CONVERSION OF GOD-SLAYERS (Acts 2:1-47)

Poem: Here is the background of an angry poem about the death of a beloved son:

My son was shot and killed last year on Dec 2000 by his cousin in their home (my sister's home) with a 12 Gauge shotgun. Some say it was an accident i think other. He was only 12 years old. He only got 2 years in a juvenile detention center for this. I am so ANGRY over all this that I can't even think straight no more. and all I want is REVENGE.

God faced the murders of His Son (Acts 2:22-23).

Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:

With the angry father’s revenge in mind, exchange places with God. What would do? Exchange places with the audience. Upon hearing of your crime of slaying God’s Son, fear would grip your heart.

I.     BACKGROUND

        A.    The Time (50 days [Pentecost], 10 days ascension)

        B.    The Place: Jerusalem where He was crucified.

        C.    The Circumstances (Acts 2:1-4).

II.    THE AUDIENCE

        A.    Devout Jews (Acts 2:5-).

        B.    Mockers (a joke, see 2:14b for the joke, laughed at).

        C.    From all over the world (Acts 2:9-11), geographical list, not linguistic. Peter is not telling us how many languages the apostles spoke.

III.  THE PREACHER

        A.    Twelve eyewitnesses (Acts 2:13, 14, 32).

        B.    The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).

IV.   BODY OF THE SERMON: THE RESURRECTION

        A.    Proved the resurrection by Scripture (Acts 5:39ff).

        B.    Proved the resurrection by empty tomb (Acts 2:29).

        C.    Proved the resurrection by the eyewitnesses (Acts 2:32).

        D.    Proved the resurrection by coming of the Spirit (Acts 2:32).

        E.    Jesus has been raised, He is Lord/Christ (Acts 2:36; Heb 5:8-9).

V.    THE RESULTS

        A.    Powerful gospel was preached to the lost (Rom. 1:16-17).

        B.    Holy Spirit convicted sinners of their guilt–only through the Word (Acts 2:4, 37; John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-23).

        C.    Those convicted asked vital question (Acts 2:37).

        D.    Question plainly answered (Acts 2:38

        E.    Obedience enjoined upon all (Acts 2:21; 38; Luke 13:3; Mark 16:16).

CONCLUSION: Do you consider this being the worst crime against God? Behold, God even forgave the murders of His only begotten Son. He will forgive you.

A Father's Revenge (edited, rlc)

They say revenge can be so sweet,

but I know the bitter after taste,

maybe it's better to swallow my anger,

rather than regret actions made in haste.

But I have a living hatred for you,

it's an anger that burns deep inside.

Do you know that I've cried me that river?

And then again, I've cried and cried.

I don't care what the judge and jury said,

your judgment day will surely come,

maybe you need to sleep with one eye open,

and keep looking over your shoulder, old chum.

You see, people have told me to forgive you,

but you killed Junior and he meant everything to me,

and now I'm all washed up,

but out to drift and all at sea.

I'm so angry and so mad,

I just can't think straight anymore,

and I'll never again rest easy,

until I've evened up the score.

I'm tired of hearing people say that you're sorry,

or that you're going to live with this forever,

simply put; if it wasn't for you,

me and Junior would still be together.

They say everything for a reason,

or at least that's what gets taught,

but I've tried adding up the logic,

and still today it comes to naught.

I guess you're pretty pleased with yourself,

two years easy in a juvenile,

two years for taking a life,

I wish the irony could make me smile.

Don't ask me for my forgiveness,

because you've turned my heart to stone,

I've never felt so desperate,

I've never felt so utterly alone.

And we'll always be connected,

Junior will always be our common thread,

and I sincerely hope that one day,

I can stop wishing that you were dead.

It says in the Bible,

that it should be an eye for an eye,

and if that is the case,

then I should kill you, you should die.

But two wrongs won't make a right,

and two deaths is just two too many,

so give me some reason to believe again,

because I have many reasons not to, and I mean many.

Because Junior's life would be wasted,

if all that's left is anger and hate,

but I'm still struggling to understand,

the very cruel twists and turns of fate.

So, I'm going to try and channel my anger,

for better, not for worse,

that way then some good may come of this,

then maybe, just maybe, I can lift this curse.

And I need a good reason,

not to hurt you straight away,

so you need to make it your life's mission,

to honor Junior's memory some day.

Because, (and don't underestimate a father's love,

or the genuine hate that I feel for you),

I need some sense of hope,

because I'm struggling to make it through.