WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:01.040 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:04.240 We are in our second week studying the book of Acts. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:09.759 We're going to spend a lot of time in the book of Acts at the beginning of this entire year of 2023. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:15.199 We will pause in the middle of Acts when we come up on the season of Lent, which takes us to Easter. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:17.039 Then we'll jump back to Acts. 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:20.719 So we are in the second chapter of Acts 2. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:22.800 Now, Acts was written by a guy named Luke. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:26.079 Luke wrote the book of Luke, and then he wrote the book of Acts. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:28.399 These two books are linked together. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:29.839 We can think about it this way. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.799 Luke, the book of Luke was written to document the life of Jesus, the work of Jesus while Jesus was on earth. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:45.679 The book of Acts was written about the ongoing work of Jesus in the early church after Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit is active. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:47.920 So these two fit together. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:50.960 The first Christian church is meeting together in Acts 2. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:54.240 There's about 120 people or so there on the day of Pentecost. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:57.280 So Pentecost is the 50th day after Passover. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:06.159 If you think back to the Old Testament, 50 days after Passover, there they are there and rescued the people of Israel, rescued the Red Sea. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.480 And then Moses goes up on Mount Sinai. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:10.079 Here's a picture of Mount Sinai. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:11.040 There's Mount Sinai. 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:12.239 That mountain really exists. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.799 It is on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:16.799 You can go climb it if you desire to. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:18.000 Moses climbed it. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:19.120 He got to the top. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:21.439 He received the Ten Commandments from God. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.920 So man climbs a mountain. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:25.040 Moses went up. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:27.840 Man had to climb the mountain to get to God. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:33.120 But here in Acts 2, things are different. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:40.159 Because what we have is we have God coming down the mountain to man. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:46.319 God coming down to love and pursue his people, me and you. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:51.200 While we don't have our acts together, while we can't always climb the mountain. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:52.799 Acts 2, 1 through 8. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:54.480 We're going to work our way through the entire chapter. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:57.680 I'll read some and summarize some, and we'll make our way through it. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:08.240 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place, and suddenly there came from a heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:13.439 And divided tongues as a fire appeared to them, and rested on each of them. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:18.719 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:23.599 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:32.000 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:38.400 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:44.000 And how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language? 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.479 Okay, so that's interesting. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:54.560 Here's the point the Spirit and the Spirit's gifts create greater awe of Jesus. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:56.240 That's the big point. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:09.919 Now, this tongue's miracle was a validating of the change that was happening, this revolution of faith, away from obey enough law, then God will love you, to Jesus fulfilled the law. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.680 The cross is enough. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.599 You're already loved in him, therefore live for him. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:18.319 That's a great revolution of faith, that switch. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:27.840 So here in this story, someone speaks one language, but then somebody who speaks another language doesn't know that language, they hear that language in their own native language. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:29.919 And this is a fulfillment of Acts 1.8. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:35.039 Acts 1.8 is the thesis that is opening up the entire book of Acts for us. 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:43.919 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria to the end of the earth. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:48.960 So the gospel is not just for one people group or one language or one special group of people. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:50.479 It's for all people. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:56.159 Every race, no matter what you look like, no matter what you speak, where you're from, even what you've done. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.000 It's for all of us. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:03.280 Now, a long, long time ago, long time ago, I was in college. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:08.479 And I heard a different sort of speaking in tongues. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:17.120 A language of utterances given by the Spirit for emotions too deep for our human language. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:21.839 I was in a leadership prayer meeting at the campus ministry at University of Georgia. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:23.519 Go dogs, about a day away. 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:24.319 I'm pretty nervous. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:26.240 I know we have one TCU fan over here. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:27.519 Go TCU. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:28.959 I know you're there. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:31.279 And I know half of you are rooting for TCU. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:32.319 I know that. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:34.399 I know you should root for the SEC. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:37.759 We should root team conference, but I know how it works. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:38.879 Let's be honest. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.040 But hey, in Jesus, we're all together. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:41.680 It's okay. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.160 We're gonna make it through the next two days. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:46.959 So we're praying. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.040 Out of nowhere, I still remember it. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.680 I'm sitting next to my friend Suzanne, sitting there praying. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.199 Out of nowhere back to my right, I hear something. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:55.839 Something. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:00.800 And I wasn't from a Pentecostal charismatic background, so all I know is I'm hearing something. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:05.040 And I'm hearing it, they're talking. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.920 I mean, I'm I'm I'm done praying. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:12.319 Like I'm like, what? 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:23.199 I had my head's up, I'm looking around, everybody else is still, you know, and I'm like, what is going on in here? 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:31.439 And then uh they finished, and then back over to my left, somebody stood and interpreted what was said. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.639 Sounded very much kind of like a like a psalm. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:40.399 And to a non-Pentecostal charismatic background, I just thought to myself, why didn't we just read the psalm? 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.560 I mean, that's what I thought, which is kind of cynical, to be honest. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:50.399 I just hadn't been in churches or hadn't had an experience that sort of freaked me out. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.759 I was new to it, right? 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:58.160 And maybe you've heard of speaking in tongues and been in that experience, but that was just my experience. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:00.319 You may have had a different experience. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:07.600 And in my experience, which is not in every experience, so don't let me project upon your experience or your background. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:18.800 In my experience in that setting, sadly, what happened was the miraculous gifts became the focus, which doesn't happen everywhere, but it did. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:25.360 And those with certain gifts became elevated socially in the community. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:29.040 And then questions began for the rest of us, like me. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.720 Like, what's wrong with me? 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:33.040 Like, why did I why did I get anything? 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.639 You know, like what's going on? 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:35.759 Am I not enough? 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:36.879 What's wrong with my life? 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.600 Why am I not favored like that? 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.759 And those are incredibly toxic questions. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:52.160 But toxic questions form anytime a like a hierarchy, a spiritual hierarchy forms inside of a spiritual community. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:58.560 Now, 1 Corinthians 12, Paul teaches that we're all given different gifts. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:09.360 And then in 1 Corinthians 13, 1 through 3, he says this if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I'm a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:18.480 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:24.480 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:34.079 So Paul's putting before us something that fits so well in this Acts chapter 2, as we have the speaking in tongues miracle, and we have generosity here in the last part of the passage. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:38.720 And he says, But if we don't have love, but if we don't have love. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:44.959 So there's three kind of basic views when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:48.000 So we're gonna learn some big churchy words here this morning. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.079 View number one is continuationism. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:53.199 So we can just think they continue, is what we could say. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:57.600 The miraculous gifts are still here today for the building up of the church. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.600 I would just say these are yes people. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:01.279 Yes, go for it. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:06.000 Many of you come from that background, many of you believe that today. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.079 And I would say, you are welcome here. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:09.199 We're glad you're here. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:14.399 View number two is cessationism, which we could think about the word ceased. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.480 A cease is this view. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.360 The gifts of the Spirit ceased after the death of the apostles and were no longer needed. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:26.160 This view says they're needed for a particular time in history, and then they're not needed anymore. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:28.319 So these would, I'd say, these are no people. 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:32.480 They're saying, yeah, they existed then, but not today. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:38.720 If you're experiencing them today, they would say, you may disagree, but they would say a lot of emotionalism going on. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.559 Many of you believe this view. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.879 And I would say, we're glad you're here. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:46.960 Now, the two of you in the parking lot, y'all can discuss it after church. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:50.159 I do think there's a third view. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:53.519 I do think there's this third place we can exist. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.639 And I just call it somewhere in the middle. 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:59.759 So it's a mysterious view to hold this. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:04.320 It's not always easy to hold a view in the middle of two kind of opposing views. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:11.519 But it would say something like the gifts are here and they're available, but are not normative. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.200 So I'd say these are sort of like yes but people. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:20.559 Like yes, but you know, like, eh, like yes, yes, that's kind of the feel here. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:24.240 They're not normative, meaning we shouldn't focus on them. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:25.919 We don't need to focus on them. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:28.720 But we're also not gonna rule them out. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:36.080 And so for us as a church, you may have a particular view, but us as a church, we're somewhere in the middle, church. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:38.000 Now, what does that mean for us as a church? 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:44.720 Well, it means we believe the miraculous gifts of the Spirit are entirely still here today and available to God's people. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:50.000 But we do not seek them actively in corporate worship. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:58.559 Because our gaze is not upon spiritual gifts, our gaze is upon Jesus Himself. 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:04.480 And the gifts do not need to be normative, even though they still exist. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:09.840 And this actually frees us to gaze all the more on the beauty and sufficiency of Jesus. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.559 Now, maybe you align with everything I just said, maybe you align with part of it, maybe you don't like any of it. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.240 That's all okay. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.000 Back to Acts 2. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:25.120 After people were hearing different languages in their own language, that was going on, Peter preaches, preaches a sermon. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:35.440 So the gifts are validating something's going on, miraculous, something new, and that gifts are validating a preaching of a message. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.679 And so Peter preaches, and then after Peter preaches, we read what was our scripture reading today. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.639 I'll reread it, Acts 2, 42 through 47. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.960 So this is what happens after the message. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:54.639 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and prayers, and awe came upon every soul. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:58.320 And many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:20.399 And all who believed were together and had all things in common, and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need, and day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to their number day by day as they were being saved. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:30.960 So point number two is this the gospel shapes everything about our lives, freeing our hearts from ownership and freeing our hearts into stewardship. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:39.840 A transformation can happen when a heart is freed from the need of money, the bondage of money, being owned by money, and you can become a steward of it. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:45.360 Now, next week we're going to talk about community and service that we see in these verses 42 through 47. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:52.240 Today we're just going to talk about what it means, what it looks like to have a heart that is freed into generosity, freed into a generous spirit. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:53.919 Now, verse 45 is radical. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:59.039 I mean, they're selling land, they're selling their property and giving money to the church and those in need. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.919 No, it's not a call for us to sell our land investments. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.200 That's not what this is. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:09.600 But it is a call for us to move into such a freedom where money does not define us. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.200 And it's not our ultimate sense of peace or security. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.519 It is the new year. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.399 Happy New Year, by the way. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.519 Forgot to tell you that. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.720 Do you have resolution? 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.159 Are y'all resolution people? 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.159 Who are resolution people? 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.039 Bunch of lazy bums. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:28.480 Really taking the grace message. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.679 You're really going for the message. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:36.720 Well, for the two of you that are resolution people, we're proud, we're proud of you. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:39.039 We're really, we're rooting for you. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:46.879 So uh the top four resolutions, New Year's resolutions according to the Statista Global Consumer Survey. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:52.960 Number one, 52% of, I guess resolution people, you'd have to be in that group. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:13:00.240 Um, not you, apparently, other people, other churches, uh exercise more, number one. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:04.480 Number two, 50%, eat healthier. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:07.840 Number three, 40%, losing weight. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:11.840 Number four, 39% say something with saving more money. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.000 So, and that kind of pretty much nails me. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:19.600 Like, I'm not a huge resolution person, but I just sort of like think through, like, you know, what's a couple things I might want to focus on, you know? 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.480 And that does nail me. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:23.360 Like, because I do think to myself, you know what, I want to do my rower more. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.279 I'm gonna row more in 2023. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.360 I'm gonna cut down on my Reese's thins, the dark chocolate thin. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:34.960 I mean, not totally, I'm not absurd, but you know, from like 17 to 12 or something like that. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.120 That would be a good goal. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:40.879 And then it always is something to do with money. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:45.600 Because all my great plans for my life have money involved. 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:52.000 Saving money, spending money, and honestly, giving money is not at the top of it, but it's a part of it. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.600 It should be at the top of it. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:56.480 That's also why it's my great plans for my life. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:04.159 And I'm coming to grips with the fact that all these plans, especially to do with money, that never really deliver me lasting peace. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:06.240 They're just part of life. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:14.639 Pastor and author Tim Keller, he gives some diagnostic questions about what really captivates our hearts in his book, Counterfeit Gods. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.879 These are the questions he asks. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.799 What do you characteristically daydream about? 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:28.799 1.1 billion dollar mega millions coming up this week? 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:33.279 Maybe, maybe some of you, and not all of you, some of you are more saintly than me. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:39.279 You can tithe on that, by the way, just in case anybody will work it out. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:43.039 Number two, what do you most fear? 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.120 What do you most fear? 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:52.320 Number three, what could you lose that would make life not worth living? 00:14:53.120 --> 00:15:01.039 Number four, what fills you with irrational anger, anxiety, despondency, or guilt? 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:06.639 Number five, what do you effortlessly spend too much money on? 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.759 It's not to say shame on you or shame on me. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.120 It's just to say grace on us. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.919 If we see this, maybe we can become aware of this. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:20.480 Maybe we can realize how we're overdependent upon something that's never really delivering for us. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:25.759 It's never delivering the peace it promises, and that's why it's not God, it's a little g God. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.240 What area of your heart does God want to free? 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:34.240 Now, something happened to these people in Acts chapter 2. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.200 Because they become stewards. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.759 They become stewards. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:43.600 They understand they're kind of like uh the Chili's waiter. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:50.799 You order an awesome blossom, the chili's waiter goes to the back, he gets the awesome blossom from the chef, he delivers it to the table. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:54.159 He never owns the awesome blossom, right? 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.039 What is he? 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:58.000 He's a steward of the awesome blossom, right? 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:09.919 A steward is a person who has been entrusted with another's resources and who seeks to manage those resources according to the owner's vision and values. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:13.200 We are not owners, we are stewards. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:18.559 The money you have, the money you will have, somebody else will get it later on when you pass away. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.840 And then they will steward it for a while, and it'll go somewhere else. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.519 We're stewards. 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:30.320 Now, 1 Corinthians 16 assumes that we're actually givers to God's kingdom, to the kingdom work. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:36.320 Now, a tithe as a definition, because in church world the word tithe is used a lot. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:45.919 A tithe is an Old Testament concept where believers were required to give a tenth of their income to the support of the work of the temple and the needs of the poor. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.240 They were required, it was law. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:52.399 The New Testament, things change a little. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:54.080 Well, change a lot. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:59.120 Teaches that we should give as we are able and even beyond our ability. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:06.319 Actually teaches that we should give out of a joyful heart, a freed heart, not an obligated heart. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:17.839 Because giving is from generosity, not from the law that you have to give in order to be loved, as if I give enough, then God will smile upon me again this week. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:30.079 But from a heart that's free from the law, a heart that's free from having to use money, because you're so validated and already loved, already redeemed in Jesus for you, the fulfillment of the law, so your heart is becoming free of these things. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.759 And so you can be generous. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:46.160 Now that's all to say, as a church, we would say, and we say it in our membership class, we say 10% of giving to kingdom work is good to consider, but ultimately it's the Spirit guides us into generous and joyful giving. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.240 Now, think about this first church in Acts 2. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.359 Think about this. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:55.279 What in the world, what in the world could Peter have preached? 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.720 They're in the middle of the chapter. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.880 So yeah, it hinges on the middle of the chapter. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:02.000 The beginning, you have validation of Jesus' life. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:06.400 Peter preaches something, he says something, and then there's all this effect. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.680 All this fruit comes out. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:14.799 What in the world could be so powerful that it would free people's heart into that kind of generosity? 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:19.440 It's not obligation and law, but a truly a free and generous heart. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:23.200 And that's the point of the chapter. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:28.799 The point of the chapter is not the speaking in tongues, and the point of the chapter is not all this fruit we see in verses 42 through 47. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:34.559 The point of the chapter is the hinge in the middle, the message itself that produces the fruit. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:46.960 Because Peter preaches that Jesus takes on all of our sin and all the ways we depend on other things, false saviors, and gives us his righteousness. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:49.519 So we're actually perfectly righteous. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:56.559 So this frees us from the guilt of sin and it also frees us from the exhaustion of a performance-based life. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:01.759 When Peter begins to preach there in the middle of the chapter, he uses some strong language. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:06.319 I mean, he's using language of fire and clouds and smoke and nature being affected. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:12.559 This is the way prophetic preachers use this sort of language to refer to earth-shattering events. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:18.480 So this is Peter's way of saying at the time a change has happened. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:23.200 Faith is no longer law with conditions. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:28.480 If only you do enough, if only you obey enough, if only you give enough, then God will love you. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.519 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.319 Faith is now different because Jesus fulfilled the law. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:38.960 Faith is falling into the lavish grace of God, known in Jesus. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:44.160 We can read a little bit of Peter's sermon there, Acts 2, 36 through 41. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:53.359 Let all of the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:00.400 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? 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:18.400 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, for the promises for you, and for your children, and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:25.519 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:32.400 So those who received his word were baptized, and they were added that day about three thousand souls. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:37.839 Point number three is this power for change comes from a perfect love. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:40.319 Now we know that in Christ. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:49.599 Comes from a perfect love that seeks us, finds us, and redeems us while we are still weary and needy. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:52.400 That's how change happens. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:55.920 Change happens because we've been rescued. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:59.119 I love those words in verse 37. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:05.200 The people heard about this Jesus, and their hearts were cut to the heart. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.319 They were cut open. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.839 They were opened up. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.839 Twenty years ago, I graduated college. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.759 I knew I wanted to go to seminary. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.599 I didn't know how that was going to play out. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:19.119 Didn't know how to pay for that, how my family could pay for that. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.920 Then my wife's dad called me. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.440 At the time, she was not my wife. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:26.400 Christine and I were just friends at the time, not even dating. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.599 Her dad calls me. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:32.079 He knew he had heard that I wanted to go to seminary, so he calls me, he says, Hey, can we go to lunch? 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:33.839 And yeah, we'll go to lunch, sure. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.559 Let's go have lunch. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:38.160 And so at the lunch, he says, Hey, I heard you want to go to seminary. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:40.559 I have a pitch for you, I have an offer for you. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.359 What if you came and worked for me for his company? 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:46.720 What if you can work for me four days a week, Tuesday through Friday? 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:48.720 I'll give you all day, Monday to go to seminary. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.759 You can go to seminary during the week, any evening class. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.559 I'll give you time off if you need to go out of town for a class. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:59.519 And by the way, I'll pay you a salary for working for me, and I'll pay for your seminary. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:03.200 I mean, I didn't know how that was going to all work out. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.519 I didn't know how to pay for all that. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.359 How I was going to pay for all his classes and all his books. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.400 I had to do some trips. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.000 I didn't know that adds up. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.119 That adds up. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.960 And then he called me. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:17.680 And then he said, I'll cover the bill for you. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:23.279 Man, I left that lunch cut to the heart. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.440 Now why? 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:33.359 Because in my great place of need, provision sought me and found me. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:42.720 See, perfect love that seeks us, finds us, and redeems us while we're weary, that creates change. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:47.839 That's why this chapter, the structure, the hinges in the middle of the message of Jesus. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:52.240 And then the fruit is a response to the message. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:55.039 These Jewish people live by law. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:00.559 And then the Gentiles, who are not of the Jewish faith, they just thought there's no way God would welcome us in. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:06.400 Then these Jewish people hear, oh, oh, it's not obey enough, and then God will love me. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.519 It's not performance. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.119 No, it's by grace. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:14.319 That God provided in Jesus all that I need, all the forgiveness and all the righteousness. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.519 I'm already loved. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:18.319 Wow, that's a heart that gets broken wide open. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:20.480 The entire law is fulfilled. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.160 They don't have to live under law anymore. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:26.480 They get to live under and get to walk by the Spirit. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.119 So yeah, their hearts were cut open. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.720 Of course. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:35.680 Because Jesus plus nothing really does equal everything. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:48.319 And because in your great place of need, whatever shortcoming it is, whatever mess it is, provision has sought you and has found you in Jesus. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.839 He really is enough. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.440 Let's pray together. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:59.680 God, we are so thankful this morning that the command is not for us to climb the mountain. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:04.480 It is not for us to be good enough to warrant your love. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:07.599 It is for us to receive that you have come to us. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:13.680 Would you humble our hearts to be receivers that we might become worshipers? 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:27.039 Would we trust in you that you are enough for our worth and our identities, for our wounds, for insecurities, for our sin? 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:32.000 Would that create a great healing in our hearts? 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:35.599 That our hearts would be freed in greater ways. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:48.319 Whether it be when it comes to the bondage of money, greed of it, the use of it, or whether it be some other area where something just owns us a little too much. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:57.759 Would we know such a love in you that it is overwhelming and it roots us into a deep identity as your children? 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:01.519 And would it create a free heart? 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:08.559 Would you help us to know today that we are free in Jesus and you have even greater freedom for us? 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:16.799 Help us to be your people and to walk not under law but by the Spirit. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.920 In Jesus' name. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:18.720 Amen.