shared with the masses, to the sermon that he preached which
grasped the heart felt attention of everyone who was gathered there that day,
the people could not turn away from the hope that faith in Jesus was bringing
to their own lives. And they had no
choice but to ask Peter what else there was that they could do about all that
they were experiencing that day!
And
they were told that if they repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ, they would be forgiven for their sins, and would receive the same Holy
Spirit who had been working so obviously in the lives of others that
Pentecostal morning. And as they
believed all that they had heard, 3,000 people stepped forward that very day to
receive Christ’s baptism. And it was
then that the “doing” would have really begun!
Read Acts5:27-34, 38-39
The
disciples had been healing the sick and lame people and were preaching the good
news of Jesus Christ to all who would come to listen. This stood in direct opposition to orders
that the Sanhedrin had set down, and the men were all arrested and thrown into
jail. But during the night, the Holy
Spirit came and opened the door, releasing them. This wasn’t to allow them to run away, saving
their lives, but to free them so they could return to the temple, and continue to teach
the people once again!
One
of the aspects of the Global Methodist church’s Mission Statement is for all
their members to “Witness Boldly”, which is exactly what the Spirit called
these men to do that same day. The
entire Global Church’s statement of Misson is this - “Worship Passionately,
Love Extravagantly, and Witness Boldly”.
Of
course, these witnesses were once again arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin
for questioning. And what was Peter and
the others’ response? “We must obey
God rather than men!” There’s an
old question that has been asked of Christians for years – “If you were
arrested and accused of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, would there be enough
evidence to convict you?” If you were
all asked that same question today, how would you answer?
Some
Sunday in the not so far future, and since we all are now all members of the
Global Methodist Church, we will be considering just what this new Mission
Statement means for each of us, as well as for our church.
And
getting back to our Acts passage, Peter continued with words of faith regarding
the Lord Jesus, and directed them specifically toward those members of the
Council which was accusing them of heresy!
He even accuses this council of
being the ones who “had Jesus killed by hanging Him on a tree.” And the disciple goes on, explaining to the
council that by faith in the Christ, there is repentance and forgiveness of sin
- even for them! Are we that bold
in our faith? If not, why not? The Holy Spirit will be there for us, just as
He was for those disciples. So why hesitate?
These
learned men of the Sanhedrin wouldn’t take this sitting down, and they were
ready to put a permanent end to this sacrilege right then and there! But saner minds prevailed, and the men were
released. When we are true to what the
Lord Jesus Christ places in our call to mission and ministry, there will never
be any way that the world will ever be able to bring a halt to the Church’s
efforts!
