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[Having Studied the Holy Spirit in His person in chapter one, and the Holy Spirit in his presence in chapter two, we now discover the Work of the Holy Spirit through God’s people.] 

A.    The Miracle (vs 5-13) [– There were a number of miracles that took place on that day, all of which were put carefully in place by Almighty God.  Notice,] 

1.      The Assembly (vs 5,9-11; 2 Cor 5.19)[– And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. ]

[Without a doubt our Heavenly Father knew exactly what He was doing.  Notice the diverse crowd that was present and gathered together that day.] 

[Acts 2:9-11 ⁹ Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. ] 

[People were in that crowd from the far reaches of the known world, their interests were peaked, and they all gathered together to hear this new doctrine.  God’s intension for the Gospel was made clear from the very moment that the Holy Spirit was given.  God had send His Son for the world (John 3.16), and the message would be sent from that first day to all the world.] 

[2 Corinthians 5:19 ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.]

2.      The Announcement (vs 6-8) [- Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? ⁸ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? – We understand clearly that these did not hear some angelic language or some emotional outburst as is described in 1 Corinthians 14, but these all heard the message clearly in their own native tongue.  The Apostles and disciples were clearly speaking in a multitude of languages so that every man heard the message clearly.  So there was first the miracle of the diverse assembly then there was the clear miracle of the clarity of the message given to each and every person.] 

3.      The Amazement (vs 12-13; Eph 5.18) [– And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? ¹³ Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. – The crowd was so amazed and the explanation was so exceptional that the crowd started reaching for the wildest of explanations.  I have yet to see a drunk suddenly speak in some unknown foreign tongue with clarity.  In my experience a drunk has trouble speaking in his own native tongue, none-the-less some other language.  ] 

[When the Holy Spirit fills God’s people, as He did on the day of Pentecost supernatural things are just likely to take place.  My friends, we are commanded to seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day.  The Bible says,] 

[Ephesians 5:18 ¹⁸ . . . be filled with the Spirit;]

[When you are filled with the Holy Spirit don’t under estimate what God can do to and through those who have submitted to Him.  Let Him work in you and through you.  Notice also that everything that God did on that day He did through His people.  This is an example of how God works in this Church Age.] 

B.     The Message (vs 14-41) [– The power of the Holy Spirit now indwelling and filling the infant Church of our Lord Jesus Christ gave these believers an immediate and clear message to share with all who would hear them.  Listen to the message God presented through the Apostle Peter.] 

1.      The Fulfillment (vs 16-21; Heb 4.12; Rom 10.17) [– Peter stood and gave a five minute sermon that led over three thousand to receive the Lord Jesus Christ.  Of course the Holy Spirit did the convicting, and the Lord Jesus Christ did the saving.  The Holy Spirit without a doubt guided Peter to speak as he was led.  What did Peter say?] 

[Peter focused the multitude upon the powerful Word of God and its fulfillment.  Notice,] 

[Acts 2:16 ¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; ]

[Acts 2:25 ²⁵ For David speaketh concerning him, . . . ]

[Peter used the Word of God and its fulfillment as the foundation for their message.  Christians must learn to always use the Word of God.  The Bible says,] 

[Hebrews 4:12 ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ]

[Romans 10:17 ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ]

[My thoughts and ideas about God will never carry to power that the Word of God carries.  Christians should purposefully memorize the Word of God so that they can use the Word of God to point people to the Son of God and the salvation provided by God.] 

[Peter pointed out that the Lord Jesus Christ and everything that had happened to Him was in fulfillment of the Word of God and the purposes of God.] 

2.      The Focus (vs 22-24,31-33,36; 1 Cor 15.1-4)  [- The Gospel was the clear message presented by the Apostle Peter.  What is the clear Gospel message?] 

[1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ]

[The Gospel is the Death, Burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Now consider the message of Peter.] 

[Acts 2:22-24 ²² Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ²³ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴ Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. ]

[Peter added nothing to nor took anything away from the Gospel.]

[Acts 2:31-33 ³¹ He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. ³² This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. ³³ Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ]

[Acts 2:36 ³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ]

[The focus of this very first message given by the New Testament Church after the giving of the Holy Spirit has been and always must be the message of the Church for all time.  There is no new message to discover and give.  The central and only saving message of our Lord’s people is as old as the Church and will endure until our Lord raptures His people out of this world.] 

[My brothers and sisters let us never be discourage and by our cultures shifting sands and situational ethics.  The message of our Lord never changes because our Lord never changes.  Let us carry the gospel to all the world for this is the power and work of the Holy Spirit within us.] 

3.      The Following (vs 37-41) [– Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ⁴⁰ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. ⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. ] 

[Notice that the people of God were faithful to proclaim the gospel of Christ.  We are called to be witnesses and we fulfill our calling when we witness.  So we must be diligent to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord with every opportunity that we are given.  We win when we witness.] 

[Notice also that there was the pricking of their heart.  This is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility and work.  We cannot make the Word of God effective or ineffective.  It is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone that can use the Word of God to prick a heart.] 

[Of those that were present that day three thousand were saved.] 

C.    The Ministry (vs 42-47) [– It is important to note that the work of the Holy Spirit was not exclusively toward the lost that day.  But the Holy Spirit also worked in and through the Church to minister to the people of the Body of Christ.  The Body of our Lord is meant to be a ministering caring body.  But you must be with the body, and working in the body, in order for the ministry to take place.  Notice,] 

1.      Their Commitment (vs 42-43) [– And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³ And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. – Notice the persistence that was present with them, they continued steadfastly.  They sacrificially gave of their time to be with one another. ]  

[Notice also that they gave themselves for the sake of doctrine or the teaching which we might equate to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.  They also gave themselves to fellowship and this would mean a heartfelt communion.  There was also the Lord’s Table or communion and fervent prayer.  We might call this worship in our day.  These are the things that should permeate our worship.] 

2.      Their Charity (vs 44-45) [– And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. – This was not communism but it was a caring for one another, not just in word, but in action and deed.  Someone might wonder how they could just take their stuff and give it to each other.  But when a person truly finds the Lord Jesus Christ and comes to realize what our Lord has promised for our future, both mortal and eternal, then one realizes that this worlds stuff is just temporal stuff and it’s easy to give away something that you just can’t keep anyway.  This demonstrates that their love was a deep, spiritual and real love.] 

3.      Their Communion (vs 46-47) [– And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, ⁴⁷ Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. – Now the chapter closes with two words that were very near the opening of the chapter, One Accord.  Again, my Christian friends we are reminded that unity matters to God.  If unity matters to God then unity should matter to us and we should strive and work to be forgiving, kind, and compassionate one to another. ] 

[It was their unity and fellowship that nurtured their praise and worship and made them inviting to the many that were added to the Church daily.] 

CrossRoads Baptist, Sunday Evening, Aug 01, 2010