The Word of Life

Acts 3:25–26 (ESV) You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

This is now the second sermon in the Book of Acts. It's an amazing study to look at what the Apostles and disciples talked about in their sermons throughout this book. For all our "smart ideas" and "clever wisdom" of how to get people to our churches and get them to love Jesus, there is no beating the sermons of Peter and others in these pages.

The Bible is clear from the very first page, God makes it all things happen by His spoken Word. God's actions are tied up in God's speaking. That is why proclaiming Christ and Him Crucified is the power to change a heart, a family, a community, a town and ultimately a nation and the world. 

We must "PREACH the WORD in season and out of season" Paul edified Timothy in spite of his timidity and youth. This is the way we turn hearts from hardness to acceptance of God's ways. 

Jesus came to speak to us the Word made flesh and dwelt among us giving us the Words of Life. He calls us into the blessing of Abraham by hearing His Words and turning from our sin. This is the path to blessing and life as God intends... hear His creative, life-giving Word, listen and do it. 

Matthew 7:24–25 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Consider how the World maintain order and sustains life? By the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). How is the nation of Israel to maintain order and community promoting life and health for all? The Ten Words of Commandments from God's lips. How are we to get through the storms of life WHEN they come? By hearing Christ and doing what He says. There is nothing but blessing in hearing the WORD of God and doing it.

So the Early Church gave themselves to preaching Christ and His redeeming work. He makes all things new one soul at a time. This is why when the lame man is healed, Peter is quick to point out, "We didn't do this because we are something... reading from Acts 3:12 (ESV) “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?... 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

This is the power of the Christian movement. Our message of Jesus Christ. God's Word creates and sustains. With that in mind, is there something you need to listen to and do?

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV) Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

PRAYER:

Father, I want to have ears that hear and a mind that receives and a body that responds to Your Life-giving Word! Thank You for the truth that empowers life and brings healing to our bones.