The People's Response

We'll begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 95 in the Scottish Psalter.

We're going to sing from verse 6 down to verse 11.

Psalm 95 in the Scottish Psalter at verse 6.

O come and let us worship him, let us bow down with all,

and on our knees before the Lord our Maker let us fall.

For he's our God, the people we of his own pasture are,

and of his hand the sheep today, if ye his voice will hear.

And so on. We'll sing from verse 6 down to verse 11, and the tune is Gainsborough.

O come and let us worship him,

Let us plunder with all,

And on our knees before the Lord,

Our Maker let us fall.

For he's our God, the people we of his own pasture are,

And of his hand the sheep today,

And he his voice will hear.

Then harden all due hearts,

Our sin and provocation,

As in the rest of the day of the temptation,

As in the rest of the day of the temptation,

When me your Father's strength and crew,

How did my work in sin?

In mind, the face of forty years,

This grace hath beared me.

I send this people less in high.

My ways they do not know.

To whom I slip in wrath, not to my rest they should not go.

Let's come to God in prayer.

Let us pray.

Amen.

Our Father in heaven as we continue to worship your name and praise you as our Lord and our maker.

We thank you that again we can come in praise and worship for that is your call to us as your people.

That is the call that we have sung from this psalm.

We as a people are to come and worship you, to bow down before you and on our knees before you fall.

For you are our maker and our Lord.

And we thank you, Lord, that the way is opened up for us.

That we have such a great privilege to be able to worship you in peace and security.

But help us, Lord, never to take these things for granted.

Help us, even this day, as we have been around your word and around the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Never just to think that this is always going to be what our Lord is.

For we know, Lord, that there is much blessing in your word for your people.

We are so encouraged through your word that you are a God who has loved us and remembered us and given us your own son as the way to salvation.

But your word stands through too.

There is a warning in it as well.

Even the warning that we have sung from these words before us.

That we as a people, we are not to harden our hearts as we hear your word.

There was a warning from the psalmist to the people then of their forefathers who had indeed hardened their hearts.

And we live in a day and an age when the same is true of so many around us and even so many of ourselves.

When our hearts can become hardened.

When we do not listen to what your word is saying.

When we heed and listen to the wisdom of this world.

And to all the things that will lead us astray and lead us away from you.

And so we pray anew this night, Lord.

That you will speak to us.

But that we will have ears to hear.

And that your spirit will work in our midst.

That your spirit will minister to our hearts.

That you will, O Lord, melt our hearts.

By your grace.

By your mercy.

By your love.

For we know we cannot do it ourselves.

Because only you can.

But we thank you that there is so many promises in your word that we can hold on to.

That we can remember and even pray over as we come to you as the only way to salvation.

We thank you that there is a promise that for all who come you will never cast them away.

That there is a promise that all who come to you, you will give them rest.

There is a promise that all who come to you, you will hold on to.

That you will never forsake them or leave them.

And so we pray, Lord, for all your promises.

That they will be ours through Christ Jesus.

And that we may know them more and more precious in our hearts and in our experiences day by day.

The more we go on, the more we learn through the joys of this world.

But also through the sorrows that it brings.

We experience, O Lord, so often the highs and the lows.

We so often feel alone and helpless in these times.

And so we thank you, Lord, for your promise to draw near.

And the promise and encouragement that we have in your word.

That we are indeed to be a people who encourage one another.

And pray for one another.

Remembering one another in so many different ways.

So help us, Lord, that we will be a praying people.

An encouraged people.

A people with a sense of expectation of what you are doing in us and around us.

And in the midst of all that goes on.

That we would see that you are the God who does indeed do all things well.

Help us to understand these truths, Lord, when they are difficult for us.

And so we thank you that you have not left us.

That you have spoken and are speaking to us.

And that you are reminding us, Lord, of the wonderful gift of your grace.

Help us to long for it more and more.

And to experience it through that faith that comes from your grace towards us.

That faith in Jesus Christ, your Son.

We thank you, Lord, for the encouragements your people receive on a day-to-day basis.

We thank you that even as we pray in our own quietness of our homes.

And in the quietness of our own hearts.

That so often we see prayers answered.

And we thank you, Lord, that even before us this day, there are prayers answered now and from maybe even many generations past.

Prayers offered up by your people maybe long ago.

Prayers for children in young years who are now into old age.

But who have come and tasted of the goodness of God.

We know, Lord, your word teaches us to be patient.

And we continue to pray with that sense of urgency.

That sense of patience to wait upon you.

Praying for those who are still strangers to you.

Praying for those who are even in the darkness of this world tonight.

Praying for those who are struggling in so many different ways.

Those known to us and even those who we do not know.

Those who in your plan and purpose.

Maybe we are yet to meet.

Yet to have opportunity to share a word in season with.

But we thank you that in your kingdom.

And in your plan and purpose.

Everything is foreordained.

And so help us to commit ourselves into your hands.

And to go forward even from this day.

In the knowledge of all that is uncertain for us.

Is known unto you.

And we pray, Lord, your will be done in all things.

We thank you for our Lord and Saviour.

The one who we have remembered this day.

The one who has done all for us.

We pray, Lord, and thank you for the many prayers he offered up.

The prayers we read in scripture.

The prayer in Gethsemane.

Even as he looked ahead to the cross.

And saying, nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.

We thank you for that great sacrifice.

We thank you that he gave his life.

We thank you anew this evening.

That he is risen.

That he has overcome.

The power of sin.

The power of death.

That it could not keep hold of him.

But we thank you that he is risen.

And has appeared to many.

And that he has now ascended.

To the right hand.

And we await the day of his return.

In a world that groans.

In a world that has many pains.

We do thank you that we look forward to a day.

When he will come again.

And we pray, Lord, that even those thoughts of the Lord's return.

Will stir us up in our mission for God in this world.

That it will stir us up as a church.

To serve you aright.

To long to see many coming to salvation.

To long to see many throughout the world.

Turning to you.

Repenting of their sins.

And hearing the great gospel message.

We thank you for every way it goes out.

We thank you for every means that there is.

To share the gospel in this day and this age.

We thank you that even as we gather here.

This is a service.

And a worship that can be heard.

To all the ends of the earth.

How our world has changed in so many ways.

That a voice can be heard in the far corners of the world.

Even immediately.

But we thank you above all that your voice is heard.

That you are a God who knows every person throughout the lands.

That you are a God who speaks and ministers to people far and wide.

We thank you that your gospel is not contained in any way, shape or form.

We do pray Lord for the ongoing ministry of your word.

Whether it's the preaching of your word.

The translating of your word into the many languages of this world.

The ministry of your people in so many different ways.

To all ends of the earth.

Teaching.

Shepherding.

Shepherding.

Guiding.

Helping.

Nourishing.

Caring.

And for so many different people.

In so many different places.

We ask and plead though Lord your mercy upon us.

That our world would see the great emptiness of a desire for self in this world.

A selfish heart that longs for the things of this world in a greedy way.

We see so much around us that makes us troubled in our hearts and our souls.

And we know too Lord that you grieve over the lust of this world.

And so we pray Lord that you will come in a day of your power.

Remember us as a people Lord.

Look down upon us and remember those who we so love and care for in our own homes.

And our families and our communities near and far.

Remember us Lord and hear our prayers as we ask all things.

Acknowledging our sin anew.

But thankful for the forgiveness that is ours as we repent and confess.

And approach that great throne of your son Christ Jesus.

Our great high priest.

We thank you for all done for us.

And we pray Lord encourage us.

Strengthen us on the way.

Even into the rest of the week that lies ahead before us.

Guard us oh Lord and keep us.

And help us to have that great expectation of you.

The one who is able to do abundantly more than we ask or imagine.

As we commit ourselves into your hands now and always.

Go before us.

Cleanse us anew.

In all we ask.

We ask in Jesus name for his sake.

Amen.

Amen.

Let's again sing to God's praise.

This time I'm singing in Psalm 5 in the Scottish Psalter.

It's on page 203.

Psalm 5 on page 203.

We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 7.

Give ear unto my words.

O Lord my meditation way.

Hear my loud cry.

My King my God.

For I to thee will pray.

Lord thou shalt early hear my voice.

I early will direct.

My prayer to thee and looking up.

An answer will expect.

We'll sing from verse 1 to verse 7.

To God's praise on the tune of Spor.

Give ear unto my words.

O Lord.

My meditation way.

Hear my loud cry.

My King my God.

For I to thee will pray.

Lord thou shalt early hear my voice.

I early will dry head.

My prayer to thee and looking up.

An answer will expect.

For thou art not.

God thou art not.

God thou art not.

In wickedness delight.

Neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Nor will thou art not.

Nor will thou stand in thy sight.

All that will do.

All that will do.

Or shine thy heart.

God's love that fire.

Lord thou art not.

O Valentine shall see.

M Gesetzent may andingsbee.

Unbeceived woman, a poetess by thee.

But I into thy house will come, and thine abundant grace.

And I will worship in thy fear, to hold my holy grace.

Well, can we turn together to read God's word in the New Testament and in the book of Acts?

The book of Acts, chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Let me take up our reading at verse 14.

Acts chapter 2, reading at verse 14.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

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.

For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel.

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.

Even on my male servants and female servants.

To those days I will pour out my spirit.

And they shall prophesy.

And I will show wonders in the heavens above.

And signs on the earth below.

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

The sun shall be turned to darkness.

And the moon to blood.

Before the day of the Lord comes.

The great and magnificent day.

And shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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.

This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death.

Because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

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.

Therefore my heart was glad.

And my tongue rejoiced.

My flesh also will dwell in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to haze.

Or let your holy ones see corruption.

You have made known to me the paths of life.

You will make me full of gladness with your presence.

Brothers, I 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.

Being therefore a prophet.

And knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would not set one of his descendants on his throne.

He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ.

That he was not abandoned to haze.

Nor did his flesh see corruption.

This Jesus God raised up.

And of that we all are witnesses.

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.

For David did not ascend into the heavens.

But he himself says.

The Lord said to my Lord.

Sit at my right hand.

Until I make your enemies your footstool.

Let all of the house of Israel therefore know for certain.

That God has made him both Lord and Christ.

This Jesus whom you crucified.

Now when they heard this.

They were cut to the heart.

And said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles.

Brothers what shall we do?

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.

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.

And with many other words.

He bore witness.

And continued to exhort them.

Saying.

Save yourselves from this crooked generation.

So those who received his word.

Were baptized.

They were added that day.

About three thousand souls.

And so on.

And may God bless.

That reading from his word.

We'll again sing to God's praise.

This time in Psalm 116.

In the Scottish Psalter.

Page 395 of the Psalm.

Book Psalm 116.

At the beginning of the Psalm.

Singing down to verse 8.

I love the Lord.

Because my voice and prayers heeded here.

I while I live will call on him.

Who bowed to me his ear.

Of death the cords and sorrows did.

About me compass round.

Pains of hell took hold on me.

I grief and trouble found.

Upon the name of God the Lord.

Then did I call and say.

Deliver thou my soul O Lord.

I do thee humbly pray.

We'll sing from verse 1.

To verse 8.

And the tune is Cunningham.

I love the Lord.

I love the Lord.

Because my voice and prayers he did here.

I beim on there.

Of death the courts and sorrows did,

How hard we come was run,

The grace of hell to hold on me,

I keep my trouble firm.

Upon the name of God the Lord,

When did I call and say,

Give ever love my soul, O Lord,

I do Thee humbly pray.

God merciful and righteous,

O Lord, O Lord,

God saves the meek,

I was brought home,

He did me help, O Lord.

O Lord, my soul, do thou return,

And to thy quiet rest,

For largely know the Lord to Thee,

Its bounty hath expressed.

For my distress is so from death,

Delivered was by Thee,

Thou missed my warning,

I strong tears,

My feet of falling free.

Well, we can turn back for our time this evening

to the passage we read in Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

And our main focus is going to be in verse 37

to the end of verse 41.

But as you see,

this section is one long section

that we read together,

the sermon of Peter

on the time of Pentecost,

where there were people around

who had seen the wonders

of the coming of the Holy Spirit,

the power seen in different ways

among the people,

and there were those around

who were accusing them

of being drunk

and of being out of their minds

and all kinds of accusations

being made against them.

It was a hostile crowd

that Peter was preaching to.

But what you see

as he preaches God's word,

as you see as he takes texts

from the Old Testament,

you have Joel in the book of Psalms

being quoted here, read here,

and he's preaching the word to them

and it has a powerful impact.

And that's what we see in verse 37

where it says,

Now when they heard this,

they were cut to the heart

and said to Peter

and to the rest of the apostles,

Brothers,

what shall we do?

And as we come away

from a communion weekend,

as we come away from again

hearing God's word preached

whether it was last evening

or today,

during the day,

this morning or tonight,

as we come away from this weekend,

what kind of expectations

do we have coming away from it?

How are we coming away

from hearing the word of God

or seeing the sacrament

of the Lord's Supper,

either having taken it

or watched on?

What are our thoughts of God?

Are we as a people

hardening our hearts?

Are we just going to go on

into the week

and carry on

just like any other week,

forgetting what we've heard?

Or is it going to linger with us?

Is it going to pierce

into our own hearts?

Is it going to make us

ask questions of ourselves

and questions of God?

We are reminded constantly

through his word

that God is a God

who is sovereign,

a God who is reigning on high

as we were thinking of last night.

He is a God who is working.

He is a God whose spirit

moves among us at all times.

He is a God we've been encouraged

in seeing the work

he is doing in our own midst here

in calling a people

to himself to profess faith.

He is a God

who promises he will bless.

And as we look to him

and as we trust in him,

that he will bless his people.

There are so many promises

that we can take from his word.

But we have to be faithful to him.

And here Peter is addressing a people

who in many ways

had been in a similar circumstance

to ourselves.

Gathered around and hearing God's word.

But what are they going to do with it?

The purpose Jesus had

for his church in the book of Acts,

as you see,

is that the good news of Jesus Christ

would be proclaimed.

It's wonderful to read

through the book of Acts

because you see the power

of God at work

in so many different ways.

And in some ways,

it can almost make you feel

a little discouraged,

if you like.

For example,

that verse,

the last verse we read,

verse 41,

those who received his word

were baptized

and they were added

that day about 3,000 souls.

When you read that,

you perhaps wish,

if only we could see

these kinds of days just now.

If only here in our midst,

today,

3,000 were added

to the number being saved.

That doesn't mean

we should be discouraged, though.

There is rejoicing in heaven

over one sinner saved.

And so tonight,

we rejoice.

We rejoice that God

is still working,

that God is still active

in our midst.

And not just here,

but throughout our islands,

throughout our nation,

throughout the world.

God is still building

his church,

so we do not lose heart.

And when you think

of the apostles themselves,

Peter and others,

you don't have to look far back

to see a time

when they were discouraged,

a time when they thought

their hope was gone.

Having been with the Lord Jesus

for three years

during his public ministry,

they watched on

as he was crucified,

not understanding

what was happening,

thinking that this was

the end for them.

All their expectations

dashed,

thinking of all the great things

that he was going to do

for them and to them.

But here he was,

their Lord and Savior,

crucified,

put to death

at the hands

of lawless men.

But their hope

was once again realized

when they met

with the risen Lord,

when they saw

that he is alive,

that the pain of,

the power of sin

could not contain,

the power of death

could not have a hold on him.

He is risen.

And so tonight,

as we go on,

as we go forward

from this communion,

we remember too

that he is risen for us.

He is ascended

to the right hand of God,

that he is working

and sovereign.

So how will we come away

this evening

from this time of communion?

There was a great change

that took place

in the apostles,

even Peter himself.

You think how he had

disowned the Lord,

how he had turned away,

denied him three times.

And yet he was asked

that question,

Peter,

do you love me?

You know, Lord,

that I love you,

was his response.

And is that our response today

as we were thinking

of this morning,

the love of Christ,

it asks the question of us,

do we love him?

Do we love him

as his people?

Do we love him

as those who are seeking,

even as those

who are maybe blind to him?

Do we begin to realize

the great love

that he has shown to us

as a people?

So it challenges us,

it rebukes us,

it encourages us,

it does all things for us

as we see God's word

encourage the disciples,

the apostles,

and all his people together.

As we see a word

that convicts people,

as we see a word

that is powerful and active,

it reminds us

that we continue

to proclaim

the good news

of Jesus Christ.

That is a powerful word

that is still

able to save.

So the focus this evening

as we see in verse 37

is how are we going

to respond to this word

coming away

from this weekend?

What kind of response

will we have

and what kind of expectations

will we have

of ourselves

and of our Lord

going forward?

Are our expectations

of ourselves

too high?

Do we expect

of ourselves

to be able

to do everything

to obtain

our own salvation?

Do we have to realize

that these expectations

will never be realized?

Are our expectations

of our Lord

too small?

Do we think

he's not able

to do

all that we see

him doing here

in the word

before us?

He is still able.

In that chapter

we read this morning

in Ephesians

it says

that we pray

and look to the one

who is able

to do abundantly

more than we ask

or imagine.

We are to fix

our eyes

on him.

So what's happening

here?

Well God is at work

through the preaching

of the word

and the power

of the spirit

and what we pray

for is that God

will continue

to work

in this way.

The people here

are convicted.

It says

there in verse 37

when they heard

this

were cut

to the heart

and that's

something you've

heard this weekend

cut to your heart.

Has God

been piercing

you

with his word

in this way?

Ministering to you

in a new way

and reminding you

that when you

have Christ

you have so much.

Don't lose

your focus

from him.

Don't lose

your sense

of expectation

in him.

Don't lose

your urgency

for him

or if you

are seeking

him or even

blind to him

is he cutting

you in the heart

and reminding

you you are

lost without him.

This word

is a powerful

word.

When it says

there that they

were cut

to the heart

pricked to the

heart

it means that

they were

pierced

or stabbed.

There's a sense

of pain

in this word.

It causes

discomfort

and as we

hear God's

word

if we are

not believing

it in its

fullness

then it

causes us

pain.

It should

prick us

to our

heart.

And so

God is

still speaking

and as he

speaks

it calls

for a

response.

A response

from every

one of us.

Will we go

forward

in faith?

Will we put

our trust

in him?

And the

response

that we see

here

we see

it in

three

different

ways.

First of

all we

see the

inquiry

the

inquiring

nature

of the

people.

A people

who had

just before

this sermon

had been

mocking and

joking about

God's people

who had the

spirit poured

out upon

them claiming

that they

were drunk

claiming

them that

they were

crazy out

of their

minds.

Well Peter

says at the

start of

this section

we read

in verse

14

men of

Judea

and all

who dwell

in Jerusalem

let this

be known

to you

and give

ear to

my words

these men

are not

drunk as

you suppose.

He's giving

them a

warning.

He's saying

don't mock

them but

hear what

I have to

say.

And that's

what we are

to do as

we listen

to God's

word.

We are to

hear what

he is

saying to

us.

And Peter

here preached

a powerful

sermon.

A powerful

sermon

calling on

people to

come and

see their

need of

Christ.

And to

come and

see that

he is the

only way

to salvation.

And the

gospel it

always leads

to questions.

It always

leads to us

asking questions.

Sometimes it's

asking questions

of us and

sometimes we're

asking questions

of the gospel.

And perhaps

that's the stage

we're in in our

lives just now.

we're asking

these kinds

of questions

of the

gospel.

Is it

true?

Is this

really

true?

This word

that I've

heard so

often, this

word that

has been

around for

so long,

is it

really

true?

The world

tells me

it's not.

The world

tells me we

don't need

this anymore

so can I

just leave

it aside or

is there

some truth

in here

that I need

to hear?

There is

truth here

for us

all to

hear.

Do I

need it?

Maybe you're

saying that

to yourself.

Yes.

We all

need this

word.

Every one

of us.

We need

to hear

this word

and we

need to

heed

this

word.

Do I

believe it?

It's the

question that

it leads

to as well.

Do I

believe

what this

word is

saying?

Tonight

do you

believe what

you read

in the

word of

God?

Do you

believe in

the Son

of God

the Lord

Jesus

Christ?

The fact

that he

came into

this world

that he

died on

the cross

that he

rose again

that he

is coming

again.

Do you

believe these

things in

your heart?

This word

leads to

inquiry.

It leads

to questions.

But what we

see here is

initially the

people had

no interest.

They had no

interest until

this word

was preached

to them.

A people

who had

gathered to

remember the

Passover.

What

foreshadowed the

Lord's Supper.

They had come

to remember.

But what's

amazing about

it is they

missed the

whole point.

This Christ

who had

represented,

who they

had seen,

who they

had crucified,

he meant

nothing to

them.

They were

oblivious to

the fact that

he was before

them, that

they had

crucified him.

And that's

the way God's

word can

sometimes be

for us.

I pray not,

but today did

you come and

go from here

without thinking,

what does the

bread and the

wine mean?

Has it just

become a ritual

that we go

through?

Has it become

something that we

don't really think

about?

What are we

actually doing?

What are we

remembering

here?

I pray that

today, as we

are reminded

once again,

that it would

be real to

us.

That what we

would have been

thinking wouldn't

have been the

kind of things

that they would

have been

thinking as they

remembered the

Passover.

Probably just

looking ahead to

the week that

lay before them.

Looking ahead to

going back to

their own homes,

going back to

their work,

going back to

their families,

carrying on with

life, making

no impression on

them.

Is that how

we are going

to go away

from here

today?

Once again,

having seen

or taken part

in the Lord's

suburb, but

not realizing

or not letting

it sink in

to us, what

we've done,

what we've

experienced,

what we've

seen, what

God has

said.

It should

lead to us

to ask

questions.

Instead of

meaning nothing,

it should

mean everything.

we came to

remember the

Lord's death

until he

comes.

And the

inquiries that

that leads

to, it

leads to us

asking questions.

When we are

dead in our

trespasses and

sins, as the

word says, when

we know that we

are lost in

this world, we

have all these

questions, where

can we turn?

Well, the

people here, as

they heard this

word, as they

were cut to

the heart, they

said to Peter

and the rest of

the apostles,

brothers, what

shall we do?

And is that the

question on your

heart tonight?

What shall I

do?

There are so

many questions

in the Bible,

but some of the

most powerful

questions are

the personal

questions that

we have to

reply to the

Lord Jesus

himself.

there's two I

want to

highlight.

One is before

us here, the

other is in

Mark chapter

Mark 8 · chapter mention

8 and

verse 29.

The question

that Jesus

asks of the

disciples there,

he's saying in

Mark, he's

speaking to them

about what

people are

saying about

who he is.

Some are

saying you're a

prophet, some

are saying you're

Elijah.

There are all

kinds of

opinion on who

Jesus is, just

the same as the

world we live in

today.

All kinds of

opinion about

Jesus.

But Jesus, he

boils it down to

one question.

And he says to

them as he says

to us, but

what about you?

He says, who

do you say

that I am?

And that's the

question we're

asked tonight.

Who do you

say that

Jesus is?

And the

question that

Peter has for

them here as

well, that they

have of Peter

is, what

shall we

do?

When Jesus

asks that

question, who

do you say

that I am?

Surely our

response is what

should be the

same as Peter

who answered

him, who

said, you

are the

Christ, the

Messiah, the

chosen one.

God

has for

him.

And when we

begin to realize who

he is and what

he's done, it

leads to this

second question

that we have

here in verse

37.

As they ask of

him, brothers,

what shall we

do?

The same

question that

later on in the

book of Acts in

chapter 16, the

Philippian jailer

has.

What must I do

to be saved?

That should be

the burning

question in our

hearts tonight.

What must I

do to be

saved?

Because it

comes from

understanding of

who Jesus

is.

And that's

what Peter has

done for them

here.

He has laid

the word of

God bare

before them.

This Jesus,

you crucified,

you put him

to death.

You did all

of this.

Your sins

nailed him

to the

tree.

But God

has raised

him from

the dead.

Look at

verse 22.

He says

there,

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,

this Jesus

delivered up

according to

the definite

plan and

foreknowledge

of God,

you crucified

and killed

by the hands

of lawless

men.

But God

raised him

up.

You

crucified,

he says.

And this

is what leads

them to ask,

brothers,

what shall

we do?

In all

that we hear

from the

word of

God,

is that the

burning question

in your heart

tonight?

What shall

we do?

Well,

from inquiry

we see

here,

it leads

to the

exhortation

of Peter.

In verse

38,

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 for

the promises

for you

and for

your children

and for

all who

are far

off.

everyone

whom the

Lord,

our God

calls to

himself.

This is

Peter's

response to

them,

exhortation,

what they

must do,

what we

must do.

As we

come away

from this

weekend,

this is a

reminder to

us of

what we

go on

doing,

coming to

the Lord

Jesus,

fixing our

eyes on

him,

repent,

repent,

he says.

Turn,

that means,

turn away

from the

direction

you're going,

away from

God and

turn to

him.

Can you

imagine what

it would be

like if no

one listened

to a word

you said?

If anyone

you spoke

to,

anyone you

shouted

to,

they're not

listening to

a thing

that you

say.

Maybe you

think this

is your

experience

even just

now.

Come to

my home

for a

minute,

you think

nobody's

listening to

a word

I'm saying

anyway.

But imagine

if that was

your situation

day after

day after

day.

You're crying

out,

you're shouting

for help,

you're asking

for help

in so many

different

situations,

and no

one is

listening.

Is that

the way

God is

with us?

We may

feel that

no one's

listening

to us,

but there

is a

God

who is.

And that's

what we're

constantly

reminded of

in his

word,

that he

is a

God

who

listens,

and a

God who

hears

the cries

of his

people.

That psalm

that we

were singing

together,

Psalm 116,

a wonderful

reminder there

of a love

for the

Lord.

I love

the Lord

because my

voice and

prayers

heeded

here.

Even when

we feel

no one

else is

listening,

God is

listening.

And that

is Peter's

exhortation

to them

here.

Repent,

be baptized,

turn to

the Lord

Jesus Christ.

God

listens to

the pleas

of his

people.

God

listens to

the cries

of his

people.

and he

will listen

to

yours.

If you

are seeking

the Lord,

the Lord

says,

seek and

you will

find.

Knock and

the door

will be

opened unto

you.

And he's

saying keep

going.

He's

listening.

As a

people,

as God's

people,

do we

give up in

prayer too

easily?

Or do we

keep praying

with that

prayerful

passion?

That he

will listen,

that he

will answer

our prayers.

Again,

as we

come away

from this

weekend,

is to

have that

expectation

that he

will listen,

that he

will hear

my cry.

So here

in verse

38,

Peter is

exhorting

his people.

He is

exhorting

them,

repent and

be baptized.

And if

you do,

there is

this promise

for you

that you

will receive

the gift

of the

Holy Spirit

for you

and your

children

and for

all who

are afar

of,

everyone

whom the

Lord calls

to himself.

And you

notice how

he keeps

going.

It says

in verse

40,

with many

other words

he bore

witness and

continued to

exhort

them,

saying,

save

yourselves

from this

crooked

generation.

It was

the role

of the

apostles,

the early

church,

to go

out and

proclaim

the word

of God.

It's the

privilege of

every preacher

to go out

with the

word of

God,

to exhort

a people,

to plead

with a

people.

And it's

the same

message.

Same

message you

hear from

myself,

you hear from

James,

you hear from

every preacher

who stands

in this

pulpit,

a pleading,

an urgency,

a crying

unto you

who are

lost,

repent

and be

baptized,

every one

of you.

Listen to

what he is

saying.

He says,

save

yourselves

from this

crooked

generation.

salvation.

We live

in a

world that

is

perishing.

We live

as a

people who

are

perishing.

We live

as a

people who

have no

continuing

city here.

The day

will come

when we're

called away.

Our time

will come.

And that is

the urgency

of this

message.

save

yourselves

from this

crooked

generation.

Repent

and be

baptized.

Turn

to the

Lord.

Do not

harden

your

hearts.

Don't let

this become

just a

ritual,

coming into

the place

of God

and going

away

and thinking

nothing of

it.

Hear

what God

is saying.

Hear

that he

is crying

to his

people.

Be saved.

Repent

and turn.

The word

says here

that with

many other

words he

exhorted

them.

And those

who received

his word

it says

in verse

41.

In other

translations

it says

those who

gladly

received

his word.

They were

baptized.

they

believed

they

turned

to

God.

Oh

the joy

of hearing

the voice

of God

and turning

to him.

Listening

to him

and finding

in him

the joy

of salvation.

Finding

in him

the beauty

of this

world

fulfilled

through

Christ.

Because

there is

nothing in

this world

that compares

on the

love of

Christ

to us.

that is

the exhortation

that he

gives to

us again

and again.

And the

exhortation

that I

give to

you tonight

to plead

with you

that if

you are

lost

repent

turn

save

yourselves

from this

crooked

generation

by coming

to the

Lord Jesus.

He hears

your cries.

He will

listen.

and he

will never

turn you

away.

You may

find others

who won't

listen to

a word

that you

say.

But the

Lord will

always listen.

And may

you come

to sing

that song

anew

with more

meaning

than ever

before

to say

I love

the Lord

because my

voice

and prayers

heeded

here.

The final

thing we

see in

this

is that

sense of

expectation.

that

sense of

expectation

that we

should have

in our

hearts

in two

different

ways.

When you

look at

Peter

preaching

this

gospel

to the

people

then

you

wonder

what he

expected

at the

end

of it.

A

people

who had

been

shouting

abuse

one

minute

you

notice

what it

says

in

verse

41

they

received

the

word

gladly

and