Today’s Reading: Acts 8:1-25; Psalm 44
A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. – Acts 8:1b-3
When I stop and think of how difficult this time must have been for the believers, I find myself sympathetic. I have gone through some difficult times in my life but I have never had to flee for my life. I have had to move my family a great distance from the home and life we knew well, but never under negative circumstances.
There is a great lesson I can take from this passage: No matter how difficult a circumstance in my life may appear now, God can do something wonderful with it. The severe persecution the believers experienced led to the spread of the gospel — to a revival that went beyond Jerusalem and spread across the land, across nations, and across the world.
GOD CAN DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL WITH OUR DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
The believers did not just leave Jerusalem in fear, feeling sorry for themselves for the difficult time they were enduring. They left praising God in the midst of the storm and preaching the Good News about Jesus wherever they went (8:4).
One of the seven men chosen to be a leader among the believers was Philip. He was chosen because he was well respected and full of the Spirit and wisdom (6:3). In the midst of this persecution, Philip allowed the Spirit to lead him to Samaria (8:5). To many, this might not have made sense because the Jews did not like Samaritans and the Samaritans did not like Jews. Yet this is where Philip began his ministry as an evangelist and this was the response.
Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city…the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. – Acts 8:6-8,12
Revival was breaking out in Samaria! Hearts were being transformed and evil strongholds were being broken. A spirit of joy was replacing the spirit of oppression and rejection across the city. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans were accepting the message being preached, they sent Peter and John to join Philip. They prayed that the Samaritans would experience the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as they had.
The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:16-17
The Samaritans had listened to the message of salvation. They understood what God had done for them when He sent His Son as the sacrificial lamb; they understood what Jesus had done for them when he suffered and died on the cross. They had been baptized as a symbol of dying to their old sins and as a testimony to their new life in Christ Jesus. But now they were experiencing what the Lord desired to do in them by the power of His Spirit. They were surrendering to the Spirit’s work of sanctification.
GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL IN US THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A sorcerer named Simon was among those who accepted Philip’s message and was baptized. The problem was that Simon was so caught up in the miracles and the laying on of hands that his desire became selfish. He wanted to have the kind of ministry that Philip had — one that had great impact and resulted in miraculous transformation — but he wanted it for his own glory rather than for the purposes of God.
But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”
“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!” – Acts 8:20-24
I think Simon’s desire to be effective is similar to what many of us in the Church struggle with. We see how God is using someone else and we find ourselves jealous, wishing God would use us in the same way. We want our ministry to be successful, but for the wrong reasons. It begins to affect our relationships and attitudes towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we lose the authenticity of our submission to Christ. But friends, jealousy and pride have no place in the body of Christ. Everything we do in the church or for the Kingdom should be done for the glory of God.
You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.
Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.
You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.
O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. – Psalm 44:4-8
Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:19
Father God, we ask that you do a new work in us this morning. Lord, reveal any wrong motives in our hearts and purify us for your purposes. We come to you this morning with the desire to be authentic in our motives and sincere in our methods. Take the persecution of believers that we are experiencing today and use it for the spread of salvation across our communities — all for your glory and for the advancement of your kingdom. Amen.