What Shall We Do?
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
April 6, 2008 – ©Rev.
Dr. Linnea E. Carnes
Introduction
Al Braca
worked as a corporate bond trader. His office was on the 105th floor
of Tower One in the World
Trade Center.
A week after the tower was hit and collapsed, Al’s body was found in the
rubble. According to Jeannie, his wife, Al hated his job; he couldn’t stand the
environment. It was a world completely out of sync with his Christian values.
But he wouldn’t quit. He was convinced that God wanted him to stay there, to be
alight in the darkness.
The Bracas
learned that Al had indeed been a light to people during the attack. Reports
started coming in from friends. Some people on the 105th floor had
made a last call or sent e-mails to a loved one saying that “a man” was leading
people in prayer. A few referred to Al by name. When Al realized that they were
trapped in the building and couldn’t escape, he shared the gospel with a group
of about 50 co-workers and led them in prayer. [PreachingToday.com, “Man Witnesses amid Terror” from Focus On the Family (Sept. 2002)].
Al Braca
knew that he wouldn’t get out alive, but he also knew where he was going –
straight into the arms of Jesus. But there were a lot of people right there
with him who didn’t know Jesus, or didn’t know where they were going. So Al did
what he could to make sure some of those people didn’t miss heaven.
The people
on the 105th floor didn’t have a chance. Nothing could change the
fact that they were going to die that morning. What could they do? Nothing
would change the situation, but Jesus could change the outcome.
Jesus Has Risen
Turn back
with me to the story in Luke 24:13-35. Two followers of Jesus were returning
home to Emmaus after the disastrous events of Friday – Good Friday. Jesus had
been arrested and sentenced to death on a cross. He died on that cross and was
buried in a tomb.
Jesus came
along side them and asked what they were talking about. They were amazed that
he hadn’t heard the news of Jesus’ death. Their grief was evident. With heavy
hearts, they spoke as those who are defeated.
As they
said, “We had hoped that he was the one
who was going to redeem Israel.”
[Lk.24:21]. We had hoped – but now we have lost hope. Things were
looking good, but now – now even the reports of the women that they had seen
Jesus alive offered no real hope. “What shall we do now?”
Then Jesus explained
what all these things meant, how the prophets had foretold them. When they
reached their home, they invited him in; they wanted to hear more. As Jesus
took the bread and broke it and gave thanks, they recognized Jesus, the Lord, their
risen Lord. And Jesus vanished from their sight. But they had seen the risen
Christ. They had encountered the living God.
What shall
they do? Night was coming. They had walked the 7 miles or so from Jerusalem. They were
tired. It was dangerous to walk the roads at night. But they had to tell the
others the good news. So unlike the trip to Emmaus, they joyfully hurried back
to Jerusalem.
They couldn’t wait to tell the others the good news. They had seen Jesus!
Now let’s
turn to Acts 2:32-33. Fifty days later Peter proclaimed, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the
fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the
promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” Peter then went on to say in verse 36: “Therefore let all Israel be
assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Messiah.”
Jesus has
risen from the dead. Jesus has ascended to heaven and is sitting on the right
hand of God. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to all who receive him by faith.
Jesus is Lord and Messiah!
“When the people heard this, they
were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what
shall we do?’” [v. 37]. Peter’s words not only touched
their minds, so that they now understood who Jesus was and what he had done,
but also their hearts.
“What shall we do? We’ve killed the
Messiah, the Lord.” Was their any hope left for them? Could anything at all
save them now? “What shall we do?”
What Shall We Do?
Those on
the 105th floor of Tower One of the World Trade
Center were asking “what
shall we do?” We all ask that at times. We run out of options, we can’t see any
hope in life, nothing makes sense any more – so what shall we do? How do we get
out of this mess we are in?
In Acts 2:
40 Peter said, “Save yourselves from this
corrupt generation.” Save yourselves? How could they save themselves in the
midst of a corrupt generation? For a society to be corrupted means it has
changed “from good to bad in morals, manners or actions” [Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary].
In Jesus’
day corrupt temple leaders falsely arrested, accused and put Jesus to death.
·
A
corrupt Roman governor chose to save himself by releasing a murderer, putting
an innocent man to death.
·
Corrupt
tax collectors used their positions to get rich at the expense of the poor.
What about
today?
·
Corruption
exists in politics and government – fixed elections, government officials
taking bribes.
·
Corruption
is found in businesses – CEO’s misusing the pension funds, employees embezzling
money from the company, doing personal business on company time.
·
Corruption
is seen in the abuse and oppression by the powerful, domestic violence,
senseless killing of innocent people, people denied the same opportunities
because of race, religion, class or gender.
·
People
lie, steal, kill, are sexually immoral, prejudiced, mistreat the poor, the
disabled, the homeless, the elderly, orphans, with no apparent guilt.
·
People
say they believe in God, but live godless lives.
It’s not
just in America,
but throughout the world. We live in a corrupt generation! Sadly, Christians reflect the corruption of
society.
What shall
we do?
·
Stop
being unkind, deceitful or abusive to others.
·
Stop
being prejudiced, rude, or judgmental.
What shall
we do?
·
Stop
living like those who don’t know Jesus Christ.
Repent and Believe
The people
asked, “What shall we do?” Peter
responded, “Repent and be baptized, every
one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” [Acts2:38].
“Repent!”
To repent is to turn around. If you’re going down a one-way street the wrong
way, turn around. If you are in debt, stop spending. If you are doing something
illegal or immoral, stop doing it. If you are cheating, stop cheating. Whatever
you are doing that does not honor God, stop, turn around and go the right way!
Many in the
crowd on Pentecost weren’t bad people. They didn’t see themselves as corrupt.
And many of us don’t look in the mirror and see a “corrupt” person. But if our
lives are not in tune with Jesus, we are in mortal danger. We are living for
ourselves and not for God.
Al Braca
knew that many of the people on the 105th floor were not living for
God. He told them about Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and promise of the Holy
Spirit, about the gift of life – life beyond their certain death that day.
Celebrate Life
Peter knew that many of the Jews and God-seekers that day
didn’t know the Risen Lord. So he said, repent, be baptized for “the forgiveness of
your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The
promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom
the Lord our God will call.” [Acts2:38-39].
When we turn
back to Jesus we are not only forgiven, but we receive the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us to strengthen us, teach us, guide us, and
encourage us.
The Holy
Spirit helps us stop living corrupt lives and start living for God. The Holy Spirit
isn’t just for those who heard Peter’s message that day. The Holy Spirit is for
all people, in every generation, in every nation, in every situation, who put
their trust in Jesus and turn back to God.
Your life situation
may be desperate – a life threatening illness, the loss of a loved one, the
loss of a job, a broken relationship. Hopeless and helpless you have reached a
point of total despair. You have no where to turn. What shall we do? Turn to Jesus!
Your job,
your position in the company or society, your bank account, your family, fame,
talent, friendliness, or good looks will not save you. Only Jesus can do that.
Only Jesus can give you something worth living for and something worth dying
for.
Of the people
who heard Peter that Pentecost, 3,000 believed in Jesus, repented, were
baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Their question, “what shall we do,” was answered. They turned to Jesus and received
life.
The
circumstances of life may not change. We may not be healed, or get rich.
However, we are changed. With the Holy Spirit to help us, we are able to live
for God and with God.
·
We
have hope again, for our hope is in Christ and hope will not disappoint us.
·
We
have joy, for our joy is made complete In Christ.
·
We
have life, for we have put our faith in Christ who is life.
No matter
what happens in life, nothing “will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[Rom.8:39].
What shall
we do?
Turn to
Jesus and live for Jesus
so that we
too can tell others about Jesus and live. Amen.
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This sermon is copyright ©2008 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes,
Immanuel Evangelical
Covenant Church,
Chicago, Illinois.