(Sermon notes from earlier this afternoon)
Welcome to the Good News Aces, where the boys sing the girls’ songs and the girls sing the boys’ songs. No problem.
Communion: Yuri
Giving: Nervous Rody – Give spiritually; Give as you have been given; Give respect; Commit your ‘Wishbox’ to the Lord.
Worship: Amber & Rempson – I gave them Acts 2 to meditate on, but I also believe their choice of songs was a homage to their own fathers.
Happy Fathers’ Day! Men, whether Fathers or Fathers-to-be: stand where you are, because you need to be with your families. You are not receiving declarations. You are making proclamations, and the congregations are our witnesses.
Proclamation of Faithful Leadership Based on Joshua 24:15 “I pledge to lead my home to God. My faith will guide my family.”
Proclamation of Courage Based on 1 Corinthians 16:13 “I stand bold in faith. God makes me strong for my family.”
Proclamation of Godly Teaching Based on Proverbs 4:1-2 “I vow to teach my children God’s truth. My words will show them His way.”
Proclamation of Loving Guidance Based on Ephesians 6:4 “I commit to raise my children in love. I guide them with God’s grace.”
Proclamation of Lasting Faith Based on Psalm 103:17 “My faith will bless my family. God’s love will shine through me.”
Proclamation of Provision Based on 1 Timothy 5:8 “I trust God to provide. I will care for my family with faith.”
Men: The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Recap:
We will always have more reasons to thank God than we will have reasons to complain.
We will always have more reasons to praise God than we will have reasons to fear.
When we meditate on the goodness of God, it’s just natural that we will end up praising Him.
When we study the word of God, it’s just natural that we will eventually receive revelations.
We carry the Spirit. The Spirit carries us. Flow. Trust God. Thank God.
Additional points from last week:
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.Acts 2:1-2
First, just as God answered Job in the whirlwind, and as the sound of a strong wind preceded Ezekiel’s vision. God’s glory was on full display. God’s glory preceded the tongues, and the mighty works of God.
Second, and I just have to: The nations of the world gathered to build a tower to reach God, and ended up divided speaking in tongues. Here, God’s presence came down upon the disciples, and all the nations heard of the goodness and glory of God, in their own tongues.
Our proclamations, and our declarations are not meant to divide, but to unite: In a singular chorus but of different tongues, of the goodness and glory of God. Amen.
12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
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. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
The events of Pentecost are a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel.
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:12-36
Now that they had their attention, Peter directed them to Jesus Christ, whose resurrection was a fulfillment of the prophecy of David. He was not only speaking of himself, but of the Messiah who would not be abandoned to Hades.
In the words of The Anthem, death could not hold Him down.
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.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:37-47
The Holy Spirit assures us of Christ. He is the fulfillment of the past, our goodness and glory at present, and the source of our awe for the future.
I was supposed to testify of my first week on calls, and I was going to share on Mama Nitz speaking of God’s goodness to great extents during our usually lackluster prayer meetings.
But I seemed to have focused on awe.
Awe precedes faith; it is at the root of faith. – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who worked with MLK Jr in the Civil Rights Movement in the 70s
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God; and I suppose hearing the Word of God is not without awe being ignited in us.
We are amazed. Whether it is the goodness of God or godly sorrow that leads us to repentance, sure enough both lead to our focusing on the Word of God (Jesus), and this is never without a degree of awe… awe that ignites faith.
Be amazed. We give thanks to the Father of Fathers: He gave everything up because we were everything to Him.
I stand in awe of the never failing love of Jesus!!
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