FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Scripture References: Acts 2:1-12

II. The Right Appeal from the Church – Continued

A. Anointing – Continued

From last lesson: God was with us when Jesus Christ was born and placed in the cradle at Bethlehem. Supernatural events surrounded Bethlehem. There was the new star in the heavens. There was the virgin birth. There was the angelic chorus, and when Jesus was born, He was given the name Emmanuel, which interpreted means “God with us.” None of these miracles need to be repeated, but aren’t you glad for Bethlehem?

At Calvary we are taught that God is for us. The Bible says that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). He died once and for all. Aren’t you glad there’s not going to be another Calvary? Wouldn’t it be a terrible thing if every time the church were to come together, we would say, “We are going to repeat Calvary. We are going to crucify Jesus again.” That would be most blasphemous.

At Calvary a number of miracles took place. There was the earthquake, the darkness, the graves were opened, and the souls and bodies of saints came out of the graves. We can’t repeat that. We don’t want to repeat that, but we surely can be blessed by it.

B. Action

When the Day of Pentecost began, there were 120 dedicated Christians in an upper room praying. When the day ended, 3,000 new converts had been added to the congregation. How did this occur? The Bible tells us in Acts 1:14 that the disciples prayed. Their prayer was followed by witnessing. In the second chapter, we read: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” These were not angelic languages. The Jewish Christians spoke in their native Galilean tongue (Acts 2:7). The Holy Spirit performed a miracle, and the people present heard the message of salvation in their own language (Acts 2:8).

When there was a question about the miracle that had taken place, Simon Peter began to share his witness. He related to them how Joel had prophesied that God would send the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:15–21). He then told them how the works of Jesus proved He is the anointed Messiah sent from heaven prophesied by King David (Acts 2:22–31). Finally, Peter said the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves He is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:32–36).

Here Christ’s church makes the right appeal to the unsaved. It is an appeal anointed by the Holy Spirit and put into positive action by the witnessing of the people and the preacher. The results were miraculous. We too can witness miraculous results anointed by the Holy Spirit. We need to put our faith into action by sharing God’s message of redemption through faith in Jesus Christ.

C. Authority

When the anointing power of the Holy Spirit was called into question by the people at Pentecost, Peter appealed to the authority of the Word of God. The Bible indicates that some of the people present that day mocked the church (Acts 2:13). Their mocking was turned to repentance when Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Acts 2:17–21). Peter also quoted Psalm 16:8–11, written by David, and beautifully related this psalm to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The Bible tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. This is the weapon that God uses to free men and women, boys and girls from the shackles of sin. The right appeal from the church is always based on the authority of the Word of God.

III. The Right Attitude from the Lost

When the right atmosphere exists in the church and the right appeal is made from the church, the unsaved usually respond with the right attitude. On the Day of Pentecost, the hearts of the unsaved were stirred. They asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What shall we do?” Peter’s response was that they needed to turn from their sins and to give evidence that their sins had been forgiven by following Jesus in New Testament baptism. He went on to promise them that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37–38).

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He said that we are to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all things that He has commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). At Pentecost, the disciples carried out the Great Commission, for Luke recorded, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – Acts 2:41–42.

Here is the amazing first-century church carrying out the Great Commission of our Lord. We need to get back to that example and start doing what we have been called to do for the Lord.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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