Going Together

Well, if you'd like to grab a Bible and turn to Acts chapter 2, that would be fantastic.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

It would be helpful to keep that open in front of you.

I'm going to have to nip off before the end of this session, unfortunately, because of prior family commitments.

But I didn't want to let any of that get in the way of me spending the day with you.

And I'm really glad I did.

I've had many good conversations with a number of you today.

Enjoyed being here and being welcomed as part of the family for the day.

So I want to thank you for the privilege and I want to encourage you.

I'm grateful for the many evidences of grace that I see in you and that your pastors comment on.

I've been enjoying chatting with some of your elders as well and hear the ways in which they are encouraged in their heart at the strength and the vitality of the church,

but also of their vision for what's next for the coming years and how you guys might take things up a level by the grace of God.

That's what we're all seeking to do as churches in Edinburgh, isn't it?

When faced with so many people facing a lost eternity.

And actually, that's what I want to focus on just now.

The last talk and this talk are almost a little bit of a doctrine of the Holy Spirit, really.

We've talked at the start of the day about the importance of what it means to share our life together

and the way in which the Spirit who lives in us helps us to relate to one another even as we relate to God.

The second session really helped us to think through what it means to grow together

and how we need to be filled with the Spirit of God and live among the people of God at the same time.

Now, I think in this third session, we'll see that the Spirit of God filling the people of God

is to enable us to speak to other people about God.

So let's read from Acts chapter 2 and we'll read from verse 1 and following.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Here's what God's Word says.

Now there were, staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

And when they heard this sound, the crowd came together in bewilderment

because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Utterly amazed, they asked,

Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Parthians, Medes and Elamites,

residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,

Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene,

visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Jerusalem,

Cretans and Arabs.

We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues.

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,

What does this mean?

Some, however, made fun of them and said,

They've had too much wine.

Then Peter stood up with the eleven,

raised his voice and addressed the crowds,

Fellow Jews and all you who live in Jerusalem,

let me explain this to you.

Listen carefully to what I say.

These men are not drunk as you suppose.

It's only nine in the morning.

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions.

Your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heavens above,

signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness,

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Men of Israel, listen to this.

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you

by miracles, wonders and signs,

which God did among you through him,

as you yourselves know.

This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge,

and you, with the help of wicked men,

put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

But God raised him from the dead,

freeing him from the agony of death,

because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

David said about him,

I saw the Lord always before me,

because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

Therefore, my heart is glad,

and my tongue rejoices.

My body also will live in hope,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the paths of life.

You will fill me with joy in your presence.

Brothers, I can tell you confidently

that the patriarch David died and was buried,

and his tomb is here to this day.

But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath

that he would place one of his descendants on the throne.

Seeing what was ahead,

he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,

that he was not abandoned to the grave,

nor did his body see decay.

God raised this Jesus to life,

and we are all witnesses of the fact.

Exalted to the right hand of God,

he has received from the Father,

the promised Holy Spirit,

and has poured out what you now see and hear.

For David did not ascend to heaven,

and yet he said,

the Lord said to my Lord,

sit at my right hand until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet.

Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this.

God has made this Jesus,

whom you crucified,

both Lord and Christ.

When the people heard this,

they were cut to the heart

and said to Peter and the other apostles,

brothers, what shall we do?

Peter replied,

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.

The promise is for you,

and for your children,

and for all who are far off,

for all whom the Lord our God will call.

Amen.

This is God's words.

Well, few born-again believers

would ever consider belonging to a church

that didn't take evangelism seriously,

would they?

Few people who would call themselves Christians

would ever want to be a church

that is unconcerned for the lost around them,

the members of their family,

friends,

who are lost without God and without hope.

Few bona fide believers would ever want

to belong to a church family

that had no consideration

for the three billion people across the world

who do not know Jesus

and who need to hear about Jesus

in order to be saved.

Yet one of the most common deficiencies

that we can see in churches,

and I think even across our nation,

is that the majority of money and time

can be spent on serving and sustaining

the organisation

rather than reaching the lost.

Why is that?

Well, it's not because we don't believe

the gospel for ourselves.

We do.

It's not that we don't really care

about people's plight

apart from knowing Jesus.

I think we do.

It's not that we actually have logical reasons

for our practice in church life.

Actually, we don't have logical reasons.

So what is it?

What is it for you?

What is it that for you as a church family

or even as individuals

makes evangelism tough?

Where is the reluctance to share the gospel?

Sometimes it can be put down to a fear of man.

We worry about what people will think of us.

Sometimes it's down to a lack of vision.

We've just ended up doing what we do.

And actually, we're very programmatic

as a church family

without actually being concerned

for the people out there.

Sometimes it's just a lack of planning.

We never really seem to make time

for non-Christians.

Well, if we do,

if we don't make time for non-Christians,

we really can't expect them

to ever come to a point

where they hear the gospel

and believe it.

So it seems that there's

some disconnect somewhere.

And what I want us to see

to encourage your heart

is that what we see

in Acts chapter 2

Acts 2 · chapter mention

is true for you.

It strengthens and encourages you.

At least I hope it will.

So let me map this out for you.

I've got three points

in this in particular.

I've tried to make it memorable

for you by using

a line from a song

changing one of the words slightly.

You'll know the Getty song

where we sing

filled with passion,

filled with power to proclaim

salvation in Jesus' name.

Well, point one is

filled with power.

There's a word I've changed.

Power to proclaim

salvation in Jesus' name.

Points one, two, and three.

I'm impressed by that.

I don't like it.

I don't mind.

Anyway.

Graham liked it.

First of all,

I want us to look at

filled with power.

Let's see if it'll work.

I keep pointing to the screen

where I'm supposed to point

over there.

Never mind.

Acts chapter 2

Acts 2 · chapter mention

is all about

the outpouring

of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit,

of course,

not an impersonal force.

He's a person.

He is God.

He is the third person

of the Trinity.

He possesses all the attributes

of divinity.

He's everything the Father is

except the Father.

Everything the Son is

except the Son.

He is deity.

And what does he do?

Well, the Old Testament

tells us that

he was involved

in creating

and sustaining the world.

That one of the main things

he did was

he gave

prophets and kings

in the Old Testament

the ability

to speak God's word.

So we would read

the Holy Spirit

spoke through

your father,

David,

your servant,

David, sorry.

But in Jesus' ministry

we see the Holy Spirit

working as well

and Luke is very careful

to record for us

in his own gospel account

in the events

of Jesus' baptism

because he wants us

to see that

Jesus is

empowered by the Spirit.

So you remember

at Jesus' baptism

you both heard something

and you saw something

as well.

So you heard

the Father's voice

so this is Heaven's

audible affirmation

of the King

who is being baptized.

This is my Son

whom I love

with Him I'm well pleased.

And then you had

this visible

accreditation

if you like

of the Lord Jesus

by the Spirit

descending

like a dove.

There was something

that was heard

that was something

that was seen.

And Luke's careful

to show us that

because

he wants us to see

that Jesus is empowered

for a preaching ministry,

a speaking ministry

by the Holy Spirit.

And that's what

we're going to see

in Acts 2.

There's a direct link

between filling

and speaking.

And again

this is what we see

at Pentecost.

The disciples

who are filled

they heard something

and they saw something.

So what they heard

verse 2

suddenly a sound

like the blowing

of a violent wind

came from Heaven

and filled the whole house

where they were sitting.

Now I'm sure

most of us

know what it's like

to roll the window

down in the car

and stick your head out

and you hear it.

No?

Just me?

Okay.

Maybe you've just heard

you've been up

the top of Arthur's seat

on a windy day

half blown off

but you hear

the roar of the wind

across your ears.

Yes?

Good.

Well we hear that

and I think

that's the kind of sound

the disciples are hearing.

And I say

kind of

it is a sound.

Do you know

Luke doesn't actually tell us

that there was any wind.

It's just the sound

like a wind.

So the sound itself

is described by Luke

as coming from Heaven.

That alerts us

to the fact

that these are

the acts

of the risen Lord Jesus.

In chapter 1

Jesus had said

go into Jerusalem

wait for the gift

I have promised.

You will receive power

when the Holy Spirit

comes on you.

Then you'll be my witnesses.

Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria

ends of the earth.

That's what they heard.

They heard the wind.

So something's happening.

The Spirit's being poured out.

What they saw

verse 3

tongues of fire.

Fire was a common theme

in Theophanies

in the Old Testament

when God manifested

his presence

in some form.

You remember Moses

and the burning bush?

There's an example

of a Theophany

in the Old Testament.

So the bush

was on fire

but not burned up.

And I think

you've got something

significant going on here

where we have

these tongues of fire

separating

okay that's important

and resting

on everyone.

Every one of the guys

who was in the room.

Now God's Spirit

is not just present

in his people

corporately

as like one big

tongue of fire

if you like.

No, every individual

is touched by the fire

which tells us

that no longer

would it be

special individuals

like in the Old Testament

like Moses or David

who were anointed.

The outpouring

of the Holy Spirit

won't be just

for select people

like prophets

capital P prophets

and kings.

It's for everyone.

It's for the whole church.

And here's what it meant.

With these signs

came the filling

of the Holy Spirit.

But what did it mean?

What did it signify?

It marked the dawning

of this new era

in salvation history.

The age of the church.

An age of mission.

Where all people

need to hear

the gospel

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And it marked

this tremendous

outpouring

and spreading

of the Holy Spirit's ministry.

Now for the 120

that were gathered here

the wind and the fire

were outward signs

of the inner reality

that God has made

his home in them.

And that inner presence

was then evidenced

by what was produced

in them.

Words.

News.

Gospel.

Proclamation.

Okay.

When the Holy Spirit

lives in you

you have

power to

proclaim.

Power to proclaim.

And that's what we see.

Power to proclaim.

You are enabled

as a Christian

to talk to others

about Jesus.

Now Luke is

very very careful

in this

to show a direct link

between

filling

and speaking.

Okay.

Filling and speaking.

Verse 4.

All of them

were filled

with the Holy Spirit

and began to

speak in other tongues

as the Spirit

enabled them.

And this link

between the filling

of the Spirit

and speaking

is seen

throughout the passage

actually.

In chapter 2

verse 14

Peter

filled with the Holy Spirit

raised his voice

addressed the crowd.

You've got two words

in there

that refer to him

proclaiming.

2.17

I will pour out

my Spirit

on all people.

Here's the promise

from of old

your sons

and daughters

will

prophesy

declare

the word

of God.

2.18

I will pour out

my Spirit

in those days

and they will

prophesy

declare

the word

of God.

Okay.

Now tongues.

Let me be clear

the tongues here

are languages

that people

from other parts

of the world

can understand.

And Luke says

there are people

in that crowd

from 15 different

cities or regions.

The tongues here

in verse 4

are the languages

in verses 6

and 8.

So they say

how is it

that each of us

hears them

in our own

native tongue

language

use whatever word

you feel like.

It's the same word.

They were speaking

foreign languages

they had never learned

and you can see

how that would

come in handy

when you're called

to reach the nations

that you've never

ever been to

who speak languages

that you don't have

a clue

what it sounds like.

I mean that would be

like me bursting

into fluent Mandarin

without having ever

been taught

how to speak

Mandarin.

I'm not going to

some of you are

looking at me

expectantly here

no I'm not.

Then what does he say

not just tongues

so people speaking

in languages

he talks about

prophecy

and the spirit

comes

his people speak

that's essentially

what prophecy is

in the broad

sense of the word

as the spirit

comes

the result

is this miraculous

intelligible

proclamation

of the mighty

works of God

to all nations.

Do you see that?

In the text

there is a direct

link between

filling

and speaking

that says

something to us

doesn't it?

But not only

is there a direct

link between

filling

and speaking

there is a direct

link between

filling

and fearlessness.

drunkenness

this is what

the drunkenness

accusation in the text

is all about.

The crowds hear a commotion

and verse 13

they say

oh they've had

too much wine

now why would

they think that?

Why would they

think that?

Well think about

what happens

when a person

gets drunk

they lose

their inhibitions

don't they?

What do you think

why do you think

people sing in the streets

or

at night

or why do you think

karaoke gets more

popular as the night

goes on?

Well it's because

people lose

their inhibitions

and alcohol

does that to people

alcohol is a depressant

that doesn't mean

that it makes you depressed

it means that it

dulls your brain function

and the reason

people lose

their inhibitions

is because

it kind of just

makes you stupid

but not with

the Holy Spirit

when he fills you

when you're intoxicated

by him if you like

he gives you joy

by sharpening

your awareness

to realities

so heavenly

that you lose

your sense of

fear

and you lose

your inhibitions

and express

a fearless joy

in declaring

with words

the great truths

that you have come

to know in your heart

and actually

if you have it

in your head

that Christ died

and to live is Christ

and to die is gain

for you

then actually

going to an

unreached people group

a million miles away

will be no deterrent

to you

we do not fear

those who can

kill the body

do we

yeah we speak

we declare

the words of God

we as we are

filled with the spirit

are filled with this

ability to speak

but there's a direct

link between

filling and

fearlessness

as well

you know

these people here

who are hearing

this message

and hearing the noise

and the commotion

of the other languages

and so on

they're saying

you can't be that happy

you can't be that bold

without being drunk

that's the world's

explanation

for Christianity

but listen to

Peter's explanation

verse 15

these people are not

drunk as you suppose

it's only nine

in the morning

no this is what

was spoken by

the prophet Joel

in those last days

God says

I will pour out

my spirit

on all people

and that's what

leads to Peter's sermon

think about

who is doing

the speaking here

now

these are the

disciples

as a group of

individuals

in the gospel

stories

they are presented

as dull

confused

rash

selfish

and downright

scared

throughout

they had spines

of jelly

when Jesus was

arrested

they abandoned

him and ran

for their lives

verse 11

be

now they're all

boldly declaring

the mighty works

of God

who cares

about the Romans

who cares

about the Sanhedrin

who can do

to us

what they just

did to Jesus

40 days before

no there is a

fearlessness

that comes with

the filling of the

Holy Spirit

a boldness

that comes with

the filling of the

Holy Spirit

a desire to

proclaim the

words

of life

when you're

filled with the

Holy Spirit

zoom in on

Peter

Peter

Peter with the

foot shaped

mouth

you know

there won't be

many people in

heaven who can

claim to have

rebuked the

Son of God

it's not his

best moment

but now look at

him

verse 14

Peter stood up

with the

eleven

raised his

voice

addressed the

crowd

fearless

fearless

everything

has changed

with the

coming of

the Spirit

that's what

Jesus

almost kind of

gave a trailer

for

that's what

Luke is trying

to show us

in his

explanation of

this account

the violence

and the

loudness of

the wind

had drowned

out all

their puny

fears

the flames

on their

heads

had ignited

their hearts

with an

unquestionable

unquenchable

passion for

the Lord's

glory

and every

ounce of

timidity

and hesitancy

and uncertainty

is swallowed

up in the

knowledge of

God's

greatness

and what

he is

doing

as his

glory

will

spread

across

the earth

as the

waters

cover the

sea

and then

as a result

Peter and

the apostles

will preach

with incredible

boldness

and with

unwavering

zeal

they would

unashamedly

tell the

world about

Jesus

now listen

if you

believe in

the Lord

Jesus

Christ

if you

love him

with all

your heart

the same

Holy Spirit

lives in

you

the same

Holy Spirit

lives in

us

and we

are filled

so that we

might have

that deposit

guaranteeing what

is to come

us

we are

filled

that we

might with

boldness

approach the

throne of

grace

seeking mercy

and in

prayer make

great requests

of a great

God

we are

filled with

the Spirit

the Spirit

who helps

us change

with ever

increasing glory

into the

likeness of

Jesus

but we

would be

in

error

to think

or to

omit

rather

the fact

that we

have been

filled so

that we

can speak

filled to

proclaim with

a fearless

joy the

good news

of Jesus

Christ

so why

don't we

do it

maybe we've

convinced

ourselves that

the Holy Spirit

only lives in

us as a

deposit

maybe we've

convinced

ourselves that

the Spirit

only lives in

us as a

chisel shaping

us into

the likeness

of Jesus

maybe we

forget all

those things

accompanied by

the power to

proclaim that

work in us

a joyful

loss of

inhibition

and a

passion for

sharing the

best news

ever

salvation

in Jesus

name

and that's

exactly what

Peter goes on

to proclaim

I think in

our fear

fearfulness

we keep our

mouths shut

at times

I've

experienced

that in

my own

life

I think

we're scared

of losing

our reputation

we're worried

about what

people will

think of

us

people will

think ill

of us

when the

person who

first told

me that

she believed

in Jesus

so I

became a

Christian

when I

was 19

I didn't

grow up

in a

church

my teenage

years were

turbulent

shall we say

when the

girl who

first told

me about

the gospel

first explained

it to me

that the

reason why

she believed

the way

what she

believed

and did

what she

did

I just

thought

you're

nutcase

I did

I thought

I thought

only people

like I

thought it

was like

believing that

Star Wars

was real

and I

thought the

Bible was

unequivalent

with Aesop's

fables

you know

nice stories

and all

that

but historically

reliable

you know

an historical

person

come on

we've moved

on from

that

but I

came to

see that

that's not

the case

but I

say that

to say

that people

will reject

us

but that

doesn't

deter

us

you

might

lose

your

reputation

but you

might not

you might

be the

very person

who by

your

joyful

fearlessness

and declaring

the word

of God

might be

the person

who gets

to become

the spiritual

midwife

for that

person

that you're

speaking

to

as my

wife did

for me

I married

her six

well I

didn't marry

her six

months later

that would

have been

weird

six months

later I

became a

Christian

a year

and a

half

later we

were

married

who knows

what you

might do

no one

would have

given me

any hope

in those

days

trust me

except those

who with a

joyful

fearlessness

and an

understanding

that the

gospel really

is the

power of

salvation

to everyone

who believes

they would

speak and

they would

see it

we're

not the

ones who

decide who

can and

cannot be

welcomed into

the kingdom

and we

must not be

those who

sin by

preferring our

reputation

to their

salvation

if we do

we just

become complicit

in their

lostness

that's

dangerous

brothers and

sisters we

must repent

of that

and do you

ever think your

inhibition in

sharing the

gospel might

just be the

thing that

puts people

off

that your

lack of a

willingness to

share it

might be the

very thing that

makes a person

think well

they're that

reluctant so

they can't

really do

what they

say it

will do

no we

must be

bold

with a

joyful

fearlessness

and declare

as the

apostles did

not just in

Acts 2

but throughout

the book of

Acts

as we see

the gospel

go north

and south

with the

Ethiopian

into

Africa

with Paul

into Europe

to the point

that you see

at the very

last

the last

word

of the whole

book of

Acts

is unhinderedly

the word of

God spread

with great

boldness

and without

hindrance

that's the way

the gospel

spreads

so what do

you say

what will

you say

well maybe

you can say

what the

apostle Peter

said

in declaring

this salvation

in Jesus

name

look what he

did

he had this

little thing

in his head

that he just

thought well he's

filled with the

spirit clearly

but he is

declaring the

mighty works

of God

and he presents

a little fourfold

pattern here

Jesus lived

Jesus died

Jesus rose

Jesus reigns

okay

Jesus lived

Jesus of

Nazareth was a

man accredited

to you by

God

and he talks

about his

miracles and so

on

so in other words

Jesus is a

man he really

did live

and God

put him on

display

that's what the

word accredited

means in the

Greek he put

him on display

for you and

showed him

who he was

but you put

him to death

you killed

him and

Jesus really

died

but Jesus

rose again

it was

impossible

for death

to keep its

hold on him

because for

death to keep

its hold on

anyone that

person must

have sin

in their

account

but Christ

the righteous

one had no

sin

therefore sin

death had

no claim

on him

that's why he

could loose

the bonds

of death

and walk

free from

that tomb

three days

later of

his own

will and

volition

and Jesus

reigns

he ascended

now to people

who've just

killed Jesus

to hear that

he ascended

and is seated

at the right

hand of the

father which

is the place

of ultimate

power

you're going

to be scared

you know

I've just

killed

I could say

I've just

killed Jesus

he's no longer

a problem

for us

unless he's

alive and

actually death

can't keep

him

you know

you can't

kill him

again

he is

immortal

so what

Peter does

is just

counter

everything

that these

guys are

thinking

and declares

the gospel

really in a

nutshell

and says

in fact

you guys

have killed

him

you've got

it wrong

you thought

he was a

curse

you just

killed the

king of

life

that's why

we see so

many of them

being cut to

the heart

at the

declaration of

this word

Peter is

filled with

the spirit

and filled

in order to

speak the

word with

fearlessness

and people

become

Christians

you see it

again and

again in the

book of

Acts

sometimes it's

not so much

a gospel

in a nutshell

like this

it is on

many occasions

at times

it's

I was once

blank

but now

I'm

blank

all because

Jesus died

for me

so when you

think of the

way the

apostle Paul

gives his

testimony

a number of

times later

on in the

book of

Acts

it's incredible

to see and I

wonder if that

might help us

practically

you can learn

gospel presentations

like two ways

to live or

something like

that so that

in the moment

you know if

you've got a

friend with

you and you're

in a lift with

them and they

actually say

what is the

gospel and

you've got between

level one and

level five to

tell them what

are you going to

say we should

be equipped in

that respect to

be able to say

something punchy

and with a

fearless joy that

will strike their

hearts and we

pray that God

will move in

their hearts as

you speak

or you might

share your

testimony

I was once

a sin ravaged

kid

dealing drugs

by the age of

14

but now I'm

I'm a Christian

and I love

Jesus and I've

turned away from

that life of

shame and I'm

living a life of

love where I love

him and love

everybody else

all because Jesus

died on the cross

for me and

wiped that sin

away what would

you say

how would you

fill in the

blanks in that

regard

my encouragement

for you is to

do this

now one of the

things a major

thing that gets

in the way of

us doing this

and this is

something to

think about as

a church family

together is that

we preoccupy

ourselves with so

many Christian

relationships that

we have no time

for the non

Christian that's

dangerous that's

dangerous because

it's often those

relationships it's

relational connections

with people that

provide something

of the platform

you know we have

an events based

mentality at times

where we think

you know what was

that Kevin Costner

movie you know

build it and they

will come you know

that's an ancient

thing I'm sure my age

but it was about

baseball it was a

rubbish sport but

you basically build

it and they will

come you know we

just put this on and

people will flock in

that doesn't happen

look back over your

the past two weeks

and figure out how

much time did I

spend in connection

with Christians how

much time did I

spend at work how

much time did I

spend with my family

how much time did I

spend with non

Christians my guess is

that most of us will

see that last section

has shrunk down

considerably make

time we've my wife

and I have tried to

do this a lot where

we live and we've

seen immeasurable

benefits and my wife

has conducted a

Christianity explored

course with

six mums from the

area you know God

has opened doors

that we've never

seen I go out once

a month with some

guys and without

fail somebody will

turn around to me

an hour into the

night and say so

what are you preaching

on a Sunday these

are non-Christians

I'm making time to

spend time with them

and I'm a busy guy

lots of things at

church that I have

to show up to or I

get a P45 you know

make the time and

don't retreat from

it there is a

direct link between

filling and speaking

so we must declare

the gospel don't go

with any of this

preach the gospel and

use words if you have

to oh it's heresy

it's awful the word

is news the gospel is

news must be declared

preach the gospel tell

people about Jesus

and his love and his

death in their place

and the fact that he

rose again because he

is the sinless saviour

and God raised him

from the dead

declaring him his

sacrifice on the cross

to be acceptable to

him the resurrection

is the receipt of that

sacrifice on the cross

paid in full tell them

about that tell them

how it's transformed

your life and often I

think you know one of

the things that we see

is we often feel like

the onus of responsibility

is on us to give an

account for the things

that we believe about

the gospel the onus is

on people for not

believing it you know

for putting their faith

in all sorts of things

where they have no

credible substantial

evidence for it even

evolution tell people

about Jesus use words

tell them about all that

he has done and as a

church family look to

encourage one another in

this pray for one

another and that's what

we must do because this

this and I close with

this is a day of

opportunity this is what

Peter declares at the

sermon in Pentecost

this is a day when the

spirits poured out he

says Joel says it's a

there is another day

though a day a coming

day of the Lord a day

marked by fire and

billows of smoke a

judgment day and five

times Joel says the

day of the Lord is

near yet Joel spoke of

this open-ended period

before the day of the

Lord when the Holy

Spirit would be poured

out and available to

all not everybody

irrespective of their

readiness to repent of

their sin and believe in

Jesus but everybody

irrespective of their

past their background

their age their sex or

status in other words

this is the time of

open invitation this is

the age of the church

this is the age of

missions to keep our

mouth shut is to be

disobedient to the

nth degree then Peter

quotes Peter quotes

Joel making one

subtle change Joel

says it shall come to

pass Peter says it's

already begun it's

begun now with the

pouring out of the

Holy Spirit at

Pentecost these days

are now here which

means the final day

that day of the Lord

is nearer than it has

ever been God's clock

has moved on and now

there is this window of

opportunity where

everyone young old

rich poor educated or

not may come and call

upon the name of the

Lord so my question is

what will you do you

say you're filled with

the spirit declare the

mighty acts of God

that would be consistent

with your filling and

be fearless in it

brothers and sisters

enjoy it and God will

save his people from

their sins amen

근데 the

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