Down to Business (Part C)

Open one's heart to Christ is a beautiful thing to close it is to forfeit this to forfeit his pouring forth is pouring upon any older Christians don't get stale because you been taking hits that this should work the other way around. Make those hits turn them into two action get busy be down to business prey I mean is just so much to do as president.

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, but for now, here's pastor Rick as he continues his message called down to business. In acts chapter 2. 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 be gone 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. It's 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 for 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.

I don't I don't want 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 men 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, but they progress. No further.

Paul points this out in first Corinthians 2 guys not seen in years 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 that 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 when God when man was building the tower of Babel. God looked on us 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 at 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 a lot 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 we 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, there is that type of property 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 or reading of the word of God. These are all forms of prophecy, as used in Scripture. So there is for telling telling the future as Peter is doing here he is saying this is what the prophet spoke your sons and you will dream dreams and quoting Joe Jeremiah chapter 28 gives us an example of God, for telling predicting the future. Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hannah and I have the prophet here now had Anaya Yahweh has not sent you. You make this people trust in a lie. Therefore thus says Yahweh, behold, I will cast you from the face of the of the earth this year you shall die because you have taught rebellion against Yahweh. So verse 17 of Jeremiah 28 had Anaya, the prophet died the same year in the seventh month he predicted it and that is direct prophecy.

Also he signaled you, you are sinning you are doing less the direct part then he says in his was going to happen. That's the predictive part so Jeremiah is there for telling and telling forth speaking forth as Peter is also doing here.

Acts chapter 19 I mentioned the Ephesian Christians. When Paul arrives verse six and Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied what would be a little far-fetched to think that when they came to Christ to hell. These predictions then you know milk will be sold at a dollar a gallon numbing just it's it's it's that's not in the context of Scripture at all what is happening is praising God and quoting Scripture more than likely because they they were already believers. They were Jewish believers that forth telling. We know and some of first Samuel chapter 10 is not Saul amongst the prophets. What was Saul doing he was singing with them praises to God first Chronicles chapter 25 verse one really drills down this moreover David and the captains of the Army separated for the service. Some of the sons of Asaph Heyman to do a phone who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments and symbols. Again, it would be kind of soliloquy want to tell everybody that you know notes going down in his price. We need to sing it to the people that would just not be me.

Gotta use your head, but there they are singing to the Lord and it is referred to as prophecy. So the context is everything. Edification first Corinthians 14 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men again. I keep using the Nokia noise not saying the ominous become due notes and were even lower than a dollar a gallon. The ominous, not what's going on is beauty. We prophesy in this in this sense, when we speak the word of God will we encourage according to the Scripture asked 21 verse nine.

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied the likely subdued look but did you daughters I love to sing songs to the Lord and could say but again, to think that all this predictive prophecy again is some I think Miss misguided approach witnessing acts chapter 10 verse 43 to him all the prophets witness, that through his name.

Whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins and the content.

The church continue to do this. Revelation 1910 worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. So prophecy is the movement of spiritual information spiritual things. It is not limited to forth telling or foretelling.

It includes exhortation and joy, and building up others. It was so Peter says here in verse 17, your young men shall see visions who would object to this, I should ask who was in on whatever is a prophecy is going to be a prediction well your problem with the referring to the prophesying with instruments ready out your young men shall see visions. God given Revelation while the person is awake, your old men shall dream dreams a revelation from God.

While the person is asleep. Visions for the young men watching dreams for the old man resting is not gender specific enrollment in old women believers is the idea behind that verse 18 and on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy, and so that belongs to the previous statement with the visions and dreams that they are filled with the spirit and they're also speaking the things of God.

Christian men and women. Corinthians chapter 3 verse 16 do you not know you are the temple of God, that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Verse 23 and you belong to Christ.

Ownership those of the menservants and the maidservants, the ones that are owned by Christ, by consent and assure Calvinists. It does make a difference demanded to be Christian and hit another you go out. I don't believe in And I always hope my audiences what is that and just leave it at that.

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, quoting the Hebrew prophet Joel throughout this saying you make room for the Holy Spirit and he will make room for the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a fact that is the discovery also come to Christ he all excited about these things in there happening every should doctrine is not formed yet. You even know it's happening you can say will.

This is what the Bible speak with you just a new Christian when I came to Christ. I was the like. Loving the Lord telling everybody prophesying again, not about milk managers I've been reading the Bible.

You got to see what's in the Bible.

I did not was missing all the whitening they tell me this happened, it was a busy lighting candles and walking around telling you that was happening in the neighborhood were telling me about Jesus Christ.

So in essence, I was prophesies filled with joy. We buy laugh. I was so happy to be saved from the hell that I was going to and exists again anyway is not Rick amongst the prophets, yeah baby, I am so to open one's heart to Christ is a beautiful thing to close it is to forfeit that beautiful thing is to forfeit his pouring forth is pouring upon and the older Christians don't get stale because you been taking hits that this should work the other way around and make those hits turn them into two action get busy be down to business prey I mean is just so much to do as Christians. A new, younger Christians are younger Christians, Yukon, the church wake up now and maybe assist as Old Testament, and some of it might be heavy-duty to what look if you are only celebrating Christ when you come the church in a church that goes verse by verse you going to miss you going to be so out of shape that you can't keep up. And so the solution is is have your devotions. It doesn't take much. I mean attended the time it takes you to, you know, Darek the videogame for 10 minutes. You could've been just having a paragraph of the Scripture and you will be amazed at how the Holy Spirit will take it from there. There will be times when he won't take it from there because he's doing something else with you, but open your heart to Christ. Don't think you're a Christian because your parents are Christian.

What about you if your parents were Christians that mean you can't be a Christian. Of course not. It's a comes down to a personal relationship with Christ be people of the word. Matthew 1338 that he did not doom.

Many mighty works there because of their unbelief they just didn't believe it. You have to open that heart, and they shall prophesy, be filled to speak forth one more verse first Corinthians 14.

He was speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Verse 19 and I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor and smoke is a catastrophic events that will be taking place. Just prior or prior to, throughout the trip relation. To the return of Christ. But this in particular is toward the end of that great tribulation. Blood and fire and vapor of smoke is God's day of judgment and wrath on an antichrist world. Joel starts off by saying is the day of the Lord the wrath of the Lord is coming that's eyes prophecy starts off and he develops it throughout were not centered on saving the planet. As Christians we are centered on saving souls and it is okay to point that out to those who think that the earth is again I don't get it to talk about the ice melting and we all getting flooded out.

But to me a scientific experiment is ice in a glass of water. I mean when I smell to you. It's the goes down my missing something. Is there another law of ice melting that I don't know about. Maybe you can help me with that.

You all this is different eyes. It has polar bears on top of it just seems that you know you want to trust sciences which can't. Some of them you can they give you facts with others that come along you'll anyway verse butchers and trying to stress in the same, white coat, don't think about it anyway. First, one of offended butchers for the scientists that not what I'm trying to do. Verse 20 the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the coming a great and awesome day of what I don't see that I want to live through the hat, idolizing it from heaven because I'll be above it all. But you know some men put so much into this. The blood moon. Remember we went through that a few months ago and and I'm sure that I got a letter going to come back with just preach the word love the lost is even a then love the saved to you supposed to figure it out. You know, some say people are really hard to love. Anyway, these cataclysmic events going on. Demonstration of God's power and sovereignty are the completion of Joel's prophecy is wrapping up, taken in its fullness. The passage of Joel promises more to come. That's what Peter is saying is ways quoting all of it is going to pour out a spirit is happening now.

But there's more to come. This is a first layer. There are other layers. How exciting. They knew that otherwise they would've rejected what Peter was saying and so Peter is saying this more beyond the church age is more to God's prophecies beyond this life. It is the identical power of God in action that is allowing these men to speak in tongues as they are and also wrap up the universe manifested at Pentecost, as preached by Peter work with me in verse 16. Again, but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel and and so don't be surprise you saying the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, do you really do we really need a a lengthily exposition on that I like just accepting that is going to happen and I won't suffer through it. I don't want to see the sun turned to darkness. We need the sun, Matthew and Osama using what what is it with is that how does that fit in Matthew 24 verse 29 immediately immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken and Jesus say you think when the Holy Spirit came upon the church.

It was dramatic. Watch and see what happens when I come back to earth. This is going to be dramatic. Verse 30 of Matthew 24 then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

I is going to be just incredible. The ancient angelic activity. The saints that come with him the judgments, the remnants the conversion of the nation of Israel all the Jews all Israel will be saved, said Paul. So these exciting things for them. Beyond study and in some ways it's just all awe-inspiring. Verse 21.

Almost done and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of Yahweh shall be saved. So Peter says want to see whoever comes to Christ will be saved and noticed that's an Old Testament reference to to God, Yahweh, and Peter is applying it to Jesus Christ as as we know, acts 412. Nor is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men, I which we must be saved and he sends his messengers us to do it.

You remember nothing else this morning. You gotta have love you got to have love, you cannot be just caught up in culture and the silly petty things of the world. Anyway, new chest New Testament churches to be down to business. A close with this verse from Ezekiel chapter 3 focusing on what Peter said he my words. Moreover, he said to me, God speaking to Ezekiel the prophet Son of Man received into your heart, all my words that I speak and hear with your ears.

Construction of the Hebrew is and how Peter is over, and over 16 is to act upon what you heard that that's for moon 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. Simply visit cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick, you can subscribe to cross reference radio.com. Simply search for cross reference radio in your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of acts right here on cross reference radio