Acts 2:14a, 36-41
2:14a: But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,
2:36 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
2:40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
2:41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
><><><><><><><><><><
The book of Acts is probably the most exciting book in the Bible! Many Christians find themselves reading a mixture from the book of John, Acts of the Apostles and the Psalms. The book of John speaks to our heart, Acts is rooted in church growth and The Psalms are a collection of meditation and also teaching and correction in our lives.
Our walk with Jesus Christ is not always easy. We are tempted, grow weary and sometimes give up. The apostle John was an encourager. He teaches us to stay strong and committed.
Today’s teaching comes from Peter, the bold one. Remember he wasn’t always that way. He took his eyes off of Jesus when walking on the water and he started to sink. Peter denied Christ and he ran and hid in fear. Jesus took Peter, James and John up Mount Hermon where the transfiguration took place as well as into the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Instead of praying they fell asleep. A short time later, in anger, Peter cut off Malchus’ ear during the arrest of Jesus.
Now after Pentecost, Peter stood and made quite a declaration recorded in Acts when he announced, “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Remember this was Post Pentecost. Peter who had fled and denied Christ was now standing before a great crowd announcing Jesus as Messiah, Lord and Savior. Peter was now filled with the Holy Spirit! – no fear or trembling in his voice. Being filled with the Holy Spirit changes a follower of Christ. There is a two fold issue going on; 1. Peter is different and 2. “Now when they heard his this [Peter’s declaration], they were cut to the heart.” – 2:37 ….. again the Holy Spirit was at work with those who heard. This is what the scripture says: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’” Folks, an outpouring of God was upon them!
When was the last time this happened at our/your church? A real renewal in our hearts must happen now and then! Coming to Christ and ready to do what God wants, to be born anew and restored.
Three thousand came to God that day. Transformed – changed and ready to serve the Lord.
These words I leave with you from God’s word: “Repent and be baptized.”
In a church I served, once a year we had a special service where we came to the water. There were large bowls and you moved forward placing your hand in the water and then you placed water on your head. (Due to the present circumstance we would question if it was safe to put your fingers in the same water that someone else touched. We have much to understand and over come)The purpose of this act was to remember our baptism. The water, the forgiveness of sin. The immersion of the “old” and the rising of the “new!” SAVED, committed and most of all knowing that we are new creatures. No one comes up perfect but hopefully ready to be daily perfected in Christ giving the Holy Spirit power to work in our life. If you release the power of God in you, you will be changed. You will carry a spiritual burden for others. We will be a part of The Acts of Believers! You will purposefully walk with God’s guidance and you will sense God calling you to release more and more of you to him. Then one day you will cry out, “God, I surrender all, fill me afresh and anoint me with power.” The sweetness of God’s power and presence takes control. It happens all around the world and in all groups and churches and to people who quietly or publicly submit to the Lord. Some Christians never grow, you might say they maintain a “Dick and Jane” experience while others go on to have a “War and Peace” experience! Do you get what I mean? There is an old song that Robert Lowly wrote. Read these words over and over“…
“Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I will follow on!
Follow! follow! I will follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I will follow on!…”
Now, I have never invited Randy Travis and Kenny Chesney (Country & Western Stars) to sing, but today I am doing just that. While this is not exactly a church song it is a Christian experience. If you are not a Country Music fan try listening anyway because these words are close to our hearts and tradition. The song is titled“Baptism” I had never heard this song until looking for a different link and discovered “Baptism”, a dynamic testimony. Touch on the link after reading Rev. Ron Marks prayer. Try reading this prayer out loud so you hear this most meaningful thoughts submitted to you:
“Most Gracious Heavenly Father:
We thank You for this time together with You and our Covenant family, and yearn for the time we can gather again at Covenant Church. We long to be together again, but we are so thankful knowing that You are constantly with us – last year, today, next year, and for eternity. We have Your Word to comfort us, we have prayer to sustain us, and we have our Covenant family to speak with and to support us during this difficult time even though we cannot be together in person.
We thank you for Your Word from the first Pentecost after His resurrection. We thank you for the apostles and for Paul and for all the early converts to spread Your Word and begin the growth of Your Kingdom. We are blessed to know You and to serve Your Kingdom through Covenant Church. Bless those from other churches and those who have no church home, who may read this prayer. We pray for those who do not yet know you, and that we may do our part to help bring them to You. We pray for Your continued blessing of us, our families, and our church, and that we may soon be able to meet together once again. In Jesus’ name we pray to you.
Amen”