CHRIST CRUCIFIED lesson 8
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Jesus Himself called us to singleness of mind! When our hearts are turned to the kingdom of God we are centered on the truths found in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Can you imagine setting at the feet of the Master? Jesus shared the truths of how all the Scriptures pointed to Him and how he fulfilled the destiny the Father intended for Him. Would we have an ear to hear the sweet truths Jesus spoke that day?
Luke 24:46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 "And you are witnesses of these things. 49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Jesus came that repentance and remission of sins could be preached in His name. The first assignment is for the disciples to go tarry until the Promise of the Father came upon them.
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The promise of the Father was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They came in singleness of heart and mind. They were surrendered to receiving the promise of the Father. A sound came from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then fire came and sat upon each of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Notice they did the speaking as the Spirit gave them utterance in a different language.
Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
This move of the Spirit of God moved out into the streets. They heard them speaking in their own native language; they were amazed and marveled.
Acts 2:12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
We now have the privilege to hear the first gospel message preached after the crucified Christ had gone back up into heaven. Peter declared these men are not drunk as you suppose. This is that…
Acts 2:17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
The power of the prophesy still stands! The Spirit being poured out on all flesh is the heart of God. He sent Jesus to deal with the sin issue so His Precious Holy Spirit could overflow to all flesh. Sons and daughters shall prophesy, Young men shall see visions, old men shall dream dreams. Upon all of the menservants and maidservants of God would the Spirit be poured out! This indeed is that!
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.' 22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Now that Jesus made this new and living way possible it can be declared whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved! The crucified One is the way and there is no other way to salvation. Death could not hold the precious One.
Acts 2:25 "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'
Jesus, the crucified One, is the only one whose body saw no corruption. Jesus' obedience to the cross brought His fullness of joy and our salvation!
Acts 2:29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the message Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost; it should be the message of the church and it should never be abandoned.
Acts 2:33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Jesus, our Bridegroom, left and promised to prepare a place for us to come and live with Him forever. Meanwhile, He poured out this precious gift for His bride. This which you now see and hear… what did they see? They were acting drunk. What did they hear? They heard them speaking with other tongues. This is the gift, this is the promise which Jesus poured out upon those who had put their faith in Him. Brothers and sisters this is that!
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
When they heard Jesus Christ crucified was preached they were cut to the heart! What shall we do was their heart felt cry! Peter preached repentance and remission of sins, just like Jesus told Him! A surrender to Jesus there is a candidate to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was not just a short-lived promise. This promised gift is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me
Jesus is the faithful God
God is good all the time!
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