Acts Chapter 2:11-21

God places people together in the body to serve together to reach all the people they can. So that's why I want to encourage everybody to play their part because everybody has their part. Whether you gone with your old whether you married with your single what every you are whomever you are, God has a plan for your life to use you to reach over people encourage one another as we join together then we can do all we can while we can to reach all take every one of us welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina two questions for you today. What can we use the power from God for and is there anyone beyond the reach of God's grace and speaking of someone beyond the reach of God's grace we have one of David McGee's associate pastors DA Brown, who wasn't always a pastor.

Welcome to the studio today. Brother Bob that's the truth I'm excited to be here this word will get to listen to today from Pastor David can definitely be life-changing. Life-changing because it directly from the word of God. The book of acts today. What the Bible says about the power that God gives us what we can do with that power sounds good.

So here's David McGee with his teaching spirit led simple power to win acts chapter 2 verse 11 Cretans and Arabs we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God so they were all amazed and perplexing into one another.

Whatever could this mean just a little background here. This is the day of Pentecost. It is the feast of Pentecost of you will.

We talked about that in in depth last Sunday and so they're in this place and these guys start speaking in these other languages, and other times.

Sometimes tongues are an unknown language and will get to that another time. At this point what they're doing is they're speaking in these languages that these other guys are recognizing their 15 nation made up in this group. Basically, the known part of the world there from all over because the feast of Pentecost required the Jewish people coming to Jerusalem to celebrate this fee so God's design. God's plan was to have all these people gathered here for the birth of the church happens happens in a big way and noticed they didn't have to send out invitations they didn't have to push the program come to Jerusalem gets really happening. Meetings note God gathered on and had him there at the right time. Now we need to understand. It is the Lord that builds the church is the Lord that builds the church and in this day and age we got in the programs and this and that the other.

Now we've been very proactive in in the website, television, radio, and all those things but we are not dependent on those things were dependent upon the Lord, we do all we can in them.

We rest in the Lord know when he's going to do what he wants to with those things.

So here we see another case of the Lord build the church and remember Jewish people were dispersed all over the asteroid is the word that we use through the Assyrian captivity.

The Babylonian captivity.

They were all over the world and the cool thing is they were going to carry back to their places in the world.

What what happened here and what Jesus has done. Now let's see some of the response. Verse 13 others mocking said, they are full of new wine to the scene. They were drunk.

They didn't understand what was going on so since I didn't understand what was going on. They were going to make fun of.

That's what they did. Here's the important thing. And here's the question we need to ask constantly and consistently through the book of acts. This power that was spoken of you remember it was prophesied. Acts chapter 1 verse eight Jesus said to the disciples, he said, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. What was this power for Greek word Dumas's where we get our word for dynamite.

What was the power for the power was so they could yell and scream and run around the room now at the verses that versus power to be witnesses now maybe there's somebody in this room doesn't need that power. Maybe you're just an open fire witness and you don't need any more power in your relationships to share the Lord but for the rest of us. I think we need that power. We need to ask the Lord to fill us with that power because he's made the offer to fill us with the power Jesus proclaimed, if you will ask I will give it to you. I will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. So we need to understand Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit so that we might not be comfortless in the King James orphans in other versions. The Greek word or follows.

It is where we get our word for it, so that we could have this power.

It's not just for show is for tell just for show. It's for. Tell Romans 116 says, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for is the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek understand when you're sharing the gospel with somebody.

There is power in that proclamation just saying Jesus died for your sins carries with it an assurance from God's word that there is power there and again. First Corinthians 118 for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God's the power of God.

Life lesson here. There is power in the gospel, God will give us the power and creative ways to tell the story. There's power in the gospel, God will give us the power and creative ways to tell a story you realize there's people all over the tribe think that they've heard the gospel and they really haven't heard the gospel what they've heard is is almost like cheerleading. Hip hip hooray that if you try harder and you go for longer than God will honor that was forgiveness well if that's the good news a little disappointed in the good news. That's not the good and they call the gospel, the good news because Jesus is saying, you know, every one of you has sent every one of you is falling short. But in spite of that, to my death upon the cross. Now I offer you forgiveness offer you forgiveness. There's three earmarks of the presentation of the gospel that should always and consistently be their number one spirit led number two simple numbers three powerful spirit led simple, powerful symptoms when I'm in a restaurant. See somebody in the Lord just burden my heart to share with them the love that God has for sometimes that's not there and what we need to do is be sensitive to the Holy Spirit because he will lead you to talk to some people and he will lead you not to talk to some people realize that not every person that you meet necessarily somebody that you should share with now if you see some hunting you get a burden for pray for now, let me give this caveat, we don't share with far more people that we should share with them. We share with people we should do some of you just cool.

I'm off the hook man not praise God out there like I had tell people about Jesus there for a moment that the "the spirit and if somebody slams the door. The door shut. Kick that door down, but what you don't want to do is you verbally abuse the person you know and start yelling at him and because you know that might be the next person. This really going to bring him to Jesus, but because you beat the door down and hurt him so bad. When a person says you know I have you heard about his you don't want. You don't want be led into their making fun of what they don't understand there's a lot of stuff in this book. I don't understand studied it for years and years. Stuff still in there. I don't understand the careful of making fun of stuff you don't understand.

I was looking verse 14 but Peter, standing up with the 11, raised his voice and said to them. Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and he my words. You gotta love this new standing up talking to these guys, Peter. The same Peter the 50 days ago was denying Jesus to servant girl now is standing in front of the most powerful religious leaders in the world and is preached.

What's the difference power the Holy Spirit, Jesus and you know what I'm going to give you this power to be a witness and what we see in Peter, standing up is Peter's been given that power to be a witness is another phrase in here are really like.

It's a peers standing up with the 11, I like that the 11 new what Peter is such a testimony to the grace of God.

But Peter, standing with them, and when Peter stands, notice what they did not say thank Peter had denied Jesus, not once but three times. Most of us are familiar with very serious charge, but when he stands atop the other 11 didn't go you need to sit down you. You blew it. Everybody knows you blew it to sit down your embarrassing us and do that you standing with the 11, as is interesting to notice the guys are no longer stand around talk about who the greatest is to be the greatest in the kingdom. Not a solid job that needed to be done therein into a great model for us as a church.

Too often we sit around talk about who's going to do what why you can't do this and why I can't do that when you know what is so much to do there so much for every person to do. We need to be busy about that but like a test that the grace of God here is extended towards Peter with these 11 guys who I'm sure were disappointed in Peter maybe Midsummer heartbroken. Maybe John was heartbroken at what Peter did hear their accepting Peter based upon the grace of God so important in relationships. The next life lesson you have received grace in your relationship with God.

Give grace in your relationship with others you have received grace in your relationship with God gives grace in your relationship with others. What would've happened if you if you know anything about the book of acts.

What would have happened had this group counted Peter out.

Peter you messed up you can't, you know you can hang out with us. We don't want to speak and publicly you can't do that. And again, let me remind you this is 50. That's 50 days after his denial, no big, no seven-year sabbatical or anything like that. He standing up 50 days later telling people about Jesus and these guys are okay with praise God. They didn't form a committee and voted on it, you know like what J. Vernon McGee says this is our set that you said you know you can't do anything without a committee and the committee collectively decides nothing can be done. We need to be careful about committees in Jesus.

Peter stands out and tells people seem awesome awesome bearing the fruit. Here, if you think about the problem and a lot of the stories it tells because it doesn't just hit the high points really don't read Christian biographies anymore and I'll tell you why, because when you read Christian biographies. It just about you, but it totally bums me out because I you know I read the biography and it says in no and this guy you know he he studied the Bible for you know 14 hours a day and then he prayed for the other 16 hours a day and you know it's yes you read that you go ahead 24 hours a day and I can't do that you know and and then you begin to think God use them because he prayed 16 hours a day and study 14 hours of within this book.

The bad parts are kept in his biographies never go out and he struggled with this any. He felt that he got back up again. They believe that part now been on here but see is if these people that messed up would've been discounted. Think quickly with me through the Bible.

Peter never would've spoke your Paul never would've been used by God.

Abraham would've been discounted as the father of the faith Moses would never have been allowed to deliver because he was a murder and David. David would never have been allowed to be king once it was involved with not only murder but adultery. Yet God calls him a man after his own heart. We have been given grace by God gives grace to one another. Maybe your scenario, we don't know what this person said you don't know what they did here. I don't you know what I know the everyone of us ascend against God, and I would venture to say that the things that we've done against him. Don't compare to what's been done letting go, let it go will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown want to take just a couple minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience. Specifically, Williston, North Dakota and Hamlet are Perrysburg and Toledo, Ohio and Clinton elk city in Carnegie Oklahoma will we thank you for everyone who lives in the cities. We pray that you would draw them to Jesus.

Even right now or I pray that you would fill them with the faith that they need to say yes to what you want to do in their life over. Pray for the leaders in the cities that you give them wisdom and discernment helped in the put their trust in you helped him to turn your Bible for answers I got. We pray that the church is to be full of people wanting to get to know you to be taught to use her gifts to be a blessing to people in their community. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 15. These are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour the day's 9 AM Peter saying you want this too early to be drop, but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel us is important. These people are wondering what's going on in this church. Peter says this is what in the nicking James in the King James Peter says this is that and then what he's getting ready to do is explain through Scripture the application for this day, that is mission critical.

And here's why. Because sometimes people do all kinds of things you probably seen some of it and they say will. This is God, and have seen some things that people claim for God had nothing to do with God had nothing to do with God, and I would ask him well. Can you show me in the word in God's Bible where that is something were supposed to be doing… It's not in their by once you open that door. Were you close it. I've seen dear friends over the years get involved in all kinds of stuff you know the gold glitter from the ceiling in supposedly fillings in the mouse turning the gold and just all kinds of and my question was always where do you see that in the Bible. Oh, it is not in their that's dangerous ground to be on the when we engage in a church practice or something happens here. I want to be able to say when semi comes reason why y'all do that I want to be José. It is right here is we should be known says they did it so we should be doing it and I'm standing on the solid ground.

Scripture to become the mango why you doing this and I don't have a verse of it is just dangerous grandstand on the solid ground of Scripture second Timothy 316, 17, just all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work God has given us what we need.

So Peter goes on to explain what's happening there by referring back to the Hebrew Scriptures in verse 17 says it shall come to pass in the last days as 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 shall dream dreams. What wonderful force. What a wonderful force. Talk about couple things we see here. They one thing that we see is usually three generations of believers working together we see sons and daughters we see young man we see old man.

We see men and women every body working together. See, it's interesting the way that we all fit together and all need one another. Young people have a lot of zeal usually older people usually have a lot of wisdom and when the two combine, it's a powerful powerful saying a generalization of that older people had zeal up probably met younger people as them, but this is the body of Christ joining together three generations. Be careful about discounting people know what was what should we be doing she would be Breitling that will brother or should we be encouraging the so we have these three generations and we have these people from all over the world married people. Single people, black, white Spanish agent OF people that are now joining together God is knitting their hearts. The life lesson God wants to use all people to reach the world. God wants to use all people to reach the world often talk about serving God places people together in the body to serve together to reach all the people they can to. That's what I want to encourage everybody to play their part because everybody has their part, whether young whether your old whether you're married with your single what every you are whoever you are, God has a plan for your life to use you to reach other people first Timothy 412 Paul is speaking the Timothy nieces don't let anyone think less of you because you're gone be an example to all believers in what you teach in the way you live in your love and your faith in your purity. We should encourage those that their younger and faith encourage the ones enrolled her in the face encourage one another as we join together then we can do all we can while we can to reach all we can take every one of us to accomplish what God is called us to do.

Ephesians 320. Keep this in mind that glory be to God by his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask her how infinitely you in debt word in the Greek means. It means a little bit non-kid did that remit means instantly a lot more than you can imagine God wants to accomplish through you.

Not only can look back in this book and see that you can look through history and see your sit in a church that's live in this infinitely young and notices it talks about visions and talks about dreams.

Now you make it go uncomfortable at this point that is a Christian concept. I'm not suggesting all your dreams are of God. Okay, put some of them are, and to sit around and think what might God do through me is a great thing.

It's a powerful thing powerful thing and it's a sad thing that that the new agers of gotten so much out of this. While Christians neglect the throughout Scripture. You have dreams you have dream interpretation not interesting. The new agers of taken the ball and run with it five times in the first two chapters of the New Testament in the book of Matthew, five times God spoke to people through dreams five times God speaks to us through dreams, he may be 60 about reaching people or warnings are all sorts of things God can speak to you through your dreams were 16 and on menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my spirit. In those days, and they shall prophesy all show wonders in heaven above and the signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

The sun shall be turned in the darkness and the moon in the blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Obviously not all these things are going on in this day. Part of what Peter saying is that the Holy Spirit that God said he's going to pour out. He's pouring out and he's here at this point, but these other things are going on.

So this is a partial fulfillment if you will of what Peter was referring to, but this is the Holy Spirit that God told us was going to come.

Verse 21 and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. So who are the very select few that can meet up to God's right and standards which one of us can earn our way so that God might bestow this forgiveness upon us. Whoever whoever everybody in here is a whoever of your nicking Ginger. Whosoever put either whoever or whosoever depending on your version anybody you realize that loved ones.

Nobody is beyond the reach of God's. Maybe the person that some of you just just thought of just flashing your mind you thought all this got this girl had a they are not beyond God's grace be with God will take a whoever change friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you'd like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan and thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts