Today’s message summary of August 4, 2019 from Pastor Gus Brown:
God has called each of us to a much higher standard. We are to live above the expectations of this world and to walk on a realm where God would have us to see His vision. Without seeing His vision, there is no progress.
This is where Peter and the other apostles were at the beginning of the church. Jesus knew that they would not be completely fit for service without their empowerment by the Holy Spirit.
It is the Spirit that provides intellectual power.
Each of these apostles was from Galilee. It was not known to be a place where the people were as knowledgeable as those from surrounding areas, and yet God chose them.
Peter was not known as being an Old Testament scholar. He was a fisherman. The Holy Spirit gave Peter the power to speak about Scripture and do so before others with boldness.
The Holy Spirit provides spiritual power. He gives us what we need to be a help to others.
The Holy Spirit provides power to love people that we don’t even know. We are able to love people from differences of culture, philosophy and intelligence because we recognize that they were also created by God; as a result, we love them as God loves them.
Where there is a willingness that is acceptable to God, the Holy Spirit will empower us to accomplish those things that God will have us to do according to His will.
The Holy Spirit fits us for service. He provides:
- Intellectual power
- Spiritual power (to do what is right)
- The power of affection and will
- The power to accomplish God’s will
In Acts 2, Peter stood up with the Eleven before over three thousand people. This was a time of unity for him and the apostles, and note that their total group, which was 120 people, would now minister to over 3,000. There would now be fellow believers in Jesus standing together for the purpose of ministry of the gospel. We stand together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:15-17
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of Davis concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
Acts 2:38-41
And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
(Note that there were people of many different languages and cultures that Peter was speaking to. It was the Spirit that gave everyone present the ability to understand Peter’s words here.)
In Acts 2, after the emergence of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the men who were speaking in tongues, others who were present there had made an incorrect assumption that the men were drunk (Acts 2:13). This is what led to Peter’s sermon, and he would explain what was going on according to Scripture.
Peter asks the crowd to listen and let him explain what his happening. His words were coming from the Holy Spirit, which was bringing back to remembrance what was taught to him. He was providing passages from Joel (v. 17) and Scripture pertaining to David (v. 25, 34).
Acts 2:14-41
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “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. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
We, as witnesses of what Christ has done to us, can share our experience through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. There’s nothing wrong with memorizing Romans’ Road or using tracts, but it is important that we allow the Spirit to give direction as to how to speak. Remain prayerful that you will be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Was Peter the same as before or now different because of the presence of the Spirit?
Joel 2:28-31
“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
Psalm 16:9-11
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 110:1
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Where does his knowledge come from?
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Peter asks the crowd to listen again (Acts 2:22). You can have a person’s attention, but you may need to recapture it.
Jesus was a man accredited by God (approved by God). To be accredited reflects that the person is qualified to show forth, to expose, exhibit, to prove by arguments, to demonstrate one’s qualifications.
Jesus was able to show himself qualified through His miracles, His wonders and signs that God did through Him.
Peter was talking to everyone, including the people of Israel, but he expanded his message to everyone for understanding.
The desire was to share the need to follow Jesus Christ, which would provide, through the power of the Spirit, to have a desire to draw to Him more and more. Our desire, in turn, is to put off the old and put on the new things that provide for fellowship with Jesus.
Jesus Christ is our Master and Savior that we are to look to.
Acts 2:36-39
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
This comment was directly for the Jews present because Jesus was viewed much like that of a rebel. Peter was informing them that the Law that they were following was pointing directly to Jesus Christ as Lord. He was the fulfillment of the Law.
By acknowledging Christ as Lord and Savior, He sends the Spirit to dwell within us.
This ultimately is what all of us must reckon with.
It is your responsibility to decide to believe in Jesus Christ or not to believe in Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:40
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
It’s your decision.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 