EXHORTATION
ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST PETER TOLD SOME PEOPLE THAT
THEY WERE GUILTY OF SIN. ACTS
A. The people that Peter spoke to were in a wrong relationship with God.
B. To right their relationship Peter told them to repent and be baptized (verse 38).
C. When preachers today reach this point in their sermons they are usually about done.
D. On this occasion the preaching wasn’t finished.
E. A few moments ago we heard Acts 2:40 read.
F. Luke noted that Peter used “many others words” to “exhort” the people.
2. Tonight we want to study the word exhort.
A. This
verb is used 109 times in the New Test. (Exegetical Dict.
of the New Test.
B. This word has the same root as the word translated comforter.
C. In the New Testament the word translated exhort can be defined in three different ways.
3. In some places the word exhort means “to summon, invite, ask, implore.”
4. In other places it means “exhort.”
5. The third use of the word is “comfort.”
6. Tonight I want to explore these three meanings for the word “exhort.”
7. The first definition is to summon, invite, ask, implore.
A. In Acts 28:20 Paul asked to see some Jewish leaders.
B. He summoned or called people.
C. A similar usage is found in Acts 28:14; Christians invited other Christians to join them.
8. In Mt. 8:5 a centurion “beseeched” Jesus to perform a miracle.
9. All these passages use the same word that is translated “exhort” in Acts 2:40.
10. The centurion in Mt. 8:5 pleaded with Jesus.
11. The word exhort was often associated with those who were needy.
12. Those who were desperate often came to Jesus and begged (exhorted Him) for aid.
13. The first definition for “exhort” is found in many parts of the New Testament.
14. Jesus said that He could call upon the Father for angels, Mt. 26:53.
15. Jesus said that if He asked more than 21 legions of angels could be sent..
16. The Lord used the same word that Peter used in Acts 2:40.
17. The Lord could “exhort” the Father for angelic help.
18. Some of us will remember a statement from Acts 16:9
A. This passage says that Paul had a vision.
B. He
saw a man from
C. The man in this vision used the word translated “exhort” in Acts 2:40.
D. This man was asking and even imploring Paul to help those in Macedonia.
19. When we look at the first meaning of this word in scripture we find a point or two of application.
20. In the past some have turned to the people of God and begged them for help.
21. Christians and even their Lord have been “exhorted” to assist others.
22. Today this still happens.
23. Some turn to God’s people and plead for assistance.
24. When people begged Paul for help he went.
25. When people came to Jesus and “exhorted Him” He went.
26. What do we do?
27. When people beg us for help, how do we respond?
28. We know the answer to this question.
29. THE
WORD TRANSLATED EXHORT WAS USED IN A SECOND WAY. IT WAS USED TO DESCRIBE EXHORTATION.
A. Paul spoke of the need for Christians to exhort each other.
B. In Acts 15:32 prophets exhorted fellow believers.
C. The Philippians (2:1) were told about exhortation.
D. Timothy was to exhort the church (1 Thess. 3:2) – READ.
E. Exhortations come in different forms.
F. Sometimes those in the church are warned about things that are dangerous.
G. In other cases people are encouraged to do what is right.
H. Those who are doing well are exhorted to keep going.
I. Those who are not doing well are encouraged to not quit.
J. All of these activities are “exhortations.”
K. Exhortations can be positive or negative.
L. They can be for people who are prospering or who are not doing too well.
30. This definition for “exhortation” has direct bearing on the subject of salvation.
31. In Acts 2:40 the meaning of exhortation is exhort.
32. There are times in life when people need to be convinced of something.
A. Those who need to be convinced may need to be persuaded because they have doubts.
B. People may completely disbelieve what they are being told.
C. It is also possible that others are completely confused about something.
D. There are times when we must step in and try to help people.
E. This is what Peter did on the day of Pentecost.
F. This man knew beyond any doubt that Jesus was no longer in a grave.
G. He had absolute proof that the Lord had been raised from the dead.
H. He knew that the only kind of religion pleasing to God is Christianity.
I. When given the opportunity to tell people what to do Peter presented the facts.
33. People finally asked what they needed to do and Peter told them.
34. This apostle did not stop with the information about salvation.
35. He “exhorted them with many other words.”
36. Peter urged, begged, implored, and pleaded with these people to become Christians.
37. This man seems to have put all he had into convincing these people that they needed the gospel.
38. At times we talk about the importance of following the examples in scripture.
39. In Acts 2:40 we have an example.
40. When an apostle met with people who were unsaved he was passionate.
41. Peter urged people to save their souls.
42. This is the right way to approach our own lives and the souls of others.
43. If we knew that our house was on fire we wouldn’t waste a moment of time.
44. We would immediately call the fire department.
45. If we heard someone breaking into our house through a window we would call 911.
46. There are some situations in life that are urgent.
47. This is what Peter tried to convey to the people on the Day of Pentecost.
48. He didn’t ask them to come back to a service on the following day.
49. He didn’t say “Let’s get together again in a week.”
50. This was an opportunity to be saved and he begged people to take it.
51. We should be able to understand how the unsaved need to be exhorted.
52. Those who are Christians also need this same kind of encouragement.
A. In Acts 14:22 we read that Christians were “exhorted” to continue in the faith.
B. This is the same word that is used in Acts 2:40.
C. People should be exhorted to become Christians and exhorted to stay faithful to God.
53. If we are a Christian one of the most important works we will ever do is exhortation.
A. In some cases we might plead with someone to do what is right.
B. In other instances exhortation may involve something less complicated.
C. We can exhort people by praying for them; calling them; visiting them.
D. We have people stand around after services and sometimes go a meal together.
E. What happens during these times? Exhortation.
F. Sherman has done a very good job with our visitation program.
G. His work is not just visitation. It is a means of exhortation.
H. I said that exhortation comes in different forms. This is true.
I. One form is encouraging fellow Christians.
J. This is a valuable work that every Christian should be involved in.
54. THE WORD EXHORTATION HAS BEEN LOOKED AT FROM TWO DIFFERENT STANDPOINTS. LET’S LOOK AT THE THIRD WAY THE TERM IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.
A. This sense of the word describes comfort.
B. Jesus promised that those who mourn would be comforted (Mt. 5:4).
C. The word translated “comforted” is the same term that is used in Acts 2:40.
D. Those who “mourn” are “exhorted” because they are made to feel good.
E. Romans 15:4 says that the scriptures “comfort” us.
F. The word “comfort” is translated “exhort” in other places like Acts 2:40.
G. Scripture is partly designed to console and soothe people.
H. The word translated “exhort” is used in 2 Thess. 2:17.
I. Paul that God’s people receive eternal “comfort” through Christ and the Father.
55. Perhaps the most intriguing place where this third definition is found is 1 Cor. 4:13.
56. I want to read this verse.
57. Paul said that he and others were “defamed.”
A. The word translated “defamed” was a rare word.
B. It is only found here in the New Testament.
C. Paul that people said about bad things about Paul; they slandered him; they defamed him.
D. How did Paul respond? READ.
E. Though people said bad things about Paul the apostle entreated.
F. The word entreated is from the same word translated exhort in Acts 2:40.
G. In this passage it means that Paul tried to comfort people.
58. When others said evil things about him Paul still tried to offer comfort.
59. If we want a snapshot of a Christian we have it in 1 Cor. 4:13.
60. Others tried to damage and ruin him but Paul still tried to offer comfort and consolation.
61. The word exhort is a great word.
62. In the New Testament it has three basics meanings:
63. In some places it means “to summon, invite, ask, implore.”
64. In other places it means “exhort” (encourage).
65. The third use of the word is “comfort.”
66. Do we exhort others? If so how often?
67. What kind of exhortation do we do?
68. Do we invite and ask other people about spiritual things?
69. Do we “exhort” in the sense of encourage and comfort others?
70. These are questions that we need to ask.
71. We also need to ask if anyone can be exhorted to become a Christian.