Sermon 34

(Acts 2:12-16) “And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

A lesson from the first few chapters of Acts is exhilarating. And indeed should be for this is where the first Church, God’s Church, the Church that is built upon a rock, our Church, had its beginning. Matt. 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The “I will build” speaks of the future and He built it on the day of Pentecost. Eph. 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

The book of Acts is the most exciting book of the Bible. For four thousand years God had dealt with his people through types and shadows. The prophets yearned to know, holy men of God sought diligently to understand, the plan of God for the salvation of man.

So it is the book of Acts that sets in motion the mightiest force in all the world.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come.” Suddenly! Without warning, without advance notice, “there came a sound from heaven.” From Heaven, not from men, not from governments, not from a social order, but from Heaven.

It was “as of a rushing mighty wind.” God breathed upon Adam and “he became a living soul” (Gen 2:7). Jesus breathed on His disciples and said “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). But when the Holy Ghost came it didn’t come as the breath of God, but as the wind of God. (Acts 2:2-4) “—-and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

This momentous day dated a new history for God’s work. His Church! Suddenly, a new dispensation was wonderfully inaugurated, and since then the world has been living in the age of grace, a time of God’s unmerited favor, during which God is gathering a people out of this world for His name sake. The Church was established by a miracle, and its continuance down through the centuries is miraculous, and her consummation at the Rapture will be just as miraculous.

As Pentecost commemorated the promulgation (pro-mul’-ga-tion) of the law at Sinai, it is fitting that the Church was inaugurated when the day of Pentecostal was fully come, for through the Church there was to be the promulgation of the Gospel, and the gathering of a harvest of souls for the Redeemer.

The disciples, and the others, being obedient to Jesus’ last command, put them in the right place at the right time to receive the blessing of God. I sincerely believe, if the church of today will be in the right place at the right time, God will handle the rest.
Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

There were many opinions at the inauguration of the Church.

Opinion—A belief based not on certainty, but on what seems to be true or probable.

I’ve heard people say “If you want my opinion” and then go into a long dissertation about how they feel about the subject at hand. Sometimes opinions aren’t worth the energy it takes to make them known and then there are other opinions that are worth changing laws for.

The opinions at Pentecost came from:

I. THE OPINION OF THE CRITICS:

Acts 2:13 “Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

The “fault finder” don’t worry me to much because they have been around since the beginning of the Church. And most time they have their birth among the uninvolved.
This is where they came from on the day of Pentecost, from the uninvolved.

I read that Toyota has persons, at the end of every assembly line, that fill the position of inspector. Their official name is “Fault Finders.” Some of us could go to work for Toyota.

These kind of people can be found in every crowd, whether you are picking peas or witnessing a miracle there will be the critics. Especially about Godly things, especially about the supernatural. It’s as though the devil wants to divert others from the truth so the critic mocks. Gal. 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:”

Acts 2:22 ” Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you” The critic said, “He’s a juggler, a glutton, a winebibber, an insurrectionist.

John 12:28 ” Then came there a voice from heaven, saying .”
The critics; John 12:29 “The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered:”

John 8:42 ” for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” The critics John 8:48 “Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?” Verse 49 “Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.” Verse 52, “Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil.”

The critic never has any good to say but always something bad. Even “helpful criticism is bad.

II. THE OPINION OF THE SINCERE OR THE INQUISITIVE:

Acts 2:12 “And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?”

These that asked this question were, in all probability, in the crowd with those in verse five were it talked about “devout men.” according to the dictionary the word devout means, devoted, dedicated, sincere, or honest.

With all the crookedness, with all the scandals, with all the hypocrisy, in our land today I sincerely believe that there are still some people left that want the truth.

But the mind instinctively rebels against the unexplained. The honest and sincere will not fight the religious unexplained but will be as Gamaliel in Acts 5:34-39 “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Overthrow it? Never, for it was and is the work of God.

I believe these “devout men” were sincere in their asking, “What meaneth this,” and they were waiting an answer.

When they received an answer, to their question, it was found to involve such tremendous issues that they cried out in despair, “What must we do to be saved?” How
I wish men would still become so stirred that they would cry out in such a way.
III. THE OPINION OF EXPERIENCE:

Acts 2:14-16 “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

Thank God for those that have the mind of God and know what is going on in the Kingdom of God. There are those that keep up with the pace. They want to be where the move of God is. They want to be under the spout where the glory comes out. These people don’t miss church because there’s something more important to do. The house of God is the important thing in their life.

Somebody said “If this is not that, I’ll keep this until that comes.”

Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:”

When On The Day Of Pentecost The Power Of God Did Fall
The Holy Ghost Descended And Filled Them One And All
Now They Were All So Amazed At The Way Those Folk Did Act
But Peter Stood Within Their Midst And Said Brother This Is That

Brother This Is That, Sister This Is That
This Is That, That Fell At Pentecost
Brother This Is That, Sister This Is That
This Is That, That Fell At Pentecost

Now When You Hear Us Sing And Shout Please Do Not Sympathize
For We Are Glad To Know By The Spirit We’re Baptized
Our God Has Never Lost A Fight And We Know It Is A Fact
And We’ve Received The Holy Ghost And Brother This Is That

( end )