Atos 8

Atos 8

Sproul wrote, “Where the people of God are, there is the church—under the lordship of Christ and indwelt by the Spirit.” This is the essence of the commission Jesus gave to His disciples just before He left them. He promised them power from the Holy Spirit, and said they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). And when the first-century church of Jerusalem came under persecution, that’s what happened. They were scattered and proclaimed the gospel wherever they went (8:4). When believers in Jesus Christ leave a worship service, the building stays, but God’s people—the church—fan out into the community. Throughout the week, they continue to be the church wherever they are in the world—in shops, universities, restaurants, and homes. I wonder, is the world hearing the gospel from the church? The witness of the church on earth Must shine with brightest light To all who need the second birth And strength to live aright. —JDB The world won’t go to the church, so the church must go to the world. Scattered To Serve Read: Acts 8:1-8 Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word. —Acts 8:4 Saul hated Christians. He did all he could to hurt the cause of Christ when he launched his intense persecution of the early followers of Jesus. But when they fled Jerusalem to escape persecution, they proclaimed the gospel everywhere they went (Acts 8:4). This caused the church to grow more rapidly—just the opposite of what Saul intended. Joseph Stalin didn’t plan to assist the church in Russia during his purge of political and religious dissidents. But he did help it when he sent some pastors and Christian leaders to the labor camps of Siberia. From Magadan, where they got off the ships, the prisoners were sent in work gangs to forests and mines and remote areas to clear land, dig out vital ore, and cut roads through remote areas. It was grueling work that many did not survive. But those believers were not silent. They banded together, and as they were sent from place to place they witnessed and taught, leaving behind clusters of believers. In many communities of Eastern Siberia, strong churches still stand and groups of Christians witness to the faith and courage of those dedicated servants. If God has sent you to a new job, neighborhood, or environment, ask yourself, “To whom can I witness here?” Will you be bold in your witness By giving lost sinners God's Word? Jesus will honor your service, And people will surely be stirred. —HGB A small light can dispel great darkness. Scattered! Read: Acts 8:1-8 Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word. —Acts 8:4 In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the US Gulf Coast and displaced an estimated 1.3 million households. With cities and towns evacuated, homes destroyed, and jobs gone, people relocated to communities in every state including Alaska and Hawaii. Because Christians are not immune to the storms of life, it’s likely that thousands of people who love the Lord found themselves in places they never expected to live. Yet many of those same people whose hopes and plans were shattered by Katrina would also bring God’s love to others across the US. Like the early Christians who were forced out of Jerusalem by persecution, it could be said of them: “Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4). (EDITORIAL ADDENDUM: MY WIFE MET A BLACK LADY DIANE C. WHO HAD TO LEAVE NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE OF KATRINA AND SHE BECAME BIG PART OF OUR LIFE. DIANE C. WAS NOT A BELIEVER WHEN WE MET HER BUT THROUGH KATRINA AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES BECAME A BELIEVER AND THEN DIED A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER AT A RELATIVELY YOUNG AGE. SHE IS WITH JESUS SAFE FROM THE STORMS TO COME! IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE KATRINA CLEARLY PLAYED A ROLE IN HER CONVERSION STORY!) While none of us would choose this kind of financial loss and disruption, would we see it as an opportunity to share the hope Jesus Christ has given us? The apostle Peter’s letter reminded Christians who had been scattered among the nations to “be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). If we are uprooted, we can scatter the seeds of the gospel wherever we go. We’re always sowing seeds in life By everything we do and say, So let’s make sure we sow God’s Word Among the ones we meet each day. —Hess There’s no wrong place to share the gospel. Acts 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. KJV Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. Philip Acts 8:1,14,15,40; 6:5; 21:8 the city of Samaria. Acts 1:8; Mt 10:5,6 preaching Christ Acts 8:35-37; 5:42; 9:20; 17:2,3; John 4:25,26; 1 Cor 1:23; 2:2; 3:11 Acts 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Map from The Bible Journey (a very interesting website). On the map note point (1) Philip went down to Samaria from Jerusalem (Acts 8:5+). (2) Philip's journey to the desert on the road going to Gaza (Acts 8:26+). (3) Philip transported to Azotos (Acts 8:40+) EVANGELISM 101 WON BY ONE Philip ("lover of horses") - This is not Philip the apostle (Mt 10:3) but Philip who was put in charge of serving tables (Acts 6:2, 5). Alexander Whyte calls him the church's "first missionary." God's ways are amazing ways always! In this chapter we see that the spread of the Gospel is not initiated by the apostles, but by two men (Stephen and Philip) originally chosen to serve tables! Perhaps you are waiting tables in your church. Remain faithful, for whether God's providential plan has you continuing to wait tables or to go on and serve Gospel meals to the masses, rest assured that you will be found fruitful when the Lord of the Harvest returns! Related Resource: Alexander Whyte's Bible Characters - Philip: Deacon And Evangelist