WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD: First Fruits!

SERIES: Acts #2

TOPIC: Apostles, Gospel, First Fruits, Proclamation, Witness, Works of God
TITLE – WITNESSES TO JERUSALEM #2: Wonderful Works of God – First Fruits!

TEXT: Acts 2:22-24 (14-47)

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know – this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”

The following is the context for the series:

1. The Preeminence of the Living Lord!
2. The Prominence of the Holy Spirit!
3. The Power of the Authentic Church!

We want to take special notice of this context as we progress through the book.

INQUIRY: What is the gist of Peter’s powerful proclamation?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. CHRIST WAS HELD UP BY GOD – God gave all who could rea-son adequate confirmation of the identity of His anointed! [22]
II. CHRIST WAS DELIVERED UP BY GOD – God had a plan for and a foreknowledge of the deliverance of His anointed to His enemies! [23]
III. CHRIST WAS RAISED UP BY GOD – God ended the power of death over man by raising His anointed from the dead! [24]

TRUTH/CONTEXT:

I can see the people sitting in the Upper Room … an early Starbucks for disciples … sipping on their lattes and nibbling on their chocolate coated cinnamon swizzle sticks.

Something totally unexpected happened to awaken them from their funk. The women were the first to notice; they were busy rushing around making sure the men were comfortable and the kids were quiet. They heard it more than saw it. Mary made an audible “oh” when she saw the glow build in the upper corner of the room; then whoosh, wham, whap!

The Spirit of God was on them like chigger on a hot summer day! It was over before it began … they all staggered and stumbled out the door, then down the stairs. Out into the City Square the wobbled like drunken sailors … some sprawling on the grass as their knees gave out. A cop was called to arrest “a bunch of drunken Galileans.”

Quickly James and Peter gathered the group together and laying hands on each of them, calling upon each of them “to speak in unknown tongues.” [tongue in cheek!]

Today we’re going to focus on Peter’s powerful sermon to the “men of Israel” [22] and its impact.

The book was written by Luke, the author of the gospel accredited to his name. We must understand that it is recorded history. A continuation of the gospel account.

• 1:3-5] First, Jesus had told the disciples and apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the power promised by the Father … the Holy Spirit.
• [7,8] Then, once there, Jesus reiterates the GREAT COMMISSION.
• [9-11] Christ ascends; disciples return to Upper Room (Jerusalem), where they chose an apostolic replacement for Judas [12-26].

• [2:1-3] Finally, the true Church is formed, having already been founded in its Head … Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit arrives with flourish and power; on the Day of Pentecost.
• [4-13] Under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit the 120 or so individuals in the Upper Room move into the streets to witness to the works of God [11].
• [14-36] Peter then gives his first recorded sermon … an apologetic [simultaneously proclaiming and defending the cause of Christ].

INQUIRY: What is the gist of Peter’s great message?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. CHRIST WAS HELD UP BY GOD – [22]

A. God gave all who could reason adequate confirmation of the identity of His anointed!
B. With miracles, wonders, signs.
C. Resurrection

II. CHRIST WAS DELIVERED UP BY GOD – [23]

A. God had a plan for and a foreknowledge of the deliverance of His anointed to His enemies!
B. He foreknew!
C. In fact He planned it!

III. CHRIST WAS RAISED UP BY GOD – [24]

A. God ended the power of death over man by raising His anointed from the dead!
B. Death was in labor, about to deliver all of mankind into the hands of the devil.
C. The death of the Son of God and His resurrection from the dead killed its power over man.
D. Christ, the First Fruits … death now saw it was impossible to hold Him in his grip.
E. In fact, for any in Christ [Romans 6:3-11 READ IT!]

APPLICATION: This now answers the question of how the Jews were to know the anointed of God, whom they longed to receive but rejected [John 1:11]

Truly God did more to reveal His anointed than could ever be reasonably demanded of Him.

Peter’s message was for the Jew only [14, 22, 29, & 37]; what happened when they heard his message?

1. THEY HAD A GREAT CONVICTION … “they were pierced to the heart.” [37a]
2. THEY ASKED A GREAT QUESTION … “Brethren, what shall we do?” [37b]
3. PETER GAVE A GREAT RESPONSE … “repent” and “receive”! [38,39]
4. GOD RECEIVED A GREAT REWARD … “there were added that day about three thousand souls” [41; cp. 47b]

CHALLENGE: But the Scriptures are for all men; Peter’s message is therefore yours to hear.

Our response to his message doesn’t have to be identical to Israel’s response but it must at least imitate or mimic it!

How did they respond? They devoted themselves steadfastly to …

• teaching/study [42]
• fellowship/held things in common/community
• breaking of bread/unity
• prayers
• felt awe (fear of the Lord) [43]
• single-minded [46]
• went to temple
• visited one another’s home
• glad sincere hearts
• praising God [47]
• soul-winning/increasing in number [41,47b]
  

We are not to duplicate by cookie cutter this early experience … but God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow … His desire for them is His desire for us.

Have you not seen the wonderful works of God? Have you not the same evidence provided to you which was provided to them? Have you not the same God and the same anointed of God?

To paraphrase v. 36 –

“Therefore let all the church know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Messiah … this Jesus who was crucified for you while you were yet a sinner.”

Messiah/Christ/anointed for your salvation;
Lord/Master/Ruler for you to serve.

Acts, Apostles, Christianity, First fruits, Gospel,
Proclamation, Sermons, Souls, Witness