[Around the Table] Everyone Is InvitedSample

Authority

The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak in other languages to declare the wonders of God. I know there’s been so much abuse in the church when it comes to the Holy Spirit, but we should not be afraid or skeptical of this gift. Let’s give God the benefit of the doubt. We are not going to put God in a box. He is who He who was yesterday, is today, and will be tomorrow. We believe He can; we believe He does; we believe He will. Nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26).

There are always some who will be cynical and skeptical. Along with the faithful who were amazed, there were the faithless, who were amused, thinking the disciples were just drunk. So Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and addressed the crowd. He said, “these people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.” Then Peter belts out the prophet’s words stating that God would pour out His Spirit on everyone, young and old, men and women. Unity. Unity in community. Those of you who love to argue over women’s roles in the church, I know what Paul said, but also don’t miss what Peter said; don’t miss what Joel said.

Peter continues quoting Joel, proclaiming: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This is just wonderful news. Everyone is invited to the table. Everyone who calls on the Lord—no matter the despair, pain, circumstances, suffering, or sickness—everyone who calls on the name of the Lord can and will be saved.

Peter continued declaring what God had done through Jesus Christ. All of a sudden, the disciple who had denied Him three times, out of fear, is filled with boldness. He preached, quoting Psalm 16. So, the by-product of Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension resulted not only in community and empowerment, but in authority. This God-empowered identity that Peter walked in is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. There was an anointing resting upon him.