Worship
“Roll That Stone Away” by Bent Tree Worship, featuring Lizzy King
Scripture
“‘“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’
“‘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. 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. 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 rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not 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.”
“‘Fellow Israelites, 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 his throne. 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. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 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.’”’” -Acts 2:21-35
The Power of God’s Word in Evangelism
Peter had much to explain regarding what everyone had just experienced—to give the power of God a much bigger context! It is upon the backdrop of what was just experienced that he preached this powerful gospel message. Peter was not shrinking back this time; he had the Spirit filling him in a whole new way than he ever had before! He boldly took this curious group of onlookers to the prophecies fulfilled and the Scriptures (Joel 2:28-32, Psalm 16:8-11, Psalm 110:1) many would have known. He outlined for us a triumphant, evangelistic message that pierced the hearts of his listeners, anchoring everything in the initiative God took to reach man. And this message became the Church’s testimony to a watching, waiting world. The extraordinary power and presence of God set the stage for the first missionary gospel message. Oh, the powerful combination of the demonstration and proclamation of the gospel! And to watch the same grace and mercy that was extended to Peter be extended through Peter that day is extraordinary.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” -Romans 10:14
After explaining the wonder of Joel’s prophecy about the signs of the Spirit, which were for the last days until Jesus returns, Peter didn’t end there. Any of those things would be a precursor to the gospel message he was about to preach. Those descriptors of the activity of the Spirit would serve to point people to the work of Christ.
Our King of Kings submitted to death as God initiated it, and He was resurrected from death by the same Spirit they were seeing that day that now indwelt them (Romans 8:11)!
The Unchanging Gospel Message
Here’s our glorious gospel Peter preached that day: Caught in our own trespasses, we are guilty of putting the Son of God to death by our own sin. But Jesus had the final word over sin and death and the grave. He was sent by God to fulfill the purposes of God. He demonstrated His Sonship and Lordship through miracles, signs, and wonders. He died and was resurrected. There were eyewitnesses, and no grave still holds His body like it does for great kings, priests, and prophets of history. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and lives His life out now through believers who are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, who demonstrate and proclaim the message of Jesus. He has overcome the enemy, fulfilled the law, and reigns in victory over the enemy. And one day, He’s coming back. All those who believe and call on the name of Jesus will be saved!
In the many years I have shared the gospel, many people in very spiritually dark areas understand the message of the gospel after an encounter with the power of God. This is so much the case in South Asia (where the spiritual atmosphere is alive from their worship of millions of gods) that they are trying to pass a law that it is illegal to pray for healing. Why? Because when Hindus encounter the power of Jesus to heal their bodies, they want salvation to heal their souls. Too many are converting to Christianity as a result, and the government is attempting to control the Spirit of God. When I shared this with my daughter, AnnMarie, she said, “It looks like a healing movement is about to break out!”
This is our hour, Church, to not shrink back!
This is our hour where we can’t be silent and watch the enemy advance in our cities while we simply watch dumbfounded.
The same mercy and grace that reinstated Peter propelled him to extend that to those who sat in spiritual blindness and death.
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead resides in you, and, therefore, we have all that we need for life and godliness in Christ.
We have the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way, filling us.
We have both the message and the power that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in us, waiting to get out!
We have a wide-eyed world searching for light because they are bound in darkness.
Our bellies are filled with living water longing to cover parched ground.
And greatest of all, Jesus is coming back soon! Let’s bring people an experience and explanation of Jesus!
“Of course, we cannot give something away which we do not possess ourselves. The very ability to give away our life in Christ is the proof of its possession. Nor can we withhold that which we possess in the Spirit of Christ, and still keep it. The Spirit of God always insists on making Christ known. Here is the great paradox of life—we must die to ourselves to live in Christ, and in that renunciation of ourselves, we must give ourselves away in service and devotion to our Lord. This was Jesus’ method of evangelism, seen at first only by his few followers, but through them it was to become the power of God in overcoming the world.” -Dr. Robert E. Coleman, “The Master Plan of Evangelism”
Now go preach this glorious gospel message!
