Well, if you'd like to grab a Bible and turn to Acts chapter 2, that would be fantastic.
It would be helpful to keep that open in front of you.
I'm going to have to nip off before the end of this session, unfortunately, because of prior family commitments.
But I didn't want to let any of that get in the way of me spending the day with you.
And I'm really glad I did.
I've had many good conversations with a number of you today.
Enjoyed being here and being welcomed as part of the family for the day.
So I want to thank you for the privilege and I want to encourage you.
I'm grateful for the many evidences of grace that I see in you and that your pastors comment on.
I've been enjoying chatting with some of your elders as well and hear the ways in which they are encouraged in their heart at the strength and the vitality of the church,
but also of their vision for what's next for the coming years and how you guys might take things up a level by the grace of God.
That's what we're all seeking to do as churches in Edinburgh, isn't it?
When faced with so many people facing a lost eternity.
And actually, that's what I want to focus on just now.
The last talk and this talk are almost a little bit of a doctrine of the Holy Spirit, really.
We've talked at the start of the day about the importance of what it means to share our life together
and the way in which the Spirit who lives in us helps us to relate to one another even as we relate to God.
The second session really helped us to think through what it means to grow together
and how we need to be filled with the Spirit of God and live among the people of God at the same time.
Now, I think in this third session, we'll see that the Spirit of God filling the people of God
is to enable us to speak to other people about God.
So let's read from Acts chapter 2 and we'll read from verse 1 and following.
Here's what God's Word says.
Now there were, staying in Jerusalem, God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
And when they heard this sound, the crowd came together in bewilderment
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
Utterly amazed, they asked,
Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Parthians, Medes and Elamites,
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene,
visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Jerusalem,
Cretans and Arabs.
We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues.
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,
What does this mean?
Some, however, made fun of them and said,
They've had too much wine.
Then Peter stood up with the eleven,
raised his voice and addressed the crowds,
Fellow Jews and all you who live in Jerusalem,
let me explain this to you.
Listen carefully to what I say.
These men are not drunk as you suppose.
It's only nine in the morning.
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.
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.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above,
signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Men of Israel, 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.
This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge,
and you, with the help of wicked men,
put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
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.
David said about him,
I saw the Lord always before me,
because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore, my heart is glad,
and my tongue rejoices.
My body also will live in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life.
You will fill me with joy in your presence.
Brothers, I can tell you confidently
that the patriarch David died and was buried,
and his tomb is here to this day.
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath
that he would place one of his descendants on the throne.
Seeing what was ahead,
he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
that he was not abandoned to the grave,
nor did his body see decay.
God raised this Jesus to life,
and we are all witnesses of the fact.
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.
For David did not ascend to heaven,
and yet he said,
the Lord said to my Lord,
sit at my right hand until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.
Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this.
God has made this Jesus,
whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ.
When the people heard this,
they were cut to the heart
and said to Peter and the other apostles,
brothers, what shall we do?
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.
The promise is for you,
and for your children,
and for all who are far off,
for all whom the Lord our God will call.
Amen.
This is God's words.
Well, few born-again believers
would ever consider belonging to a church
that didn't take evangelism seriously,
would they?
Few people who would call themselves Christians
would ever want to be a church
that is unconcerned for the lost around them,
the members of their family,
friends,
who are lost without God and without hope.
Few bona fide believers would ever want
to belong to a church family
that had no consideration
for the three billion people across the world
who do not know Jesus
and who need to hear about Jesus
in order to be saved.
Yet one of the most common deficiencies
that we can see in churches,
and I think even across our nation,
is that the majority of money and time
can be spent on serving and sustaining
the organisation
rather than reaching the lost.
Why is that?
Well, it's not because we don't believe
the gospel for ourselves.
We do.
It's not that we don't really care
about people's plight
apart from knowing Jesus.
I think we do.
It's not that we actually have logical reasons
for our practice in church life.
Actually, we don't have logical reasons.
So what is it?
What is it for you?
What is it that for you as a church family
or even as individuals
makes evangelism tough?
Where is the reluctance to share the gospel?
Sometimes it can be put down to a fear of man.
We worry about what people will think of us.
Sometimes it's down to a lack of vision.
We've just ended up doing what we do.
And actually, we're very programmatic
as a church family
without actually being concerned
for the people out there.
Sometimes it's just a lack of planning.
We never really seem to make time
for non-Christians.
Well, if we do,
if we don't make time for non-Christians,
we really can't expect them
to ever come to a point
where they hear the gospel
and believe it.
So it seems that there's
some disconnect somewhere.
And what I want us to see
to encourage your heart
is that what we see
in Acts chapter 2
is true for you.
It strengthens and encourages you.
At least I hope it will.
So let me map this out for you.
I've got three points
in this in particular.
I've tried to make it memorable
for you by using
a line from a song
changing one of the words slightly.
You'll know the Getty song
where we sing
filled with passion,
filled with power to proclaim
salvation in Jesus' name.
Well, point one is
filled with power.
There's a word I've changed.
Power to proclaim
salvation in Jesus' name.
Points one, two, and three.
I'm impressed by that.
I don't like it.
I don't mind.
Anyway.
Graham liked it.
First of all,
I want us to look at
filled with power.
Let's see if it'll work.
I keep pointing to the screen
where I'm supposed to point
over there.
Never mind.
Acts chapter 2
is all about
the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit,
of course,
not an impersonal force.
He's a person.
He is God.
He is the third person
of the Trinity.
He possesses all the attributes
of divinity.
He's everything the Father is
except the Father.
Everything the Son is
except the Son.
He is deity.
And what does he do?
Well, the Old Testament
tells us that
he was involved
in creating
and sustaining the world.
That one of the main things
he did was
he gave
prophets and kings
in the Old Testament
the ability
to speak God's word.
So we would read
the Holy Spirit
spoke through
your father,
David,
your servant,
David, sorry.
But in Jesus' ministry
we see the Holy Spirit
working as well
and Luke is very careful
to record for us
in his own gospel account
in the events
of Jesus' baptism
because he wants us
to see that
Jesus is
empowered by the Spirit.
So you remember
at Jesus' baptism
you both heard something
and you saw something
as well.
So you heard
the Father's voice
so this is Heaven's
audible affirmation
of the King
who is being baptized.
This is my Son
whom I love
with Him I'm well pleased.
And then you had
this visible
accreditation
if you like
of the Lord Jesus
by the Spirit
descending
like a dove.
There was something
that was heard
that was something
that was seen.
And Luke's careful
to show us that
because
he wants us to see
that Jesus is empowered
for a preaching ministry,
a speaking ministry
by the Holy Spirit.
And that's what
we're going to see
in Acts 2.
There's a direct link
between filling
and speaking.
And again
this is what we see
at Pentecost.
The disciples
who are filled
they heard something
and they saw something.
So what they heard
verse 2
suddenly a sound
like the blowing
of a violent wind
came from Heaven
and filled the whole house
where they were sitting.
Now I'm sure
most of us
know what it's like
to roll the window
down in the car
and stick your head out
and you hear it.
No?
Just me?
Okay.
Maybe you've just heard
you've been up
the top of Arthur's seat
on a windy day
half blown off
but you hear
the roar of the wind
across your ears.
Yes?
Good.
Well we hear that
and I think
that's the kind of sound
the disciples are hearing.
And I say
kind of
it is a sound.
Do you know
Luke doesn't actually tell us
that there was any wind.
It's just the sound
like a wind.
So the sound itself
is described by Luke
as coming from Heaven.
That alerts us
to the fact
that these are
the acts
of the risen Lord Jesus.
In chapter 1
Jesus had said
go into Jerusalem
wait for the gift
I have promised.
You will receive power
when the Holy Spirit
comes on you.
Then you'll be my witnesses.
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria
ends of the earth.
That's what they heard.
They heard the wind.
So something's happening.
The Spirit's being poured out.
What they saw
verse 3
tongues of fire.
Fire was a common theme
in Theophanies
in the Old Testament
when God manifested
his presence
in some form.
You remember Moses
and the burning bush?
There's an example
of a Theophany
in the Old Testament.
So the bush
was on fire
but not burned up.
And I think
you've got something
significant going on here
where we have
these tongues of fire
separating
okay that's important
and resting
on everyone.
Every one of the guys
who was in the room.
Now God's Spirit
is not just present
in his people
corporately
as like one big
tongue of fire
if you like.
No, every individual
is touched by the fire
which tells us
that no longer
would it be
special individuals
like in the Old Testament
like Moses or David
who were anointed.
The outpouring
of the Holy Spirit
won't be just
for select people
like prophets
capital P prophets
and kings.
It's for everyone.
It's for the whole church.
And here's what it meant.
With these signs
came the filling
of the Holy Spirit.
But what did it mean?
What did it signify?
It marked the dawning
of this new era
in salvation history.
The age of the church.
An age of mission.
Where all people
need to hear
the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And it marked
this tremendous
outpouring
and spreading
of the Holy Spirit's ministry.
Now for the 120
that were gathered here
the wind and the fire
were outward signs
of the inner reality
that God has made
his home in them.
And that inner presence
was then evidenced
by what was produced
in them.
Words.
News.
Gospel.
Proclamation.
Okay.
When the Holy Spirit
lives in you
you have
power to
proclaim.
Power to proclaim.
And that's what we see.
Power to proclaim.
You are enabled
as a Christian
to talk to others
about Jesus.
Now Luke is
very very careful
in this
to show a direct link
between
filling
and speaking.
Okay.
Filling and speaking.
Verse 4.
All of them
were filled
with the Holy Spirit
and began to
speak in other tongues
as the Spirit
enabled them.
And this link
between the filling
of the Spirit
and speaking
is seen
throughout the passage
actually.
In chapter 2
verse 14
Peter
filled with the Holy Spirit
raised his voice
addressed the crowd.
You've got two words
in there
that refer to him
proclaiming.
2.17
I will pour out
my Spirit
on all people.
Here's the promise
from of old
your sons
and daughters
will
prophesy
declare
the word
of God.
2.18
I will pour out
my Spirit
in those days
and they will
prophesy
declare
the word
of God.
Okay.
Now tongues.
Let me be clear
the tongues here
are languages
that people
from other parts
of the world
can understand.
And Luke says
there are people
in that crowd
from 15 different
cities or regions.
The tongues here
in verse 4
are the languages
in verses 6
and 8.
So they say
how is it
that each of us
hears them
in our own
native tongue
language
use whatever word
you feel like.
It's the same word.
They were speaking
foreign languages
they had never learned
and you can see
how that would
come in handy
when you're called
to reach the nations
that you've never
ever been to
who speak languages
that you don't have
a clue
what it sounds like.
I mean that would be
like me bursting
into fluent Mandarin
without having ever
been taught
how to speak
Mandarin.
I'm not going to
some of you are
looking at me
expectantly here
no I'm not.
Then what does he say
not just tongues
so people speaking
in languages
he talks about
prophecy
and the spirit
comes
his people speak
that's essentially
what prophecy is
in the broad
sense of the word
as the spirit
comes
the result
is this miraculous
intelligible
proclamation
of the mighty
works of God
to all nations.
Do you see that?
In the text
there is a direct
link between
filling
and speaking
that says
something to us
doesn't it?
But not only
is there a direct
link between
filling
and speaking
there is a direct
link between
filling
and fearlessness.
drunkenness
this is what
the drunkenness
accusation in the text
is all about.
The crowds hear a commotion
and verse 13
they say
oh they've had
too much wine
now why would
they think that?
Why would they
think that?
Well think about
what happens
when a person
gets drunk
they lose
their inhibitions
don't they?
What do you think
why do you think
people sing in the streets
or
at night
or why do you think
karaoke gets more
popular as the night
goes on?
Well it's because
people lose
their inhibitions
and alcohol
does that to people
alcohol is a depressant
that doesn't mean
that it makes you depressed
it means that it
dulls your brain function
and the reason
people lose
their inhibitions
is because
it kind of just
makes you stupid
but not with
the Holy Spirit
when he fills you
when you're intoxicated
by him if you like
he gives you joy
by sharpening
your awareness
to realities
so heavenly
that you lose
your sense of
fear
and you lose
your inhibitions
and express
a fearless joy
in declaring
with words
the great truths
that you have come
to know in your heart
and actually
if you have it
in your head
that Christ died
and to live is Christ
and to die is gain
for you
then actually
going to an
unreached people group
a million miles away
will be no deterrent
to you
we do not fear
those who can
kill the body
do we
yeah we speak
we declare
the words of God
we as we are
filled with the spirit
are filled with this
ability to speak
but there's a direct
link between
filling and
fearlessness
as well
you know
these people here
who are hearing
this message
and hearing the noise
and the commotion
of the other languages
and so on
they're saying
you can't be that happy
you can't be that bold
without being drunk
that's the world's
explanation
for Christianity
but listen to
Peter's explanation
verse 15
these people are not
drunk as you suppose
it's only nine
in the morning
no this is what
was spoken by
the prophet Joel
in those last days
God says
I will pour out
my spirit
on all people
and that's what
leads to Peter's sermon
think about
who is doing
the speaking here
now
these are the
disciples
as a group of
individuals
in the gospel
stories
they are presented
as dull
confused
rash
selfish
and downright
scared
throughout
they had spines
of jelly
when Jesus was
arrested
they abandoned
him and ran
for their lives
verse 11
be
now they're all
boldly declaring
the mighty works
of God
who cares
about the Romans
who cares
about the Sanhedrin
who can do
to us
what they just
did to Jesus
40 days before
no there is a
fearlessness
that comes with
the filling of the
Holy Spirit
a boldness
that comes with
the filling of the
Holy Spirit
a desire to
proclaim the
words
of life
when you're
filled with the
Holy Spirit
zoom in on
Peter
Peter with the
foot shaped
mouth
you know
there won't be
many people in
heaven who can
claim to have
rebuked the
Son of God
it's not his
best moment
but now look at
him
verse 14
Peter stood up
with the
eleven
raised his
voice
addressed the
crowd
fearless
everything
has changed
with the
coming of
the Spirit
that's what
Jesus
almost kind of
gave a trailer
for
that's what
Luke is trying
to show us
in his
explanation of
this account
the violence
and the
loudness of
the wind
had drowned
out all
their puny
fears
the flames
on their
heads
had ignited
their hearts
with an
unquestionable
unquenchable
passion for
the Lord's
glory
and every
ounce of
timidity
and hesitancy
and uncertainty
is swallowed
up in the
knowledge of
God's
greatness
and what
he is
doing
as his
glory
will
spread
across
the earth
as the
waters
cover the
sea
and then
as a result
Peter and
the apostles
will preach
with incredible
boldness
and with
unwavering
zeal
they would
unashamedly
tell the
world about
Jesus
now listen
if you
believe in
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
if you
love him
with all
your heart
the same
Holy Spirit
lives in
you
the same
Holy Spirit
lives in
us
and we
are filled
so that we
might have
that deposit
guaranteeing what
is to come
us
we are
filled
that we
might with
boldness
approach the
throne of
grace
seeking mercy
and in
prayer make
great requests
of a great
God
we are
filled with
the Spirit
who helps
us change
with ever
increasing glory
into the
likeness of
Jesus
but we
would be
in
error
to think
or to
omit
rather
the fact
that we
have been
filled so
that we
can speak
filled to
proclaim with
a fearless
joy the
good news
of Jesus
Christ
so why
don't we
do it
maybe we've
convinced
ourselves that
the Holy Spirit
only lives in
us as a
deposit
maybe we've
convinced
ourselves that
the Spirit
only lives in
us as a
chisel shaping
us into
the likeness
of Jesus
maybe we
forget all
those things
accompanied by
the power to
proclaim that
work in us
a joyful
loss of
inhibition
and a
passion for
sharing the
best news
ever
salvation
in Jesus
name
and that's
exactly what
Peter goes on
to proclaim
I think in
our fear
fearfulness
we keep our
mouths shut
at times
I've
experienced
that in
my own
life
I think
we're scared
of losing
our reputation
we're worried
about what
people will
think of
us
people will
think ill
of us
when the
person who
first told
me that
she believed
in Jesus
so I
became a
Christian
when I
was 19
I didn't
grow up
in a
church
my teenage
years were
turbulent
shall we say
when the
girl who
first told
me about
the gospel
first explained
it to me
that the
reason why
she believed
the way
what she
believed
and did
what she
did
I just
thought
you're
nutcase
I did
I thought
only people
like I
thought it
was like
believing that
Star Wars
was real
and I
thought the
Bible was
unequivalent
with Aesop's
fables
you know
nice stories
and all
that
but historically
reliable
you know
an historical
person
come on
we've moved
on from
that
but I
came to
see that
that's not
the case
but I
say that
to say
that people
will reject
us
but that
doesn't
deter
us
you
might
lose
your
reputation
but you
might not
you might
be the
very person
who by
your
joyful
fearlessness
and declaring
the word
of God
might be
the person
who gets
to become
the spiritual
midwife
for that
person
that you're
speaking
to
as my
wife did
for me
I married
her six
well I
didn't marry
her six
months later
that would
have been
weird
six months
later I
became a
Christian
a year
and a
half
later we
were
married
who knows
what you
might do
no one
would have
given me
any hope
in those
days
trust me
except those
who with a
joyful
fearlessness
and an
understanding
that the
gospel really
is the
power of
salvation
to everyone
who believes
they would
speak and
they would
see it
we're
not the
ones who
decide who
can and
cannot be
welcomed into
the kingdom
and we
must not be
those who
sin by
preferring our
reputation
to their
salvation
if we do
we just
become complicit
in their
lostness
that's
dangerous
brothers and
sisters we
must repent
of that
and do you
ever think your
inhibition in
sharing the
gospel might
just be the
thing that
puts people
off
that your
lack of a
willingness to
share it
might be the
very thing that
makes a person
think well
they're that
reluctant so
they can't
really do
what they
say it
will do
no we
must be
bold
with a
joyful
fearlessness
and declare
as the
apostles did
not just in
Acts 2
but throughout
the book of
Acts
as we see
the gospel
go north
and south
with the
Ethiopian
into
Africa
with Paul
into Europe
to the point
that you see
at the very
last
the last
word
of the whole
book of
Acts
is unhinderedly
the word of
God spread
with great
boldness
and without
hindrance
that's the way
the gospel
spreads
so what do
you say
what will
you say
well maybe
you can say
what the
apostle Peter
said
in declaring
this salvation
in Jesus
name
look what he
did
he had this
little thing
in his head
that he just
thought well he's
filled with the
spirit clearly
but he is
declaring the
mighty works
of God
and he presents
a little fourfold
pattern here
Jesus lived
Jesus died
Jesus rose
Jesus reigns
okay
Jesus lived
Jesus of
Nazareth was a
man accredited
to you by
God
and he talks
about his
miracles and so
on
so in other words
Jesus is a
man he really
did live
and God
put him on
display
that's what the
word accredited
means in the
Greek he put
him on display
for you and
showed him
who he was
but you put
him to death
you killed
him and
Jesus really
died
but Jesus
rose again
it was
impossible
for death
to keep its
hold on him
because for
death to keep
its hold on
anyone that
person must
have sin
in their
account
but Christ
the righteous
one had no
sin
therefore sin
death had
no claim
on him
that's why he
could loose
the bonds
of death
and walk
free from
that tomb
three days
later of
his own
will and
volition
and Jesus
reigns
he ascended
now to people
who've just
killed Jesus
to hear that
he ascended
and is seated
at the right
hand of the
father which
is the place
of ultimate
power
you're going
to be scared
you know
I've just
killed
I could say
I've just
killed Jesus
he's no longer
a problem
for us
unless he's
alive and
actually death
can't keep
him
you know
you can't
kill him
again
he is
immortal
so what
Peter does
is just
counter
everything
that these
guys are
thinking
and declares
the gospel
really in a
nutshell
and says
in fact
you guys
have killed
him
you've got
it wrong
you thought
he was a
curse
you just
killed the
king of
life
that's why
we see so
many of them
being cut to
the heart
at the
declaration of
this word
Peter is
filled with
the spirit
and filled
in order to
speak the
word with
fearlessness
and people
become
Christians
you see it
again and
again in the
book of
Acts
sometimes it's
not so much
a gospel
in a nutshell
like this
it is on
many occasions
at times
it's
I was once
blank
but now
I'm
blank
all because
Jesus died
for me
so when you
think of the
way the
apostle Paul
gives his
testimony
a number of
times later
on in the
book of
Acts
it's incredible
to see and I
wonder if that
might help us
practically
you can learn
gospel presentations
like two ways
to live or
something like
that so that
in the moment
you know if
you've got a
friend with
you and you're
in a lift with
them and they
actually say
what is the
gospel and
you've got between
level one and
level five to
tell them what
are you going to
say we should
be equipped in
that respect to
be able to say
something punchy
and with a
fearless joy that
will strike their
hearts and we
pray that God
will move in
their hearts as
you speak
or you might
share your
testimony
I was once
a sin ravaged
kid
dealing drugs
by the age of
14
but now I'm
I'm a Christian
and I love
Jesus and I've
turned away from
that life of
shame and I'm
living a life of
love where I love
him and love
everybody else
all because Jesus
died on the cross
for me and
wiped that sin
away what would
you say
how would you
fill in the
blanks in that
regard
my encouragement
for you is to
do this
now one of the
things a major
thing that gets
in the way of
us doing this
and this is
something to
think about as
a church family
together is that
we preoccupy
ourselves with so
many Christian
relationships that
we have no time
for the non
Christian that's
dangerous that's
dangerous because
it's often those
relationships it's
relational connections
with people that
provide something
of the platform
you know we have
an events based
mentality at times
where we think
you know what was
that Kevin Costner
movie you know
build it and they
will come you know
that's an ancient
thing I'm sure my age
but it was about
baseball it was a
rubbish sport but
you basically build
it and they will
come you know we
just put this on and
people will flock in
that doesn't happen
look back over your
the past two weeks
and figure out how
much time did I
spend in connection
with Christians how
much time did I
spend at work how
much time did I
spend with my family
how much time did I
spend with non
Christians my guess is
that most of us will
see that last section
has shrunk down
considerably make
time we've my wife
and I have tried to
do this a lot where
we live and we've
seen immeasurable
benefits and my wife
has conducted a
Christianity explored
course with
six mums from the
area you know God
has opened doors
that we've never
seen I go out once
a month with some
guys and without
fail somebody will
turn around to me
an hour into the
night and say so
what are you preaching
on a Sunday these
are non-Christians
I'm making time to
spend time with them
and I'm a busy guy
lots of things at
church that I have
to show up to or I
get a P45 you know
make the time and
don't retreat from
it there is a
direct link between
filling and speaking
so we must declare
the gospel don't go
with any of this
preach the gospel and
use words if you have
to oh it's heresy
it's awful the word
is news the gospel is
news must be declared
preach the gospel tell
people about Jesus
and his love and his
death in their place
and the fact that he
rose again because he
is the sinless saviour
and God raised him
from the dead
declaring him his
sacrifice on the cross
to be acceptable to
him the resurrection
is the receipt of that
sacrifice on the cross
paid in full tell them
about that tell them
how it's transformed
your life and often I
think you know one of
the things that we see
is we often feel like
the onus of responsibility
is on us to give an
account for the things
that we believe about
the gospel the onus is
on people for not
believing it you know
for putting their faith
in all sorts of things
where they have no
credible substantial
evidence for it even
evolution tell people
about Jesus use words
tell them about all that
he has done and as a
church family look to
encourage one another in
this pray for one
another and that's what
we must do because this
this and I close with
this is a day of
opportunity this is what
Peter declares at the
sermon in Pentecost
this is a day when the
spirits poured out he
says Joel says it's a
there is another day
though a day a coming
day of the Lord a day
marked by fire and
billows of smoke a
judgment day and five
times Joel says the
day of the Lord is
near yet Joel spoke of
this open-ended period
before the day of the
Lord when the Holy
Spirit would be poured
out and available to
all not everybody
irrespective of their
readiness to repent of
their sin and believe in
Jesus but everybody
irrespective of their
past their background
their age their sex or
status in other words
this is the time of
open invitation this is
the age of the church
this is the age of
missions to keep our
mouth shut is to be
disobedient to the
nth degree then Peter
quotes Peter quotes
Joel making one
subtle change Joel
says it shall come to
pass Peter says it's
already begun it's
begun now with the
pouring out of the
Holy Spirit at
Pentecost these days
are now here which
means the final day
that day of the Lord
is nearer than it has
ever been God's clock
has moved on and now
there is this window of
opportunity where
everyone young old
rich poor educated or
not may come and call
upon the name of the
Lord so my question is
what will you do you
say you're filled with
the spirit declare the
mighty acts of God
that would be consistent
with your filling and
be fearless in it
brothers and sisters
enjoy it and God will
save his people from
their sins amen
근데 the
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lesser
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