Acts 8: 1- 7
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Up until this time the church has faced minor persecution, designated in Jerusalem. The primary attack was against the Apostles.
In chapter 7 Stephen the first Deacon of the church gets persecuted and killed. The on-going watcher of Stephens death was a man named Saul. *The same man that would become Paul*
Our account today looks at increase of persecution and the spread of the gospel into Samaria that would increase to be now around the world.
We may look at this verse and from the eyes of the flesh see great distress, but rather if we look at the persecution of the church we shall see victory of our King, Jesus himself.
Proper eschatology matters. What is eschatology,: It is the doctrine of the last things.
I am friends with a man who lives on the streets, spends a lot of his time seeking the Lord. This is great, but the increase of persecution has alarmed him. He was loosing his peace, until He remembered the Lord’s words’ do not fear.
I imagine with the increase of persecution upon the church, the forced vacating would cause much anxiety over the church. Yet what we shall see is this fulfilled the Lord’s purpose.
In great evil, God is still in control. Stephen could not have died unless God permitted it. The men and women who were dragged off to prison simply for believing Jesus name, could not have been dragged unless God permitted it.
It is here that the gospel is spread and perhaps it is here in our season we shall see how the gospel shall be spread.
Nothing outside His Will
Nothing outside His Will
The Bible Church of Clemmons, is a Middle Eastern Church where the brothers and sisters there fled to this country because of their faith in Jesus.
They were not seeking the United States as home, but rather forced to flee from their home land.
This account is similar to what the Church in Jerusalem encountered, the fleeing from their home because they were being dragged out of their homes. Not asked, dragged out.
It is in these moments that often ask the question; where is God? There are three types of Christians who respond to troublesome time; The carnal Christian, the doubting Thomas, and the devout Christian.
The Carnal
The Carnal
The Carnal Christian asks this question when times gets rough and often fall away from the faith that never root. The cares of the world has choked the seed. Their salvation never was, it was much like many of these modern Christian celebrities who come to Jesus (this is not a growing trend) I’ll believe their faith is real when they denounce the great evil of Hollywood.
Carnal Christians can not handle tribulation, because their rock star Pastor has never equipped them but taught them the charismatic worship of bethel music and to lean on their heart which is an idol factory.
The world comes and snatches them away.
The Doubtful
The Doubtful
This Christian much like the Carnal Christian has not been rooted in the word and prayer. Goes with every new doctrine of the son that some hipster preacher who has not open his bible gives him.
Yet his salvation is real, but this man no longer is worshiping in the local church, struggles to read the word, yet calls upon the Lord. His questions are very real much like Thomas.
But Jesus told Thomas you may touch my wounds, but blessed in the man who believes who has not seen. The doubtful miss the blessings of God that come in the storm.
The devout
The devout
The devout Christian understands who the Lord is. Understands God’s sovereignty and providence.
During the Civil War, General Jackson was a man of deep faith. He was questioned on his peace and how he could rest in such a fierce time of war. This is what he says.
My religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that, but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave
The devout Christian understands these words, and the words of Charles Spurgeon that neither a dust particle shall fall unless the Sovereign Lord declares it.
Or perhaps these men don’t drive the point home, let us look at the word’s of our Savior.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Jesus will give these words but also these words Matthew 24:9
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
We could go on about the Life that Jesus told His disciples that carries to us the Church. Christian who has taught you this world will be lollipops and gumdrops?
Who taught you that the life of a Christian is not a warzone? Friends this life is a war yet here is what scripture states; Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The Christian life in the middle of a war between the Kingdom of Heaven which is now and yet to come, and the Kingdom of darkness which rallies one more battle that have already lost.
So we examine this Christian, the devout Christian which knows His God has won the war, and this battle is already won, that nothing can fall without the permissible will of God even in the freedom of man’s will is not without the providence of God.
The Christian being torn from their home, is the one who sings with the martyrs while being burned at the stake Amazing grace how sweet the sound.
What Christian are you?
The Church flees, the Gospel spreads
The Church flees, the Gospel spreads
Indeed some of the Christians were dragged from their home, imprisoned, and died. Some of the Christians fled, one of whom was Philip another Deacon of the Church.
Philip would then spread Christian in Samaria, the church will start to take root in Samaria.
God has never instructed the church to stay and take a beating, rather he did say you will be persecuted for your faith.
I am not encouraging you to go into North Korea and proclaim Christ from the rooftops. If Christ has called you to that, praise God, we will honor your calling, and pray his protection over you unto death.
For some Christians, that is their calling to go into the hard places even if death rings at the door. For others it is far better for them to flee into new lands and proclaim Christ.
God’s Sovereignty moved the Church
God’s Sovereignty moved the Church
If the church was not persecuted we must ask the question; would she have obeyed Christ’s great commission?
Christen and I before we got married, I took her walking in the woods, we would dream big of going to India. I pray to this day we are able to leave the United States to finish our lives in India preaching Christ.
We commited our self's that when we get married, we will follow the Lord and do His will. That has not been comfortable and praise God for that.
This was not an easy calling the church made, to flee their home. The local market, the culture, everything would be left to go into Samaria. Philip one of the leaders, demonstrated the providence of God in the move.
If persecution did not fall upon the church, would the church have obeyed Christ? Or would it have grown complacent and loose her first love much like Ephesus will?
Would souls have come to the Lord? God’s sovereignty relocates the church in order for her to be living out the will He gave.
Application Point: Your move
Application Point: Your move
Perhaps you are not facing the level of persecution that church did. Perhaps you have known very little challenges in your life that has caused you to pray and fast.
Perhaps you have grown so accustomed to comfort that the great commission is on the back burner on low.
The challenge I have for you as a Church is to allow God to move you.
Perhaps it is war you need to get you to move closer to Christ. Perhaps it is war you need to have Waughtown Baptist step back into the life she once had, and the life she can have.
Complacent, Lukewarm faith is displeasing to the Lord. Revelation 3:16-18
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
You see the blessing of this persecution not only fulfilled the Lord’s command for the gospel to spread into the world, but for a time it prevented the Luke warm faith of the church.
Rise Church and Waughtown has been handed over to the flame of persecution. We lost the building that was purchased from another religious organization that denies the essentials of the Christian faith, and has criminal scandles with their leadership.
Rise Church, this will be their last Sunday here. We are not far from leaving our selves.
We can look at this and mourn, and there is a season for that. The Church is Jerusalem would mourn but they stayed on their mission. God moves His people, so His will shall be done.
The Church that is persecuted, shall Praise and Serve the Lord
The Church that is persecuted, shall Praise and Serve the Lord
Remember friends the purpose of the Church is not so you are comfortable, is not so you have friends, is not so you can eat breakfast in a nice building, or have fun programs.
The church has a purpose; to glorify God, to make disciples, and bless her community. If a church can no longer do this, desires to do this, or will do this it is time for that local body to close her doors and for the Christian to repent of their sin.
For these Christians, they did not build a country club they lived within the mission that Lord gave them. Were things terrible for the Church of Jersualem? 100%.
What makes them Christian is when they were imprisoned, we know the church gathered to pray and praise the Lord. They did not stop preaching Christ.
When the church relocated, the gospel spread because they praised the Lord, acted within their mission.
Application Point: Move into Mission
Application Point: Move into Mission
The reality is NC Baptist 52% of churches are in decline or are facing closure. Church revitalization only 20% come back into the purpose God has for the local church.
Waughtown, you are in a season of prayer because your day of fleeing is upon you. The question is not will you be persecuted and have tribulation; it is will you glorify God, make disciples, and bless your community.
To glorify God is to protect pure doctrine, the name of Christ, to worship Him biblically, and to shun evil who will not repent. 1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
If we can not or will not do these things; then we need to close, repent, and transition into another local body that is. Every church has a shelf life, but the Kingdom of God is eternal and His name not yours shall be glorified for all eternity.
Closing
Closing
The glory of God is the chief purpose of every man; will they worship God, make Him known or fall away; perhaps never come to the living waters.
Christian the fleeing into Samaria was not outside the providence of God, it was for the glory of God. I live you with this; Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
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