Collision
I see a collision in Acts 2 that produced a passionate sermon where 3000 people became followers of Christ. Think about the time you made your decision for Christ and experienced the joy of the Lord. Now multiply that by 3000 and you can begin to imagine what happened on this special day in the history of our church. That gets me fired up and makes me want to see some people make decisions to follow Christ. But here is what I see that can easily be overlooked. These 120 people gathered in this upper room knew the Word of God. Peter immediately jumped into scripture from the Book of Joel. Peter’s knowledge of the Word collided with the Holy Spirit and immediately produced a passionate response. That is why it is so important for us to be in the Word. It is how we keep our spiritual fervor, “our zeo”, our ability to be hot for Christ. I am excited about us reading Acts together because it will produce passion in us. Tell me what you learned today. I’m on a collision course, are you?
I think his passion made it easy for people to make their decision to follow Christ, you have that passion in your sermons and that’s why we are there to listen and be on this collision course together. I just started reading my bible( that I just got a few months ago) so for the first time I’m in the word and it’s a glorious thing!
That’s awesome Christy, way to go!
The Word is my sword! The Spirit gives my orders and my general has the power to make you his footstool fool! Ahhhh I just let out a battle cry at work.
I like this battle cry. I think I may go outside and let one out myself!
The end of verse 40 in The Message says what I would love to shout from the rooftops. “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture.” Daily I listen to the stories of my students who have seen and heard things that they should have been protected from, and I have to hold my tongue. The only way that these kids from the most dysfunctional homes will become good parents is for them to GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN. The only escape for them is salvation, but I have to tell them to get an education because that will change their fate. I am fortunate to teach with a number of Christian teacher who all voice the same thing. This generation needs Jesus. Because I teach American Literature, I am able to discuss Christian beliefs. Unfortunately some of our forefathers (Puritans, Slaveholders, those who made unfair deals with Native Americans) did not behave in a Christian manner. It is my job to reveal the hypocrisy of claiming Christianity when behaving abhorrently. The best part of my job is getting to legally discuss Christian values and teachings with my students. My prayer daily is that they will see Jesus in me.
It would be so awesome to witness and have a response like that. I have to say knowing that we are all reading ACTS together really makes me accountable…I love that you challenged us to do this. I love being in the word.
I’m thankful we have teachers like you Debbie. I’m glad you’re joining the discussion Jinger.
I think when a group of people commit together to be unified and have a common vision and love for the lost – that if we get TRULY passionate about OUR PURPOSE – we can change our community – and our world. I think every time a person is saved we should have the biggest party of the year for that person – we have parties for every other event out there (football games) that really don’t alter lives – why not CELEBRATE the best decision a person could ever make?? I’m excited to be going on this journey together with our body – and I think if we go down this road together and unified – LOOK OUT!! We can make a difference – just like that first small group did… I love getting into the Word too and knowing all my friends are studying the same scriptures with me every day is pretty cool. The Word is Life.
It makes my heart leap to think of 3000 people being saved at one time. Yet look at the man who saved them, Peter, the man that denied Jesus. It gives me strength knowing that Peter was forgiven and God used him to deliver a message that changed so many lives. Because he was forgiven and now living like a forgiven man, the passion in him made him obedient and to listen. Allowing the Holy Spirit to use him, filling him with a fire for all to see.
“God, help me to live as a forgiven woman to listen and obey. That you would use me, that I may bring glory to Your kingdom, AMEN”
At the end of Acts 2, the believers share everything. They are as one huge family, working, eating and praying together, with giving hearts filled with great joy. We have family members in our church with hearts like that…and you can see their joy. Jimmy, your fire is contagious and it fills me with joy. I thank God for using you to bring us His Word. He could of placed you anywhere in this world and He places you here in this Church, with these people, and so we are family. Thank you for taking the time to involve us in the Word this way.
Pentecost was a great day in the history of the church of the living God.
I have seen some great days in the years of my ministry that spans almost
60 years. I can still hear the shouts of praise from those who loved the
Lord while here and I am convinced they are still shouting on the hills of glory. May the power of the Lord come down as in that first meeting
on Pentecost. Praise the Lord!
As I read Acts 2:37-41 and think of the world around me I think of how we so often are afraid to go to God with our sins. Then I think of what these people felt! Imagine the fear as they repented for being the very ones who crucified Christ God’s only son. How profound that 3000 people repented and were forgiven. So why can’t we be faithful to let God in to forgive us? So my prayer of forgiveness is for not having faith in God’s mercy and forgiveness. This tells us that He can forgive anything if we truly repent.
Glad to see you join the conversation Aaron!