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FULL WRITTEN TRANSCRIPT REVIVAL #2: PETER'S ACCOUNT
I want to tell you a story that I cannot finish: You are there. The time is early June, every male Jew within twenty miles of Jerusalem is obligated to go there and observe “The Feast of Weeks.” That morning, a strange sound, (it sounded something like this); like the roar of a hurricane. The odd thing was that it was localized; it seemed to be happening at only one house. No one had ever experienced anything like this before so a crowd quickly gathers around the house.
As you get there, there is already a large crowd packed in the street. Because of the feast, there are people from everywhere. A man is standing in an open window on the second floor. You can see a number of other men behind him, you count 11 in all.
He must have been talking for some time because there is a hoarseness to his voice. But the failing of his voice is lost in the confidence and boldness; the kind that is seldom heard. The words continue on with a sharp edge: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36
A question rises from the crowd like a great shared agony, “What can we do?” “What shall we do?”
The man at the window shouts back in slightly softer words, “Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [the gift that has just roared through this house].”
Before the day ends over 3000 gladly respond just as the man has said. As you watch the crowd disperse from that house, you watch one group follow the twelve men that were in the window. They are headed to the washing pools in the temple. You watch another group, some mocking, some confused; evaporate back into the narrow streets of Jerusalem, back into their lives as they were before. You know you can’t simply stay there, so you take a step to join one of the two crowds. I can’t finish the story, only you can.
But what we can do together is; tackle these two questions: 1. How did this man end up in that window? 2. What exactly happened here?
We flash back three years from the window The man is an active fisherman, from a family of fishermen. His brother Andrew ran up to he was saying excitedly, “We have found the Messiah.”
Andrew, practically dragging him, brought him to meet Jesus. And in that moment, a new chapter began in his life. His name was Simon, but the Lord, come to earth, gave him a nickname. He called him Cephas, or Peter, which means “a stone.”
Over the next three years, Peter shows promise in saying things that only the Spirit of God could reveal, but also has disappointing relapses by times; he squarely sticks his foot in his mouth through pride or selfishness.
We come to that night, in the garden in the shelter of the olive trees, Jesus is speaking: Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: `I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.'' Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.'' Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'' Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!'' Matt 26:31-35
But Peter does, just as Jesus says; three times; to Jesus’ face; even calling down curses on himself. A person doesn’t know what they really stand for until they are tested, and Peter failed the test. He had run away in the garden. He was thrown into confusion when the man whom he was convinced was the Lord, was overtaken like a common criminal in the middle of the night. He didn’t know what to believe, about Jesus, or about himself. He was shaken and afraid, he was at perhaps, the lowest and weakest point of his life.
We move forward a few days, inexplicably, the tomb of his Christ is found empty: Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you.'' Now when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. John 20:19
Over a period of 40 days, Jesus appeared to them again and again. But they didn’t go anywhere; they didn’t do anything until it was God’s time. And now, it was that morning: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which,'' He said, "you have heard from Me. Acts 1:4
When that morning began, Peter and the others couldn’t have imagined what would happen before that day’s end. They couldn’t have imagined what God was going to do to them, and through them. Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:1-6
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… Acts 2:14
Then Peter spoke, and people responded.
It was something of an unlikely journey to that window on Pentecost. Peter went through some real lows; some points of paralyzing weakness. He had some incredible failures along the way. So how did he end up giving a speech from that window that was so victorious, so powerful that it changed the history of the world? -It certainly wasn’t him!
For his part, it was very simple: He simply made sure he was in the place he was supposed to be. Isn’t it interesting, Jesus didn’t tell him when. Jesus was a little vague on the what; just that the Holy Spirit would come; and you’ll know when it happens. The only firm detail was where. Remain in Jerusalem, because that’s where God is going to make a big move.
So what does that mean for you and me? We can identify with Peter, we’re pretty much the same. Everyone in here has failed at some point or another. Everyone in here has not lived up to where they could be or should be with the Lord. Everyone in here has had times of grave spiritual weakness. And that’s ok, because those things don’t have to stop you. We have a record of that spiritual fact in Peter.
The one thing we don’t want to mess up is being where we are supposed to be. Because if you or I are not where we are supposed to be, we miss it. I loved a segment in the video we watched last Sunday, the President of the college was away at the time the revival started and when he returned, one of the first things he heard from a student was “You missed it.” (There is a link to that video on our website by the way.)
It’s understandable; we have to deal with a wide variety of things in life. We can’t make every religious event that there is. But I would caution us, we’d better keep an expectant ear to God’s calling for us; where we are supposed to be. We may have the best reason in the world not to be there; but the fact remains, if God is working, and you are invited, and you are not there; you will miss something significant.
Obedience is the underlying key to spiritual success. It underscores everything Jesus said to us. And obedience is basically; being there… just being there. Sometimes it’s being there in attitude or heart. Sometimes in mental focus, sometimes it is physically being there; but it is always being there in some form. How important is being there in your spiritual walk? -Keep in mind, it is the difference of encountering God or not.
It sounds almost ridiculously simple, doesn’t it? God moved the world through Peter at the window because; he was there.
As Christians, zeroed in on the New Testament, the answer comes easy to us. –Why, that was the birth of the church. That is when God’s church burst on to the world stage in such power that we still tell the story today.
Yes, we can consider it the birth of the church, with some qualification. But it would pay to look a little deeper. Peter’s story on that day was the continuation of Jesus’ story as he walked this earth; and Jesus’ story was the continuation of John the Baptist’s story; and they were all a continuation of what was promised by the prophets of the Old Testament. As a matter of fact, that was the backbone of Peter’s great message from that window.
In other words, before it can be recognized as the “Christian church”, it was a great Jewish revival. And it wasn’t simply a Jewish revival, it was a revival of the “devout.” The city was filled with people who were Jewish by culture, but they were not all committed believers. And for that reason, there were two crowds before that house; there were those amazed and those who mocked.
So what’s that got to do with us sitting here today? It means we are part of a continuing story. The same God who led the Hebrew people out of bondage is the same God who frees us. The same presence that filled the Temple is the same presence that will fill us. We can learn from every revival before us because it is the same God. And revival is simply God’s presence manifested on us in a fresh new way.
It means we need to understand, revival is a unique spiritual event. Nations and cultures cannot have revival. They can be reformed or evangelized in the ripple effect, but they cannot have revival. Revival has a “re” in front of it. It literally means; to bring to life again. It is only those in a living relationship with God that can be “revived.” To anyone else, it is nonsense.
There is more to take from this great account, but for today, I would encourage you to take these few spiritual realities with you this week: · That rare, powerful presence of God is for you. It is only for you; the believers. …Here’s the thing: If it is only for you and you are not there, then how can it happen? · You don’t have to be perfect, as a matter of fact, revival is for the stale, the flawed, the weak, those in desperate need of a fresh breath from God. You don’t have to be perfect, but you have to be where you are supposed to be. · We don’t know the time; but we can be certain of one thing: Wherever the place is, we will be gathered together. By definition, revival is a family matter. We are touched personally, but it is for God’s family.
I’ll close with a question and then we’re done in here. Do what God will have you do with what He has said to you: Spiritually, are you in a place right now; sensitive and hungry enough, to hear God when He calls us to that place of revival?
If not, there is only one other option: You will miss it.
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