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What Should We Do?

I want to play a little game. I’ll give you a scenario and you tell me what your first assumptions are.

  • 120 people are all gathered in one place.
  • It’s windy.
  • Everyone starts seeing things.
  • Then everyone starts speaking in foreign languages.
  • They are speaking in foreign languages they didn't previously know.
  • Another large crowd gathers.
  • Some in the second crowd assume the first crowd is all drunk.

When have you seen someone who appeared drunk, only they weren't drinking? Okay, maybe you have heard this story before, but the best part is still to come.

Peter turns the focus to Jesus.

“‘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 heavens 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.' ~Acts 2:16-21
Then Pete goes on to preach and tell them about Jesus being killed and rising from the dead. (Of course, if we heard such a story happening today, we might assume the speaker was drunk as well.) But Peter preaches and concludes by telling them God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.

The people respond. Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Brothers, what must we do?

To be continued...



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