It's All About Jesus
Acts (To Be Continued...) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Good morning!
Let’s turn to Acts 2
Billy Joel is one of the most famous musicians of all time—with hits like Piano Man…We didn’t start the fire…for the longest time.
He has another song called “My Life” —written in 1980..and some of the lyrics go
“I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone”
at the end of the song he says “Keep it to yourself, it’s my life.”
while the music doesn’t feel rebellious—it kind of feels happy—but it is a person who wants to do what they want to do.
I think that idea of “My life” “don’t tell me what to do.”
that is in every human heart.
sometimes, if you are a rebel at heart—you won’t do something just because someone told you to do something.
I have noticed if we ask people to put name tags on at church “I am not doing that…just b/c you told me...”
or “sit closer…towards the front at church.”
I still feel it as a follower of Jesus
I am sure you do too.
that living your life centered on Jesus can be one of the hardest things because you don’t want someone telling you what to do.
and yet today’s passage in Acts 2—challenges the idea that this is only your life. It challenges the idea what is your life all about—who gets to call the shots in your life?
before we read…remember...
This is one of the most important days in the life of the church.
It’s the day of Pentecost.
Jesus had ascended to heaven.
He had told his followers (only 120 of them) to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
and in Acts 2, as that group of 120 are praying on and off for 10 days
—and on the Day of Pentecost—The Holy Spirit comes on them—wind, fire, glory, they speak in other languages...
and the people gathered in Jerusalem notice this.
and wonder what’s going on?
and so far---we have learned why Pentecost is important...
Why Pentecost Matters....(the first 2 are review)
because a new era is here — the OT prophets longed for this day to come—b/c in the OT, after the fall of Adam and Eve—sin,
the Spirit would come on people—mainly leaders, and more sporadically—active but not as full.
but on Pentecost—now the Spirit comes on all people who follow Jesus, not just leaders, and not temporarily but permanently and powerfully. this is why Peter quotes the prophet Joel—saying “In the last days...
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
that day is here!
there are many ways to say it...
a new era is here!
The last days are here!
the kingdom of God is here
the new covenant is here
before this—the Holy Spirit was active and working in the OT or old era—it would be like turning on the faucet...
but now that Pentecost has happened—the HS is like Niagara Falls pouring down in power...
do you realize that living on this side of Pentecost—we now get the fullness of the Spirit in power, leading us, guiding us, making us more like Jesus—enabling us to witness!?
You have the cheat code—up up down down left right left right b a start...
and this new era—is not just Jews who are part of the kingdom—but people from every tribe tongue and nation as they spoke in tongues—God is gathering a multi-cultural people for his kingdom
another reason Pentecost matters...
2. we get the presence of God living in us now; those symbols of wind and fire are associated with God’s presence in the OT—in the burning bush with Moses, and on Mt. Sinai with the giving of the Law, and the tabernacle and temple--
that same presence that terrified them now dwells in us—we are temples of the HS individually and as a community.
I am a temple of the HS—do you ever think that way? that motivates us to live holy, godly lives..
or think of the church family that way? - we can easily put down the church and we are not perfect, but how would that change our perspective if we viewed each other as the temple of God—and together.
the Spirit dwelling in us now means He leads us, guides us, the presence of God—we always have Him.
and He empowers us on a mission to reach—everyone with the good news—they can be a part of God’s kingdom...
we will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth...
and the last reason is in Acts 2 starting at verse 22.
Please turn to Acts 2:22-41
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
25 David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “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.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
the final and most important reason why Pentecost matters...
3. Jesus is reigning as king, and our lives are to be all about Him. ....
this is Peter talking…he is explaining that the last days are here—is because of Jesus
—the reason the HS has been poured out—is b/c of Jesus
the reason this new era is here—is b/c of Jesus
the reason the kingdom of God is here now—is b/c of King Jesus.
the reason the last days and new covenant are here is b/c of Jesus...
the reason God’s presence and power — the HS is living in you as a follower of Jesus - is b/c of Jesus
and now your life, my life is to be all about Jesus...
that’s what gets us into the kingdom of God—
that is what marks a follower in God’s kingdom
Jesus Christ is the reason all this happened on the day of Pentecost...
Jesus Christ is the reason that we continue to benefit from this historic day almost 2,000 years ago..
look at what he focuses on about Jesus:
A. his life and ministry (vs. 22) (he did over 36 plus miracles recorded in the Gospels)
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
sometimes as we read these miracles—we quickly apply them to us—”God can do this for me—or God has called me to go and do likewise—but the first thing we should consider from Jesus’ miracles”—is that He is uniquely the Son of God....
He...
fed the 5,000 from 5 loaves and 2 fish
turned the water to wine
healed the sick, lame, blind, the bleeding
cast out demons easily
raised the dead like Lazarus, and the widow’s son, and Jairus’ daughter.
walked on water—
calmed the storm
all of these miracles attest to the fact that Jesus Christ is utterly unique—sent from His Father, under the power of the Spirit
they would have known these- apparently word spread—a prophet of God was here!
and it wasn’t just his miracles—but his teaching—Scripture says he taught as one who had authority and not their teachers of the law
do you believe this about Jesus
do you have regular opportunities to just focus on Jesus’ life, miracles, and teachings?
look at what else Peter focuses on ---
B. Jesus’ death (vs. 23)
23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
we celebrate Jesus’ death regularly—believing that He died on the cross for our sins in our place—He wasn’t a sinner—we were—but on the cross He took our sin
but this was hard for them…how could Jesus a miracle work appointed by God die on the cross—that was reserved for the worst?
but no...
God was behind it all—all part of God’s plan—goes to show that how could the Son of God die? God planned it!
yet they are responsible for killing Jesus
how can they be responsible…if God planned it (similar to Judas) the Bible doesn’t resolve it—but a life that is all about Jesus
do you focus on the cross?
a life focused on Jesus is about His cross
sometimes our life faces suffering and the cross - If Jesus went thru hard times, we will too
a life focused on Jesus thinks about...
C. his resurrection (vs. 24)
24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
this verse shows the agony of death—many of you know this as you might be facing death or a loved one
Jesus experienced that agony but death could not hold him. why?
well the power of death cannot compete with the power of God
but also since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) he did not commit those sins—they were put on him. He paid for them, and God the Father by the Spirit raised the Son from the dead—b/c death had no claim on Him. He was perfectly righteous!
a life about Jesus—thinks of his resurrection and the hope—do you?
Peter also focused on...
D. Jesus—the true Davidic King (vs. 25-32)
Peter quotes from Psalm 16 in the OT ,a psalm of David. where David says to the Lord “you will not abandon me to the grave nor will you let your holy see decay.”
and Peter applies this logically
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
it’s interesting that Peter makes this connection between David and Jesus.
We know from the OT—that God made a big promise, a covenant with David
12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
that’s a big promise!
Isaiah 9:6-7 takes that promises and amps it up
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
so there is this expectation that someone from David’s line will be the Messiah forever...
Peter says—that psalm that David wrote—it can’t be about him.
He’s dead—David is a prophet (which we don’t think about)—but his words were actually looking forward…to the one in his line who would live forever…Jesus is the one who fulfills that promise—now—He is currently reigning as the son of David at the right hand of God
I mentioned last week a little—that because of these connections—whenever we read about David—we should think of Jesus—b/c the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus
just like David, Jesus was born in Bethlehem
just like David, from an early age, Jesus showed amazing character
just like David, Jesus was hated by his own people at times, both had enemies
just like David—Jesus conquered his enemies. David did Goliath—and other nations—but Jesus conquered our worst enemies sin, death, and the devil
Jesus is the greater David—the true king
do you believe that Jesus is the king? the King in David’s line?
E. His ascension (vs. 33-35)
33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Jesus ascended into heaven—as the resurrected king of kings and lord of lords.
he was already anointed as king at his birth and baptism…but God truly enthroned him as king as his ascension.
and in the ultimate football play he took the Holy Spirit handed off from the Father, and Jesus passed Him to us...
Jesus is uniquely qualified to do this—b/c all through Jesus’ life—he was empowered and led by the Spirit.
he quotes David again — this time Psalm 110—the Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand...
Jesus Christ—more than anyone else is uniquely qualified to pour out the Spirit…b/c look at his life...
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
so becuase of all these things--
his life/miracles/teaching
his death
his resurrection
his fulfillment of being the one in King David’s line
his ascension
look at verse 36
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
He is Lord and Savior...
look at verses 37-39.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “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.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
some people look at this and say—baptism must be REQUIRED for salvation....I don’t think that is what this passage is saying. we see some examples in Scripture of people not having the opportunity to be baptized like the thief on the cross
baptism instead is a symbol here of us dying to our sin, putting our trust in Jesus for our sin, and rising to new life. it is a public proclamation
baptism is not required for salvation—but it is a public proclamation that you are united to Jesus—in his death, burial, and resurrection.
Going under the water—reminds us we died to our sin with Jesus, and coming up out of the water—reminds us we have been risen to new life in Jesus.
and the normal pattern we see in Acts is as people believe and receive Jesus—they are baptized—if you have never been or don’t remember it and yet call yourself a Christian—this would be a great next step.
We can do it anytime—we have a portable baptismal.
what is repentance?
repentance is turning from our sin—from this idea that Billy Joel’s song had—this is my life…and turning to Jesus. my life is your life....it’s under your Lordship
my thoughts are now your thoughts
my brain is your brain
my heart is yours
my emotions are yours
my actions are yours...
I am trusting in Jesus alone—who He says He is—my Lord and Savior...
Is your life all about Jesus? Could I tell?
what if Billy Joel re-wrote that song my life—it would be something “I do care what you say. This is not my life—it’s your life.”
can you and I say that about Jesus?
this is a remarkable offer that they and we can be a part of God’s kingdom....by grace through faith in Christ
—think of Peter—denied Christ—50 days earlier—3x! after seeing Jesus’ miracles---and yet Jesus offered himself in grace for Peter—and restored him.
—think of the crowd—some would have been there crucifying Jesus—and yet this offer—they ca
—but then all of us technically b/c of our sin we put Jesus on the cross!
I want to respond by taking communion together....
and invite the ushers forward
it is for anyone who is a believer in Jesus—who has made Jesus Messiah and Lord...
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
what I would invite you to do now—
is to kneel—where you are at.... (if you can’t that’s ok)
where do you need to repent?
where do you need to focus on Jesus—his life, death, resurrection, ascension—king David’s line? He is the king
what areas of your life are you holding onto?
and as you do that—look to what Jesus did for you—he paid it all for you
conclusion:
when people say that someone is filled with the Spirit or that was a Spirit-filled service or Spirit filled sermon—the ultimate test is this—was it about Jesus?
Peter gets up to highlight the Spirit’s activity—and He makes it all about Jesus.
JI Packer says this — the Spirit’s message to us is never, “look at me; listen to me; come to me; get to know me, but always, ‘Look at him, and see his glory; listen to him, and hear his word; go to him, and have life; get to know him, and taste his gift of joy and peace.”
pastor tour?