Thursday, June 5, 2008

THE HUB OF THE BIBLE

THE HUB OF THE BIBLE


Text: Acts 2:1-21.

Delivered on: June 8, 2008. Streetsboro.



Introduction.

  1. As was stated a few weeks ago, Acts 2 has been called the “Hub” of the Bible.

  2. Hub = a place or thing that forms the effective center of an activity, region, or network.

  3. Acts 2 is the focus of a great many Old and New Testament prophecies.

  4. Truly, when we look at the whole scheme of things, we see that Acts 2 does seem to be at the very center of God’s scheme of redemption for mankind.

    1. Some might argue that the death of Christ is the Hub of the Bible.

    2. But we must remember that Jesus’ death on the cross was for the purpose of purchasing the church which was established in Acts 2. Acts 20:28. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

  5. First, let us look at the prophecies and then let us look at their fulfillment.





Body.

  1. OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES.


    1. Isaiah 2. Isaiah 2:2-3. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, “ Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

      1. The Lord’s house is the church. 1 Timothy 3:15. But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

      2. Here the place of the establishment of Christ’s kingdom is specified.

      3. Jerusalem.


    2. Daniel 2. Here the time of the establishment of the kingdom is established.

      1. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.

        1. He saw a great image with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. Daniel 2:31-33.

        2. A stone is cut without hands and strikes them image in the feet and destroys the whole image. Daniel 2:33.

        3. The stone that struck the image then becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth.

      2. Daniel interprets the dream.

        1. Nebuchadnezzar (and his kingdom) were the head of gold. Daniel 2:37-38.

        2. The silver and bronze represent a second then third kingdom. Daniel 2:39.

          1. Mede-Persians.

          2. Grecians.

        3. The iron represents the fourth kingdom. Daniel 2:40.

          1. Rome.

          2. The feet of iron and clay represented the fact that the kingdom would be divided. Daniel 2:41-43.

      3. Verse 44. KEY VERSE. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

        1. The kingdom would be established in the days of these kings.

        2. Days of what kings?

        3. Roman kings.


    3. Joel 2. Events that would occur at the establishment of the kingdom. Joel 2:28-32. “ And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 “ And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

      1. The Spirit would be poured out on all flesh.

      2. As a result, men and women would prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions.

      3. At this time, whoever would call on the name of the Lord would be saved.

      4. This salvation would come from Jerusalem.


  2. NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES.


    1. The preaching of John the Baptist. John 3:1-2. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”


    2. The preaching of Jesus.

      1. Matthew 4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

      2. Matthew 16:18-19. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

        1. Jesus was going to establish the kingdom.

        2. Peter and the rest of the apostles would be alive to see this kingdom.


    3. The preaching of the twelve. Matthew 10:6-7. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’


    4. The preaching of the 70. Luke 10:9. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’


    5. Mark 9:1. And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

      1. The time is narrowed down even further now.

      2. Some who were standing there would live to see the kingdom established.

      3. At the most, this would place the establishment of the kingdom within 60-70 years.

      4. But we know it came much more quickly.

      5. Also, we know that the kingdom would come with power.


    6. Regarding the Holy Spirit.

      1. John 1:32-33. And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

      2. John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

      3. John 15:26. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

      4. John 16:13. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.


    7. Luke 24:49. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”


    8. Acts 1:8. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


  3. THE FULFILLMENT OF THESE PROPHECIES. ACTS 2.


    1. The right place. Jerusalem. Acts 2:5. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

      1. Isaiah 2:2-3.

      2. Joel 2:28-32.

      3. Luke 24:49.


    2. The right time. During the time of the Roman empire. A.D. 33.

      1. Daniel 2:44.

      2. Mark 9:1.

      3. Fulfilled the preaching of the 84.


    3. The right events.

      1. Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

      2. Joel 2:28-32.

      3. John 1:32-33; 14:26; 15:26; 16:13.

      4. Luke 24:49.

      5. Acts 1:8.


  4. TRULY THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME ON EARTH.


    1. If Acts 2, were the HUB of the Bible we would also expect that after it occurred, those who lived afterward would look back to it as a focal point.


    2. Listen to the words of Peter when He was describing the events at the house of Cornelius. Acts 11:15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

      1. Beginning of what?

      2. Beginning of the Kingdom.


    3. After Acts 2, the Kingdom HAS come.

      1. It is no longer spoken of in the future tense.

        1. Colossians 1:13. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

        2. Revelation 1:9. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

      2. The kingdom began in Acts 2.


    4. God’s kingdom is the most important institution on earth. Ephesians 3:10-11. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord

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