Preaching in the power of the Spirit…

• 1^st – Full of the Spirit… vs. 14-15
  • 1^st – Peter stood up with the 11 Apostles and shouted at the crowds… vs. 14-15
    • It was a large crowd – at least THREE thousand people – Acts 2:41
      • Peter had to raise his voice to be heard – and to get their attention…
      • Interesting that it was Peter who stood up – because it was Peter who failed…
      • It was Peter who had denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion…
      • It was Peter who had gone back to fishing – quitting the ministry – John 21:3
      • Now ONLY 50 days later – here was Peter boldly standing up before thousands!
    • The difference – Peter was no longer full of himself – he was full of the Spirit!
      • Being used by God is not a matter of education – Peter had 3 years with Jesus…
      • Or how many times we have failed – or how recently…
      • It is simply about being filled with the Spirit of God – then we have POWER!
      • II Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
      • If we are full of ourselves – then we will have no boldness or power in life…
      • But when we are emptied – filled with the Spirit – nothing is impossible!
  • 2^nd – Peter did not stand alone – the other Apostles stood with him…
    • So not only did Peter have the power of the Spirit in him…
    • He was bold because of the support of his brothers in Jesus standing alongside him!
    • One little lit candle can seem insignificant – no hope of holding back the darkness…
    • But TEN – HUNDRED – THOUSAND candle lights can begin to shine as bright as the sun!
    • We are under constant pressure to conform to the world around us…
    • It is easy to think we stand alone – like a little candle trying to hold back the darkness…
    • Being filled with the Spirit not only means we have the boldness to share Jesus…
    • It also means we stand up for others who are standing for the Lord…
    • Together we shine like the sun – boldly spreading the light of Jesus into the darkness! 
  • 3^rd – Peter addressed the doubts of the crowd…
    • It was only 9am when the Holy Spirit came upon them…
      • The disciples were praying THE morning the fiesta was going to take place…
      • The fact the crowds thought the disciples were DRUNK tells us about the fiesta…
      • Likely by that evening the large crowd that had gathered would all be drunk!
      • Times have not changed – people still gather in large crowds for fiestas to drink…
      • I have to wonder what would happen if we would follow the disciple’s example…
      • What if we gathered together and prayed the ‘morning of the fiesta’…
      • Prayed we would be filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit…
      • Might the Holy Sprit come upon us so that multitudes would hear about Jesus!
    • It was too early in the morning for anyone to be drunk…
      • When there is a fiesta – the drunks usually do not come out till later in the day…
      • Peter does not waste much time with their argument – instead he went to the Word!
      • Too often we waste our time trying to argue with people about RELIGION…
      • We may be able to PROVE them wrong – but that does not get them into heaven…
      • The power to be saved comes from giving them the Word – Romans 1:16

• 2^nd – Going to the Word… vs. 15-18
  • 1^st – Peter explained the disciples speaking in other languages… vs. 16-18
    • In the Last Days God will pour out His Spirit – Joel 2:28-32
      • The term LAST Days is often misunderstood – we tend to think of Revelation…
      • But the LAST days began when Jesus was crucified and resurrected…
      • The LAST days began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost…
      • Which means we are living in the LAST days!
    • In the Last Days the Holy Spirit will be poured out on everyone – THREE categories…
      • Sons – daughters will prophesy / young will see visions – old will dream dreams…
      • If you want to know if you are young or old – visions or dreams…
      • Even humble servants / slaves – will receive the power of the Spirit!
      • The power of the Holy Spirit it not reserved only for important people…
      • He is willing to fill men or women / young or old / rich or poor – anyone who asks…
      • And through the power of the Spirit we are able to know what the future holds!
  • 2^nd – The future – is the Great and TERRIBLE day of the Lord… vs. 19-21
    • The last days began with the Promise of the Spirit – but will end with the Tribulation…
      • A day is coming when God will perform wonders on earth and in heaven…
      • There will be blood / fire / and clouds of smoke – picture of death and destruction…
      • The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon will look like blood…
      • Revelation 6:12 – “The Lamb broke the sixth seal… The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood.”
      • The wrath of God poured out on a rejecting world – you do not want to be there!
      • Immediately after the Tribulation – the Great and Terrible day of the Lord…
      • Jesus coming through the clouds – riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:11
      • For any and all who have chosen to reject Jesus Christ – it is the judgment day!
      • The Great and Terrible day of the Lord – it is the day the sins of men are judged!
      • Glorious [ἐπιφανής] – only here NT – glorious revelation [for those who are saved]
      • Awesome [יָרֵא] – tarrying for those who do not accept Jesus – Joel 2:31
    • In-between these TWO events – are the LAST days – anyone can call Jesus and be saved!
      • No matter who we are or our background – anyone can be saved – Romans 10:13
      • There is LIMITED window of opportunity – we do NOT know when the end will come…
      • It is EASY to forget in life – ALL of us are always just a step away from death…
      • Which is why it is so important we KNOW where we are going when we die!
      • No one thinking clearly wants to go to hell – or through the Tribulation…
      • But most just do not think about it – they put off the decision till another day…
      • After they have FUN – then they will make the time to get RIGHT with God…
      • The problem is God does not guarantee tomorrow – right now is the time to believe!
      • II Corinthians 6:2 – “Today is the day of salvation…”

Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.”

3^rd – The Good News… vs. 22-36

1^st – Everyone present knew the story of Jesus of Nazareth… vs. 22-24

It had been less than two months since the religious leaders had crucified Him…

The crowds had all seen the miracles of Jesus – the proof He was the Messiah…

How according to the plan of God – He was taken by lawless men and put to death…

But God raised Jesus from the dead – because death could not hold Him!

This was a VERY bold statement on the part of Peter…

If Jesus had not been resurrected – they could have gone and looked in the tomb…

But Peter could be bold – because he knew there was no body – Jesus was risen!

We all know the story of Jesus – that He is the only way to get to heaven…

We also know the danger of Hell – the destination for any who reject Jesus…

Hell is not temporary – hell is the 2^nd death – eternal separation from God…

Therefore we also should be bold – and tell EVERYONE about Jesus!

2^nd – The proof of the resurrection… vs. 25-32

The Psalmist wrote of his joy in the Lord – Psalms 16:8-11

His mouth was filled with PRAISE – his heart was full of JOY – because…

God would NOT leave His soul in Hell – or let His body rot in the grave…

INSTEAD God would show the way of life – bring Him into the presence of the Lord!

Not David…

David wrote the Psalm – BUT Peter pointed out David was DEAD and buried…

In fact the tomb of David was still there in Jerusalem for all to see…

So the Psalm could not be referring to David – he was not resurrected…

But God promised David the Messiah would come from him – II Samuel 7:12

Therefore David wrote prophesying about the Messiah…

That God would NOT leave the Messiah in hell – or let His body rot in the grave…

When Jesus died on the cross – His spirit went down into the lower earth!

Jesus went to hell – where there were TWO rooms – Luke 16

One side a prison for those who reject salvation – the other PARADISE…

Jesus went preached to those who were in Abraham’s bosom – I Peter 3:19

Jesus then opened the prison’s doors – and took them to heaven – Isaiah 61:1

Now Jesus sits at the right hand of God in heaven… vs. 33-36

David prophesied again concerning the Messiah – Psalm 110:1

David did not ascend up into heaven – but he saw that the Messiah would…

God the Father [יְהוָה] said to the God the Son [אָדוֹן] – sit down at my right hand…

Until all of your enemies are humbled – until you have made them your footstool!

Jesus will rule – till He brings an end to every authority and power – Psalms 8:6

All nations / all kingdoms / all men / even satan and his demons…

I Corinthians 15:25 – “Christ must reign till he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.”

3^rd – Peter concluded – this Jesus whom you crucified – is both Lord and Messiah!

The decision was theirs – did they want to be the enemy of friend of God…

There is a ‘narrow bridge’ in China called the ‘Si Du River’ bridge…

It is 1,222m long – and at the center over 500m above the ground!

The Empire State building could stand beneath it with 120m to spare!

It connects two mountains with a deep valley and rapids in-between…

If you tried to cross from one side to another without the bridge – impossible!

The majority of people will not go to heaven – the majority will not be saved….

The reason is they choose the broad way – rather than the narrow bridge…

Matthew 7:13 – “Enter by the narrow gate – for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction – and there are many who go in by it.”

If you are doing what everyone else is doing – if you are with the majority…

If you are standing with the crowd – likely you are walking down the WRONG way…

And the end of that road is DESTRUCTION – you might want to get off!

Jesus created the bridge that allowed us to cross over…

He did it through His blood on the cross at Calvary…

Jesus did what was IMPOSSIBLE for us to do – make a way to get to heaven…

But it is a NARROW path – Jesus is the ONLY way anyone can be saved!

4^th – The sermon of Peter lasts 23 verses…

In those 23 verses about ½ (9 verses) are quoted directly from the Bible…

Peter mentions Jesus (Jesus / Christ / Lord / He / Him) 14 times!

Peter realized that the Good News is all about God’s Word – it is all about Jesus!

It is not fancy words – or eloquent teaching that brings men to salvation…

It is just the Word – preaching the Gospel – make sure that the message is all about Jesus!

The power of the Gospel is in the name of Jesus!