“Great Joy In That City”
Acts 8:3-8
In our text we see the work of the Lord in the life of the believers.
Not everything, that we call bad, is bad!
There are times when God moves in the lives of others in order to direct the lives of His children.
We need to overlap a couple verses from last time so we keep everything in context
I. A Great Persecution
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Saul - the Jewish name of the apostle Paul
Acts 22:3 “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”
Made havock - to affix a stigma to, to dishonour, to treat shamefully or with injury, to ravage, devastate, ruin
Saul seemed to have a goal of uprooting the very foundation that Jesus had laid with His New Testament Church.
Of the church - ekklesia (ek-klay-see’-ah) This is the Church at Jerusalem
Both men and women would be equally committed to prison.
(Would there be enough evidence to convict you of the crime of being a Christian?)
II. A Great Opportunity
Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Therefore - consequently, or because of the persecution
Scattered abroad - disperse just as a person would spread seed as we discussed
Every where - to travel the road which leads through a place,
Preaching the word - proclaiming the Good News of Salvation
Now we see our new text:
III. A Great Message
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Philip - "lover of horses" One of the seven chosen in Acts 6:5. He is afterward called the “evangelist,”
Samaria - The city which was formerly called Samaria, but now Sebaste; it had been destroyed by Hyrcanus, and was rebuilt by Herod; and called by him, in honour of Augustus, by the name of Sebaste
Preached Christ - Phillip spoke truth of who Jesus was and still is.
Christ = "anointed" which carried other titles; the Messiah, the Son of God
IV. A Great Response
Acts 8:6-7 “And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.”
1. The people with one accord
2. Gave heed unto those things which Philip spake
3. Hearing
4. Seeing the miracles
5. Unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed
6. Many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed
V. A Great Joy
Acts 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
1. From the fact that so many people, were restored to health.
2. From the conversion of individuals to Christ.
3. From the mutual joy of “families” and “friends” that their friends were converted.
Sounds like revival to me.
Conclusion:
When we were growing up there was a song:
It Only Takes A Spark
A simple question; What will it take to get you to move and be a witness for Christ?
