Pilgrims: Peter, a comeback story
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This is a principle that the church of Jesus Christ was founded upon
AFTER the Spirit comes, you will receive POWER
Empowered to stand
Acts 2:14 (ESV)
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven,
This is the same guy who couldn't take a stand just days before when he was being recognized as one of Jesus' disciples
Empowered to speak
Acts 2:14 (ESV)
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
........ He kept preaching ...........
Acts 2:37–41 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Peter preached the most powerful message that city had heard!
3000 get saved that day!
It's not because he had prepared a great sermon, it was because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach!
I'm not telling you this to tell you that you need to be a better preacher - I'm telling you this because we need to Spirit to empower us to speak in everyday life!
I need the Spirit to take control of my mouth!
This mouth can be negative
This mouth can be passive aggressive
This mouth can speak words that are hurtful
We need the empowering of the Spirit to help us speak life and not death
Spirit empower me to speak light into darkness
Spirit empower me to speak healing into the pain
Empowered to give
Acts 3:1–8 (ESV)
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
This isn't just a story of healing
The spirit-empowerment of the church enables and causes crazy generosity
So many times we believe that what someone needs is something that we don't have
here's a powerful statement: WHAT I DO HAVE, I GIVE!
You may not have possessions, but you've got talent
You may not feel like you've got ministry skills, but God has blessed your occupation and you can give financially
You may not have "stuff" but you are gifted with the ability to talk to and pray for people
GIVE IT!
We're not talking about what you don't have - God is looking for you to give what you've got!
Empowered to go
Acts 5:14–16 (ESV)
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
There is a reason this book of the Bible is called "ACTS" - it is the recording of the acts of the Spirit and of the early church.
Here's what I love about the early church: The early church's success was based on God's Spirit and not man's performance
People were drawn to the church based on the supernatural wonders happening in their lives!
If we are going to reach this city, we have to tap into something supernatural - we need more of the Spirit moving in our lives!
