Title The Church Scattered/Acts 8:1-13
Contents
The scattered church/Acts 8:1-13
Stephen was stoned and martyred by the Jewish religious leaders while witnessing about the temple, the law, and Jesus Christ. Stephen's influence can be seen to be great. When the church in Jerusalem was scattered, Deacon Philip went into Samaria and preached the gospel to Samaria, so that many people in Samaria returned to the Lord and preached the gospel to the eunuch, the leader of Ethiopia, so he went to Ethiopia and spread the gospel to many people. God greatly used Deacon Stephen and Deacon Philip of the Jerusalem church.
1. God used Christians who were scattered through persecution as missionaries.
Verse 1 says, “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all but the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Beginning with the death of Stephen, great persecution arose. So, with the idea of "let's do it later than we stay here and get killed", the Christians dispersed to the lands of Judea and Samaria in the southern part of the country. How much sorrow and pain must have been in their hearts when they left their beloved hometown and left their relatives and left Jerusalem.
But wherever they went, the gospel began to be preached. Not only they went, but the gospel went with them, and just as dandelion flowers bloom wherever a dandelion seed is blown away by the wind, when the members of the Jerusalem church are persecuted and scattered, the gospel begins to be planted wherever they stay. . As they dispersed, the devil seemed to have triumphed. Just as a typhoon swept through the church after Stephen was killed, tribulation and persecution swept over the church, and it seemed that the church was being destroyed. However, just as the wind blows and the fire spreads bigger and bigger, as when a flail is flailed towards the fire to put out the fire, sparks burst and spread in all directions, the gospel began to expand.
Our God sometimes uses tribulation and persecution to advance the gospel. In the Old Testament times, God chose Israel to help Gentiles know God and to save Gentiles through Israel. However, as Israel became obsessed with a sense of privilege, the Gentiles were despised and cursed. He had thoughts that were contrary to God's intentions. At that time, God took the kingdom of Babylon and destroyed Israel in 587 B.C. When the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon and repented in tears and sought God, the power of God was revealed, and the Gentiles discovered God through Israel. The kings of Babylon and Persia such as Nebuchadnezzar, King Darius, King Artaxerxes, and King Ahasuere came to know God through people like Daniel, Esther, and Nehemiah, the people who were taken captive, and the people of that country came to serve God.
As such, when the Jerusalem church delayed evangelism in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, God allowed persecution of the Jerusalem church. Through it, the gospel spread to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth as God intended.
2. Deacon Philip went down to Samaria and preached the gospel.
As the scattered people threw the bombs of the Gospel, the flames of the Gospel began to spread everywhere. "The scattered people went about preaching the word, and Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to the people." One of them, Deacon Philip, went down to Samaria to preach the gospel. The core of Philip's evangelism was Jesus Christ.
That's right. I am not conveying my knowledge, my experience or my thoughts. The only one who came down from heaven to this earth, the one who came with the invitation to heaven, the one who tore his flesh on the cross and shed his blood for forgiveness and drank the blood and signed it. Anyone who receives this invitation will forgive their sins. and eternal life, and eternal immigration to heaven. Despite committing ugly and filthy sins, despite being ugly and foolish, no matter what family you came from, he said that if you receive the invitation from Jesus, you will be saved.
How great is the name of Jesus? In that name we receive forgiveness of sins. Blessed are you in that name. If you pray in that name, Heavenly Father will answer you. Demons leave before the name. In his name the sick are healed. All knees will bow before his name. what a great name It was Jesus Christ that Philip went to Samaria to preach.
How did Philip preach? “The crowds heard Philip’s words, and saw the signs that he performed, and with one accord they followed what he said.” They preached Jesus Christ and showed the power of Jesus Christ. We do not only evangelize with words, but we must also show our family that we are transformed. You have to show laughter, show kindness, show kindness, show meekness and humility, show sincerity and honesty. You must believe in Jesus and show your changed image. We need to show the power of life in Jesus name. There is power in evangelism, which is communicated through the mouth and shown through life.
3. There is power in the gospel.
Verse 7 says, “The unclean spirits that had been attached to many went out with a loud voice.” Unbelievers have unclean spirits attached to them. The Bible says there are evil spirits, unclean spirits, and deceptive spirits. The Bible says that demons block the hearts of unbelievers so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ cannot shine through. Unclean spirits cause you to think dirty, have a dirty heart, and do dirty words and actions. Unclean spirits cannot be removed by human strength. This demon retreats before evangelism and the name of Jesus Christ. We retreat before the power of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!
Also, the gospel is accompanied by joy along with power. The terminally ill, the lame, and the paralytic were healed. The Samaritans heard the gospel, experienced the power of Jesus Christ, believed in Jesus, and followed the Word with one heart. And in verse 8 it says, “There was great joy in that city.” I was filled with the joy of God, not the joy of the world.
Whatever joy the world gives, it is temporary. There are pleasures in the world, but they disappear after a while. But the joy the Lord gives is eternal. ♬Oh! This joy is what the Lord has given me♬ ♬Our naked souls who are free of sin will leap with joy and see the Lord♬ ♬A happy day, a happy day, the day the Lord washed away all my sins♬ I am happy and when I think of heaven, I am happy again, and I do not know how happy I am and how grateful I am.
Simon the sorcerer was a man who performed powers with the help of the devil. According to the writings of a second-century writer named Justin Marty, 'Simon was praised by the people to such an extent that he practiced the magic of power and was regarded as a god, and even the Romans worshiped him and erected a statue of him.' Even Simon like this knelt before the power of God and followed Philip with one heart. Look at the power of this gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit. When we boldly preach the gospel, demons leave before the power that God gives, and the power of the devil is also neutralized.
As long as you believe in Jesus and go out, I believe that the problems in front of you will disappear and the environment will change. Whatever the circumstances, if we think of the Lord, exalt the Lord, praise the Lord, and testify of the Lord, we believe that bitter water will be turned into sweet water and soil will be turned into fertile soil.