Down to Business (Part B)

Joel's prophecy occurs is now reciting number 17 I think is more excitement coming.

I think as Christians if if you are not excited about the Lord using you, then you might be just a little bit too centered on this life.

I don't want to sound harsh because life can throw at us. Nasty stuff yet we are called still shyness beacons. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with part two of his message called down to business.

In acts chapter 2, there are those in Christianity that fear or resist pastoral authority and this is not biblical.

I think it be better to support it than to resist it, and if you say well you know I come from a church where they of the pastors abused the authority well.

I've seen Christians in the pew abuse Christianity. That's no excuse. We can say okay I guy got stung and now amount that you know in boxing that would you be accused of having a glass jaw you know one hit to the chin and you're done. You can't take a punch and where we Christians were supposed to be able to take some heat dependence upon the Lord Exodus chapter 17 verse 12 I think illustrates what I'm talking about very nicely because if the church did not support these apostles who would've been the end of the church when the apostles died. They did support as much trouble as as they had to confront her face in the church. The church prevailed, and we being here, as are many other churches are proof of that. But Exodus chapter 12 Moses hand. This is when Joshua was on the battlefield is fighting and Moses is overseeing the battle and when Moses lifts his arms up.

Joshua prevails when Moses arms get tired and he brings them down to rest.

Then Joshua forces get pushed back in. Moses recognizes this and so does Aaron and a man named her who was with them. This is what they do.

They formulate a response solution they come up with something to win the fight, but they know they've got to support their leader. Exodus 17 Moses hands became heavy so that they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it and Erin and her supported his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. One man can do it.

You need your Joshua's you need your troops.

You need your Erin and her you need Moses. It is the body of Christ, and it works better. It is more, it is victorious when it works together the 11 is with Peter making 12 is not a little statement. Let this be known to euthanasia responding to that ignorant statement is going to correct he is explaining and he is going to encourage all at the same time that's preaching to be able to convict to rebuke and to exhort second Timothy chapter 2 Paul tells Timothy this is ministry. This is pastoral ministry Timothy but it doesn't excuse the individual Christian either. He says in humility correcting those who are in opposition if God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth and that's what Peter is doing and I when I say I mentioned that this is not excuse the Christian we are all pastor are not supposed to in humility when the Holy Spirit opens the door as he is doing here at Pentecost. We are to correct those who are in opposition of perhaps God will grant them repentance that they may know the truth now is remember now are there after the spirit came upon them, and before we don't read about them just running around the temple route preaching to people they let the Holy Spirit open the door. Peter is going to reinforce his sermon with Scripture is going. As I mentioned cross reference Joel the prophet because he himself is now a man of the word were going to really get to that in chapter 6, but before that rereading what we been I've been saying over the last few sessions in acts Jesus after he rose from the dead. Luke writes this and he Christ opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures, which of course presupposes they were getting it as we go through the gospel. Is it what is wrong with these guys. Well, the Lord changed all that and now we're seeing it in action. As Peter gets down to business. Acts chapter 6 of this is next chapter 6 the Christians came up with what they thought was a good idea would evidently fail because it it just falls off the pages but the Peter stood up and said listen, this is good stuff, what you're saying choose from among you. Those who are worthy for this ministry who have a good reputation a good witness and filled with the spirit. Let them oversee this but he goes on to say we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. He's now this dynamo in the word and it is it will imagine what would happen if he was not what would've happened to the first church if they did not fill themselves with the Scripture, you would've had a bunch of leaders who didn't know the word of God and when the blind lead the blind.

They both fall into a ditch.

Peter says, and heed my words. He invites this multitude that he's preaching to, who are not Christians.

He invites them to act on solid preaching. It was Peter also, who wrote in second Peter chapter 1 we have the prophetic word confirm that the prophecies of Christ that the evidence is that he's fulfilled these prophecies. No one else has. And then he says which you do well to he we have got the Scripture. We've got the truth we can backup what would preaching unlike any other religion or you do Welty so here is telling them even those two different records the same meaning. Heed my words verse 15 for these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day so debunking their theory as we have to do is just one of the evolutionists decide the going to be honest with themselves.

You know, you don't need Christianity to debunk evolution need science at those pretty good so he's appealing to their sense of reason in their sense of honesty will if you witnessing to somebody who's not going to be rational or not but I'm not going to be honest, is really not much more you can do, but they are there listening in his reasoning with them and they're honest with themselves, evidently because we know the outcome of this, the Holy Spirit often calls us to explain his work is, why does he need witnesses. Why does he need servants he really wants us involved.

We are to interact with him as we interact with lost souls and saved trolls and just in case you haven't figured this out save souls can be sometimes more of a pain in the neck that I put too much emphasis on that P that I pop that peed too much.

They can be more of a pain in the neck then unbelievers, it shouldn't be this way. And of course then you had add to that the make believers.

They're not real Christians, but they use all the Christian languages say they are but they're fruits disputed is a lock it down. No way this guy can be a believer Lord is for you to decide that finally.

But I gotta be careful with this person and and that is such is life. Anyway, he says as you suppose there is no way that these people could have understood without help. No one stumbles into salvation, yet I was just drinking a milkshake and all of a sudden it dawned on me. I'm a sinner and I need a Savior.

We know you know that the does not happen at some point there has to be boots on the ground.

There has to be engagement. Even Paul, who was saved miraculously on the road to Damascus. He got clobbered by Stephen sermon. That sermon eviscerated Paul's doctrine. He was still seething threats of violence. He was coming against the church because he was taken apart by truth and you know how to get out of God help them with well again Peter, instead of being offended. The reasons from the Scripture did not let the scoffers have the last say it did like how they think were drunk alright that's veritably whatever the well. Sometimes you have to do that. Not this time, and it sure helps to know when it's a time to say you know what, I'm not giving you a pass on that one, that I'm going to take you to task.

It is certainly beneficial to us to be engaged to be in the game and to learn when to be led when the Lord leads us to sit still and when the Lord leads us to speak. However, there's a big caveat that goes with this a big warning if you have not love, what is your problem.

I asked for all of us. The apostle said it. I don't have love, I I am nothing and there a lot of Christians they want to reach the lost with them just the most loveless judge mental self righteous unknowing people and you got a love right. I'm not asking you and I'm sure there's some other says something out about you.

How could they said about made his know it is everything you love about me I'm you know is your this is eye-opening when someone tells you, you know, I thought you were a jerk you think that in India know it even causes you to go back. What did I do to make this person think that I was this or that when I'm not that way as my mom.

The Peter says don't be silly. This incidentally is the hour of prayer. When the morning sacrifices were being offered. They had been slaughtered earlier, but by the time they give me. This is the event every morning. The morning sacrifices and that Pentecost predominantly men are there at the temple more so than than at other times. Because of this was a mandated holiday for the men.

Three of them. God said you know some of you men you just will never go to church so I'm mandate three of the holidays that you got to be there and maybe something will click in your noggin well.

Verse 16. I shouldn't be too hard on them because if I were preaching, I wouldn't be here is a joke course IP I got answer the Lord and judge whoever else is up here.

Verse 16 but this is what the was spoken by the prophet Joel. I love that there listening to Peter and this is a nobody from Galilee. This is radical. This is an act of God is saying to them why are you surprised that the miraculous is supposed to be covenant people. The prophet Joel is prophecies are devoted with the spiritual features that belong to our faith. Why should you be surprised that this is sort of like when they were praying for Peter to be released from prison and he knocks on the door and they don't believe he's released and you said you know I I don't know if I would do better but you can't miss the lesson that the Holy Spirit preserves with such records in our Scripture God covered this topic. Oh, 800 to 500 years ago through this prophet Joel again Peter is giving them Scripture, not opinion in common enough in Scripture are partial fulfillments and future fulfillments when it comes to predictive prophecy, which eventually is fulfilled at some point and this is one of the prophecies in the Scripture that has a partial fulfillment here at Pentecost and then at the end of the age and will get into some of that he is not Peter is not asserting that Joel's prophecy is completely fulfilled because the evidence is against that and we have no reason to charge Peter with this was a showing off his knowledge of the word. I don't think so, but it's cute ponder it a little bit. But here's this outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and not a fulfillment but I am a critical point.

A critical moment in the lives of the apostles will for the first time ministering this way will putting to work. Would Christ put into them and for the recipients great multitude which will be saved on this in this morning on the morning of this event, consistent with Joel's revelation is that God is doing here at Pentecost.

What he said he would do this is Peter says a deposit. This is the first layer of fulfillment and evidently his audience. Who would've been familiar with Joel R agree because there are no hecklers are maybe some walked away.

Who knows, but we know a great multitude of them stayed for the sermon. All of it and then they took heed to the sermon is a Peter saying why is it so hard to accept this fact that God is pouring out his Holy Spirit as you see, as he said he would. This is that look again at verse 16 that just one.

That little that those three words this is that is connecting this event with what the prophet said once the church's rapture. That means public ministry. According to the Scripture because the apostate church will be left behind to join antichrist the ecumenical church will join antichrist but the true church is begun because if it was not taken away. Would've it would be slaughtered and that's why Christ that I'm going to spare you the wrath that is coming on the whole earth, and that wrath of not only the hatred towards Christianity which the two witnesses will experience, but the wrath of cataclysmic events in nature, global warming, but not got man-made God made so once the church's rapture. Further outpourings of the Holy Spirit will unfold. That's what Peter is saying and all the work of the two witnesses in the hundred and 44,000 Jews in the nation of Israel finally coming to repentance is the work of the Holy Spirit is according to the prophecy of Joel and Peter again is think this is layer 1 this is God now reach he will reach the Gentiles with this and the Jews alike culminates in the Messiah's kingdom after the day of the Lord the wrath of the Lord in the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy occurs that the fulfillment of what Peter is now reciting to them. Verse 17 I think is more excitement coming and I think as Christians if if you not excited about the Lord using you, then you might be just a little bit too centered on this life going to sound harsh because life can throw at us some nasty stuff and yet we are called still shine as beacons verse 17 and it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions in your old man dream dreams and it shall come to pass.

The Old Testament prophets knew nothing about the New Testament church they heard of the new covenant that they progressed no further. Paul points us out in first Corinthians to the eyes not seeing your that are yet about heaven is talking about the development of this new covenant that we call the New Testament testament means covenant.

This new arrangement of God that is a binding arrangement so packed into Joel's prophecy are future events to this moment that Peter is speaking at the end of the events right at right at the moment so that you have the stool and separate fulfillment by over 2000 years so far and still counting the portion fulfilled the Holy Spirit indwelling believers. Acts chapter 2, verse 39, wherein next to verse 39, four the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are a far off as many as the Lord our God will call. Peter is saying this outpouring of the Spirit.

Joel talked about this first layer is for everybody who is in Christ, it's available to every believer. When Paul gets up to Ephesus in chapter 19 he's going to come across believers in Christ to art filled with the spirit and he's going to to bless them, but they do that they weren't excited they were believers intellectually they got it, but there was to set up one feature missing and will wait till chapter 19 he says here and it shall come to pass in the last days.

Well, the last days began with the coming of Christ. You can cross reference Hebrews chapter 1 verses one into God in these last days spoken by the prophet Aziz Leslie spoken to us by his son. First Corinthians 1011, also a reference to the last days coming with Christ we live in the last of the last days as we look at the technology you and God. When man was building the tower of Babel God of Dennis and now you know nothing going to be held from them they going to just come continue to develop to their own destruction and God interfered will now the Tower of Babel has been rebuilt. If you metaphorically look at it this way and is now hurdled the barriers of language is crossed over mountains and oceans and rivers in man is now come together without God in the building there tower of technology in the tower of whatever else that they want to do, to the point where they're messing with.

You know, creation of artificial intelligence, which really is been around long time as you read some books anyway God is that some men it can't be sustained how they're messing with unborn, you know, will the human body, and all sorts of the words are escaping me me that means the Lord to know you need to finish up on chapter 2, the word of Genesis right now we see the Frankenstein's what they're doing in laboratories with their attempting to do in laboratories. The human race cannot sustain this and I think that's just a rational view even unbelievers are saying the same thing anyway here in the last days that we live. He says I will pour out my spirit and that Greek word FI upon all flesh. Of course, is not happening that remains to be fulfilled. Otherwise, we would all be saved would it will happen. The remnant of Israel that comes with the tribulation regardless of race, regardless of gender, regardless of social status, God will goddess made his spirit available. Joel's prophecy cannot be fulfilled until after the day of the Lord as it's coming to an end.

Zechariah chapter 13 verse eight tells us that only a remnant will survive of the Jewish people in the great tribulation. But that remnant will be converted to Christ and it shall come to pass in all the land says Yahweh. Zechariah 13 eight two thirds in it shall be cut off and die, and one third shall be left in like it or not that's what Scripture says and but Zechariah 12 and I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication. Then they will look to me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn and there is a spirit going to be poured out in the last days as Joel's prophecy is being completely fulfilled these things that they won't happen instantly in every situation. Some of it will lot will be good going on and taking place.

The main point is these Old Testament prophets there right. He says your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, they will proclaim they will speak forth God's word prophecy is this the movement of spiritual information is not limited to, prediction coming, there is that type of prophecy that predicts there is a type when the Bible uses the word prophecy.

It also uses it when it speaks of praising God and or singing songs, preaching and more reading of the word of God is all forms of prophecy is used in Scripture.

So there is foretelling the future as Peter is doing here is saying this is what the prophets your sons and you will dream dreams and voting Joel Moo you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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