Acts; Persecution and Sacrifice Leads to Preaching and Joy

Aug. 13

Read: Acts 8

Acts;

Persecution and Sacrifice Leads to Preaching and Joy

“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…Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word…there was much joy in that city.” (v.1,4,8)

As uncomfortable as it may make us, persecution brings growth to the people of God. The Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus expands and grows when the people of God are hard pressed. This is counterintuitive to us. Time and time again it is worked out before us - the suffering and opposition that the enemy uses seeking to destroy the people of God only strengthens the people of God and sends the message out further… taking ground for The Kingdom of God!

The death of Stephen - the first recorded martyr for Christ - and subsequent ruthless persecution from Saul scatters the people of God. This puts the message of the risen Lord - Jesus Christ - on the road! The “scattered ones” are now bringing the good news into the countryside. More and more people are hearing the message and experiencing the POWER of the Kingdom of God. A Christ follower named Philip now comes to the Samaritans… a people despised by the Jews and rejected as half-breeds. He brings the message of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ - bearing testimony to his death, burial, and resurrection. (cf. 8:12)  Death and persecution has brought about life and hope coming to Samaria! The Kingdom of God is growing… expanding… taking ground.

As the people of Samaria receive the message of Christ and the Kingdom, the power of God is unleashed as well:

“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. So there was much joy in that city.” (v.7,8)

What the enemy intended for evil- God has redeemed for GOOD. The persecution of Saul has driven the message of Christ out of Jerusalem and to those who had not yet heard or experienced. I wonder if the unclean spirits were celebrating when Stephen was killed only to find out that it meant they were going to get their butts kicked in Samaria now?! The death of Stephen and those early martyrs was a part of bringing life to the people of Samaria. Not even death can stop the Kingdom or Christ! There was now FREEDOM and JOY where there had once been illness and demon possession.

Persecution and sacrifice lead to preaching and joy. The stronghold of the demonic and illness is broken by the power of the Kingdom of God and the work of Jesus Christ. We must not fear persecution. It may indeed “scatter” us… press us into the places we would not have gone before (ie. “Samaria”) and it may even lead to opportunities to proclaim the name of Jesus in ways we would never have imagined. The gospel flame of Christ has been lit and this fire will not be quenched or put out. The Kingdom of God is growing… not shrinking. Imagine if we pointed to the persecution of Saul and then said - “Look! The Church is on the ropes… they are losing… bad things are happening… people are bing murdered for goodness sake” ; But we ignored the remainder of the passage. This is what it is like when we say that the Kingdom of God is losing right now… or we think Satan has the Church up against the ropes when we see the cruelty around us. People of God - turn your eyes to the heavens and look at the power of God that is being unleashed in the wake of this persecution! God is on the move. The Kingdom of God will not be shaken nor destroyed! This persecution and hardship will just fuel greater proclamation, transformation, and growth. The demons will cry out with a loud voice as they are stomped by the message and work of Christ. Joy will follow in the wake of persecution for those who are in the Kingdom of God and are in Christ. This is the way. Love you guys! - JDP