Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
In downtown Franklin, Tennessee, you will find a place known as “Five Points.” It is unique because five roads converge at one intersection! Maybe in your town, you have two major roads that cross to make a major intersection. This happens in the Bible sometimes as well; two points converge at one Bible event.
In Acts 2, Peter is preaching at the Day of Pentecost. Notice the intersection of God’s Spirit and God’s Word in Peter’s sermon: “And they were filled with the Holy Ghost. . . .” (4); “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (16); “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh. . . .” (17); “I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (18). You can also find the Spirit of God and the Word of God converging in verses 33-34 (the promise of the Spirit and David’s prophesy).
His powerful conclusion to the sermon is in verse 36: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” The people’s response was, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” God’s Word through God’s Spirit converged with man’s will, and what happened? “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (verse 41)
So what can we take from this for ourselves? First, hear God’s Word and God’s Spirit. Hearing God’s Word means you are open to it and give time to it. Take time to know God’s mind on a matter. You can know the way God does act towards a matter today because of the way He has acted. If you still don’t know what to do after searching God’s Word, listen to God’s Spirit who wrote It! You can have confidence in God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit can give you clarity to know what God has said.
Secondly, trust God’s Word and God’s Spirit. The wonderful truth about Bible preaching is that individual needs will be met. Peter had God’s Word, and he preached it. The Holy Spirit can give power to convince people of the truth. He certainly did on the Day of Pentecost, and He can (and will) do it for you today!
May God help us to hear and to trust His Word and His Spirit today-for ourselves and for those we may “minister” to today.
Prayer Requests:
1. Protection and provision for staff
2. Family Week campers to be helped this week
3. Salvation of unsaved junior campers
Camp Quotes:
“The best you can be when you are older starts when you are younger.”
-Evangelist Ron Reilly