Acts 2:14–21
“[14] But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. [15] For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. [16] But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
[17] “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
[18] even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
[19] And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
[20] the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
[21] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
We are living in a world divided, it even seems chaotic. It’s evident everywhere we look, social media, the news and anywhere else we get our information about happenings in our life and world.
Looking at everything in our life of sinful flesh things look bad, and it is bad. Things seem hopeless and we are looking for answers anywhere and everywhere we can. We listen to people predict this or that and aren’t sure what we are to do. What is God’s will in a time like this, a time where no one can really see what’s going to happen globally, locally, to our families, our friends, those whom the Lord has placed in our paths, those who are our neighbors?
What do we speak to those who are mistreated, persecuted for numerous reasons, those different from us, and those just like us, who have lost jobs, suffered illness, deal with deep depression and even death.
In the midst of all of the destruction and chaos of sin, death, and the devil at work in our world, our LORD speaks. He gives. He gives the Holy Spirit. Even in the darkest of nights, our Lord’s light of Gospel shines for us this Sunday of Pentecost.
As we have heard from our Lord’s Word this morning, the Holy Spirit has been sent to us and for us, from the Father & the Son poured out for all. Poured out to us and even through us.
The Holy Spirit is sent for young, old, rich poor, every nation and every peoples to give His gifts of life and salvation, cleansing for all. To bring the victory of Good Friday and Easter to all who have ears to hear.
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
[18] even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)
Twice we hear that all those to whom the Spirit has been given will prophesy. So we ask what is this that we are told we will do/ What is it to prophesy?
Will we mysteriously predict the future? Will be able to reveal personal secrets to help people figure the answers to where they’re supposed to work, live, go to school? Is this what Peter is preaching from the prophet Joel on this first Pentecost sermon?
What is he talking about young, old, sons and daughters doing exactly?
To prophesy is to speak our Lord’s Word of sins forgiven, the Word of Jesus from the cross. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” To prophesy is to speak of Christ’s victory over sin, death and the devil for you. It is to speak His Word of Absolution, that in the stead of and by the command my Lord Jesus Christ all sins are forgiven in the Name by which all men are saved. The Name into which we are baptized. The Name above all names, and the only Name under heaven by which we are saved.
As Peter continues in his sermon he says:
“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:21)
So when we hear of prophesying, think Gospel, think forgiving sin, sin that has been removed and was carried by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world to the cross, where our sinful flesh is put to death, so that the life we live, we live by faith in the Son of God who gave Himself, and delivered Himself for us all.
Prophesying is His Word of peace in the mist of fear, troubled hearts, sickness and even death. His Word that makes alive those who are dead in trespasses and sin.
[4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4–7)
For the Christian gives, loves and serves only from that which he or she has received. We give out of the abundance already given to us. We don’t give our words, we don’t give false promises or predictions, and wrongly speak on behalf of God, or speak where He hasn’t spoken which would only add more condemnation and shame to our neighbor, but we gladly speak the truth of His forgiveness for our neighbor. We speak Christ and Him crucified for the sinner. We gladly hand out His word of forgiveness to our spouse, our children, our co-workers, our neighbors near and far, for the Spirit has come, gathered us to the Name, to the One who gives us His gifts gladly, generously, and abundantly pours out all that is ours in Christ, received by faith, the praise of His glorious grace.
Even this Sunday morning, you are here because you have been gathered, assembled, called by the Holy Spirit to the Name of the One who makes all things new. To receive the gifts of the Lord of Life who feeds you His true body and blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. You have been gathered to the Name who has washed you with water and the Word and as far as the east is from the west, has removed all your transgressions, you are forgiven, clean on account of His great work of salvation for you. In the Name of Jesus, AMEN