Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave instructions to His disciples.
(Act 1:4) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
(Act 1:5) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
He had been with them for three years and after His resurrection, He spent about 40 days before His ascension taking opportunities to reinforce His teaching and to prepare them for what was to come their way.
In this verse He is telling them to stay put until you receive the Holy Spirit.
He had promised them that when He went away, He would send the Spirit to walk with them, to comfort them and to give wisdom and guidance.
Ans as we move to the second chapter, we see that is exactly what they are doing. They are waiting.
(Act 2:1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Pentecost means fiftieth and it refers to the feast of weeks or the harvest. It was a time of celebration when Jews from all over the world were required to come to Jerusalem and bring the first fruits of the harvest for sacrifice. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover.
The disciples were following the instructions of Jesus to stay put until they receive the Holy Spirit.
They all together in one place, and the King James Bible says they were in one accord, or of the same mind, seeking the same thing.
They had committed to stay together and to pray for the thing Jesus had promised.
So, as we go through this second chapter of Acts, there are three things I want us to look at.
The first is the event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The second was Peter’s explanation of what had happened to the crowd.
And third, Peter’s first great sermon.
Verses 2-13 tell of outpouring of the Spirit onto or into the disciples.
(Act 2:2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
(Act 2:3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
(Act 2:4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
A violent wind, tongues of fire, the ability to speak in other tongues, languages. The people who witnessed this were certainly amazed.
They had never seen or heard anything like this before.
The great crowds from all over the world were gathered and hearing these men, who were Galileans, speaking in a language that they could understand.
Jews from all over, too many countries and regions to mention, they were here listening. And they could understand.
I know that this whole thing about tongues can be divisive, but it is in the Scripture, and it did happen.
The people were amazed.
But as always there are those who are doubters. Some made the accusation that these men are just drunk.
That is where the second point here begins. Peter begins to explain to the crowd what they were witnessing.
(Act 2:14) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
(Act 2:15) These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!
(Act 2:16) No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Understand here that the folks who are in Jerusalem are Jews who practice the faith and are more than likely familiar with Scripture.
Peter begins by telling them that these folks are not drunk, it is only 9 in the morning.
But then he throws out a prophecy. He tells them this what Joel said would happen.
(Joel 2:28) "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
(Joel 2:29) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
(Joel 2:30) I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
(Joel 2:31) The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
(Joel 2:32) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
This is what they were witnessing. This prophecy being fulfilled and coming to pass.
And we know that the disciples and many who are yet to be saved will do wonders and miracles and prophesy and preach the Gospel.
What God had promised centuries ago, and Jesus had promised just days ago, is now being fulfilled.
The Spirit of God was being made available to all men and women. Young men, old men, young women, young men.
And all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
Wow! What a day.
And next we see Peter get up on his soap box, figuratively, and begin to proclaim the message of salvation to the crowd.
(Act 2:22) "Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Here we see the introduction to Peter’s sermon.
It is directed to fellow Jews; Israelites and the subject is the person of Jesus Christ.
(Act 2:23) This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
(Act 2:24) But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
He points an accusing finger in the direction of those who rejected Jesus when He was walking among them.
He also points out that this was God’s plan all along. Jesus was sent to the earth to be hung on a cross by the very people He was sent to save.
The very ones who needed the reconciliation that only He could provide, were the ones who conspired to have Him killed.
But notice again that Peter is saying that is what was supposed to happen, and that it did not end there with his death.
What a sad thing that would have been, if Jesus died and that was the end.
But in verse 24 we read, but God raised Him from the dead.
What the Jews thought would be the end, it was just the beginning.
In fact, in Psalm 16:10 David prophesied about this resurrection.
(Psa 16:10) because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
And Peter continues with words from David and his prophecy.
(Act 2:25) David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
(Act 2:26) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,
(Act 2:27) because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
(Act 2:28) You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
(Act 2:29) "Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
Peter, in sharing this psalm of David, points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of David - he is dead and buried and remains in the grave. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus.
As we skip down to verse 32, we read,
(Act 2:32) God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
In other words, we know this for a fact because we saw Him. We walked with Him and fellowshipped with Him after His resurrection.
We are witnesses to the truth.
(Act 2:36) "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah."
And because of what we have seen and heard and witnessed, you can be certain that God has made Jesus the Messiah. The Messiah that you accused, and crucified.
Peter has given these people the Gospel message in short form.
Jesus came, lived a sin free life, died on the cross, and was resurrected.
This reminds me of Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet, “Just the facts ma’am”.
Peter has laid out the facts. And the people were paying attention.
(Act 2:37) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Okay, what next? Have you ever shared the Gospel with someone and then be surprised when they say, okay, what next?
I don’t think Peter was surprised; I think he was expecting it. He has an answer for them immediately.
If there had been any hesitation here on his part, who knows if any of them would have been saved or not.
I remember doing a play when I was at The Salvation Army college. It was called “Takeover Bid”.
The plot was about a group teenagers wanted to take over the church programs and add some spirit and life to the church because they thought the fire had gone out.
The first thing they did was start a young teen club where kids could come hang and fellowship and even listen to some Christian music.
Well, I played a troubled teen, you might even have called the neighborhood punk.
Mw and a couple of my friends wandered into this little club one night and the leader of the teen group played a song on his guitar.
The song was called “All that you need is a miracle”.
The chorus went like this,
All that you need is a miracle,
And all that you need can be yours,
All that you need is available,
The moment you come to the Lord.
After hearing the song, I approached the leader and told him that I needed a miracle in my life. He just looked at me and didn’t know what to say. During the scene I looked at all the people that were in the club and asked for the miracle that the song was talking about, but no one seemed to know how to make it happen. As the people filed out of the room one by one, my character was left standing alone in the middle of room with no one to lead him to Christ.
Here in Acts, Peter is prepared with the answer when these people ask for their miracle.
(Act 2:38) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Act 2:39) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Repent and be Baptized. Do this and your sins will be forgiven, and you too can be saved and receive the Holy Spirit.
And what was the result?
(Act 2:41) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Would you call that a good day for the Kingdom of God?
It certainly was.
So, as we wrap this message up, what does all this mean to us?
I was thinking of our church as I prepared this message for this morning.
I was reminded that the disciples were gathered together, in one accord. In one place, one mind, seeking the Holy Spirit of God.
The Spirit came, gave them great power and the ability to do mighty thing for the Kingdom of God.
Then they did it.
Peter, filled the Holy Spirit, preached a sermon that saved 3000.
I guess what I am trying to get to is that if we as a body of believers, much like the disciples, got together, both in body and in spirit, what can we accomplish for the Kingdom of God.
I am not saying that we need to hold an all-night vigil and spend hours together praying and seeking. What I am saying is that even if we are not together in body, we can come together in mind and pray for the outpouring of the Spirit on our church. Pray that God would send the Fire from heaven like He did with the disciples. And maybe 3 would get saved. Maybe 30?
I would like to challenge each of you this week to spend at least 10 minutes a day praying for the Holy Spirit to speak to you and guide you as to what he would have you do to bring revival to our congregation.
I will commit to you that I will do the same.
You know when God’s people pray together for one purpose, one goal, in one mind, then He will from Heaven and He will answer.
Can y’all do that this week? I know some of you are going to on the road, but as a group, when you are traveling, take these 10 minutes and pray together. And those of us who will be here, do the same. I don’t think we even have to do it at the same time. I know God will hear and I know God will answer.
Let’s start together right now. As I pray, I challenge you to pray and seek the Holy Spirit of God.
