◆“The Word that Becomes Active” (Acts 6:7) February 9, 2025

Good morning. Today, I would like to share a message from Acts 6:7.
Here, we are told that “the word of God spread.” This spreading does not simply mean that more people came to know about it. It means that many received it, believed in it, and their lives were transformed. As a result, many were added to the church. In other words, many disciples of Christ were being made. Among them were even many priests.

These priests were those who offered animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of people’s sins. They must have realized that the animals they were offering actually pointed to the atoning work of Jesus Christ. They came to understand that Jesus, though without sin, took upon Himself the sins of the people, bore judgment in their place, and died. They came to believe in Jesus as their Savior.

The Word of God, the divine message—the gospel—was transmitted in a living way. Though words themselves are merely sounds, they were enlivened. They were activated—given life.

Now, when we look up the word “activation” in the dictionary, we find definitions such as: “a specific function becoming more active,” or “something becoming more lively, such as a society or organization.” In companies or public offices, job rotations are sometimes done. A person in administration may be reassigned to sales, or someone in sales may be sent to another department. One reason for such transfers is to activate the organization.

Likewise, in chemistry, reactions that lead to explosions or large forces are said to be caused by the activation of substances. In other words, to activate something is to draw out or release dormant power that was within it.

So then, how is the Word of God activated?
When does the Word come alive and unleash its power?

In fact, living by faith is about the Word of God becoming active in our daily lives.
Faith grows when God’s Word is activated in our everyday experience.

Our church’s vision statement includes the phrase: “We encourage each other to apply the Bible in everyday life.” To apply Scripture in daily life is to activate the Word of God in our life setting.

1. The Word is Activated When It Is Trusted

For the Word to become powerful, it must first be trusted. In His hometown, Jesus’ words were not received. People said, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t His sisters all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him.

Perhaps Joseph had already passed away, as only Mary is mentioned. Jesus had at least six siblings. Growing up in a large family and without a father likely meant they were poor. People held a strong impression of Jesus as someone from a poor household—and poverty often leads to being undervalued and mistrusted, both then and now.

So the people of His hometown did not believe in Jesus. They did not trust His words. As a result, the Word was not activated there.

In contrast, there was a Samaritan woman—despised by Jews—who encountered Jesus at a well in the town of Sychar. When the conversation turned to the Messiah, Jesus said, “I who speak to you am He.” The woman ran to the town and told the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

She trusted Jesus’ words. As a result, many people in the town believed because of her testimony (John 4).
Jesus said similar things in both places, but only in Samaria did His words come alive—because there, they were believed.
Whether the Word becomes active or not depends on whether it is trusted.

Applying Scripture in daily life is not merely intellectual—it means living in trust and obedience to God’s Word. When we do that, the Word becomes a life-giving, guiding force in our lives.

2. The Word is Activated When It Is Shared

Another thing we learn from the story in Samaria is that the Word becomes active when it is shared.
Sharing doesn’t always mean using words. Studies say most communication is non-verbal.
Living in obedience to God’s Word, trusting it in our daily lives—that itself is a testimony. That is evangelism.
When the opportunity arises, we can also speak about Christ. Share your trust in God’s Word. Share how you have been supported by it.

3. The Word is Activated Through Rest—Time to Be Still Before It

This “rest” is symbolic. It means taking time to be still before the Word.
It means opening the Bible and pondering God’s message, asking:
What is God saying to me through this?

At our Wednesday prayer meetings, we read from the Psalms and take time for devotion and sharing.
Sometimes, we may hear nothing specific—that’s okay.
The key is to regularly step away from life’s busyness, quiet your phone, and be still before God’s Word.
Just as sleep allows our bodies to reset, this time allows our spirits to be restored.
God’s Word is stored in your heart, and at the right time, it becomes a source of strength.

4. The Word is Activated Through Trials and Opposition

Paul endured many hardships while preaching the gospel—imprisonment, beatings, stoning, robbery. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 11, we see that Paul’s heart burned all the more with passion.
Looking back at church history, we see that times of persecution often brought powerful spreading of the Word.

We may not face extreme trials like Paul, but we all go through hardships.
In those moments, we pray, seeking support from God’s Word. And that is when the Word becomes active—it encourages, strengthens, and gives us courage.

This leads us to another point:
The Word is activated when we are given a purpose.

In trials, pray that hardships may become blessings.
Pray with confidence in Jesus’ promise:
“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
This isn’t just a promise about time—it means He is with us in any circumstance.
Declare: “Jesus, You are Emmanuel—God with us.”
When you pray like this, the Word of God becomes powerful.

5. The Word is Activated in Fellowship

After Jesus ascended, what were the disciples doing?
In Matthew 28:16–20, we see Jesus giving the Great Commission and promising to be with them always.
Yet, some of them still doubted.

The chief priests and elders claimed Jesus’ body had been stolen. Many believed that story.
So even though the disciples had seen the risen Lord, they were still surrounded by fear and uncertainty.

Even so, they obeyed Jesus’ command and continued to meet together in Jerusalem.
Then came the Day of Pentecost.
The Holy Spirit descended, and they were filled with power, speaking in other languages they had never learned.
The Word was activated.

Each person heard the gospel in their own language. Peter stood up and boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Savior.
Acts 2:40 says:
“With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’”
And about 3,000 people believed and were baptized that day.

This wasn’t an individual effort. It was the witness of 150 gathered disciples, with Peter speaking as their representative.

The Word of God becomes active in the fellowship of the church.

Yes, the church is imperfect. Some members may be difficult.
But Jesus Himself shared meals with those considered sinners. When criticized, He said:
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. … I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12–13).

The church, with Christ as its head, is a gathering of people who realize their need for salvation and trust in Him.
Sometimes we forget this and begin judging others or thinking we’re better than someone else.

Hebrews 10:25 warns against giving up meeting together.
Why did some stop attending? Perhaps they were disappointed or hurt by others in the church.
They lost love and began to judge instead.

I know people who said, “I don’t need church; I can live out my faith alone.”
But despite their words, their spiritual strength gradually faded.
Because the Word gains its power in the fellowship of believers.

To those who continue to listen to the Word—
Trust it. Meditate on it.
Apply it, especially in times of trial.
Remain in the fellowship of the church.
And may the Word of God become a source of strength in your heart and life.

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Sermon script modified based on proofreading and translation with ChatGPT.