Admiration Is Not Allegiance

New to the Space

by Rev James M. Armpriester, Jr 

Fire That Speaks

WEEK 6 DAY 4 — ADMIRATION IS NOT ALLEGIANCE

Acts 2:37–41

 Today, we’re looking at Acts 2:37-41. 

After Peter finished his Spirit-inspired sermon on the day of Pentecost, it says those listening were “cut to the heart.”

After being convicted, they ask Peter for the next step: “What shall we do?”

And this is where the turning point takes place in the lives of these listeners. 

• They don’t just sit around and admire a nice sermon. 
• They didn’t go to lunch to analyze each point of Peter’s thoughts. 
• RATHER: they made a decision to let this message change their lives. 

Peter tells them the next steps: “Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

• This promise of the Holy Spirit was a prophetic promise that Joel declared in Joel 2 that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh.
• This is a wide, inclusive invitation, but it’s one that requires us to move into relationship. It requires our allegiance to Christ. 

When we look at culture around us, we see some that admire Jesus. 

• They like his teachings, his compassion, his challenge to hypocritical leadership. 
• But it’s a detached admiration. It’s safe and requires little. It allows us to keep our distance.
• But Peter here in Acts 2 is calling people to a costly allegiance that would change everything for them. 

Let’s get real for a minute: are you more comfortable with an admirable, inspiration Jesus? Do you find yourself resisting the authority and lordship of Jesus in your life?

It’s vital for us to see Pentecost as more than an invitation, but also a confrontation. It’s a call to change our allegiances and the lordship of our lives. 

During the Pentecost sermon, Peter is sharing the true identity of who Jesus is: “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.”

This declaration of Jesus as Lord means Jesus has authority and supremacy in our lives. It’s the declaration that Jesus truly is the center of it all. 

• He isn’t a consultant or a life coach. Jesus is Lord.

After Peter’s sermon, here’s what Scripture tells us happened: three thousand people responded to the call to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. 

• This wasn’t because of external pressures, but because the truth pierced their hearts. 
• It wasn’t a vague agreement in an attempt to get to heaven someday, but a surrendered trust that changed the trajectory of their lives. 

And for those who are Christians, followers of Jesus, here is a subtle warning:

• We can get busy in participating in church services,
• We can serve on the teams and go through the motions,
• We can agree theologically with the truth,
• But we can still be withholding ourselves from full surrender. 

This is the invitation of Pentecost: not going through motions, but having our entire lives given to Jesus. 

Action Step: 

So let’s apply this today… 

Ask yourself: Where am I simply admiring Jesus from afar instead of submitting and obeying Him? 

• Take a look at your time, talent, treasures, and desires.
• Be honest and see if there are any places you are withholding from God. 
• Bring it before Him and replace the Lordship of your life from you to Jesus.
• Confession can bring healing and leads us towards repentance which brings true transformation and change by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
• Let today be the day where you invite the Holy Spirit to produce the change that leads to obedience.