On the day of Pentecost mentioned in Acts 2, we are told the apostles “…began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (2:4). As they preached under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, just what kind of preaching did they do? Isn’t it interesting that the Holy Spirit had these men repeat words He had put into the mouths of the prophets centuries before? These words had been recorded for all mankind in what we know as the Old Testament.

As you study the sermon preached by Peter in Acts 2, you will note that it spans some twenty-six verses. Did you realize that in eleven of these twenty-six verses Peter is quoting from the Old Testament? In verses 16-21, Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32. In verses 25-28, he quotes Psalm 16:8-11. And then, in verses 34-35 he quotes Psalm 110:1. Surely, the Holy Spirit being God, and God being omniscient, He could have spoken some new and interesting words through Peter. But the fact is, He didn’t. Instead, He referred the hearers back to what had already been written—He appealed to the Scriptures!

Preacher friend, how much are you letting God say in your sermons? Paul reminded the Thessalonians, “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know…” (1 Thessalonians 2:5). He said to the Corinthians, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 2:4). He also warned the Ephesians, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6). If you are seeking to win your hearers to Christ with “flattering,” “enticing,” “vain” words know that you are likely leading them closer to the wrath of God rather than away from it. When Jesus asked His apostles if they, like His other followers, would go away, “…Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Jesus did not stutter when He said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). It is not the words of some silver-tongued orator, but rather Jesus’ words that people must receive and by which they will be judged!

Norman Vincent Peale was a false teacher of yesteryear. At one point his book, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” was quite popular. One one occasion, Brother Winkler observed regarding preaching that makes constant appeal to the Scriptures: “We must find Paul appealing and Peale appalling.” Though it might not rhyme, you can substitute any of the false teachers of our day. May we never forget that we cannot separate Christ from His commandments (John 14:15); the Master from His mandates; the Person from His precepts; the Savior from His sayings; Jesus from His judgments!

If you want your preaching to be like that of Pentecost, a constant appeal to Scripture must be made. No wonder Paul wrote, “Preach the word…” (2 Timothy 4:2).