Acts

Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2:12 we read:

12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

The sign of the Holy Spirit’s work prompted questions. Those who were present had something happen before them that prompted them to ask questions.

In Verse 14 Peter responds:

But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them…

Following the signs the crowd had seen Peter took the opportunity to give a verbal explanation. Peter was able to engage the head and the heart. Peter was able to connect a momentous event to the lives of these other countrymen. He connected it to a place of mutual understanding; their nation and it’s history with God.

As Peter was explaining what they had witnesses he was able to move the crowd to place where they could now make a response the initial sign. Verse 38 says:

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter brings this all back to the central issue of Jesus and His Lordship.

He says ‘guys, unless you recognise that this sign is God trying to get your attention you’ve missed it. And guys, if you recognise this is God, then you must respond to Him in repentance’.

As people responded, the kingdom of God expanded.

And so it is today. The world is full of “signs” of God’s activity. His beauty, His redemption, His love of us, His miraculous grace, His holiness and even His judgment.

So often we ignore these signs, but all signs communicate something important and are there to point us to something. In this case, each sign is an opportunity for us to point people to Jesus, explain the work of God and His good news, and invite a response.

And when we do this, the Kingdom expands, just as it did 2000 years ago on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 1 verse 3 says:

To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

What did Jesus talk about when He re-appeared to the disciples after the resurrection? The Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ Kingdom is established in every heart that wilfully and gladly surrenders to His Lordship over their lives. Where Jesus is King, there His Kingdom is. And where Jesus is King, He brings with His reign a righteous way of life.

In Exodus 19 and 20 God told Israel “I am going to be your King and I am going to establish a rule of Law”. Jesus’ Kingdom is also built on a rule of law. He said I don’t come to abolish the law but to fulfil it (Matt 5:17).

The Law of Jesus Kingdom then has two important differences to that of the old covenant:
1) The standard in His Kingdom is HIGHER than the old kingdom (Matt 5-7) and
2) His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is given to us to enable us to walk according to this standard. This is the Grace of the Gospel we have been given!

Jesus seeks to bring His kingdom to earth through indwelling us, His people. As we live under His Lordship, His presence is with us through the Holy Spirit. In this way, we become His ambassadors empowered to bring the good news of salvation, healing, deliverance and eternal life to those all around us.

But it all starts with His rule. Does He rule over your heart and life?

PRAYER: Father, I invite Jesus into my life today to be my King, Saviour and Lord. I turn from my old ways, and I ask you to forgive me. Cleanse me Lord and fill me with your Spirit today. Make me new. In Jesus name, Amen.