Words have Power (Acts 2:25-41)

Did you know, words have power? Of course, you did, we have always known that the things we say can either build people up and can easily tear them down as well. Indeed, that is what Proverbs 12:6 tells us, when it says, The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. Proverbs 18:21, talks about the tongue when it states, the tongue has the power of life and death. And of course, the numerous passages in the New Testament that specifically speak about the power of the tongue and of words. Let’s not forget the name of Jesus found in the gospel of John, The Word became flesh. So, words have power.

Some of the greatest speeches in history have shaped the way people live, what they believe and how they perceive things around them. Let’s take President John F Kennedy, for example, who said in his inauguration speech in 1961, And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. He had just been speaking about forging peace and defending freedom from all corners of the globe. These words had the power to rally the American people to support his presidency.

A few months later, he spoke again about going to Moon, not because it is easy, but because it was hard, again using words to rally the American people to look to the future.

What about Sir Winston Churchill in 1940 when he said the immortal words, We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender… Inspiring thousands or men and women going off to battle against the Gestapo during the Second World War. A few months later, Churchill delivered another rousing speech in his This was their finest hour speech. Powerful words that encouraged both the soldiers and those left at home.

Martin Luther King Jr spoke about hope for the future of the many African-Americans when he gave his I have a dream speech, giving them hope that apartheid-like regimes will not happen again. Words have power.

Film and television producers have jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak, by having main characters give rousing speeches to instill emotion in the listeners. Novels have the power of taking you off to some distant land and time, forcing you into another reality. In fact, a novel called, Fahrenheit 451, is about the power of words and how the authorities control what you read for fear of uprising. Words have power.

If I bring it back to reality, in the playground at schools, kids saying things to hurt others, or in some cases using words to gain attention from an adult. As a teacher, I have to watch my words because a lot of students take things either seriously or literally. Words have power.

And it is no exception when we listen to the words spoken in the Bible. Matthew 5 records one of the first speeches of Jesus after his temptations in the wilderness. The words Jesus used were such that it challenged the very fabric of our reality and still does today. What we believe has, in fact, been turned completely upside down just from that one Sermon on the Mount. Our own perceptions of what are important, completely smashed by the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus have power.

And so, to today's passage. Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost. In verses 14-24, where Peter reminds the listeners of the prophecies about the Messiah, recorded by Joel 2:28-32. These words, we heard, are in preparation for what Peter had in store for his Fellow Jews and all of [those] who live in Jerusalem (v14). They were to make links between what the Jews had known from childhood to what had actually happened and then onto the future.

Peter takes us on a whistle-stop tour of Christ’s life in v22, Christ’s death (v23) and His resurrection in v24. He makes direct links between the life, death and resurrection of Christ to the salvation of mankind, as we read in v21.

But, if you notice, Peter extends his speech about the resurrection of Christ until v32 where he out-rightly declares that God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. In Peter’s mind, this part of the message is key. A dead Christ means nothing if not followed by the power of resurrection. As Paul confirms in 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

In order to make this point crystal clear in the minds of the Jews present, he uses the words from David in Psalm 16:8-11 (tonight’s passage starting at verse 25).

Perhaps, it is believed by the Jews at the time, that this passage pertains directly to David, himself. He was, after all, a highly thought of king. He was recognised as one of the most important people of their history. King David was the one who God had promised to seat one of his descendants upon the throne for ever as recorded in 2 Samuel 7: 16. Of course, David was speaking about himself in Psalm 16. Wasn’t he? He was the king! And, why would this strange preacher, who in verse 13, was clearly drunk on too much wine, despite the time of day (v14) trying to reign in on David’s promise?

Peter responded perfectly in v29. David could not possibly be talking about himself, he died and was buried and you can go and look at his grave today. He was looking to the future when the Messiah would come.  He knew this Messiah would not taste death like he, himself would. He would be raised from the dead. And in verse 32, the listeners are forced to make those links between what David said and what they had witnessed only a few weeks before.

If there was no resurrection, Peter was sure, as was David hundreds of years before, they all would be abandoned in the realm of the dead, for ever. Not an inspiring concept!

But, Peter doesn’t just leave it there. Even though he had just proverbially hit each listener with a massive realisation blow, he then tells them in v33, that the resurrected Jesus is now exalted above all creation and is at the right hand of God. Now, there’s a phrase even we recognise, meaning second only to the one in charge. This is, of course, a crude definition by biblical and Jewish standards. Jews would recognise this phrase, as a place of power and authority, meaning Jesus had been exalted to the highest of highs, the right hand of God, himself. In such a position, he received from God the promised Holy Spirit to pour out on those who believed. And Peter points out that this is what has happened to his fellow disciples.

Using words from David again in v34, Peter cements the idea that David was pointing towards a future Messiah and so if he believed it, then the listeners have no choice but to. With the perfectly crafted argument that no one could argue against or pick fault at, Peter concludes his sermon with a summary and declaration in v36.

Words have power. And in these words spoken by Peter, the Jews and all who lived in Jerusalem were cut to the heart (v37). They were overcome with guilt and anguish, instantly regretting what they had done. I mean, wouldn’t you be? I know I would if I had just found out that not only was this Jesus who was crucified, in fact, the Messiah prophesied long ago and now has power and authority over all creation from God, but, that I had a hand in his death! I was responsible for the death of a man accredited by the creator of the cosmos. I caused the death of the man God Almighty has made both Lord and Messiah! Of course, I am going to regret it. What human being who fears God wouldn’t?

There are several key aspects here for our response to this cutting message (v38).

We must first repent. For a long time, I did not exactly know what that meant. I thought repenting was just saying sorry for the sin I had just committed and for many years, that was all I was doing. I had a genuine fear for the consequences of my sin and of the wrath of God in hell because of that sin. However, that is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak and Peter refers to a much deeper commitment here.  He implies we must have a genuine sorrow for the sin as it is committed against God and along with that we must purposely forsake the sin, turning away from it completely because it is an evil and bitter thing.

This is crucial to be saved. Yes, Christ died for all who believe, but if we don’t purposely turn from the darkness immediately, we cannot be saved.

The second action we must take, after repentance, is to be baptised. This is our declaration to the world that we belong to and have embraced Jesus as our Messiah. I was baptised in 2012. Even though I was dedicated in the Salvation Army as a baby, I decided to take that step of publically declaring my faith in Christ Jesus as my personal Saviour. It is not a sign to be taken lightly, though, you’ll agree some participants, think nothing of it. But, I choose to hold my baptism in high regard.

To me, it does not say that I am perfect. It does not say that I will not sin ever again, trust me, I struggle with sin every single day. Being baptised means I am making a standing against sin and darkness, I am turning from sin and turning toward Christ as my Saviour, I am submitting myself to Christ as Lord and that I desire to follow Christ every step of the way. That is what baptism means to me.

We cannot have one without the other, if you notice. What is the point of repenting if we chose not to turn to Christ? Similarly, how can we turn to Christ without first, turning from sin? We can’t. So, Peter is telling us that we must completely turn our backs on sin and darkness in order to turn toward Christ and light.

Is this not the same message John declared in Mark 1:4 ‘And so John came, baptising in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’?

But here, Peter goes one step further. Makes the whole message even more powerful. Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (v38).

In the name of Jesus! Captured so perfectly in the words of Nathan Aldersley:

Of all in earth and Heaven,
The dearest name to me
Is the matchless name of Jesus,
The Christ of Calvary.

I cannot help but love him,
And tell his love to me;
For he became my ransom,
The Christ of Calvary.

I could not live without him,
His love is life to me;
My blood-bought life I give him,
The Christ of Calvary.

The Christ of Calvary,
The dearest name to me
Is the matchless name of Jesus,
The Christ of Calvary.

There is power in the name of Jesus. Power to redeem us from our sins. And he has the authority to pour out his spirit upon us, the promised Holy Spirit in v38. But, not just to us, this promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call. (v39)

If that isn’t enough to encourage you, to uplift you and to give you hope, then look at what Peter actually said it was for …

V38 for the forgiveness of your sins. Plural. Sins. Not just one sin. All our sins. Christ died for the forgiveness of all our sins, stretching right back to Eve in the garden. All our sins have been paid completely, as the song said, he became my ransom. We are free from the burden of sin. Satan no longer has a hold on us and our lives. We are free to worship and follow Christ.

Words have power. Even the name of Christ is power.

To me, that is reassuring enough. To know the vilest offender who truly repents and becomes baptised in the name of Jesus, has all their sins forgiven and is saved, is an incredibly wonderful thing. But you know what’s even more wonderful than that …

Take another look at verses 22-39 again. Seven times we are told the most magnificent thing of Peter’s entire sermon. The most awesome of truths we could ever hear.

Seven times. Seven, coincidentally, being the Bible’s perfect number, the number denoting completeness, which is fitting for what this magnificent truth is.

Seven times we hear that God is in control!

Twice in v22.

V23

V24

V32

V36 and v39

Seven times, we are told that God is in control, but not only that, he has been in control from the start, that he had a deliberate plan and foreknowledge for Christ and that he calls us.

What an incredibly powerful sermon. Words have power.

Is this not a beautiful message? Is this not so wonderful we have got to tell others, just as Peter did? And just as Peter pleads with those who listened, we must plead with those who listen to us, save yourselves from this corrupt generation, repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.