Key Scripture - Peter Said To Them, “Repent, And Each Of You Be Baptized In The Name Of Jesus Christ For The Forgiveness Of Your Sins; And You Will Receive The Gift Of The Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
Key Question – What Must I Do To Revive My Soul?
Have you ever tried to fix something without the proper equipment? You needed a flat-head screwdriver and you only had a Phillips-head screwdriver. The recipe called for three eggs and you only had one egg. The math homework required a scientific calculator and all you had was a basic calculator.
As a result, like the lady in the above picture, you became frustrated as you wasted a lot of time as well as physical and emotional energy.
I wonder if Jesus, the master carpenter, had this in mind when He told His anxious, ready-to-rumble apostles to pump the breaks and wait for the Holy Spirit who will empower them to be his witnesses throughout the known world. (Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit would equip them to be spirit-filled, spirit-empowered witnesses for Him.
After 10 days of waiting and praying, suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. (Acts 2:2-4)
Are These Men Drunk With Wine? No, They Are Filled With The Spirit!!!
The crowd is perplexed when they hear the 120 speaking in different tongues. These are unlearned Galileans. How are each and every one of us able to hear them speak of the mighty deeds of God in our native tongue?
Then, like a scene out of an Avenger movie, Peter takes a stand beside the eleven apostles, raises his voice, and declares that these people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is only the third hour (9 am) of the day. (Acts 2:15)
Instead, they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember what the Prophet Joel said
AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN WILL HAVE DREAMS;
We have been Spirit Filled & Spirit Empowered!!! The Holy Spirit is communicating directly to you through us. What you hear and see is not us. It is Him.
The Miracle Worker Whom You Crucified Sent Us The Holy Spirit
Then anticipating a potential question about the last days, Peter reintroduces them to the miracle worker from Nazareth. He says that when Jesus healed the man at the pool called Bethesda, fed the 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, raised Lazarus from the dead, and performed many other miracles, He was revealing his identity. (Acts 5:22)
But you were so enamored with what the miracles could do for you, that you missed what they revealed unto you. The miracles were screaming that this Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, that we have been waiting for. But you missed it.
Instead, you conspired with that betrayer Judas Iscariot to have Jesus falsely arrested, accused, convicted, and crucified. (Acts 5:23)
But, my friend, Judas and the Jews of that time are not the only ones guilty of nailing Jesus to the cross. You and I are guilty as well. But I was not born yet? No, but that is the beauty of what Jesus did on the cross. He received the punishment for all past, present and future sins. (Hebrews 10:11-14). He bore all of our sins once and for all.
And we are all grateful that the tomb could not hold Him. Utilizing an OT passage of scripture, Peter reminds his audience that the coming Messiah would not be abandoned in Hades and His soul would not undergo decay. (Acts 2:25–28, Psalm 16) And we know that David could not possibly have been talking about himself. For we know where his tomb is located. But instead, David was speaking prophetically of the Christ to come. He was talking of Jesus whom the Father has raised from the dead. And we are witnesses.
By now the crowd is truly astonished. Can’t you hear them? Is peter saying that this Jesus of Nazareth was greater than our beloved David? Once again, Peter anticipates the question and provides them with an answer based on an Old Testament passage of scripture. Quoting from Psalm 110, he says the Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Acts 2:34-35)
What are you saying, Peter? Make it plain. Let all of Israel know that this Jesus whom you crucified was God. He was not just the Christ. He was God in the Flesh. That’s what He meant when he said “Before Abraham Was, I Am.”
What Are We To Do? Repent!!!
At the sound of that, the crowd is guilt-stricken. So, with sorrow in their hearts, a contingency of the crowd asks “Brothers, what are we to do?” Peter replies
Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38.
For this crowd, Peter is telling them to repent from their unbelief. They did not believe that Jesus was the Christ. Instead, they saw Him as an agitating threat to the status quo. So, they put Him to death. Thus, Peter tells them to repent.
In the same fashion, we encourage you to turn from your sins. Don’t let your pride stop you. Repent. Don’t let what others think about you to stop you. Repent. Don’t let tradition stop you. Repent. Don’t let fear stop you. Repent.
The personal revival you yearn for starts with REPENTANCE!!!