The Single Reason

Overview

The Single Reason

If our chief end as creatures is to bring God glory—the truth proclaimed by the angels in Luke 2:14—then a related question presses in: why does God allow the world to continue? The answer begins to come into focus at Pentecost, where God pours out His Spirit so that His people can proclaim the mighty deeds of His power to the nations.

The events of Acts 2—the rushing sound, the tongues as of fire, and chiefly the gift of speaking in other languages—provoked a divided response. Some were amazed and perplexed, asking, "What does this mean?" Others sneered and dismissed the disciples as drunk Acts 2:12-13. Both reactions still echo whenever the Spirit's work confronts the world: genuine wonder on one hand, cynical dismissal on the other.

What stands out next is Peter himself. In Matthew 26:69-74, this same man cowered before a servant girl and denied even knowing Jesus, eventually cursing and swearing an oath. Yet in Acts 2:14-15, he stands with the Eleven, lifts his voice, and boldly addresses the crowd: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words... these men are not drunk, as you suppose." The difference is not Peter's grit or self-improvement; the difference is the Holy Spirit. Filled with the Spirit, Peter speaks with the weight of God's Word behind him.

The pastoral lesson is plain. The Spirit who transformed a fearful denier into a fearless preacher is the same Spirit given to the church today. We need not wait for ideal conditions or polished courage to bear witness; we need to walk in the Spirit and speak God's Word as God's Word. And we should not be surprised when the response is mixed—some will marvel, some will mock—but God sustains the world precisely so that more might hear, believe, and join the chorus of glory to Him.

Transcript

Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the second chapter of the Book of Acts? 0s

Will we gather on Christmas Eve, a glorious Christmas Eve service? 4s

We studied from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. 10s

And there in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, you have the angels bursting forth 14s

in song, singing, glory to God in the highest. 18s

We see from that portion of Scripture as the angels bring glory that our reason for existence 25s

is to bring God glory. 34s

Well, I've got a different question for you today. 40s

Why does God allow for the existence of the continuation of the world? 45s

Why does God allow for the continuation of the existence of the world? 53s

We studied last week the giving of the gift of the Holy Spirit. 64s

And remember, there at Pentecost, it was 50 days after the resurrection, 10 days after 68s

the ascension. 74s

The Spirit is poured out and there were three different miracles. 76s

The first was the deafening sound in the room where the people were at. 80s

Secondly was the appearance as of tongues as of fire that rested upon the people. 85s

But those were all secondary miracles. 92s

The primary miracle was the ability to speak in other languages about the mighty deeds of the 94s

power of God. 104s

Incredible event. 108s

And we pick up today with the reaction of the people to the event. 109s

Look at me, please, at verse 12 of chapter 2 of Acts. 117s

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 124s

what does this mean? 130s

But others sneered and said they are filled with new wine. 134s

That's quite a varied reaction. 140s

You've got amazement. 142s

You've got being perplexed. 144s

But you've also got those that said that the soul reason why they're acting as they're 147s

acting is because they are drunk. 153s

What was the response of Peter? 159s

Look at verse 14. 164s

But Peter, standing with the 11, raised his voice and addressed them. 166s

Man of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and listen to what I say. 171s

He stands up in boldness, he stands up in confidence. 180s

This is an incredible transformation that has occurred in Peter's life. 184s

Think back to Peter in Matthew the 26th chapter. 188s

There it says, now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. 193s

A servant girl came to him and said, you also were with Jesus together, Lee-in. 198s

But he denied it before all of them saying, I do not know what you're talking about. 203s

When he went out to the porch, another servant girl saw him and she said to the bystandards, 208s

this man was with Jesus of Nazareth. 212s

Again, he denied it with an oath. 216s

I do not know the man. 218s

After a little while, the bystander came up and said, Peter, certainly you are one of them 221s

for your accent that treas you. 227s

Then he began to curse and he swore and oath, I do not know the man. 230s

That's Peter in Matthew 26. 238s

Then you've got Peter in Acts 2, standing up and proclaiming, listen to this. 242s

What happens here? 254s

What's the transformation? 255s

The transformation is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 256s

The transformation is Peter being able to stand up and say, this is the word of God 260s

and having the weight of the word of God behind it. 266s

Notice what he says, verse 50. 271s

Indeed, these are not drunk as you suppose. 275s