Thou Hast Made Known the Ways of Life - Part 630

In Acts chapter two, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, Peter and the apostles were all together, preaching to the people with one accord. As the scriptures state there were dwelling a Jerusalem Jews, and devout men out of every nation under heaven. Parthians and Medes, and Elamites and the dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes. Cretes and Arabians too.

Just before this, a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And then, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-11)

Observers were amazed by this recent turn of events. Some doubted. Others mocked. But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words. For these are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day."

Peter went on to say that what had transpired was spoken by the prophet Joel. The prophecy in Acts 2:17-21 states the following:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

But Peter did not stop delivering the message there. He continued, saying, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God hat raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that He (Jesus) could be holden of it."

Why? Because David had foretold of this moment before concerning Jesus. David wrote in Psalms 16:8: "I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand that I should not be moved. Therefore, did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad. Moreover, also my flesh shall rest in hope because Thou will not leave my soul in hell. Neither will Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." (Acts 2:25-28)

Again, Peter continues. "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David; that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption."

Peter told them that it is this "Jesus that God hath raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. Therefore, being  by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which we now see and hear. For David is not ascended unto the heavens but he saith unto himself, "The Lord said unto my Lord, "Sit Thou on my right hand until I make Thy foes Thy footstool." (Acts 2:29-35"

And then Peter -- still in full agreement with the other eleven apostles -- said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) 

Indeed, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved. Jesus - the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end. The same God who created man and woman in the beginning loved us enough to become flesh and shed His precious blood on the cross so that we might be saved. And this undeniable love for His people -- you and I -- was decided before the world was formed. "For God so loved the world ..." The good news is that the same Jesus that was crucified then is now both Lord and Christ. Praise Jesus. Ask Jesus into your life today. Stand in the offering plate.