Struggling to stay awake while driving… When I was in college, I drove an hour each way to college. When I was in seminary, I drove two hours each way to the seminary. I did this twice a week and sometimes every day for mini-terms. I enjoyed the driving time. I even memorized Hebrew during this time. I listened to sermons and books on C.D. I prayed during this time as well. When I was in college, I drove close to half an hour each way to work. The problem with driving, especially at night, is when we cannot stay awake. The worst feeling I have is falling asleep while driving. I used to take coffee and snacks with me to help with this.  It is a terrible feeling when I cannot stay awake while driving.

You may know the feeling of trying to stay awake when your body wants to sleep:

I have had trouble staying awake while fishing.

I have had trouble staying awake in class. During my senior year at Cedarville University, I worked overnight at McDonald’s and then went to school without sleep. I wanted to stay awake in class, but the first class was tough.

I don’t have trouble anymore, but maybe you have trouble staying awake during our worship service… Not at this church, ha, ha!

I have had trouble staying awake during prayer. Praying on my knees helps.

That seems to be the disciple’s problem in this passage.

These common, ordinary, everyday men were invited up to see Jesus in His glory, and they could not stay awake, but they would be awakened. As I teach this, realize that the Gospel is for everyone! Jesus showed His glory to these common men, and He will for you as well. Realize the following:

1. The commonality of the Gospel.
2. The power of prayer.
3. The Mighty Savior.
4. Listen to Jesus.

Let’s read the passage:

Luke 9:28–36 (ESV)

²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. ³³ And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. ³⁴ As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” ³⁶ And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

1. First, let’s talk about the commonality of the Gospel (verse 28).
   1. Notice that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on this mountain with Him. There are a few things that I want you to take away from the series that I am preaching for Lent. I want you to remember that Jesus showed that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus did not come for any group specifically. Jesus did not come for the Jews only. Jesus did not come for the Pharisees specifically. Jesus did not only come for men, or only come for women. There is no racism with Jesus. There is no preferential treatment with Jesus.
   2. Now, I do wish to be very careful of what is called eisegesis. This means that I would be interpreting or teaching a text based on my own presuppositions. That would make a text say what I wish it to say and not what God wants it to say. I want to study and teach from exegesis, and this means that I teach a passage by exegeting the text, which means to bring out of the text what God wants it to say. Why do I say that? I am glad you asked. As I looked at my themes and my sermons for Lent, I noticed that Jesus came for everyone. Now, I do not want to have a sermon and then find a text. I do not want to have a theme and make the Bible support that. I really do believe that this passage says this.
   3. Peter, James, and John were common everyday men. Some say they were too common. In Acts, there was that criticism. Acts 4:13 has the people observing the confidence of Peter and John in that they were not educated.
   4. Jesus brought them on the mountain, and here they see Jesus in glory. Here, they see Elijah; here, they see Moses. Think about this: The Pharisees were the religious scholars of the day. Sometimes, the Pharisees were the scribes as well. The Sadducees were the religious scholars of the day. One would think Jesus should have invited them up to see Moses and Elijah, but HE DID NOT. Peter, James, and John went with Jesus. In fact, most all the disciples were common men. Sure, Matthew was probably the most educated, but none of them were like the Apostle Paul. Now, Paul, he was educated. He was a Roman citizen, not these guys. Not at all. Yet, Jesus invited them up on the mountain with Him. Wow!
   5. As I think about it, no wonder Jesus was murdered. I know that is a very strong statement, but humanly speaking, worldly speaking, I could understand jealousy. The Pharisees and the Sadducees invest their life in the study and the memorizing of the Old Testament and Jesus does not invite them on the mountain! What a shock. They memorized the Mosaic Law, but they were not invited! Jesus came for everyone.
   6. Peter, James, and John, saw these great Old Testament heroes. There is a scene in Star Trek III the Search for Spock when Uhura is talking to a young guy. The young guy is complaining that nothing happens exciting where he is stationed. Then, suddenly Admiral Kirk comes in. The young man is excited. He exclaims: “That’s Admiral Kirk!” In this case these disciples are getting lots of excitement. They are traveling with Jesus. But now these common, ordinary men are about to see some important people. They see Moses and Elijah; they see Jesus in His glorified state. Notice the commonality of the Gospel.
2. Notice the power of prayer (verse 29).
   1. Jesus was praying when this happened. What do you think about that? Verse 29 says, “As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Wow! You know, in the parallel accounts, it actually says that He was metamorphosized. He was transformed into His heavenly presence. That is exactly what it means when it says “Transfigured.” Luke avoided that term, likely because his audience was more Greco-Roman; they were more pagan, and they would think of the gods and those myths. Jesus was not a “god” He was and is God.
   2. The way this is set up and it is like this was an answer to Jesus’ prayer. While praying, this happens. In the Old Testament, revelations occur during prayer. Daniel chapter 9 is an instance.
   3. We must pray and expect God to answer. Expect to see mighty things.

• The Mighty Savior.
  1. He is transfigured (verse 29).
  2. Verse 32: Peter and the companions were sleepy, but then they woke up.
     1. For me, sometimes when I am tired, whether driving or reading, or working, there is something that shocks me to being awake. I bet this shocked them to wake up.
     2. Think about this: Have you ever been in a car accident because of falling asleep? It was early May 2005, right after my college semester ended. I was driving to work at about 4:00 A.M. As I already stated, I had about a 30-minute drive ahead of me. I was on a dark state route, and I was sleepy. I remember really struggling to stay awake. But I managed, for a while. Then I entered the suburb of Englewood, this was right outside Dayton, and this was where I actually worked. The state route I was driving on was now 4 lanes with a turn lane, much like 224. I was now passing businesses and restaurants. I now drive past Jack’s Aquarium and Pets where I used to work. I now drove past National Road, which could take me up to the Junior High and High School I attended. I drove past the location I would get a speeding ticket in a few weeks. I was only a couple miles from work. But I was still sleepy. Suddenly there was a thud. There was a car accident. I ran into the passenger side curb. I pulled into the Midas store. I looked, and I had two flat tires. It was much worse. There was axle damage. There was wheel damage. But it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. I didn’t hit a telephone pool, just the curb. I was probably driving 30 miles per hour, not 55 miles per hour as earlier. I didn’t cross left of center and hit a car. If it happened 15 miles earlier, it would have been worse. This woke me up! I drove a block to Grismer’s tire and parked the car. I walked to work and called Meagan to see if she could take care of it when she woke up. But I was awakened. That shock! That scare woke me up. You know what, the disciples also were awakened to a type of fear. There was a reverent fear as they saw the man Jesus transformed in Glory. There was fear in verse 34 as God spoke.

• Our Great and Mighty Savior revealed His awesome glory to common every day, normal people as Peter, James, and John. Our Great and Mighty Savior reveals Himself to you and me. I hope that awakens you. It woke them up! I hope this excitement awakens you as a fearful experience would awaken you, as a car accident awakened me.

1. Elijah and Moses are not equal to Him. We see in verse 33 Peter wanted to make tents for Elijah and Moses and Jesus. These were for worship like the Feast of Booths in the Old Testament. There is a parenthetical statement that Peter did not know what he was saying. The problem was that Peter wanted tents for all of them. Peter did not understand that Jesus was and Is the one God. Peter equated Moses and Elijah with Jesus.
2. This is not the best example because this was something of God. When Mercedes was a toddler, I took a quick turn and heard a noise in the back seat. Mercedes starts saying, “No, Daddy…” Or something similar in fear. I look back, and her car seat tipped over. Somehow, the seat belt buckling the car seat in came undone. I buckled her seat back in and fixed things. As I start to drive, Mercedes says, “I don’t want to fall again!” Well, neither did I want her to fall; it was scary as well. There is a great fear of the unknown. In this passage, a cloud enveloped Elijah, Moses, and Jesus, and a voice spoke. This made fear in Peter, James, and John. This was a reverent fear (verse 34).

• Last application: listen to Jesus (verse 35).
  1. Here God speaks. God says, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”
  2. God is authenticating Jesus once again. This was said at Jesus’ baptism (Luke 3:21ff).
  3. Jesus is to be listened to more than Moses and Elijah. Jesus fulfilled the law.
  4. So, are we listening to Him?
  5. You don’t have to be a pastor, an elder, or a church leader; you don’t have to be educated; Jesus came for all. Jesus came for the common man. The Gospel is for everyone.

Close:

Last week we talked about Jesus healing the woman with the blood issue (Luke 9:40-48). Remember, she was unclean, she was a woman, she was not allowed in the temple, but Jesus came for her. Today, we see that Jesus takes His common, ordinary men up on the mountain and they see Moses and Elijah. We see that the Gospel is for everyone. The Gospel is for us. If you know Jesus, share that message with others. Share the Gospel is for everyone.  If you do not know Jesus, commit to Him today.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

Come, Touch the Robe: Luke 8:43-48

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, February 18, 2024

I think that most of us know of Mother Theresa. We know how she ministered to the people left out. I probably simply must mention her name in order to make us think of the ministries she would lead and take part in in India. I saw a video once showing her decades ago asking United Nations to let her in to a war-torn area in order that she could serve the people there. United Nations would not let her in unless there was a cease fire. She prayed and there was a cease fire. But she didn’t only lead others in the ministry of service, she was a part of the service to others. She was a model example. Praise God for examples such as her.

Today, we begin a special series for Lent. We are stepping away from the book of Acts for the next several weeks. My Lenten theme is going to be that the Gospel is for everyone, amen??? Congregation respond by saying amen if you agree. My theme for this season is that Jesus went to the marginalized, the left out, the people who were unclean. I hope that is encouraging, but I also hope that compels all of us to take the Gospel to everyone as well. I also hope that through this Lenten series, we are all reminded that we serve a “mighty Savior.”

So, some of us need encouragement today. We need to remember that the Gospel is for us as well. We may feel that we are marginalized, unclean, or left out. I hope this series and today’s message encourage us.

Whether we realize it or not, we do marginalize people. We have presuppositional thoughts about other people, and we must realize today that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus does not marginalize.

Read with me:

Luke 8:43–48 (ESV)

⁴³ And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. ⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” ⁴⁷ And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

1. In the Gospel, we find that the Gospel is for everyone, and we see Jesus’ mighty power.
   1. If you look at Luke 8:1-2, we find out that Jesus was traveling from city to city proclaiming and preaching the Kingdom of God, and women were with Him. Even though there were certain cultural ideas regarding women, Jesus allowed them with Him. They were even part of His circle, so to speak. One of the proofs of the Gospel’s truth is that the Gospels would not include women if they were not true. Women would hurt the credibility of the Gospels. Jesus was open and accessible to all.
   2. Now, this is a narrative: Jesus is on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter, and He is interrupted. Do we notice that interruptions can be of God?
   3. Verse 42 tells us that Jesus was traveling and the crowds were pressing against Him. If it was today Jesus could travel in a limousine. He could have traveled in a private plane. He could have guards to keep people away.  Jesus does not do that. Even in His day Jesus could have set Himself apart from the people, but He didn’t. Sure, there are times, such as Mark 1:35, when Jesus goes into seclusion to recharge, but here we see Jesus with the people. Jesus was no respecter of persons. Jesus did not show prejudice. Jesus came to serve. The Gospel is for everyone.
   4. So, in verse 43, this woman has a hemorrhage for 12 years. Imagine what it was like for her. We do not know how she was bleeding, but it was likely a type of female ailment. This probably caused her to be physically weak. We do know based off Leviticus 15 that she would have been considered unclean. She was an outcast. She was marginalized. She was physically weak and maybe in pain. She was emotionally scarred by being looked upon as an outcast. She was spiritually excluded from the Temple and synagogue. For 12 years, she suffered from this. In my translation, it says that she could not be healed. In other translations, it says that she exhausted all her money trying to get better. Unfortunately, some of you know how she feels. Let me tell you that Jesus heals her physically, but most importantly, emotionally and spiritually. He will do the same for all of us.
   5. Verse 44 tells us that she came up behind Him and touched the hem or fringe of His garment. The wording here makes it sound like she simply brushed by or tapped His garment. But in the original language, she grabbed and held onto it. After 12 years, she wanted to be made well. After 12 years of physical problems, emotionally being an outcast, and spiritually being an outcast, she wanted to be made well. She is “immediately” made well. No delay. We serve a mighty Savior who came for everyone.
   6. You know what? By touching her, Jesus could be unclean. Even if an unclean person simply brushed by a clean person that would make the clean person unclean (Lev. 15).
   7. Anyone in the crowd could be unclean. Jesus was willing to risk that to make this woman well. Jesus never rebuked that, either.
2. Jesus responds…
   1. Verses 45-46 have Jesus asking who touched Him. But Peter speaks up, stating that there is such a crowd they couldn’t know.
   2. Jesus says that He felt power go out. We must understand this correctly. Jesus did not have a loss of power. Jesus is all-powerful; He could just know that something happened.
   3. Verses 47-48 are key: The woman comes trembling and falls down before Him.
   4. Imagine how she felt. She has been an outcast socially. She has been an outcast from Jewish practices. She has been in pain and physical turmoil. This has gone on for 12 years. 12 years! Now, she was instantly made well.
   5. I wonder what it was like, the instant relief she felt???
   6. But the instant relief was likely matched by her instant fear going before Jesus, what would He say? What would He do? Would He make her sick again? Would He strike her down? What went through her mind? Was there a combination of tears of joy and tears of fear?
   7. Verse 48, Jesus calls her “daughter.”
   8. Get that! This is the only time in the New Testament Jesus addresses a woman as “daughter.” Wow! She was an outcast all those years, but to Jesus, He considers her as family.
   9. How did she feel now? We all know that words have meaning. I wonder if she instantly felt some type of joy.

So, we think of Mother Theresa; she served the people left out; who do we need to go to? What mindset do we need to change?  Jesus came for everyone.

So, as we look towards Easter, as we look towards the cross, it is important that we all realize that Jesus came for us, and Jesus came for all. We must be reminded that the Gospel is for everyone. Jesus came for the marginalized, the sick, the hurting. Jesus came for the unclean. We must be available and even go to the marginalized, the sick, and the hurting as well.

I like what one preacher says:

He wasn’t done with her. She needed to be restored physically. She needed to be restored socially. She needed to be restored spiritually. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace, not psychological peace, go in peace with God, objective peace. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace. You have made peace with God. Matthew 9:22 said, “He said, ‘Be of good comfort.'” Eusebius, the church historian says, there’s a statue of this lady in his day, in her town as a living testimony that she became a believer in Jesus Christ. Listen, Jesus knows you. He knows your hurts, your needs. He is accessible to you. He is available to you. He is interruptible by you. And He is inexhaustible in meeting your need. And it’s personal with Him. He feels the flow of power into your life. This is our God manifest in Jesus Christ. Let’s pray.

Pray

The Christian Community Shares a Life in Common (Acts 2:42–47)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, February 11, 2024

Biblical Fellowship, let’s talk about this idea for a few minutes.

Today, we are going to look at a summary passage of the early church.

What are things the world would call fellowship? Football games, basketball games, golf, time at a bar or at a pub? Any others? Name a few… (Actually allow people to name some things)

What are some things that are purely Christian fellowship? Bible study, youth group, communion, baptisms, church dinners, what else? Name a few.

Where do you see these overlapping and where do they not overlap? Just think with me for a minute or sixty.

What breaks up fellowship? Clicks, gossip, secrets, racism? Name a few things.

What encourages fellowship? Love… Name a few things.

Context: this is a summary passage following Peter’s Pentecost message.

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1. As an early church, they were disciples of Christ, and this convicted them to worship, ministry, and evangelism, and this all happened in fellowship.
   1. We see discipleship specifically in verse forty-two, but I think it really had to do with the way they lived. Look at verse forty-two.
   2. Acts 2:42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
   3. This word actually means “continually devoted.” think about it: James 4:4 says that “Friendship with the world makes us enemies with God.” But the world pushes and prods and tempts us. But the early church faithfully endured.
   4. People in the church struggle with health and other needs. So, how can we do that? How can we still live the Christian life? What is key is the fellowship of believers. We’ll come back to that.
   5. Apostle’s teaching??? (Matthew 5-7), (Matthew 22:36-40)
   6. An open application is a simple question: How are we doing as a disciple of Christ? How is this working corporately?
   7. Acts 2:43: And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
   8. Worship: Worship is an individual spiritual discipline, but worship is also a corporate spiritual discipline. Worship is adoring God.
   9. In a worship service, we have times of praise. These are songs that help us praise God. Then we have times of adoration. These are the more contemplative songs. They are more Theological. They are more meditative. We do this as a community of Christians.
   10. Out of their discipleship and worship, they saw signs and wonders, and there was a sense of awe. This happened in fellowship.
   11. Ministry: Now, how are we doing with sacrifice? Are we sacrificing for the body of Christ? Are we sacrificing our money and our lifestyle for others?
2. Fellowship: we must be a support in our trials, in our struggles and in our joys.
   1. In fellowship: they had a sense of awe which is godly fear (verse 43).
   2. They experienced miracles and wonders (a miracle regarded as startling , imposing, amazing, often used elsewhere for a strange appearance in the Heavens) and signs (the word refers to miracles with a different end and for a purpose).
   3. Fellowship includes accountability as a group: Proverbs 27:17: as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens his brother.
   4. Fellowship includes building each other up as a group: Ecclesiastes 4:13: a cord of three strands is not easily broken.
   5. Bearing each other’s burdens: 1 Corinthians 12:26.
   6. If one rejoices, we all rejoice: 1 Corinthians 12:26.
   7. So how can we live the Christian life? In community.
   8. Evangelism: Notice that evangelism was an outflow of their discipleship, worship, ministry, and fellowship. Verse forty-seven says that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Close:

Fellowship, what helps, what hurts, what is fellowship?

I read the following a few weeks ago:

“I’ve asked the Lord to take from me
My super-sensitivity
That robs the soul of joy and peace
And causes fellowship to cease…”

This group was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they were a Godly community on fire for God. In fellowship, they were about evangelism, discipleship, worship, and ministry.

Do you have the Holy Spirit? Are you of Christ?

Do you know that you are a Christian and you are going to Heaven?

In 2 Cor. 13:5, Paul said to examine yourself and make sure that you are in the faith?

In 1 John 5:13, John says that you may know that you are a Christian.

Are you? You can go to church every Sunday of your life and not be saved.

Peter Preaches at Pentecost (Acts 2:14–41)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, February 4, 2024

There are different types of preaching, public speaking, and teaching. Now, it is said that public speaking is one of the fears of most people. I was required to take public speaking in high school, college, and seminary. I remember being in high school and I was so nervous to deliver my speech. It was terrible. My public speaking class followed lunch; do you know how hard it is to think about your speech all day long. It just ruined lunch. I was nervous. In college, I was still nervous. I was not as nervous because, by this point, I had preached and taught at church, but I didn’t know my audience that well. In seminary, I was used to public speaking and so I was not that nervous at all.

In like manner, I was required to take two preaching classes in college and one in seminary. By this time, I had done some preaching in my church and other churches, so I had a bit of confidence, even though I was preaching to my peers. In college, we didn’t have to preach without notes. In seminary, we were required to preach without notes, and that was quite frustrating and challenging, though a good challenge. But, as stated, there are different types of preaching. In college, I had to preach a sermon called: “A Story Told.” This means that I was required to take the character or part in a Bible passage. So, you could preach a sermon from the church mouse’s perspective. I preached Samuel’s call in 1 Samuel 3 from Eli’s perspective. Later, while serving as associate pastor, there was a day when someone else was scheduled to preach, and the senior pastor was away. But I received the 7 A.M. phone call. The voice on the other line said, “Steve, I am sick and too sick to preach, I am so sorry.” Or something like that. So, I dug out that sermon from college, and it was well received. There are other types of preaching. Some preaching is prophetic, delivering God’s call to His people. Some are more expository, which is usually my style. This means to talk and teach about a passage. Of course, an expository sermon can be prophetic, or a story told, or another form.

Why do I tell you all of this? I am talking about this because we are about to talk about Peter’s first sermon in Acts. Actually, I dare say that this is Peter’s first sermon, period. Was Peter nervous? I doubt it.

I intend to show you that this sermon is an evangelistic sermon. Peter is declaring that Jesus is the Messiah they were waiting for, and Peter challenges them to repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Think of an evangelist, who is an evangelist that you may think of? Name some names. Now, think of Peter in that way. Peter is proclaiming Christ, not unlike Billy Graham or another evangelist.

1. This is the fulfillment of prophecy (vv. 15–21)

Acts 2:14–21 (ESV)

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.’

1. 1. Notice this. Peter stands up to address the crowd to proclaim the fulfillment of the prophesy. We see this in the initial few verses.
   2. In verse 15, Peter begins to make a defense. He is stating that the people are not drunk. Remember our context here. In the previous verses, the first few verses of Acts 2, the people receive the Holy Spirit. The people started talking in foreign tongues, and the others are likely wondering what is going on. Think about this: the Holy Spirit has come upon the church like a mighty rushing wind. It is likely that anyone in the area heard a tornado type of wind. They saw tongues of fire, and now, Peter started to preach. The other people thought the disciples were drunk.
   3. Peters says that they aren’t drunk because it is too early. It is only 9 A.M., and at 9 A.M., people are not drinking yet.
   4. I read in my studies that in that day, people would not drink wine without eating meat, and that meal would come in the evening, so they definitely were not drinking yet.
   5. An explanation (vv. 16–21): Now, Peter quotes a passage from the Old Testament. He quotes Joel 2:28-32, and this is his defense; this is his explanation. This passage was written following a locust invasion of the Jewish people, but Peter applies it to his day and age. This passage is saying that God will pour out His Spirit in the last days. I believe, at least partially, Peter is applying this passage to their day and age. Peter is essentially stating that they are now in the last days. They are living in the last days. God says in this passage that in the last days, He will pour out His Spirit on the people. God says that this will affect men and women who will both see visions and prophesy. This is an amazing prophesy, which has now come about. Verse 19 mentions wonders and signs. In Acts, these are almost always listed together; signs and wonders go together.
   6. Verse 20 likely has not yet happened, though there are different thoughts about that verse.
   7. But verse 21: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This is now happening.

• Jesus is the Messiah (vv. 22–32) Look how Peter breaks down the Gospel.

Acts 2:22–32 (ESV)

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.

1. His works attest that He is the Messiah (v. 22): Peter references miracles, wonders, and signs. But the greatest miracle was the resurrection.
2. Do you ever think about that? How easy it is for us to forget, neglect, and trivialize the resurrection. Jesus is not dead. Can you have a relationship with a dead person? Of course not. But we can with Jesus because He is alive.
3. His resurrection attests that He is the Messiah (vv. 23–32): Verse 25 begins a quote from Psalm 16:8-11 and this attests to Jesus as the Messiah. The writer is stating that God would not allow Jesus to stay in the grave. In verse 29, Peter states that the writer of the Psalm is not talking about himself. They knew exactly where David’s grave was, and David was dead. But Jesus was resurrected (Verse 31).

• Jesus, the glorified Messiah, poured forth the Holy Spirit (vv. 33–36).

Acts 2:33–36 (ESV)

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.”

1. So, now we see Jesus as the Messiah with the Holy Spirit. Verse 33, Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God. Verse 35 is a quote from Psalm 110:1.
2. The people respond with the question of what they are to do.

• Application (vv. 37–40)

Acts 2:37–40 (ESV)

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.”

1. Peter does not hold back.
2. They must repent and be baptized into Jesus.

Repent means to have a change of heart. I wonder, have you repented?

Have you turned your life over to Jesus?

Think with me again about evangelists. Billy Graham always asked for a response. I need you to respond as well.

Maybe you need to receive Christ for the first time. Maybe you have never surrendered to Christ. I am not talking about saying a prayer as a child, being infant baptized, or anything else. I mean repentance and surrender. Are you living for Christ?

Maybe some of you need to be like Peter and preach the Gospel. Maybe some of you need to commit to living the Gospel. Maybe some of you must recognize that Jesus is Lord.

God created us to be with him (Genesis 1-2).

Our sin separated us from God (Genesis 3).

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4).

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again (Matthew – Luke).

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life (John – Jude).

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever (Revelation 22:5).

Pray