Title Preach the Word! [Acts 8:4-8]
Preach the content! [Acts 8:4-8]
The greatest mission of the church is to spread the word of the gospel. Please believe that the church will grow when you preach the gospel, and that God will give those who preach the gospel the health they need to carry out the ministry, as well as the spiritual power, material, and environmental conditions. ‘Preach’ means ‘declare’ and it means to announce it to everyone, and ‘declare’ means to announce what God has said in front of all people without adding or subtracting like a speaker.
Valley Sunday said, “If I don’t preach the gospel, I will go to hell,” and he also talked about the importance of preaching the gospel to himself. Densuke Suzuki of Japan said, “The history of Christianity is the history of evangelism. A church that does evangelism will revive. Believers who evangelize will believe that God will give them power and authority.
In verse 4 of the main text, ‘those who were scattered’ appear, but the word ‘scattered’ here does not mean that they were scattered by fighting. At that time, there was a great persecution of Christianity. So they scattered and went about everywhere they went, risking their lives to preach the gospel. Although today is a good time to spread the gospel using various media such as good documents, radio, TV, and the Internet, and convenient transportation, we are not able to preach the gospel as much as the early church members. If we preach the gospel, it will be a great gospel trumpet, and if we do not preach the gospel, it will become a rusty trumpet. In Isaiah 56:10, those who do not preach the gospel are described as ‘a dumb dog that cannot bark. The gospel baton stained with the blood of martyrdom has been given to us as well, and we must pass on this gospel baton to others so that the race of the gospel continues. Then, how should we preach the gospel?
First, it must be spread by word of mouth.
“Those who were scattered went about preaching the word of the gospel” (Acts 8:4). Please believe that the Holy Spirit will work when you open your mouth and preach the gospel. When evangelizing, do not be afraid by the appearance or career of the other person, and only preach the word of the gospel. No matter how well-educated, high-ranking, honorable, and wealthy people are, those who do not know Jesus are your disciples. We are witnesses of Jesus. Everyone who has received Christ is a missionary, and please do not forget that all places without Christ are mission fields. When we preach the gospel, God's work is revealed.
We preach the gospel with our lips, but ① we must preach it regardless of time or season. “You preach the word. In season or out of season, always exert yourself.” (2 Timothy 4:2) ② We must always strive to preach. No matter how evil a person is, when the seeds of the gospel fall on him, the gospel will surely change him. We must never neglect to preach the gospel. ③ Transcend regional limits to deliver. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) We must take up the gospel and begin to act. If we try to spread the gospel, God gives us an opportunity to spread the gospel no matter what.
Second, it must be preached by works.
“The crowds heard what Philip said and saw the signs that he was doing, and they followed what he said with one heart” (Acts 8:6) When we preach the gospel, we preach it with words, but we must show it with our actions. Some people say, ‘Ah, if you’re like that person, you can live without laws. I haven't seen Jesus, but looking at that person makes me feel like I'm seeing Jesus. If Jesus is that good, then I will believe in Jesus.’ Some people came to believe in Jesus. But one husband said he would not go to church even if he died. The boss he served is a church lay leader, and the taste of the rice is lacking because of how bad it is. Lies are common, and he is good at fighting spirits, and when he takes orders at church, he looks like an angel, but when he visits with him, he has a dual personality. That is why, even if my husband died, he would not believe in Jesus because he might become like him. It was his actions that made him shut the door of his heart. We must make it possible for those who do not believe in Jesus to be able to read Jesus as the letter of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3), to see Jesus, and to experience Jesus when they see us.
Third, we must preach with signs and wonders.
“The crowds heard Philip’s words and saw the signs that he performed, and they followed what he said with one heart” (Acts 8:6) When signs and wonders appear in the name of the Lord, those who do not believe are moved and come to believe in Jesus. Among the members of our church, there was a deacon who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and asked me to pray for the laying on of hands. So I laid my hands on the deacon and prayed earnestly. After that, he went to the hospital for surgery, and the cancer disappeared without a trace. The deacon who experienced the living God like this is now risking his life for evangelism and loyalty. Obviously, miracles occur in the gospel, and signs and wonders go hand in hand. Through this, those who do not believe will come to believe in Jesus and be saved.
Fourth, we must show and spread the power to overcome the power of evil.
“The unclean spirits that had been attached to many people went out with a loud voice, and many paralytics and lame were healed” (Acts 8:7) When Deacon Philip preached the gospel, the unclean spirits that had been attached to many people were cast out, A miracle occurred in which the paralyzed and the crippled were healed. So many people believed in Jesus and there was great joy in Samaria. When we preach the gospel, we hope that the power to overcome the power of evil will be revealed and many people will believe in Jesus and be saved. The powers of evil must yield before the name of Jesus. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17,18)
Dear saints, Like the apostles of the early church, while preaching the gospel, even if there is persecution, do not stop preaching the word of the gospel with your lips, preaching by works, preaching with signs and wonders, demonstrating the power to overcome the power of evil, with seasons and out of seasons. I bless you in the name of Jesus that you always do your best to spread the word.