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The Message of Pentecost - 6/15/2008 5:05:32 PM
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maran-atha
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The Message of Pentecost
The message that Peter delivered on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era led to three thousand persons coming to faith in Christ. What was that message? It is important that we know, so that we understand just what is required to be understood and how we are to react to the Gospel message in order to be saved. We can be sure that Luke, who recorded Peter’s words, retained all the essential elements of that address for our benefit; but first, let us review all the main events that led up to that momentous day on which the Church was born:
In the cruelest manner, Jesus had been arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Unknown to those who killed Him, He was the Passover Lamb of God and died at the very time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in Jerusalem. He was buried in a tomb, but on the very day that the wave sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest had to be raised before God (on the day after the Sabbath, according to the law), Jesus rose from the dead - ‘the firstfruits of them that slept’ (1 Cor.15:20). Elated and overwhelmed by these events, the disciples needed both help and time to prepare for what lay ahead. In the evening of the first day, Jesus came into their midst and gave them both His peace and the inward presence of the Holy Spirit, to provide for all their spiritual comforts and needs. Breathing on them He said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ (John 20:19-22). The Comforter had come. Jesus had promised: ‘I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. … The Holy Spirit … will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you,’ (John 14:16-26).
The next forty days were a time for preparation. During this period, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples on many occasions, teaching them ‘of things pertaining to the kingdom of God’ (Acts 1:3). The apostles and other disciples were given understanding and guidance for the ministry that lay ahead. Jesus had told His disciples, just before His ascension, to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of power that would enable them to go out and be His witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but also ‘to the ends of the earth’ (Acts1:4, 8). This was ten days before Pentecost – the second festal period of the holy calendar, held exactly fifty days from the Sabbath after Passover, on the first day of the week.
At the time of the first Pentecost under Moses, as commonly believed through Jewish tradition, the teachings of the law were given for the guidance of the fledgling nation. These were instructions that were written on tablets of stone. Now, the Holy Spirit would give guidance to the nation of spiritual Israel inwardly, as though writing the law of the Spirit on the table of the heart (2 Cor.3:3). The apostles had a growing understanding about what all this would mean, although they were not told exactly when the promise of the Holy Spirit would come.
On the day of the Feast of Pentecost, about a hundred and twenty disciples, we are told, were gathered together in a house of the city (Acts 1:15; 2:1). At about nine in the morning, the ‘power from on high’ came (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8). Suddenly, there was a sound of a mighty wind; flames of fire appeared to rest on all present; and they began to speak in many different languages of the world—previously unknown to them—in praise of God. Immersed in spiritual power, in a moment they had become empowered to evangelize and witness for Christ. Crowds of people who had rushed to hear what had happened were startled by what they saw – and by what they heard. Many who had travelled to celebrate the feast in Jerusalem from numerous foreign places were hearing their own tongues being spoken in miraculous words of praise.
Emboldened and showing no fear, Peter stood up and preached his first public sermon. This was the man who at the time of Christ’s arrest had fled and been too frightened to admit, when questioned, to even knowing Him. But, this was also the man who had later repented and affirmed his love, to whom Jesus said: ‘Feed My sheep’ (John 21:17). The miracle had caused a large crowd to gather and they were ready to listen, earnestly wanting to know what it meant.
Peter began by affirming the miracle that had taken place and by appealing to natural reason against the comical mockery that had claimed the disciples to be drunk. On hearing Peter’s clarity of speech and on perceiving his sharpness of mind, the doubts were soon dispelled. A miracle of God had occurred; but for what good reason?
Part 2
Read Acts chapter 2 again – Your homework!
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RE: The Message of Pentecost - 6/15/2008 5:21:29 PM
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colliefan
Posts: 2472
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Raleigh, NC
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quote:
A miracle of God had occurred; but for what good reason?
The Church had been birthed.
< Message edited by colliefan -- 6/16/2008 10:57:58 AM >
_____________________________
The grace of God is infinite and eternal. As it had no beginning, so it can have no end, and being an attribute of God, it is as boundless as infinitude.
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)
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RE: The Message of Shavuot/Pentecost - 6/16/2008 7:33:07 AM
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DaveW
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They were in "ha beit" the house, which was a common euphamism for the Temple proper.
One of our elders who gave the Shavuot message this weekend said the real gift poured out that day was evangelism.
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RE: The Message of Shavuot/Pentecost - 6/16/2008 9:07:52 AM
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rcjames
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Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
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I was always partian to Peter's closing lines in that sermon;
(Act 2:38) 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.
Was effective then, is effective now.
Thanks
RC
edited for spelling
< Message edited by rcjames -- 6/16/2008 9:14:31 AM >
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Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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