The Sermon of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2: 22ampsim36)
Act 1 says that Christians will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the mission of the Church. The book of Acts is named Acts to put a special focus on Christians actions as well as the work of the Holy Spirit. In chapter 2, the early Christians spoke in tongues inspired by the Holy Spirit. Three years ago, when I informed congregation that I had a cancer, I was delivering my message entitled 'The Fullness of the Holy Spirit' based on Acts 2, when Peter delivered his sermon about the Holy Spirit. Lets see the five works of the Holy Spirit.
1. He enables us to listen. Peters formal sermon was delivered as the Pentecost message about Gods promise, its fulfillment, the death of Jesus Christ, his resurrection, and ascension. Through his sermon, Peter urges the Israelites to listen to the message about how God turned Jesus whom they crucified into their Lord. The sermon of the Holy Spirit is focused on Jesus only, which overflows from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Peter urges the Israelites to listen because they were ignorant of the Holy Spirit while they are well aware of the Scripture. As in verse 13, the Holy Spirit can be mocked. Yet its fullness enables us to deliver a sermon of it, as Peter did, even though we might be mocked by people.
2. He enables us to live well. Peter develops his sermon, focusing on the life of Jesus Christ because his life is the best example of ling well. Peter starts his sermon with 'as you yourselves know.' Thus the sermon of the Holy Spirit starts with things that people know well. Jesus was born as a carpenters son in Nazareth, an object of contempt. However, Peter says, God showed his miracles, wonders and signs through Jesus. The modifier composed of the three words 'miracles, wonders and signs,' is used only for Jesus ministry. The ministry of Jesus was his testimony to God and also Gods testimony to Jesus. And Peter testifies to this fact through the effective power of the Holy Spirit. The nature of miracles reveals Gods power and the effect of wonders draws our awe, and signs display Gods truth. I was also ignored like Jesus of Nazareth. Yet, facing my cancer, I prayed that God would show his mystery through it by converting the judgment incident into the power of salvation. Gods power is displayed more through our realization than any visible prosperity. God showed me his signs of truth by helping me interpret my cancer well rather than curing it.
3. He enables us to die well. The world is not impressed with Gods power. The worldly dont always recognize the power of the Lord when believers display miracles, wonders and signs. Even Jesus the Son, who is God in very nature and knows everything, died according to Gods will because he knew Gods love. Peter says that the Holy Spirit helps us with this ministry of dying to the world. In many cases, we need to die with our eyes open. Living well means dying well. Notice Jesus Christ, mighty enough to revive the dead, was crucified for the world. True power is our ability not to show off but to love, endure, sacrifice ourselves, and die for others. When we die well before our incompetent parents, stubborn spouse, and authoritative boss, others will notice our application, which will finally bring out the miracles, wonders and signs of the Lord. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we cant die voluntarily. Thats why we need to hear the sermon about Jesus crucifixion everyday. The best way of dying well is recognizing our sins. When Absalom rebelled, David simply cried out 'Lord, Have mercy on me!' This is the best prayer we can pray, which I also experienced during my cancer treatments. Jesus is the only reason for us to listen well, live well, and die well.
4. He enables us to revive. The greatest suffering on earth is death. No one can escape from its trap. God is the only one who can set us free from it. Jesus resurrection is his declaration of the victory over death. Peter links Jesus resurrection to Davids faith in resurrection, citing David, who said 'I saw the Lord always before me' in the battlefield against his son, for whom he couldnt win nor lose the war. David confessed that God himself is the reward. Thus he revived! Peter also looked only to Jesus despite his weaknesses. We will also revive by looking only to Jesus our Lord, who makes us perfect through our faith. David predicted Jesus resurrection in verse 27, 'because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.' The Jesus whom Peter saw was the same Lord of resurrection whom David saw in advance. Thus Peter delivered a great sermon of the Holy Spirit on the basis of the promise, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus predicted by David. Along with David and Peter, we can also be a witness to Jesus, the Lord of resurrection. Everything was, is, and will be as written in the Scripture. Nothing will be new under the sun. Seeing this is the core of the sermon of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Holy Spirit in the Pentecost is the confirmation of resurrection. We need to revive and be the witness of Christ Jesus, saying 'He died, rose again on the third day, and became my savior!' A 72-year old deaconess, an ex-small group leader of our church was reunited with her homeless husband, 14 years after they divorced. What a reviving couple! Its a wonder caused by their listening to the Word, living well and dying well. Thus the Lord is always with us wherever we are.
5. He raises us up. Peter proclaims that the Lord exalted Jesus to the right hand of God, citing Psalm 110: 1. Thus the Trinity God praised the life of Jesus. This is the core of the advent of the Holy Spirit. David wrote Psalm 110 in the latter years of his life after passing through his many trials, which enabled him to recognize Jesus, the Messiah to come. Likewise, without dying and being crucified in Christ, we cant proclaim that Jesus is our Messiah. When we recognize our Messiah, the history of our eternal life begins, which also makes others recognize the Christ within us. This is how God raises us. Our soul will be restored as much as our body is pulled down. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to share it, we will be able to accelerate the work of the Holy Spirit in our home, church, and country.
Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. (Acts 2: 22)
