123. Beginner Bible Course: Pentecost - The Holy Spirit is sent and the Church is born (Acts 2-4)

EPISODE 123:  Simple Bible overview:  PENTECOST – THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SENT AND THE CHURCH IS BORN

The day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, any Jewish male who could get there were required to get there. This is 50 days after the wave offerings of Passover day. That's what Pentecost means. 50. It's also known as the festival of weeks. Jerusalem is pretty packed, not as packed as Passover on Passover. You packed up the babies and grabbed grandma and everybody headed to Jerusalem, but on Pentecost in Jerusalem, it's mostly a whole lot of guys. Luke tells us the 120 followers of Jesus are still huddled together. Waiting suddenly somewhere around nine o'clock on this Pentecost morning, it's Showtime.

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The promised helper, the Holy spirit is sent. His arrival is unmistakable. Jesus talked about this game-changing moment with his disciples in the upper room the night before his death. If you didn't listen to podcast one 12, please do so in the old Testament written in Hebrew, the word for the spirit was Rua the breath or wind God breathed into Adam. The breadth of life. Ezekiel was told to summon the breath or wind of God over the Valley of dry bones. And they came to life and Rose up as a mighty army in the Greek. The new Testament is written in the word for breath or spirit is pneuma like pneumonia or pneumatic tires.

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This is the arrival of God's Holy Rua or pneuma. His spirit. Jesus sends the Holy spirit with great evidence. There's three unmistakable signs that accompany this morning of Pentecost and the arrival of God's. Holy spirit. First, there was suddenly something like the sound of a rushing wind, something they could hear the Rua or pneuma of God had arrived. It was something like a mighty rushing wind. This was no morning breeze. Then there was an indicator. They could see something like Wix of flames appeared on or near their heads and remained. This shouldn't surprise us.

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Either. Fire was a symbol of God, his holiness, his purifying effect. Think of God in the burning Bush or God sending a chariot of fire to pick up a lie Jah and bring him to his presence. And then a third sign arrived. They were given special tongues tongues. They hadn't mastered these hundred and 20 followers of Jesus suddenly start to speak in every known language of those men assembled in the city. Luke cites them. He circles the Mediterranean sea, Asia, Europe and North Africa. What are they talking about in these tongues? They're talking about the mighty things God has done undoubtedly through Jesus.

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Here's Jerusalem packed with male pilgrims. Men required to there. If they possibly could men from all over the Roman empire and here they are hearing in their own language from these people. Mostly Galileans the mighty works of God. The gospel, these people, no, wait a minute. Most of these people are Galileans. They're talking a bit of smack there. They had a special accent. People from Jerusalem and hoity toity Jews kind of looked down at them as sort of second class hillbillies as it were. These crowd of assembled men have two reactions. One is this. They were astonished and amazed asking what is going on here.

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These wonders that were happening, especially these Galileans being given fluency in an unstudied language was working as a signpost, pointing them to something important, but others in the crowd reacted with disgust. They respond. These people are crocked. They're drunk. File that away. There's something in that statement. We'll see again. In the letter, Paul writes to Ephesians there, Paul contrasts being drunk with wine to being controlled by the Holy spirit, we get the idea. There's something somewhat similar between being under the influence of alcohol and under the influence of God's Holy spirit. It's at this point, Peter, the rock stands up to give some perspective to the astonished or disgusted males in front of him.

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Notice as he speaks, Peter is back that talk. Jesus had with him at the sea of Galilee that do you love me? Pete feed my sheep, shepherd my sheep, that stuck with Peter. You get the sense. He feels 100% forgiven and 100% recommissioned he steps up and the other 11 joined him at his side. While Peter is speaking, you can bet these 11 are nodding vigorously in agreement. As you read acts chapter two, these aren't the same men who bolted from <inaudible> and who were hiding behind locked doors, Easter weekend. Here's what Pete says, gentlemen, in the crowd, it's only 9:00 AM.

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You're not seeing drunk people here. What you're seeing here is a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. It's coming to pass right before your eyes. Joel said on the great day of the Lord, men and women, even the common ones like us will prophesize and young and old men will dream dreams and have visions men in the crowd. It's the day the Lord promised the day he would pour out his spirit and someday folks, God will pour out more than just his spirit signs in the heavens fearful ones on that day, the Lord returns. Here's what y'all need to do. Call out on the name of the Lord. Jesus, Jesus was attested to you by God.

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God did great signs and wonders through him. You nailed him to a cross, but God raised him from the dead. Then Peter quotes, a Psalm of David Psalm 18. It was a well-worn page in the Jewish song book or Psalms book in that Psalm. David writes, you will not abandon my soul to the grave nor allow your Holy one to undergo decay. Peter stops and stares people that can't be David talking about himself. We have his tomb. No. David is talking about the Messiah who would come from his line. And since God raised up Jesus from the grave just seven weeks ago, Jesus must be that Messiah.

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God raised him up and we are all witnesses of this. I imagine the 11 giving a witness, Peter repeats, Jesus must be the Messiah quoting another. Some Peter continues. David also writes the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand. David's talking about his descendant Jesus there as well. If Jesus is sitting at God's right hand, he must also be God's son. The Lord, this Jesus of Nazareth. He is both Messiah and Lord. And now he sent the Holy spirit. As he promised here's how Peter's audience respond? They are cut to the heart.

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There it is. Folks. The work of the helper, Jesus said he will convict the world of sin of God's righteousness and of coming judgment. Men in the crowd, cry out. What must we do? Peter applies repent. We've studied what that word means. It means to do a one 80 to change your thoughts and attitudes, to leave skid marks and go the other way. Change the thoughts and attitudes about what I should say about whom repent about what you think about Jesus turned to him as both Messiah and Lord Peter continues be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. We've seen that baptism is going public about your all-in commitment to Jesus as Messiah and Lord.

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We've seen too that baptism doesn't forgive sins. And we'll talk more about that in the letters of the new Testament. What forgive sins is the shed blood of Jesus. The it is finished, paid in full shed. Blood of Jesus applied to us. It would be appropriate to translate that statement, be baptized because of the forgiveness of your sins. Then Peter gives part three received the Holy spirit as well. Having turned to Jesus and sins being forgiven God's Holy spirit wants to take residence in you. Luke reports, 3000 of those men, that day changed their mind about Jesus.

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They went all in on him as Messiah and Lord. They were baptized. At this point, we could sing the happy birthday song. Something is born at this moment. It's a baby church. Jesus talked about it. I will build my church. Now it's a reality. The church, the body of Jesus Christ has been born in Jerusalem on Pentecost. And what does that baby church of 3000 plus do? Luke says four things. They listen to the teaching of the apostles. They had fellowship with each other. They shared meals with each other ending in the Lord's table or communion. And they prayed God's baby church, learning with each other, loving on each other, sharing meals with each other and communion and praying for core values of the baby church.

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Now there's a small logistical problem. We have many of those who believed or from out of town. They're pilgrims here for Pentecost. You don't just birth a baby and set them out on a doorstep. They need to be nurtured and fed. These pilgrims need to linger for a little while and be grounded in their new faith in Jesus, as both Messiah and Lord the helper, the spirit prompts, many of the local believers. Who've gone all in on Jesus to sell property in position and bring the money to support these Pilgrim. Staying in town homes are open to house. Them meals are prepared to feed them each day. They go to the temple and at night they're in each other's homes.

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We're told the attitude of this baby church. They had gladness of heart and sincerity. That word sincerity means without wax. There's an interesting story behind that term. Pottery was the staple for household containers. When a Potter was done with a pot, if he was unscrupulous and there was a crack in it, after it came out of the kiln, he could press wax into the crack and sort of glaze it over. When you bought one of these pots, you'd hold it up to the sunlight. If there was a crack with wax, you could see a little light eking through it. These people had cracks, but they didn't fill them in to try and look better than they were.

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What you see was what you got the real deal and they weren't perfect, but they were real. And Luke tells us they had favor with God. And even with the locals who hadn't gone all in on Jesus, it's kind of hard to know like people who are real with a good attitude. We moved to chapter three, Peter and John, John entered the temple on one of these afternoons. It's about three o'clock the hour of prayer. They see a lame beggar. Who's always at the same gate. Peter says, look at us. The bigger looks hoping they're going to drop something into his hat. But Peter says we don't have any silver and gold, but what we do have we give to you and Peter then drops the signposts down in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

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We say to you, get up and walk. He pulls him to his feet and the guy can walk. We're told, he goes into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God crowds gather. They'd seen this dude every single day. They came for prayer. The power of Jesus has turned this guy into a signpost and Peter uses that signpost to point to wait for it. Jesus, Peter speaks again. Don't look at us. It wasn't by our power that this man can walk. It was the power of Jesus. This Jesus is the Prince of life. You disowned him and asked for a murderer. Instead.

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Then God raised him back to life. And we are witnesses of his resurrection. But people hear this. You acted in ignorance. You followed the old Testament script. So now do this repent. Change your mind about him, returned to him as Messiah and Lord that God's times of refreshing may come. That's a pretty short sermon, but when Peter finishes at least 2000 more, go all in on Jesus. Talk about church growth. Now the baby church in Jerusalem, just days after birth number, at least 5,000 men plus women and children, we moved to chapter four.

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The religious people are up in arms. The temple priests, the Sadducees in charge and the chief of police. The temple captain show up. They are not happy campers. They lay hands on Peter and John and throw them in jail overnight. The next day, Annas and Caiaphas, the same two Rascals who tried Jesus call a council. They'd drag Peter and John, before this council and ask by what power did you do this miracle outside the temple to the lame man. This time Luke makes it explicit. Peter filled with the Holy spirit. The helper answers their question.

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Council members. It was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. That's the power. Then Peter quotes some one 18. He is the stone you builders rejected. And he has now become the cornerstone. Then Peter gives his own little sermonette application. It's acts four 12. This might be one to memorize. Neither is there salvation in any other for, there is no name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Where did Peter the Galilean fishermen get this boldness and learn to talk like this?

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Jesus had told them that would happen. Luke reports, Jesus telling his disciples. And when you're brought to trial before these Jewish rulers and authority in the synagogues, don't be concerned about what to say in your defense for the Holy spirit will give you the right words. Even as you're standing there, Peter's doing this because of the helper. Here's what Luke says was the reaction of these learned hostile religious men in the council. They, these uneducated men as having been with Jesus, I'd say more than that, the Holy spirit sent by Jesus is speaking through them. The council orders them out so they can consult.

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Once in closed session, you can almost picture their comments and attitudes. Here we go again, gentlemen, what are we going to do? We can't deny a great miracle has occurred, but we got to nip this thing in the bud. They decide we'll intimidate them. We'll warn them to shut up about this Jesus of Nazareth guy, Peter and John are brought back in and that's what they do. They warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus, to the religious leaders, the shepherds of Israel, Peter ass, should we obey God or you men tell me they threaten them. But Peter and John are fearless. The council adjourns, Peter and John returned to the congregation of this baby church.

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And when they report what's happened, a worship service breaks out. They pray for boldness to continue to preach the resurrected Jesus. And they asked for God to continue to do great works signposts, to point more people to Jesus. As they're praying, Luke reports, the place they were gathered was shaken and they all were filled with the Holy spirit. That would have been something to witness better yet. To experience acts four ends explaining people, continued to be added to this baby church daily. These baby followers of Jesus continued in Jerusalem to learn and be grounded.

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They continued to share things in common to support the expenses of those staying it's here. We're introduced to one individual Joseph alleviate also called Barnabas. His name means son of encouragement. And is he ever an amazing man, an important character in the book of acts Barnabas sees the growing economic needs. He has attractive land. So he sells it for a Jewish person to sell his inheritance. Attractive land would have been a really big deal. He brings the money from the land and he lays it down at the feet of the apostles here, guys. However you need to use it. Okay.

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Barnabas, Mr. Encouragement with acts chapters three and four, we get the foundation of the baby church. In episode 13, I talked about building domino towers. I mentioned how important it is to get the first few floors, right? To set a good foundation. These two chapters in acts, give us a sense. The church is getting off on a good foot, a good foundation, but it doesn't stay that way very long. And that favor among the people they were enjoying. Doesn't last very long either. We're going to see some significant problems surface both outside this baby church and inside in our next wordpicture.