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Acts 3:17-26
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also. 18 And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer. 19 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
20 and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22 Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET [a]LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN; YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM and OBEY everything He tells you. 23 And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days. 25 You are the sons (descendants) of the prophets and [heirs] of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED (descendant) ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26 It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Peter and John just healed this guy who was in sitting at the temple all his life waiting for people to give him money
The people are amazed and Peter saw an opportunity to tell them about Christ
People of Israel this should not be so surprising – as a matter of fact this power was meant for you but you killed the one that it came through
And I understand that you and you leaders did it out of ignorance – you did not know what you were doing – but no matter how hard you tried to stop Jesus – it was going to happen – vs 18 – God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the messiah.
No matter what you did, what God had spoken was going to be- The wave is coming!
He continues to tell them, that if you had paid attention to your prophets, Samuel and those who came after him.
You would have known that the one you killed was one of your descendant – and He was sent first to you to bless you and help you turn away from sins. But you killed him
Paul also gives them hope – It’s not too late – Vs 19 – So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, Peter is bringing an awareness of their sins – also giving them a way out.
A way where they submit and instead of trying to lean on their own understanding – they lean on to God
May times, we take our own thinking and apply it to the things of God. Not aware that…
Isaiah 5 5:8-9“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
He is offering them a “new way of thinking” They have to stop thinking the old way.
We have to stop relying on our thoughts and adopt our heavenly Fathers thoughts.
Talking about the old way of thinking –
– Our trip to great wolf lodge
– Great lesson that could only be learnt in a controlled environment as such- no deep see swimming
– I am not a big fan of water, mainly coz my swimming is questionable – Gabe and I are soon to address that
– Giant wave pool – every so often – the wave would be started
– I learnt that where you are during the wave matters (shore or deep waters, or the edge)
– Deep waters are calm – you get the feel of the wave and its fun
– The shore, the waves were harder and sharp
– The edges were dangerous – had one boy who looked like a good swimmer but got thrown against the wall and had to be rescued
– I told Simone, you might be scared to be in the deep waters but sweetheart, that the best place to be.
– I didn’t want to just say it …so I researched it:
What is the difference between a deep-water wave and a shallow water wave?
– The basic differences are that the deep-water wave “spreads out” and moves very quickly across open water. Wave height is not “significant” in these waves. When the wave reaches shallow water, however, it “slows down” at the leading edge. This causes the wave to “bunch up” and increase in height, even to dangerous proportions. A 20 or 30-meter-high wave would devastate a shoreline but would be hardly noticeable if it passed beneath a ship in deep water.
I had to change my way of thinking- I had to change Simone’s way of thinking …and this is what Peter is talking about.
Vs 20 – and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22 Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET [a]LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN; YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM and OBEY everything He tells you
So as it was during those days, the people were told by many prophets that Jesus was coming, yet when He came, out of ignorance …
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing],
They did everything to stop Jesus not knowing that Whom they were stopping would be their savior
This evening we are reminded of the apostles that have come before us – They have said that Jesus is coming!!!– The wave is coming! As a matter of fact, if we look around us, signs are telling us that the wave is on the way!
The wave is going to find you in one of these groups:
1. The weather focus says a storm is coming and you are on the shore putting up sand bags
Just like the Pharisees you are not going to allow anything – even the things of God to stop you from your own plans. I will do everything to oppose God’s work in my life because I have my own plan. “17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also” – The rulers wanted to keep their influence and letting go was not an option.
I have things to do, I know God is calling me deeper but I want to stay right here on the shore for this reason or another
Maybe its fear that is holding you back- You don’t want to swim in the deep end coz maybe like me, you don’t do water very well. But I have great news for you. The one that is calling you deeper, created the water. If He is calling you, if need be, He will have you walk on water, or even create dry land for you.
Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 2. You swam in and you know that Jesus you are calling you deeper, but you want to stay right here just in case you have to get out fast.
Here is my security- I can step out at any time if anything goes wrong. You are doing this out of ignorance – You will be tossed to the rocks and be injured. Jesus wants full commitment!
Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET [a]LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN; YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM and OBEY everything He tells you. 23 And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ – You will be utterly destroyed if you stay close to the edge. It doesn’t matter how deep you have swam- You have to “listen and obey Everything He tell you. Let go and swim deeper!
Luke 9:23 – And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me
3. You swam in and deep – You know there is safety in going deeper
Even though it scarily sometime…You have trusted God and as He calls you deeper. You know that the wave is coming but under His arms you are safe.
“so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Look around you and see that “The wave is coming!!!”
Luke 21: 10-11 Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
Luke 21:25 – “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
Luke 21: 29- 34 – Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. 32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,
Where you are will determine how you are affected by wave!
Whether its fear or control or ignorance – a time has come when we need to heed the warning. The wave is coming!
I understand that we all can’t be Gabe and be swimming on the 10ft thing – I love that they number those- I am good at about 4 ft …. I can stand
But that’s ok…Jesus will meet you exactly where you are. There is no shame in saying – Lord rescue me on number 2ft …but we don’t stop there…
We call upon God to teach us how to swim. We have to go deeper in the word and in a relationship with Him
I asked Gabe how many hours he spent practicing swimming and he said
“Swim season is from November to February. He practiced at least an hour a day. And off season he practiced almost every day! He said” if you miss a day swimming, it takes two days to get it back!
We cannot keep walking on the shore saying that we will get in and expect that when the wave comes, we will be able to see it and jump in.
The time is now! The wave is forming people, the wave is forming and am sorry to say that some of you are on the shore – You will die
Others are on the sidelines and it doesn’t matter how deep the side lines are …you are not 100% in the water
Act now or you will not make it. This wave is not like anything we have ever seen before. As a matter of fact, this is the last wave – its powerful and it will separate and reveal what position we have all been standing at.
There is no shame is recognizing that you can’t swim that deep, today is your opportunity to say
1. Lord I am not in the deep end at all- Am on land doing my own things. I was not aware of the coming wave and I have seen what tsunami does to those on land
2. Lord I don’t even know where to start – I know and I know that I need to be in the water if my life is going to be saved
3. God is saying- I need you to let go of everything, …. let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Acts 2:26-37 So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
“ And they asked’ What must I do- Swim deeper – Swim deeper , the wave is coming!!!
But Mugi, I can’t swim deep- well
“Jeremiah 5:22 – ‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the LORD ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it
He is in control of the waves. And if it doesn’t it make more sense to look up to Him instead of watching the wave. Trust Him to see you through it. Change your way of thinking.
– Spend time with God, in your word and prayer- put in the work
– Be submitted to Him fully- when He says go to the deep end…He knows what He is saying
– What do you need to let go?
– What discipline do you need in your life to get ready?
I had to let go some deep issues during the first man’s advance – its then that I started to trust He who walks on water !
19 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies and affirms these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.