Copyright © S P Townsend
WCF - THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
Study Number 4: Acts 2 v 37 - 47
26 February 1989
Condensed by Steve Townsend from a sermon preached by Bill Hogg, BYFC
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High Voltage Evangelism
Simon Peter - the Spirit-filled failure.
Clothed with power from on high - not brains, brawn, intellect
or academic skill, but God's power.
Being tuned in to the Spirit means being flexible (like Jesus)
not mechanical.
Peter, the 'man of paste and flour', becomes the 'man of faith and power.'
There was an overflow of the Spirit to those around, which
brought about a response from desperate people.
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Conviction of Sin Acts 2:37
New Testament evangelism convicted of sin. Only the Holy Spirit
can bring this about; we are His co-workers, vessels, but we cannot
do it ourselves (John 16:7-11).
We need to be people of prayer, then we'll see conviction of sin.
The precious, annointing oil of the Holy Spirit requires unity
and obedience (Eph 5:18).
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Urgency Acts 2:40
Peter and the others were channels of the outflowing of the love of God.
Peter was filled with urgent compassion.
This only comes from the Spirit of God as He melts our hearts.
"Sow with tears - reap with joy."
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Scriptures - Peter's ammunition Joel 2; Psalm 16; Psalm 110
Peter's sermon was full of the Scriptures. He was steeped in the Scriptures,
they were inside him. The Bible was his ammunition, his sword, his fire, his
hammer. We are to be students
of the Word of God, to go through it and let it go through us.
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Exalted Jesus Acts 2:22-25,36
Peter's sermon was full of Jesus. The Spirit-filled person
is Christ-centred.
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Preached for a Verdict - "Save yourselves" Acts 2:40
The people were called to come under the Kingship of Jesus,
to perform a U-turn. If you want life, then die! Death to self - take
up your cross and follow Him. Peter preached death. The way of salvation
was entered by four steps: repentance, faith, baptism, receiving the Holy
Spirit.
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Show and Tell
The disciples lives were a demonstration of the
resurrection power of Jesus. Theirs was 3-D evangelism - proclamation
of the Word, signs and wonders, and good deeds.
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Naturally Supernatural and Supernaturally Natural
They were channels of the power of Jesus.
The crowds were attracted by the supernatural break-in of the Holy Spirit.
We should be seeking God to break in in power.
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Their Lives Backed-up the Message
The Scripture teaches that we need the fruit of the Spirit and the
gifts of the Spirit - not one or the other, but both,
so that we can be channels of love and power.
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Reaching out as a body
The call to be 'fishers of men' is for each Christian. Jesus
tells us to "Go forth and bear fruit that will last."
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Bringing People Into the Body of Christ
We must aim for the Church to grow. This is an ongoing work,
requiring commitment to continuous evangelism and making disciples.
Copyright © S P Townsend