Sermon outline

The Enthroned Jesus Delivers on God's Promise What it's like in a town/city at a major festival time. Massive population increase. People everywhere. Setting the scene. 1. The Spirit comes at Pentecost, v1-13 What was Pentecost; OT background What Jerusalem would be like on feast holidays Wind; fire; Spirit. On each of them; the New Covenant promise is happening! Miraculous speaking in different languages [being far from home and hearing your own language]. He enables gospel proclamation. William Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators: 'the greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It never needs a furlough and never is considered a foreigner.' A glimpse of Babel undone. Iran to Rome. So... This clearly is a one-off; we have never ever heard of multiple languages spoken clearly without interpretation. 1 Cor 14 gift requires interpretation. Twin dangers: fascination with the gift not the giver; or defensive overreaction. Both dangers there from the start - see 1 Corinthians 12-14 and 1 Thessalonians 5. Defensive overreaction . We've seen awful abuses and so we run to the other extreme and then find reasons to justify it. But a) no arguments stand up to say that the Spirit's gifts will cease - closest thing is saying when we see Jesus face to face. b) wasn't just the apostles doing miracles in Acts - there were others like Philip, or even his daughters. c) which gift hasn't been abused? For centuries! cf Montanist controversy or Joachim of Fiore; seen it all before. What we need is correct use, not the other abuse. d) Perhaps we need a more careful understanding of what Scripture means when it talks about these gifts. For instance, 'prophecy' needn't always mean new revelation that gets written down in the Bible, as the Bible. Think of Saul prophesying, or the craziness happening in 1 Cor which Paul still calls prophesy. None of those prophesies were recorded in Scripture. Remember that most of what the OT prophets did was interpret and apply the law; they were 'God's lawyers'. People can even prophesy without knowing it! Like Caiaphas in John 11.49-53. This is why we're told elsewhere to test prophecies against the Scripture; since they are basically someone's interpretation of Scripture to a particular situation. This is actually how Christians have understood it for much of the past 2,000 years, including famous puritans, who didn't think the gift had 'ceased', but operated through Word ministry in the local church. Or another example - marriage and singleness are both charismatic gifts. Did you know that? Paul calls them 'charismata' in 1 Corinthians. We need a more careful understanding of what Scripture means when it talks about Spiritual gifts. We mustn't simply see some terrible abuse and run to the other extreme. Fascination: you miss the big idea. Create higher tiers and inner circles. It is Jesus who is the giver. The point here is that we are to be like the 3,000, not the 120. Notice what happens right here: the most awesome manifestation of the Spirit has just happened, and Peter preaches about Jesus. To be Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered is to be Jesus focused. This is what has upset me most when I've visited churches claiming to be charismatic in the past; it's the sense of robbery from giving people the historical Jesus. Did you come to church expecting a 'sermon on the Holy Spirit'? People are more eager to hear about the Spirit than about the historical Jesus. Churches will sometimes try to prove how 'spiritual' they are by having a sermon series on the Spirit. But to be Spirit-filled is to be Jesus focused. He is Jesus' cameraman. The floodlight that illuminates all His glory. A church that is constantly focused on the Holy Spirit is not Spirit-filled. A church that is constantly focused on Jesus can only be Spirit-filled. Do you want the comfort of the Spirit? The power of the Spirit? The purifying of the Spirit? Well then, come to Jesus, as He is the giver of the Spirit. He gives all those things, by His Spirit. Guided by the Spirit? Come to Jesus and hear His voice and follow Him. And you will walk by the Spirit. 2. Peter explains that it is the risen Lord Jesus who has poured out the promised Spirit, since He is the Christ (God's King), v14-36 Joel: on all flesh, men and women [New covenant, cf mediated Spirit-empowering in the Old]. Prophesy. [Mountain range] Preaches a sermon about Jesus; that's what Spirit-filling does! You killed him; God raised Him. And so look, v33, He has poured out the Spirit. He is LORD and Christ. [a high up hill, with giant cistern; Jesus ascended and now look!] Further proof that Jesus is seated on the throne, right now. Jesus said this in John 7, quoting Isaiah 55; On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. So... The point is not, how can I get God to do manifestations in my life; the point is, Jesus has given the Holy Spirit! He really is on the throne right now! He really can live and be present in my life by His Spirit! I don't need to 'feel' that Jesus is alive to know He's alive - I have something better than that. I don't need to 'feel' the Holy Spirit - I have something better than that. Factual events. Do you get this? It's not, I trust in Jesus, now what can I do to get the Holy Spirit; it's, I have the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus, now what does He want me to do? 3. Many respond in repentance, v37-41 Repent and be baptised, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit This promise is for all. 3000 'added', from the 'crooked' generation, that went astray. So... The risen Lord Jesus gives the Spirit to those who turn to God in faith. Repentance is a changing of the mind, a turning around. Far more than saying sorry. First disciples leave their boats, turn and follow Jesus. Luther: 'a life of repentance'; Jesus: 'deny yourself and follow me'. Our experience is not the 120, but the 3,000 - of whom we are not told anything about miraculous manifestations. The Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ, and applies all His benefits to us. Forgiven in Christ, adopted in Him, set apart in Him. God appoints, Jesus achieves, the Spirit applies. [like captives in utter darkness being given a floodlight, to see and follow our rescuer]. He mediates the Presence of Jesus. Baptism of the Spirit is a once for all baptism, into Jesus Christ. But it thus enables many 'fillings' of the Spirit (cf Luke's mentions of fillings in notes above). There is always more of God to be had; living water. Have you repented? Will you repent this morning? Do you want more of the Spirit, of this living water? Then come to Jesus. More power, more guidance, more comfort, more rest? Come to Jesus. It's what Spirit-given people do.

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Acts 2:1-41

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2 1 Καὶ ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς πεντηκοστῆς ἦσαν πάντες ὁμοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό. 2 καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἦχος ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν ὅλον τὸν οἶκον οὗ ἦσαν καθήμενοι 3 καὶ ὤφθησαν αὐτοῖς διαμεριζόμεναι γλῶσσαι ὡσεὶ πυρὸς καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐφʼ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν, 4 καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν πάντες πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ ἤρξαντο λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις καθὼς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐδίδου ἀποφθέγγεσθαι αὐτοῖς. 5 ῏Ησαν δὲ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ κατοικοῦντες Ἰουδαῖοι, ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔθνους τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν. 6 γενομένης δὲ τῆς φωνῆς ταύτης συνῆλθεν τὸ πλῆθος καὶ συνεχύθη, ὅτι ἤκουον εἷς ἕκαστος τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ λαλούντων αὐτῶν. 7 ἐξίσταντο δὲ καὶ ἐθαύμαζον λέγοντες• οὐχ ἰδοὺ ἅπαντες οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ λαλοῦντες Γαλιλαῖοι; 8 καὶ πῶς ἡμεῖς ἀκούομεν ἕκαστος τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ ἡμῶν ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθημεν; 9 Πάρθοι καὶ Μῆδοι καὶ Ἐλαμῖται καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν, Ἰουδαίαν τε καὶ Καππαδοκίαν, Πόντον καὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν, 10 Φρυγίαν τε καὶ Παμφυλίαν, Αἴγυπτον καὶ τὰ μέρη τῆς Λιβύης τῆς κατὰ Κυρήνην, καὶ οἱ ἐπιδημοῦντες Ῥωμαῖοι, 11 Ἰουδαῖοί τε καὶ προσήλυτοι, Κρῆτες καὶ Ἄραβες, ἀκούομεν λαλούντων αὐτῶν ταῖς ἡμετέραις γλώσσαις τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ θεοῦ. 12 ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηπόρουν, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες• τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι; 13 ἕτεροι δὲ διαχλευάζοντες ἔλεγον ὅτι γλεύκους μεμεστωμένοι εἰσίν. 14 Σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος σὺν τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐπῆρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοῖς• ἄνδρες Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ἰερουσαλὴμ πάντες, τοῦτο ὑμῖν γνωστὸν ἔστω καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε τὰ ῥήματά μου. 15 οὐ γὰρ ὡς ὑμεῖς ὑπολαμβάνετε οὗτοι μεθύουσιν, ἔστιν γὰρ ὥρα τρίτη τῆς ἡμέρας, 16 ἀλλὰ τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ εἰρημένον διὰ τοῦ προφήτου Ἰωήλ• 17 καὶ ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις, λέγει ὁ θεός, ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ἐνυπνίοις ἐνυπνιασθήσονται• 18 καί γε ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας μου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν. 19 καὶ δώσω τέρατα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω καὶ σημεῖα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς κάτω, αἷμα καὶ πῦρ καὶ ἀτμίδα καπνοῦ . 20 ὁ ἥλιος μεταστραφήσεται εἰς σκότος καὶ ἡ σελήνη εἰς αἷμα, πρὶν ἐλθεῖν ἡμέραν κυρίου τὴν μεγάλην καὶ ἐπιφανῆ. 21 καὶ ἔσται πᾶς ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου σωθήσεται. 22 Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται, ἀκούσατε τοὺς λόγους τούτους• Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον, ἄνδρα ἀποδεδειγμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς δυνάμεσιν καὶ τέρασιν καὶ σημείοις οἷς ἐποίησεν διʼ αὐτοῦ ὁ θεὸς ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν καθὼς αὐτοὶ οἴδατε, 23 τοῦτον τῇ ὡρισμένῃ βουλῇ καὶ προγνώσει τοῦ θεοῦ ἔκδοτον διὰ χειρὸς ἀνόμων προσπήξαντες ἀνείλατε, 24 ὃν ὁ θεὸς ἀνέστησεν λύσας τὰς ὠδῖνας τοῦ θανάτου, καθότι οὐκ ἦν δυνατὸν κρατεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ. 25 Δαυὶδ γὰρ λέγει εἰς αὐτόν• προορώμην τὸν κύριον ἐνώπιόν μου διὰ παντός, ὅτι ἐκ δεξιῶν μού ἐστιν ἵνα μὴ σαλευθῶ. 26 διὰ τοῦτο ηὐφράνθη ἡ καρδία μου καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο ἡ γλῶσσά μου, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἡ σάρξ μου κατασκηνώσει ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι, 27 ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψεις τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ᾅδην οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν. 28 ἐγνώρισάς μοι ὁδοὺς ζωῆς, πληρώσεις με εὐφροσύνης μετὰ τοῦ προσώπου σου. 29 Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐξὸν εἰπεῖν μετὰ παρρησίας πρὸς ὑμᾶς περὶ τοῦ πατριάρχου Δαυὶδ ὅτι καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν καὶ ἐτάφη, καὶ τὸ μνῆμα αὐτοῦ ἔστιν ἐν ἡμῖν ἄχρι τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης. 30 προφήτης οὖν ὑπάρχων καὶ εἰδὼς ὅτι ὅρκῳ ὤμοσεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς ἐκ καρποῦ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ καθίσαι ἐπὶ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ, 31 προϊδὼν ἐλάλησεν περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὅτι οὔτε ἐγκατελείφθη εἰς ᾅδην οὔτε ἡ σὰρξ αὐτοῦ εἶδεν διαφθοράν. 32 τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀνέστησεν ὁ θεός, οὗ πάντες ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν μάρτυρες• 33 τῇ δεξιᾷ οὖν τοῦ θεοῦ ὑψωθείς, τήν τε ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου λαβὼν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός, ἐξέχεεν τοῦτο ὃ ὑμεῖς [καὶ] βλέπετε καὶ ἀκούετε. 34 οὐ γὰρ Δαυὶδ ἀνέβη εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς, λέγει δὲ αὐτός• εἶπεν [ὁ] κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου• κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, 35 ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου. 36 ἀσφαλῶς οὖν γινωσκέτω πᾶς οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι καὶ κύριον αὐτὸν καὶ χριστὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός, τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε. 37 Ἀκούσαντες δὲ κατενύγησαν τὴν καρδίαν εἶπόν τε πρὸς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀποστόλους• τί ποιήσωμεν, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί; 38 Πέτρος δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς• μετανοήσατε, [φησίν,] καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν καὶ λήμψεσθε τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος. 39 ὑμῖν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ ἐπαγγελία καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς εἰς μακράν, ὅσους ἂν προσκαλέσηται κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν. 40 ἑτέροις τε λόγοις πλείοσιν διεμαρτύρατο καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτοὺς λέγων• σώθητε ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς τῆς σκολιᾶς ταύτης. 41 οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀποδεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ἐβαπτίσθησαν καὶ προσετέθησαν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ψυχαὶ ὡσεὶ τρισχίλιαι.

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Notes

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. -feast of weeks, or day of firstfruits. 50 days after the first Sabbath after Passover. Exodus 23.15-17, Exodus 34.22, Leviticus 23.15-21, Numbers 28.26, Deuteronomy 16.9-12. Conclusion of barley harvest; bread made and offered from the firstfruits. One of three pilgrimage feasts to Jerusalem in the year (the others being tabernacles and passover). Jewish tradition implies that the law was given on this day. But Luke makes nothing of this connection. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. -Numbers 11.29, Isaiah 32.15, Isaiah 44.3, Ezekiel 36.27. Clearly supernatural and visible. -John 3.8, Jesus mentions the Spirit and wind. Think of the burning bush; the strong wind opening the red sea; the pillar of fire. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. -Significant: each individual of the 120 is being baptized with the Spirit. Not God's presence with them collectively (as in pillar of fire etc), but instead His Spirit has been poured out on each one. 'Democratized'. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. -'other tongues' a key phrase. cf. Isaiah 28.11. The gift enabled evangelism! This is different from 1 Cor 14, where Paul describes a two-step process; utterance, and then separate interpretation for the church's edification and conviction of unbelievers. Here, it's a one-step gift of clear foreign languages. Fire; God's presence. -cf v6 in his own dialect. This is a miracle of speaking, not of hearing. They are speaking actual languages. -being filled with the Spirit in Luke-Acts always linked to gospel proclamation/equipping for mission. Luke 1.67, Luke 1.15, Luke 1.41, Acts 4.8, Acts 4.31, Acts 6.3, Acts 9.17, Acts 13.9, Acts 13.52. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. -cf Babel. And the table of nations. Cf the embryo forms of the nations hearing; as the Magi come from the east; or as the nations pass by the crucified Jesus at Goglotha and read the sign. Jerusalem pilgrims. -estimated population of 55000 would increase to 200000 at time of the major feasts. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. -perplexed/amazed/confounded. Babel not undone yet; just a vision of it. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” -table of nations from East to West; Iran to Rome. 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” -sweet wine; partially fermented. -So now, the new era has begun with the Spirit's arrival; bringing an event that kick-starts the gospel's proclamation into all the world, as Acts 1.8. God's powerful Presence in the midst of this, directing His mission. 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.’ -'mountain range' perspective; Joel looks ahead and sees the outpouring of the Spirit before the day of the Lord. But in history they are separated by many years; that's 'this present age', overlapping with 'the age to come.' 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. -my flesh will 'tabernacle' 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.’ -is Peter seeing an anticipation of the gift of the Spirit in this verse, so that the resurrection is anticipated in v27 and the Spirit in v28? 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. -Joel 2.28, Isaiah 44.3, Isaiah 32.15. 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. Bock: Event 1-13, explanation 14-36 (Peter's speech), reaction 37-41 (3000 people) The Pentecost event a fulcrum in Luke-Acts. 'the issue of where Jesus was as a result of His resurrection and what this meant for who He was must have come up instantly once His disciples found out that He was raised. So Peter's explanation is not only important to Acts, it is also a crucial witness to the early church's basic Christological thinking. Peter's speech is the first fulfilment of Acts 1.8, a witness that has echoed around the world ever since Luke first recorded it.', p92 the coming of the Spirit enables God's people to carry out the mission assigned to them; Luke 24.47, Acts 1.8. Notes on Peter's speech, v14-36: -Three OT citations, promise & fulfilment. Joel 2.28-32, Psalm 16.8-11, Psalm 110.34-35, Psalm 132.11. The Messiah bestowed with divine authority. Interspersed with the quotations are explanations of a) they aren't drunk; b) Jesus did mighty works by the power of God and was raised by God; c) David didn't write about himself but about the Messiah's resurrection and exaltation. -'God raised Jesus to the right hand, where He is now the mediator of God's promised blessing of salvation and the Spirit.' p108 -Jesus' giving of the Spirit is part of God's validation and vindication of Jesus, as part of the package of the resurrection/ascension/exaltation. I.e., in the Pentecost event we see a further vindication of 'Jesus-as-the-Messiah'. The Ascension reveals who Jesus really is. -A key event in Israel's restoration -God works through the Son and gives the Spirit. Notes on the reaction, v37-41: -'In a sense, salvation and the gospel can be summarised as new life lived in the context of God's forgiveness and the provision of God's Spirit. -The Spirit's presence invokes the new covenant. Joel 2.28-3.2, Isaiah 32.15, Isaiah 44.3, Ezekiel 11.19, Ezekiel 36.26-27, Ezekiel 37.14. -be saved from this 'twisted generation'; i.e. from what's coming to this generation in the 'last day' already mentioned in his speech, v19-21. Allusion to the 'crooked generation' that went astray in the wilderness and were cut off...here, in contrast, by the Spirit's gift, 3,000 are added (rather than cut off), and saved from the twisted generation. -how to respond? Repent, and show this through baptism. 'The resurrection means that an exalted Jesus distributes the Spirit to those who turn to God.' Add from Packer, p88ff, Keep in the Step with the Spirit. John 7 etc. FCF: We're part of a crooked generation. Twisted and turned against God. Proof is in our scattered humanity. Look at the plain confusion of languages! But Jesus has been exalted and enthroned. The proof goes further than the empty tomb or eyewitness testimony of the ascension. Pentecost is further proof that the Christ has received and delivered the promised gift. Jesus really is on the throne right now. So? All people everywhere should hear this and repent. In Jesus we are called holy - and so God comes to dwell in us. And since He dwells in us, we become holy. He is the Holy Spirit. 1. The Spirit is given -a glimpse of Babel undone -We chase after this experience; or we put up huge defences because of what we see. -This is clearly a one-off; never since have we ever heard of multiple languages spoken clearly without interpretation. -But different from elsewhere. -Talk later date about charismatic gifts. But I don't believe they've ceased! 'the perfect' etc, refers quite clearly to the return of Jesus. It wasn't just the apostles doing miracles in Acts, it was Philip too. And we're told clearly that some can prophecy [without even knowing about it - e.g. Pilate's wife Matthew 27.19, or Caiphas John 11.49-53] - without it being 'revelatory' in the way that adding to the Bible canon was. There was clearly a lot of wacky stuff happening at Corinth, yet Paul does clearly call it prophecy, and tongues. -Which gift hasn't been abused? Let's not construct our theology and practice out of pure and mere defence. This is not a modern problem, cf. Montanist controversy. What's so tragic about charismatic excesses is that it's all happened before. Apparent freedom and novely and closeness to God and power, but actually leading to authoritarianism and abuse...and above all, the telltale sign: no glorification of Jesus. -In all this we miss the big idea; that Jesus gives the gift primarily to enable and empower witness to HIMSELF. -Is there an enjoyment of the empowering presence of God in your life? Do you thirst for more? There is always more to be had. 2. Peter explains that it is the risen Lord Jesus who has poured out the promised Spirit -Follow his reasoning through the Scriptures. -John 7 streams of living water. Isaiah 55.1 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 ESV 3. Many respond in repentance -Turning back; changing the mind. The first disciples leaving their boats are a picture of this. Far deeper than merely saying sorry, which can always be an external action. -Come, all you who thirst! EV question: Bible survey; what is Jesus doing now and how do we know? Further references: Romans 8.23 Ephesians 1.13-14 Ephesians 3.16-19 Ephesians 5.18 Colossians 1.27 Baptism of the Spirit is a once for all baptism, into Jesus Christ. But it thus enables many 'fillings' of the Spirit (cf Luke's mentions of fillings in notes above). 'If Luke's purpose is to show us a normal pattern of experience, why doesn't he show us a consistent pattern?' 'Our experience today should not be the 120, but the 3000 who repented, were baptised, and received the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. No description is given of external phenomena accompanying their reception of the Spirit. If they occurred and were important for us to know about, Luke would have recorded them.' (Cook, p72) We must of course beware the 'inner circle' / higher tier mentality...but also, in reformed circles, to ignore the reality of the indwelling Spirit, that He mediates the presence of the risen Jesus Christ, and to trust in Him and have confidence in Him to do His work. 'How do we receive the Holy Spirit?' 'Why do we need the Holy Spirit?' William Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators: 'the greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue. It never needs a furlough and never is considered a foreigner.' cf how nice it is to hear your own language when away abroad. From David Cook: -Am I consciously aware of the Holy Spirit living within? -Do I show enough confidence in the Spirit to do His work? -Do I live in the reality of being a supernaturally empowered person at home, at work, and in church? -Am I confidence of the power of the Spirit, and depending on Him? Application: come to Jesus, the baptiser 'They will prophecy' - i.e., they will interpret Scriptural truth. Remember that most of what the OT prophets did was interpret and apply the law; they were 'God's lawyers'. And cf most of church history; e.g. the puritans saw prophecy mostly happening through preaching. Or Caiaphas, unwittingly 'prophesying' by interpreting the Scriptures. You might almost say that prophecy is word ministry that is 'informal' and more particular than systematic teaching/preaching. And it's revelatory in a subsidiary way; but not at all in the direct way of adding to the canon. This is why prophecies are to be weighed up and considered, against the Scriptures. Cook's summary: 'Jesus is God's messiah: crucified, raised, ascended. From heaven He has poured out the Holy Spirit. Through repentance towards this Jesus, we are set right with God and join the Spirit-filled, new covenant community.' Peter preaches about Jesus, not the Holy Spirit. Important for us to note. Did you come to church expecting a 'sermon on the Holy Spirit'? People are more eager to hear about the Spirit than about the historical Jesus. Churches will sometimes try to prove how 'spiritual' they are by having a sermon series on the Spirit. But to be Spirit-filled is to be Jesus focused. He is Jesus' cameraman. The floodlight that illuminates all His glory. A church that is constantly focused on the Holy Spirit is not Spirit-filled. A church that is constantly focused on Jesus can only be Spirit-filled. Do you want the comfort of the Spirit? The power of the Spirit? The purifying of the Spirit? Well then, come to Jesus, as He is the giver of the Spirit. He gives all those things, by His Spirit. Guided by the Spirit? Come to Jesus and hear His voice and follow Him. And you will walk by the Spirit. 'Repentance involves turning from any conviction about Jesus, other than that He was crucified, raised, ascended, and now reigns as Lord and Christ.' Am I living under His Lordship? 'We should be as charismatic as the NT tells us to be!' Marriage and singleness are both charismata. Acts 2:1-41 ESV