A NEEDED REVIVAL
Text: Joel 2:28-32 + Acts 2:17
Introduction:
A) God is in cleansing business - Not the Whitewashing business 1. People need to be cleansed from within 2. Don’t need to be cleansed from without.
B) We need an old fashioned Revival.
1) One that will be blood washed.
2) Churches are dried out & without Revival 3. Not much weeping at the altar.
C) Peter preached a sermon at Pentecost
1) Resulted in many deeply under conviction Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
2) Asked Men & brethren, what shall we do?
3) Peter said "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
4) Peter was quoting promise of Joel 2:33 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
5) There are several things about this great promise of Salvation for one and all.
I) THE PROMISE OF SALVATION
A) PETER IS QUOTING FROM JOEL 2
1) Words written some 800 years before.
2) The first time Salvation was promised for one & all “Upon All Flesh”
(a) Not just the Jew - Not just the Greek…
(b) “Upon All Flesh”
B) PROMISE FIRST MADE IN TIME….
1) In Garden of Eden God gave First Covenant
(a) Edenic Covenant - First of 8 Covenants
(b) It was the first promise of Salvation.
(c) It contains the condition of Responsibility.
2) Gen 3:15 gives 2nd or Adamic Covenant I will put enmity between thee & the woman, & between thy seed & her seed; it shall bruise thy head & thou shall bruise his heel.
3) Promise was made way back in eternity 1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(a) Before World formed - God had a plan
(b) Before Sun set 1st day - God had a plan
(c) Before Man ever fell - God had a plan
4) Promised to send a Savior for all mankind
II) THE PROMISER OF SALVATION
A) THE VALUE OF ANY PROMISE DEPENDS ON THE ONE MAKING THE PROMISE.
1) That makes it genuine and trustworthy
2) Convinced of the Promiser’s Integrity.
B) WHO IS MAKING THE PROMISE HERE??? Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
1) This is a Devine Promise.
2) A man made promise could fail….
C) BECAUSE GOD MADE THE PROMISE WE KNOW HE WILL HONOR HIS PROMISE
1) That made it Authentic.
2) God cannot nor will not LIE.
(a) Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
(b) Heb 6:18 It was impossible for God to lie
III) THE PECULIARITY OF SALVATION
A) FIRST OF ALL - WE NEED REPENTANCE.
1) What is Repentance Preacher????
(a) It is a change of mind about God & Christ
(b) It is a change of mind about SIN
2) Can be NO Salvation without Repentance Lk 13:3 I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish
B) SECOND - WE NEED REMISSION
1) It is not enough just to repent…
2) We must put our Trust in God. 1 Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
C) THIRD - WE NEED REGENERATION.
1) Need to receive a New Life…Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
2) When we repent & put our trust in the Savior we are forgiven - Gives us the Spirit
(a) We are “Born Again”
(b) Made “Partakers of the divine nature”
IV) THE PEOPLE OF SALVATION
1) Any promise would not be adequate unless it was addressed to all people.
2) To whom does God make the Promise? Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
B) PETER STARTS OUT WITH “UNTO YOU”
1) Reference is to the Jews who were present on the spot listening to Peter
C) PETER MAKES ANOTHER REFERENCE.
1) “TO YOUR CHILDREN”
2) The descendants of all who were listening
D) THEN PETER SPOKE TO YOU AND ME.
1) “TO ALL WHO WERE AFAR OFF”
2) This includes both Jew and Gentile…
E) FINALLY PETER SAID
1) “As many as our Lord shall call”
2) This includes everyone. Jn 6:37 And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
3) This promise is for one and all. Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
4) God loves the whole world and He longs for people everywhere to be saved. 2 Pet 3:9 Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
V) THE PLEASURABLENESS OF SALVATION
A) PETER PREACHED TO THEM - THEY REPENTED - THEY WERE HAPPY.
1) Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.
2) 3000 people were joyously happy
B) RECEIVING THE PROMISE OF THE WORD WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY.
1) Seen people laugh & cry at the same time
2) I have seen them shout down the aisle.
C) RECEIVING THIS PROMISE WILL MAKE YOU THE HAPPIEST PERSON ALIVE.
1) Dr. Bob Jones “I don’t know I am saved because I feel good - I know I am saved because the Bible says so - And I feel good because I know I am saved.”
2) Spurgon “Salvation may come in quietly, but few people can keep quiet about it”