Acts The Unhindered Harvest Acts 2 1 8

Acts: The Unhindered Harvest

Acts 2: 1 -8 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

It begins, but first… • Focus on what is primary – It isn’t “speaking in tongues” – “Tongues” are only incidental

It begins, but first… • Step into the culture – Use of Scripture – Use of witnesses

He is here! • God gave a sign – Empirical evidence – Signs accompany something new

He is here! • God attracted a crowd – Religious devotion – Unusual phenomena

He is here! • God’s power at work – The Spirit gave utterance – The Spirit did what they could not – Believers were faithful

Peter takes a stand • Cowardice transformed • Proclaimed judgement • Proclaimed hope

Peter takes a stand • Proclaimed assurance • Proclaimed personal identification • Proclaimed Christ as LORD

People respond • The Spirit convicts • The Spirit compels • “What shall we do? !”

What shall we do? • Repent – Precedes baptism – Inseparably linked to forgiveness – Inseparably linked to the Spirit’s indwelling

What shall we do? • Be baptized – Public identification – Issue of obedience – Not optional

• Ask the question • Repent! – Of your rejection – Of your excuses • Be baptized Reaping the Harvest