The Spirit Has Come
Lessons from the 1st Century Church | A Study through the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewPeter stands with the eleven and declares that the promised Holy Spirit had come. Now the end of days is coming. Go preach the Gospel.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Have you ever been asked that question? Or heard that statement? You know what I mean, that question or statement that makes you say, “Ok!” That’s enough. I’ve been quiet. I’ve been good, but I’m going to bite. I’m going to no longer going to remain silent. There is something that needs to be said, and since no one else will say it, I will.
This is where Peter finds himself. The Spirit had shown up and proven Himself. He manifested Himself on a hundred and twenty men and women in the upper room. The Spirit had spoken through these saints of God to over fifteen differing sects of the Jewish faith. While some asked the right question others mocked. What needed to be said, Peter was going to say under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, the Spirit has Come. What was heard in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, the first sermon given outside of Sermon on the Mount, needs to be heard today.
Focus Passage: Acts 2:14-21
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words.
15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is only the third hour of the day;
16 but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all Mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, And your old men will Have dreams;
18 and Even on My male and female Servants I will pour out My spirit in those days, And they will prophesy.
19 ‘And I will display wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 ‘And it shall be that Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Outline
Equipped and Encouraged (vv. 14-15)
Equipped and Encouraged (vv. 14-15)
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words.
15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is only the third hour of the day;
1. Equipped and Encouraged to face the challenge
1. Equipped and Encouraged to face the challenge
Within the previous text, as the Holy Spirit fell upon the 120 in the upper room, and they began to preach the gospel to crowd around them, fifteen differing sects at the minimum, in their tongue, their was two responses within the crowd.
We find those that were taking this miracle, this sign serious. They stood in amazement and wondered about the declaration of God presented, And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another; “What does this mean?” This is what we want from those that we share the Gospel with. We want them to ask the question, what does this mean? We want them to ask the question given by the Philippian jailer, What must I do to be saved? We are aware of the truth that not all will ask the most important question of their life, what does this mean? Others will be like the second portion of the crowd that day, But others were jeering and saying, “They are full of sweet wine!
Peter could have coward down from this challenge. After all, this was his pattern up to this point. He talked a good game, like many in the church, but when the pressure was on, tuck tail and ran. Remember, he told Jesus I’ll die for you (Mk 14:29). Remember what Jesus tells him, before the crows cocks twice tonight, you will deny me three times (Mk 14:30). And we all know what happens, He does just that (Mk 14:72).
So, what made the difference in Peter. The same difference for all of the disciples and the church today. We have two fulfilled promises that equip and encourage every saint. What are two fulfilled promises that equipped and encouraged Peter and the other disciples then and the church today...
A. They were equipped and encouraged by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
A. They were equipped and encouraged by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
B. They were equipped and encouraged by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit
B. They were equipped and encouraged by the coming of the promised Holy Spirit
7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
God does not give us a spirit of fear but a Spirit of power and sound mind.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
2. Equipped and encouraged to face the challenge with boldness - ‘…raised his voice and declared to them: Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words...’
2. Equipped and encouraged to face the challenge with boldness - ‘…raised his voice and declared to them: Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words...’
The same resurrected Jesus and the same promised Holy Spirit that gave Peter boldness to stand with the other eleven, was the same that gave Peter boldness to face the crowds. Brothers and sister, we find our self in a place similar to Peter and the other eleven. We are facing the crowds daily and in those crowds we face more and more that oppose the Gospel and jeer at the gospel than they are asking, what does this mean? Our power and assurance to remain standing with boldness is not reserved for those of academia, not reserved for those of pulpit, not reserved for those of educated means, but is a promise for all. These men, who turned the world upside down for Jesus, were uneducated fishermen. The only thing they knew is what Paul came to preach, Jesus and Him crucified. It is the same promised Spirit and the assurance of the resurrection that you and I find ourselves...
3. Equipped and encouraged to face a lie with the Truth - ‘…
3. Equipped and encouraged to face a lie with the Truth - ‘…
Peter begins with speaking an obvious and blaring fact that was before them. This was an annual feast. It was third hours of the day, 9:00a.m. 9:00a.m. was a time of prayer. It would not be for another hour before breakfast would be served. During the passover it would be another two hours before a meal would be served. It would be only at these meals that wine would be served. For them to say that these men were drunk was ignorant at best and a blatant excuse to not believe at worst.
This is typically the tactic of the enemy. The enemy wants to distract. The enemy wants to plant a seed of doubt. This has been his plan from the beginning during the Fall. Yet, we continue to fall for it hook, line, and sinker over and over. Brothers and sisters we must begin facing the lies of the enemy with the truth of the Gospel. This is exactly what Peter does. He uses the Word of God to face the lie of the enemy, this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel.
The Spirit has Come (vv. 17-18)
The Spirit has Come (vv. 17-18)
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all Mankind; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, And your old men will Have dreams;
18 and Even on My male and female Servants I will pour out My spirit in those days, And they will prophesy.
As we look the quotation of the prophet Joel, we know that contextually, the prophet was speaking of the Jewish people in the last days. As we look at this audience, we see a Jew speaking to Jewish people about a Jewish Messiah, about a prophecy spoken by a Jew to the Jewish people. Truly this prophecy is a Jewish prophecy, but there’s more to it then that. Paul sees this within our text. He see the application of this text to the church then and the church today. What application is there? I’m glad you asked.
1. The church has been in the last days since Jesus’ resurrection and ascension - ‘…it shall be in the last days...’
1. The church has been in the last days since Jesus’ resurrection and ascension - ‘…it shall be in the last days...’
This is obviously applied by Peter’s address to all in attendance. He wanted them to understand the same warning that Jesus gave and later Paul would give, be ready, be watchful, and be alert. We are living in the last of the last days.
2. The Spirit that was promised to be poured out has come - ‘…that I will pour out My Spirit...’
2. The Spirit that was promised to be poured out has come - ‘…that I will pour out My Spirit...’
There was no longer a wait for God’s promised Spirit. The Spirit of God had come. It is the Spirit of God that saves. It is the Spirit of God that convicts. It is the Spirit of God that draws men to Himself. It is the Spirit of God that empowers. He, the Holy Spirit of God has come.
3. The Spirit of God was not limited to a few - ‘…pour out My Spirit on all mankind...’
3. The Spirit of God was not limited to a few - ‘…pour out My Spirit on all mankind...’
For the Jews this was a strange concept.
28 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the personal servant of Moses from his youth, responded and said, “My lord Moses, restrain them!”
29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
The Jew thought that only a few could have the Spirit of God. What we find here, was 120 men and women, empowered and speaking through the same Spirit of God that lead Moses, Aaron, David, Elijah, and Elisha. Not only that, but same Spirit was promised to empower them (Acts 1:8) and has now come and laid upon them all in the upper room (Acts 2:3).
Judgment is Coming (vv. 19-20)
Judgment is Coming (vv. 19-20)
19 ‘And I will display wonders in the sky above And signs on the earth below, Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
1. Jesus is coming as Judge, Juror, and Executioner
1. Jesus is coming as Judge, Juror, and Executioner
As prophesied by the prophet Joel, we truly are in the last of the last days. It has been nearly two thousand years since our Jesus ascended to the Father and most assuredly will return. The text before us contextually speaks of the time before the Parousia (2nd Return of Christ, not the rapture). When He returns it will not be as the mute lamb described by the prophet Isaiah...
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
but He will be the roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah, as spoken of by John on the Island of Patmos...
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
2. When He, Jesus Christ returns, will judge and judge justly, for He is the Righteous Judge.
2. When He, Jesus Christ returns, will judge and judge justly, for He is the Righteous Judge.
24 Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
3. All will face the judgement seat of Christ, saint and sinner alike.
3. All will face the judgement seat of Christ, saint and sinner alike.
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
There is good news for all. Just as judgement will come to all...
Salvation is Available (v. 21)
Salvation is Available (v. 21)
21 ‘And it shall be that Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
The same One that will judge is also the same One who has the power and ability to save.
We are to realize this day that...
1. All have sinned (Rm. 3:10, 23)
1. All have sinned (Rm. 3:10, 23)
10 as it is written: “There is no righteous person, not even one;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
2. All are in debt because of sin (Rm. 6:23a)
2. All are in debt because of sin (Rm. 6:23a)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. All have had their debt paid by of the love of God (Rm. 5:8)
3. All have had their debt paid by of the love of God (Rm. 5:8)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
4. All have salvation afforded to them through the blood of Jesus Christ
4. All have salvation afforded to them through the blood of Jesus Christ
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
5. All must call upon the name of Jesus for salvation
5. All must call upon the name of Jesus for salvation
13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
Conclusion
The promised Spirit of God has come. It is only through the Spirit of God that prophecy, the speaking and teaching of the Word of God, finds Its power through the promised Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit that God uses to draw all men unto Himself, convicts them, and redeems them, IF they call upon the name of Jesus.
This morning, we all come to time of decision. There is neutral ground at the foot of the cross. You either make a decision accept Christ or reject Christ. As we close this morning, I remind you, that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We will all give account of what we done, good or bad, while in the body or out of the body. We will all give account and we will bend the knee to Jesus.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You will either call upon the name in repentance on this side of eternity and find eternal life in and with Him or you will cry out to the name of Jesus from a devil’s hell as you face the Judgement Seat of Christ. Which will it be?