The Scattering

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

8 So there was much joy in that city.

God knows what is true of my grass is true of His Church.

The church was never meant to only gather.

What we see here in is a picture of this.

God uses persecution to spur His Church to spread His gospel and bring joy to the world.

This is not the ONLY way God spurs His church, but it is a powerfully common way

Seen through Scripture and church history

12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Four Key Truths from Acts 8:1-8:

God sometimes scatters to gather.

No one is written out of God’s mission.

There is always an opportunity for the gospel.

Jesus redeems persecution for joy.

** God may move you out of a place of comfort in order to move Jesus into a place of need **

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

God sometimes scatters to gather. (1-2)

(37 - 8min)

God sometimes scatters his people to gather his children.

God is more powerful than persecution.

- God is sovereign over the scattering

the scattering was part of God’s plan

Acts 1:8

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Acts 11 ESV

1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

:19

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

A. Apart from unrepentant sin, there is nothing that God plans not to use for the spread of his glory and Gospel

God is more concerned with the spread of the gospel than a comfortable church.

It is interesting that it was in the midst of being thriving growing and healthy church that God sent persecution

If this is God’s attitude, it should be ours as well.

This is true because God is more concerned about the spread of the gospel than he is about HIS OWN COMFORT (see Jesus)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

It is interesting that it was in the midst of being thriving growing and healthy church that God sent persecution

God is more passionate about the spread of the gospel than he is a comfortable church.

I dare say that that when the Church is lulled to sleep by its own comforts we can expect a rude awakening of persecution. This is only true if God sees this church as able to be awakened for the mission.

Acts 8:3

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Saul is moving with a force and passion against God.

Yet within a chapter, we will see him

We typically have the narrator’s view, but:

This snapshot of Saul shows him as the #1 enemy of Church - the epitome of all that is trying to stop the spread of the gospel.

No one is written out of God’s mission. (3)

God does not write anyone out of His mission. (3)

(29 - 8min)

My son. . .

The snapshot we had this past week has him resisting every move the gospel we have placed in his life.

God struck me with this point of the sermon as I sat in the hospital in the wee hours of the morning waiting for his transport

No one is written out of God’s mission.

Do I really believe this? Do you really believe this?

My son chose his middle name - Paul.

, 16-17

1 Timothy 1 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy. . . 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

1 Timothy 1?

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ti 1:12–17.

The change we see:

Only happens by God’s power

Only happens for God’s glory

**Who have you written off? We cannot write people off, we must pray them in!

There is always an opportunity for the gospel. (4-5)

(21 - 8min)

Acts 8:4-5

4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

They had just been scattered:

nice word for having friends and maybe family thrown in jail or worse.

losing everything - house, job, friends, etc. when they did nothing wrong.

What did the believers do as they were persecuted? PREACHED the word

Is this my response when God sends me into a place or a situation that seems highly unfair, undeserved, unjust?

Do I look for a way to tell the

Literally - evangelized, they told everyone around them about the GOOD NEWS after all they had been given was bad news.

(1 Peter 3:15)

Is this my response when God sends me into a place or a situation that seems highly unfair, undeserved, unjust?

Do I look for a way to tell them about good news?

There is no place where you can find yourself that the gospel is not effective.

in plenty or persecution

Philip went to the city of Samaria (not sure which city) - these were the people most Israelite Jews avoided.

Would the gospel even have moved into the region of Samaria without being pushed there through persecution?

Would the good news of the gospel been so readily preached among the disliked Samaritans had not the Israelites been the recipients of bad news themselves. They were made to feel an outcast to reach the outcast.

in plenty or persecution

What would it take for you to reach to the outcast to give the good news?

Jesus redeems persecution for joy. (6-8)

(13 - 8min)

Acts 8:6-8

6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

Philip is preaching Jesus to the people. Says “The Christ”

Samaritans had their own idea of a Messiah - So a large move of faith for them to trust in Jesus as the Messiah

They must have had true faith because of the evidence that Jesus was at work among the people:

exorcisms, lame healed

Jesus redeemed the scattering /persecution / suffering into a place of MUCH JOY.

When Jesus entered:

Freedom

Healing

Joy

Gospel

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

If the above is true (and this narrative proves that it is) than what else can NOT be redeemed?

What is true of cities is true of any area of our lives - When Jesus enters in - things change and joy enters.

(13 - 8min)

If the above is true (and this narrative proves that it is) than what else can NOT be redeemed?

The real question is: HOW is it redeemed?

Redemption does not simply equal removal. In fact, quite the opposite.

Redemption means a payment with exchange.

ILLUST - redeeming an item at the store - exchange money for item

Galatians 3:13 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Conclusion

(5 - 3min)

During the 1960s the Lord raised up an indigenous leader in the church in Mozambique named Martinho Campos. The story of his ministry, Life Out of Death in Mozambique, is a remarkable testimony to God’s strange ways of missionary blessing. Martinho was leading a series of meetings in the administrative area of Gurue sixty miles from his own area of Nauela.

The police arrested him and put him in jail without a trial. The police chief, a European, assumed that the gatherings were related to the emerging guerrilla group Frelimo. But even when the Catholic priest told him that these men were just “a gathering of heretics,” he took no concern for justice, though he wondered why the common people brought so much food to the prisoner, as though he were someone important.

When he got out he wrote, "Both prisoners and jailers asked many questions, and it turned out that we had a more fruitful ministry there than we could have expected in church. God was better served by our presence in prison than if we had been free."

One night he was driving his truck with half a dozen prisoners in it and saw “what appeared to be a man in gleaming white, standing in the road, facing him.” He swerved so sharply that the truck rolled over and he was trapped underneath. The prisoners themselves lifted the truck so that the police chief could get out.

(Herbert Schlossberg, Called to Suffer, Called to Triumph, p. 230) (As heard in a sermon by John Piper on this passage, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/spreading-power-through-persecution)

After brief treatment in the hospital he returned to talk to Martinho because he knew there was some connection between this vision and the prisoner. He entered Martinho’s cell and asked for forgiveness. Martinho told him about his need for God’s forgiveness and how to have it. The police chief said humbly, “Please pray for me.” Immediately the chief called for hot water so that the prisoner might wash, took him out of solitary confinement, and saw to it that a fair trial was held. Martinho was released.

But the most remarkable thing was what followed: “Not only did the chief of police make plain his respect for what Martinho stood for, but he also granted him official permission to travel throughout the whole area under his jurisdiction in order to preach and hold evangelical services.”14

There would have been no way that such a permission would have been given through the ordinary channels. But God had a way through suffering. The imprisonment was for the advancement of the gospel.

On January 9, 1985, Pastor Hristo Kulichev, a Congregational pastor in Bulgaria, was arrested and put in prison. His crime was that he preached in his church even though the state had appointed another man the pastor, one whom the congregation did not elect. Kulichev’s trial was a mockery of justice, and he was sentenced to eight months imprisonment. During his time in prison he made Christ known every way he could. When he got out, he wrote, “Both prisoners and jailers asked many questions, and it turned out that we had a more fruitful ministry there than we could have expected in church. God was better served by our presence in prison than if we had been free.”

God sometimes scatters to gather.

No one is written out of God’s mission.

There is always an opportunity for the gospel.

Jesus redeems persecution for joy.

Trust (and prepare) God will move you for his mission.

Joy is found when we adopt a God’s-eye view of people and persecution

God is more passionate about moving you on mission than he is about completing your comfort.

Trust (and prepare) God will move you for his mission.

Joy is found when we adopt a God’s-eye view of people and persecution

Prayer (2min)

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