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A NEW KIND OF DRUNKENNESS
Acts 2:15
The historical setting for our text this morning is the city of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It was day when the Holy Spirit gave birth to the church.
For the benefit of those of you who may be wondering like I wondered when I first got saved . . . What is Pentecost? How does Pentecost fit (whatever it maybe) into the coming of the Holy Spirit? Does Pentecost mean the coming of the Holy Spirit? Or was there a Pentecost before the Holy Spirit came?
Pentecost (which derives from the root word 50) was a Feast and festival instituted by God himself back in the Old Testament.
In Leviticus (The Living Bible Paraphrase) chapter 23 beginning at verse 15 these words are found. The harvest festival (feast of the Pentecost); fifty days later you shall bring to the Lord an offering of a sample of the new grain of your later crops.
This shall consist of two loaves of bread from your homes to be waved before the Lord in a gesture of offering. Bake this bread form a fifth of a bushel fine flour containing yeast. It is an offering unto the Lord of the first sampling of your later crops.
Along with the bread and the wine, you shall sacrifice as burnt offering to the Lord seven yearling lambs without defects one you boil and two rams all are fire offering, very acceptable to Jehovah.
And it was on this day. The day of Pentecost which had been celebrated for centuries by the Jewish people.
This day of Pentecost when they would remember their past. This day of Pentecost that they would renew their faith in the Lord who created and sustained his people. This day that they would gather together as servants, sons, daughters. The fatherless, the widows, and even strangers in the land would render unto the Lord due benevolence.
Dr. Luke physician and New Testament writer puts it this way. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
The disciples were gathered together in the upper room on one accord. God got so excited about seeing his people in one place on one accord, Not fussing and fighting, not bickering and backbiting,
• Not being petty and nitpicking,
• Not being stuffy and stand-offish, not being mean and maniacal,
• Not being cruel and callous,
• Not being cold and indifferent, not being phony and fake.
• Not scrambling and scurrying, not contesting and contending,
• Not clashing and competing,
But on one accord and in one place. God started shouting. And when God shouts in heaven on earth it sounds like a rushing a mighty wind. It caused such stir until folk from all over the city came running to see what was going on.
On that day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit gave birth to the church. The 120 disciples came down from the upper room and was confronted by other Jews. Devout men out of every nation under heaven. The baby church began witnessing to these folk in their own language. Every person that was there heard the gospel in their own native tongue.
• The Parthians, the Medea, the Elamites,
• The Dwellers in Mesopotamia, the Judeans, the Cappadocians
• The Pontusites, the Asians, the Phrygians, the Pamphylians.
• The Egyptians, the Libyans, the Cyrenians.
• The Strangers of Rome, the Jews, the Proselytes.
• The Cretians. The Arabians.
• And Devout Men out of Every Nation under Heaven.
For when the 120 believers came down out of the upper room the bible says that there were devout men out of every nation under heaven. And that's where we want to pick up our text and talk about a word on behalf on the church.
God always has somebody who is willing to speak a word on behalf of his church.
On that day of Pentecost when the church began doing that which the Lord had commanded them to do. And that was to witness. The world began to mock and make fun of them.
They accused them of being drunk with Feast wine. They made false accusations against the people of God. These 120 believers were preaching to the multitude. And folk from the crowd accused them of going to the pulpit drunk.
The attitude of the world toward the church has not changed even to this day. Folk are still making false accusations against the church of Jesus Christ. They are still mocking and making fun of God's church. But, regardless of what the world says about the church she still stands as the only hope for a lost and perishing world.
Regardless of the persecution the church has weathered the storm and she still stands.
• Her Leader was crucified on a hill called Calvary but, the church still stands.
• Her preachers have been ridiculed and boiled in oil but, she still stands.
• Her members have been fed to the lions, but she still stands
• They have been persecuted by the sword but, she still stands
The church has withstood vicious attacks from without and violent confrontations from within. She has withstood hell on the outside and hell on the inside.
Yet in the midst of it all she still stands.
For 2000 years the church has marched on and she shall march on until the Lord says well done. And every time a word needs to be said on her behalf. God raise up somebody to speak a word for the church.
Whenever God's people need somebody to stand up for them God will raise up somebody . . .
When the people of Israel were in bondage under pharaoh and the Egyptians, God raised up Moses and told him to tell pharaoh to," let my people go."
When the nine foot giant, Goliath of Gath tried to destroy the people of Israel, God raised up a shepherd boy, gave him five smooth stones and sling shot.
When the Midianites oppressed the people of Israel, God found Gideon threshing wheat in the winepress for fear of the Midianites and raised him up to deliver God's people.
When held captive by default and division, by clicks and confusion in a little Baptist church in the valley, God raised up Ezekiel and gave him this mandate . . . "Say to dry bones, dry bones hear ye the Word of the Lord."
When the philistines relentlessly attacked the people of God he then raised up Samson gave him the jaw bone of an ass and destroyed the enemies of Israel.
God always has somebody who will stand up on behalf of His people.
When the people of in the crowd began mocking the church and accusing them of being drunk. Verse 14 of says Peter stood up with the eleven, and lifted up his voice. "Ye me of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem listen to my words."
These men are not drunk as ye suppose. Yes they are drunk but not as suppose. They are drunk but not the way the world counts drunkenness. This is not new wine that controlling them but, rather it is the Holy Ghost. They are not filled with new wine but, rather they are filled with the Spirit of God. They are not high but, what they have came from on high.
Over in Ephesians 5:18 the apostle, the apostle Paul says, "be ye not drunk with wine wherein excess but be filled with the Spirit."
• What does wine have in common with the Holy Ghost?
• What concord is there between the fruit of the Spirit and fruit of the vine?
• What harmony is there between the Holy Ghost and white Ziffendale?
• What similarity is there between the Spirit and the Spirits?
The Holy Ghost and wine are alike in that they both control the human personality.
However, the wine will bring you down but, the Holy Ghost will lift you up.
Wine will cause you to descend into the depths of despair
But the Holy Ghost will lift you to a new level of living.
Wine will cause you to do things that you will regret but, the Holy Ghost will lead you to do things that you can respect.
When you see a man who is filled with wine he doesn't have to tell you that he is drunk, it is evident by his actions. What he says and what he does will let you know that his life is being controlled by the fruit of the vine.
In like manner when you see a man who is filled with the Holy Spirit he doesn't have to tell you that he is filled with the Holy Spirit. It is evident by his actions, what he says and what eh does will let you know that his life is being controlled by the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the vine.
If you want to know whether or not you are filled with the Spirit of God ask yourself the question, "am I walking in love and obedience."
No love no filling . . .
No obedience no filling.
Where there is love there is the filling of the Holy Spirit, where there is obedience to the word and will of God then there is the filling of the Holy Spirit.
This early church was a Spirit filled church because they were doing just what the Lord had commanded them to do. They walked in obedience.
Now because of their obedience they suffered, they suffered ridicule from the world. You see, don't ever suppose that because you are walking in the will of God that life will be trouble free.
Don't ever suppose that because you are doing what the Lord commanded you to do that you want have to suffer.
When you stand up boldly for Christ be sure that you have your shield of faith because the fiery darts of the devil will be coming our way.
But be not dismayed, God will always have somebody to speak a word on your behalf.
When Peter took the floor he spoke a word on behalf of the church. He knew that the church was doing that which the Lord had called them to do. Therefore, he stood up declaring men and brethren . . .
Now on the other hand, it is a tragic situation to live in such a way that nobody will stand up and speak a word on your behalf.
You ought to live in such a way that folk wont have to dig and search to find something good to say about you at your funeral.
It's hard to get somebody to speak a word on your behalf when you ruin and wreck your testimony.
Senior citizens, especially you ought to live in such a way where the younger folk can look up to you with respect. Don't live in such a way that folk are glad when you are not around.
Young people, those of you who are just starting out in life be careful that you don't ruin and wreck your testimony. Live in such a way that folk will be glad to see you coming and sorry to see you go.
Guard your testimony well . . . then when somebody makes a false accusation
against you somebody can stand up and speak a word on your behalf. And set the record straight.
• It doesn't matter what your position in life may be.
• It doesn't matter how much clout and influence you have.
• It doesn't matter how talented and gifted you are.
There is going to come a time when you are going to need somebody to stand up and say a word on your behalf.
In our text when folk began making false accusation against the church peter stood up and set the record straight.
"These men are not drunk as ye suppose. But this is that which was spoken of by the old Testament prophet Joel. That it shall come to pass in the last days, saith the Lord,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.
And your sons and daughters shall prophesy. And your young men shall see visions
And your old men shall dream dreams."
"And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Here you are accusing the church. Here you are leveling accusation against God's church." "Truth be known it was your wicked hands that have slain the Lord of life and hung him on a tree."
You see Peter had come through and set the record straight. He spoke a word on behalf of the church.
Peter is long gone but, yet we still have somebody to speak a word on our behalf. He is at the right hand of the father making intercessions for us. He is a lawyer who never lost a case.
Somebody might say, "well Perry Mason has never lost a case either. That may be true but, all of Perry Mason's clients were innocent in the first place.
You see if you were guilty and went to Perry Mason he couldn't help you.
But, you see all the clients of lawyer Jesus are guilty. All the clients of lawyer Jesus are guilty as charged. They are guilty of having sinned against Lord. And even though we are guilty as charged our lawyer never loses a case. When he stands to speak a word on our behalf heaven and earth will pass away before his word will pass a way.
Every time satan, who is the accuser of the brethren comes before the throne of God and makes an accusation against one of God's children saying . . . ,
"Look here God, look down there look at the way that Christian is acting. Aren't you the righteous judge? Because you are so Holy you must pronounce sentence."
Look at Lewis, "I got a whole file on his foul ups. He needs to be judged and sentenced to death because he certainly falls short of your glory." "Well, I am waiting God when are you going to pronounce your righteous judgement on Lewis,"
Just then, before the gavel of righteous judgement comes down, the son of God, Jesus the Christ stand up and a speaks a word on my behalf.
"Father I know that you are the righteous judge of the universe, and I know that Lewis is guilty of sin by circumstance, by choice, and by conduct. But Father I have paid the penalty for his sins."
• Father, I have paid the penalty, I have paid it all and here is the receipt.
• Father the nail prints in my hands is proof that I have paid the penalty.
• Father the nail prints in my feet is proof that I have paid the penalty
• Father, reach hither and feel the scar in my side, I know that he is guilty but I have paid the penalty for his sins.
If it wasn't for Jesus we would be lost in our sins and on our way to a devil's hell.
But on mount Calvary . . . Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and my sins . . .
• On that hill, the blood of Jesus cleansed us from all our sins.
• On that hill, all our sins were laid on Christ
• On that hill, all our sins were put away
• On that hill, Christ was made to be sin for us
• On that hill, the Lamb of God took away all our sin
• On that hill, Jesus reached up and took the hand of Holy God and he reached down and took the hand of sinful man he reconciled us to the father.
Every thing that the first Adam lost in the garden the second Adam redeemed on Calvary.
Then Christ the center piece of the universe bowed his head and gave up the Ghost.
When he bowed his head the whole universe got in on the death event.
Light that had been on her post since the dawn of time took a leave of absence.
• The moon began to drip with blood
• The rocks began to rent and roam
• The earth began to quake and quiver
• The graves gave up their dead
Darkness drenched and draped the entire whole earth They took him down and they buried him in the tomb of another man . . . and he stayed in the grave all night Friday night . . .
All day Saturday
All night Saturday night
But, early SUNDAY morning . . . early SUNDAY morning . . . early SUNDAY morning . . .
Early SUNDAY morning the father in heaven rolled back the grave stone. And said,
“Come on Son. Come on Son. It's time to get up now.
You paid the penalty for man's sin . . . You paid the price
You paid it all . . . come on Son”
And He Got up with All Power!!!
A NEW KIND OF DRUNKENNESS
Acts 2:15
The historical setting for our text this morning is the city of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It was day when the Holy Spirit gave birth to the church.
For the benefit of those of you who may be wondering like I wondered when I first got saved . . . What is Pentecost? How does Pentecost fit (whatever it maybe) into the coming of the Holy Spirit? Does Pentecost mean the coming of the Holy Spirit? Or was there a Pentecost before the Holy Spirit came?
Pentecost (which derives from the root word 50) was a Feast and festival instituted by God himself back in the Old Testament.
In Leviticus (The Living Bible Paraphrase) chapter 23 beginning at verse 15 these words are found. The harvest festival (feast of the Pentecost); fifty days later you shall bring to the Lord an offering of a sample of the new grain of your later crops.
This shall consist of two loaves of bread from your homes to be waved before the Lord in a gesture of offering. Bake this bread form a fifth of a bushel fine flour containing yeast. It is an offering unto the Lord of the first sampling of your later crops.
Along with the bread and the wine, you shall sacrifice as burnt offering to the Lord seven yearling lambs without defects one you boil and two rams all are fire offering, very acceptable to Jehovah.
And it was on this day. The day of Pentecost which had been celebrated for centuries by the Jewish people.
This day of Pentecost when they would remember their past. This day of Pentecost that they would renew their faith in the Lord who created and sustained his people. This day that they would gather together as servants, sons, daughters. The fatherless, the widows, and even strangers in the land would render unto the Lord due benevolence.
Dr. Luke physician and New Testament writer puts it this way. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."
The disciples were gathered together in the upper room on one accord. God got so excited about seeing his people in one place on one accord, Not fussing and fighting, not bickering and backbiting,
• Not being petty and nitpicking,
• Not being stuffy and stand-offish, not being mean and maniacal,
• Not being cruel and callous,
• Not being cold and indifferent, not being phony and fake.
• Not scrambling and scurrying, not contesting and contending,
• Not clashing and competing,
But on one accord and in one place. God started shouting. And when God shouts in heaven on earth it sounds like a rushing a mighty wind. It caused such stir until folk from all over the city came running to see what was going on.
On that day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit gave birth to the church. The 120 disciples came down from the upper room and was confronted by other Jews. Devout men out of every nation under heaven. The baby church began witnessing to these folk in their own language. Every person that was there heard the gospel in their own native tongue.
• The Parthians, the Medea, the Elamites,
• The Dwellers in Mesopotamia, the Judeans, the Cappadocians
• The Pontusites, the Asians, the Phrygians, the Pamphylians.
• The Egyptians, the Libyans, the Cyrenians.
• The Strangers of Rome, the Jews, the Proselytes.
• The Cretians. The Arabians.
• And Devout Men out of Every Nation under Heaven.
For when the 120 believers came down out of the upper room the bible says that there were devout men out of every nation under heaven. And that's where we want to pick up our text and talk about a word on behalf on the church.
God always has somebody who is willing to speak a word on behalf of his church.
On that day of Pentecost when the church began doing that which the Lord had commanded them to do. And that was to witness. The world began to mock and make fun of them.
They accused them of being drunk with Feast wine. They made false accusations against the people of God. These 120 believers were preaching to the multitude. And folk from the crowd accused them of going to the pulpit drunk.
The attitude of the world toward the church has not changed even to this day. Folk are still making false accusations against the church of Jesus Christ. They are still mocking and making fun of God's church. But, regardless of what the world says about the church she still stands as the only hope for a lost and perishing world.
Regardless of the persecution the church has weathered the storm and she still stands.
• Her Leader was crucified on a hill called Calvary but, the church still stands.
• Her preachers have been ridiculed and boiled in oil but, she still stands.
• Her members have been fed to the lions, but she still stands
• They have been persecuted by the sword but, she still stands
The church has withstood vicious attacks from without and violent confrontations from within. She has withstood hell on the outside and hell on the inside.
Yet in the midst of it all she still stands.
For 2000 years the church has marched on and she shall march on until the Lord says well done. And every time a word needs to be said on her behalf. God raise up somebody to speak a word for the church.
Whenever God's people need somebody to stand up for them God will raise up somebody . . .
When the people of Israel were in bondage under pharaoh and the Egyptians, God raised up Moses and told him to tell pharaoh to," let my people go."
When the nine foot giant, Goliath of Gath tried to destroy the people of Israel, God raised up a shepherd boy, gave him five smooth stones and sling shot.
When the Midianites oppressed the people of Israel, God found Gideon threshing wheat in the winepress for fear of the Midianites and raised him up to deliver God's people.
When held captive by default and division, by clicks and confusion in a little Baptist church in the valley, God raised up Ezekiel and gave him this mandate . . . "Say to dry bones, dry bones hear ye the Word of the Lord."
When the philistines relentlessly attacked the people of God he then raised up Samson gave him the jaw bone of an ass and destroyed the enemies of Israel.
God always has somebody who will stand up on behalf of His people.
When the people of in the crowd began mocking the church and accusing them of being drunk. Verse 14 of says Peter stood up with the eleven, and lifted up his voice. "Ye me of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem listen to my words."
These men are not drunk as ye suppose. Yes they are drunk but not as suppose. They are drunk but not the way the world counts drunkenness. This is not new wine that controlling them but, rather it is the Holy Ghost. They are not filled with new wine but, rather they are filled with the Spirit of God. They are not high but, what they have came from on high.
Over in Ephesians 5:18 the apostle, the apostle Paul says, "be ye not drunk with wine wherein excess but be filled with the Spirit."
• What does wine have in common with the Holy Ghost?
• What concord is there between the fruit of the Spirit and fruit of the vine?
• What harmony is there between the Holy Ghost and white Ziffendale?
• What similarity is there between the Spirit and the Spirits?
The Holy Ghost and wine are alike in that they both control the human personality.
However, the wine will bring you down but, the Holy Ghost will lift you up.
Wine will cause you to descend into the depths of despair
But the Holy Ghost will lift you to a new level of living.
Wine will cause you to do things that you will regret but, the Holy Ghost will lead you to do things that you can respect.
When you see a man who is filled with wine he doesn't have to tell you that he is drunk, it is evident by his actions. What he says and what he does will let you know that his life is being controlled by the fruit of the vine.
In like manner when you see a man who is filled with the Holy Spirit he doesn't have to tell you that he is filled with the Holy Spirit. It is evident by his actions, what he says and what eh does will let you know that his life is being controlled by the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the vine.
If you want to know whether or not you are filled with the Spirit of God ask yourself the question, "am I walking in love and obedience."
No love no filling . . .
No obedience no filling.
Where there is love there is the filling of the Holy Spirit, where there is obedience to the word and will of God then there is the filling of the Holy Spirit.
This early church was a Spirit filled church because they were doing just what the Lord had commanded them to do. They walked in obedience.
Now because of their obedience they suffered, they suffered ridicule from the world. You see, don't ever suppose that because you are walking in the will of God that life will be trouble free.
Don't ever suppose that because you are doing what the Lord commanded you to do that you want have to suffer.
When you stand up boldly for Christ be sure that you have your shield of faith because the fiery darts of the devil will be coming our way.
But be not dismayed, God will always have somebody to speak a word on your behalf.
When Peter took the floor he spoke a word on behalf of the church. He knew that the church was doing that which the Lord had called them to do. Therefore, he stood up declaring men and brethren . . .
Now on the other hand, it is a tragic situation to live in such a way that nobody will stand up and speak a word on your behalf.
You ought to live in such a way that folk wont have to dig and search to find something good to say about you at your funeral.
It's hard to get somebody to speak a word on your behalf when you ruin and wreck your testimony.
Senior citizens, especially you ought to live in such a way where the younger folk can look up to you with respect. Don't live in such a way that folk are glad when you are not around.
Young people, those of you who are just starting out in life be careful that you don't ruin and wreck your testimony. Live in such a way that folk will be glad to see you coming and sorry to see you go.
Guard your testimony well . . . then when somebody makes a false accusation
against you somebody can stand up and speak a word on your behalf. And set the record straight.
• It doesn't matter what your position in life may be.
• It doesn't matter how much clout and influence you have.
• It doesn't matter how talented and gifted you are.
There is going to come a time when you are going to need somebody to stand up and say a word on your behalf.
In our text when folk began making false accusation against the church peter stood up and set the record straight.
"These men are not drunk as ye suppose. But this is that which was spoken of by the old Testament prophet Joel. That it shall come to pass in the last days, saith the Lord,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.
And your sons and daughters shall prophesy. And your young men shall see visions
And your old men shall dream dreams."
"And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Here you are accusing the church. Here you are leveling accusation against God's church." "Truth be known it was your wicked hands that have slain the Lord of life and hung him on a tree."
You see Peter had come through and set the record straight. He spoke a word on behalf of the church.
Peter is long gone but, yet we still have somebody to speak a word on our behalf. He is at the right hand of the father making intercessions for us. He is a lawyer who never lost a case.
Somebody might say, "well Perry Mason has never lost a case either. That may be true but, all of Perry Mason's clients were innocent in the first place.
You see if you were guilty and went to Perry Mason he couldn't help you.
But, you see all the clients of lawyer Jesus are guilty. All the clients of lawyer Jesus are guilty as charged. They are guilty of having sinned against Lord. And even though we are guilty as charged our lawyer never loses a case. When he stands to speak a word on our behalf heaven and earth will pass away before his word will pass a way.
Every time satan, who is the accuser of the brethren comes before the throne of God and makes an accusation against one of God's children saying . . . ,
"Look here God, look down there look at the way that Christian is acting. Aren't you the righteous judge? Because you are so Holy you must pronounce sentence."
Look at Lewis, "I got a whole file on his foul ups. He needs to be judged and sentenced to death because he certainly falls short of your glory." "Well, I am waiting God when are you going to pronounce your righteous judgement on Lewis,"
Just then, before the gavel of righteous judgement comes down, the son of God, Jesus the Christ stand up and a speaks a word on my behalf.
"Father I know that you are the righteous judge of the universe, and I know that Lewis is guilty of sin by circumstance, by choice, and by conduct. But Father I have paid the penalty for his sins."
• Father, I have paid the penalty, I have paid it all and here is the receipt.
• Father the nail prints in my hands is proof that I have paid the penalty.
• Father the nail prints in my feet is proof that I have paid the penalty
• Father, reach hither and feel the scar in my side, I know that he is guilty but I have paid the penalty for his sins.
If it wasn't for Jesus we would be lost in our sins and on our way to a devil's hell.
But on mount Calvary . . . Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and my sins . . .
• On that hill, the blood of Jesus cleansed us from all our sins.
• On that hill, all our sins were laid on Christ
• On that hill, all our sins were put away
• On that hill, Christ was made to be sin for us
• On that hill, the Lamb of God took away all our sin
• On that hill, Jesus reached up and took the hand of Holy God and he reached down and took the hand of sinful man he reconciled us to the father.
Every thing that the first Adam lost in the garden the second Adam redeemed on Calvary.
Then Christ the center piece of the universe bowed his head and gave up the Ghost.
When he bowed his head the whole universe got in on the death event.
Light that had been on her post since the dawn of time took a leave of absence.
• The moon began to drip with blood
• The rocks began to rent and roam
• The earth began to quake and quiver
• The graves gave up their dead
Darkness drenched and draped the entire whole earth They took him down and they buried him in the tomb of another man . . . and he stayed in the grave all night Friday night . . .
All day Saturday
All night Saturday night
But, early SUNDAY morning . . . early SUNDAY morning . . . early SUNDAY morning . . .
Early SUNDAY morning the father in heaven rolled back the grave stone. And said,
“Come on Son. Come on Son. It's time to get up now.
You paid the penalty for man's sin . . . You paid the price
You paid it all . . . come on Son”
And He Got up with All Power!!!