Peter Explains

Peter Explains
 
Acts 2:14-21 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the LORD. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’”
 
THE Spirit has come to anoint the apostles to teach the gospel. He has gathered the nations. Now it is time to explain the LORD’s work to his people. Peter stands to speak God’s Word as spoken to the prophet Joel. Peter used Scripture to give authority to his teaching. This has been the mark of true teaching in the church since that day.
   Joel is the second of the Minor Prophets. His words long before Jesus’ incarnation are another reference to the Holy Spirit. Joel revealed God would pour out my Spirit on all people. All people the Spirit touched would prophesy. They would learn and teach God’s Word. The Spirit will give visions and dreams to many to help people experience and understand God’s redemptive message. God’s servants will be both men and women who will speak God’s Word.
   Acts records some of these visions and dreams (Acts 10 for example) as God leads his apostles into the world. There are also many testimonies throughout the millennia and today of God’s visions and dreams coming to unbelievers to help them confess Jesus is Lord.
   The beginning of the church is the beginning of the last days. This is the time moving toward the fulfillment of God’s word at the end of time. Because God has not revealed the day of Jesus’ return, we live in anticipation as if Jesus’ return is today. Our lives are to be built upon an urgency to help the world prepare for his return.
   Joel’s words about the changes in the heavens are yet to be fulfilled. Other scriptures point to heavenly changes as Jesus’ return is imminent.
    The greatest promise from Joel that reaches into today is, “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Peter and the others began that day to teach the world what it means to call on the Lord and be saved. This is the duty of the church and every believer. We thank God for his determined plan of salvation spoken and heard by many. Our joy now is we can continue to tell others how they can be saved.