Gtcotr/ws052919
On
the day of Pentecost, God gave the Promise of the Holy Spirit to baptize 120
Believers who were praying together in the upper room. They were all filled
with the fire of God’s passion for the lost and immediately went out into the
streets of Jerusalem to be a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These 120
Born-Again Believers began witnessing to the lost by telling everyone about the
wonderful works of God. When people asked for clarification, Peter began to
preach his first sermon under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts
2, verse 40 gives us an account of Peter concluding his message with an altar call
whereby he asked people to make a personal decision.
Acts 2:40 And with many other
words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this
perverse generation.”
Save
yourselves? Yes, save yourselves! Salvation is a choice … it’s a choice every
person must make for themselves in life. A choice to run with the crowd and be
just like everyone else in this world or to step out, choose Jesus and walk a
different path.
“Save
yourselves from this perverse generation.” Peter is pointing a finger at the
world and encouraging those to whom he is preaching to realize where the world
is going and what woes awaits people who do not have a Savior … people who
reject God by refusing to accept His Son as their King.
The
people Peter was addressing were good people … religious people … perhaps the
best of the best in Judaism. These good people most likely did not lie, cheat,
steal, commit adultery or covet. Most likely they lived holy lives, worshipped
God in the Temple, kept the feasts and honored the Law of Moses. It’s not that they were bad people … it’s
that they were lost people … people who needed to be saved:
·
Saved
from religion
·
Saved
from the world
·
Saved
from sin’s eternal grip
·
Saved
from themselves
·
Saved
from their perverse generation … from having a form of godliness but denying
Christ by the way they lived.
This
was the generation that crucified Christ. What terrible judgment awaited that
generation … and … indeed every generation who rejects and crucifies Christ,
for Christ Jesus is crucified afresh in each generation.
Mark 8:38 “For whoever is
ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the
Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with
the holy angels.”
Save
yourselves from this perverse generation.
Choosing
Jesus always saves us in every situation …
·
Choosing
Jesus for our family
·
Choosing
Jesus in our finances
·
Choosing
Jesus in our friendships
We
deliver ourselves by deciding with whom we will align ourselves …
·
To
believe different than the world believes
·
To
act different than the world acts
Acts 2:41 Then those who
gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls
were added to them.
5 Points
to Ponder
1.
The Church grows in numbers when we witness.
2.
The Church grows in strength when we make disciples.
Acts 2:42 And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers.
3.
The Church grows in power when we reverence God.
Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon
every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
4.
The Church grows in missions when we give.
Acts 2
44 Now all who believed were
together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions
and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
5.
The Church grows in relationship and favor when they work and
worship together.
Acts 2
46 So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate
their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who
were being saved.
What
can you do to help Jesus with His message?
·
Be
a witness to the lost
·
Invest
time in a saved brother or sister
·
Give
God the reverence and respect He deserves
·
Be
a part of the local Church missions and outreach
·
Work
together in one accord with a pure heart.
