Intro: When a church has seen no one “won” or witnessed to the Lord Jesus Christ it will be left alone by the devil. However, if the church is not fulfilling its mission of sharing its faith with the lost the Lord Jesus Christ will correct it. Whether it is financial difficulty, terrible division, or just complete deadness (revelation removing the candlestick) God will correct the church.
What we see today in Acts chapter eight is the church being pressed by the devil the persecutor of our souls. But God is doing something in the church in Acts eight. The Lord is not correcting but is instead protecting. But with the Lord protecting the devil is attacking.
Before we get to the passage today what have we learned so far?
In Acts 1 Jesus promised His disciple’s power when the promise of the Holy Spirit came. This happened when the apostles came together and were praying with one mind in the upper room on Pentecost. The power of God in the Holy Spirit filled and propelled them to reach Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have also learned that the devil will resist our living and overcoming victorious life for Jesus Christ. We have seen the Godly example of Stephen in his life and death. Today we will see three things the Devil wants to do if we are moving forward in our mission for God. We will also see three things God will do if we are on Mission for the sake and name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If the enemy will come against us, and God will bless us we must ask what is our mission? John 12.32 Jesus said when He is lifted up He will draw all men unto Him. Our mission is to raise high the banner and name of Jesus Christ. You can bet when we do that the devil will try to curse us. However God will surely bless us!!
This morning we will look at three things the devil desires to do if you are on Mission for the Lord Jesus Christ.
But we will also see three things God will do.
1 Peter 5.8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
· The devil must find those that he can devour. He is not God who sees and knows all. He must stumble around looking for those weak in the faith that are open to his attack.
· I want to show you ways that the devil wants to keep you from moving forward in your mission as and individual and as the church for Jesus Christ.
Job 1.7 Where have you come from? (God didn’t really have to ask)
What was Satan’s reply?
1.7 “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” (NIV)
(He has been pacing looking for someone to attack.)
God ultimately gives him someone to focus on. Job.
Please remember this
The devil’s power is limited to God’s permission.
The Devil desires or wants to do these to you.
I. Embarrass you
Avery’s observation: It does not matter if you fall down, as long as you pick up something from the floor when you get up.
Acts 8.3 Paul was dragging people off to prison, my how embarrassing.
There is no embarrassment that could compare to standing before Jesus Christ having denied and rejected Him.
II. Imprison you
A) With Fear
1) Of having faith
Acts 8.1 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church.”
a) It was those that had placed their faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ that were under fire.
b) It was the intention of the devil to keep people from placing faith in Jesus. (His tool persecution)
Listen to Paul’s words in Ch. 26.11
“Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.”
22.4 “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,” (and we think we have it bad today)
1) Thanks to the power of the Spirit and the preaching of 1st century people like Phillip we know that the devils persecution backfired.
2) Thanks be to God the Father that we have victory in Jesus!!
2) Of sharing your faith
a) To the world Stephen shared his faith and lost his life.
b) To Stephen he lost his pain and gained everything!
One of the greatest lies the devil has fed to the church is that we should be afraid to share our faith because someone might reject us or persecute us or even kill us.
Beloved we have become too attached to the things of this world when we fear death rather than God the Father!
3) Of the Future
a) Remember God is in control we do not have to allow this fear to control us.
c) The devil wants us to fear for finances, family, every part of our present and future.
The first century Christians had a choice be controlled by fear or the Spirit of Christ!
B) With Frustration
III. Embalm you
A) The Enemy wants you defeated
B) The Enemy wants you dead. (Acts 3.33 intent to kill)
1) Jesus’ Death
2) Stephen’s Death
In contrast to what the devil wants to do I want you to see what God will do if you will be on mission for Him and His kingdom.
I. Encourage you
Illustration: Many years ago a young mid-western lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life’s calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow it through. During this time he wrote, "I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not." But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement he needed, and the achievements of his life thoroughly vindicated his bout with discouragement.
The devil will try to discourage you by trying to embarrass you, imprison you, and embalm you. But remember that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and that power is available to you as well.
A) 1st century preachers pressed on
B) 1st century persecution simply propagated the Gospel.
II. Empower you
A) Remember we fight a spiritual battle
B) Remember we fight with spiritual weapons
C) Remember we have a spirit of power and victory
1 John 4:4
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them (false prophets) and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
If you know 1 John chapter 4 this is where we are told to test the spirits. Only those who confess Jesus has come in the flesh is from God.
We have this spirit of power and victory because Jesus came down!!!
III. Enrich you (fill you up with joy)
1 John 1:4
We are writing these things so that our joy will be complete.
2 John 12 “Though I have many things to write to you I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.”
Oh when you come face to face with Jesus having confessed your sins and accepted His forgiveness your Joy can never more be turned to sorrow.
So then how does God enrich us with this Joy?
A) With His Favor (Synonym for God’s Grace)
Proverbs 8.35 “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.”
Ratsown: God’s favor is his pleasure, delight, favor, goodwill, acceptance, will.
23 Psalm the Lord is My Shepard
1) His protection (His rod) a stick about a meter long with a knob at the end of it.
2) His direction (His staff) looking similar to a modern day cane.
God’s plan has always been to direct and protect all of mankind.
B) With His Fellow ship
· It was in fellowship with God that Noah built the Ark
· It was in fellowship with God before the burning bush that Moses was strengthened to go to Pharaoh.
· It was in fellowship with God that Elijah heard the still small voice
· It was in fellowship with God that Jonah was spit out of the whale.
· It was in fellowship with God that Stephen was stoned to death.
Transition: God will not only strengthen your life through fellowship He will lengthen your life with His kingship.
When Jesus returns in Glory and finally destroys forever the final enemies death and hell. We will live forever with our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. So we will share in His future.
C) With His Future
1) Ruler of all creation
2) Restorer of all creation
Truth: You either share in Jesus’ future or the Devils furnace the lake of fire.
Conclusion:
The devil desires nothing more than to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. Since He can’t destroy it he will try to defeat as many Christians as possible. Don’t give in!
When we lift up Jesus in our lives and in the life of our church persecution will come. The devil will attack often using the religious to attack the redeemed.
But we can be encouraged that those that went before us were able to continue on. So too can we!! We can be empowered by the spirit if we will allow Him to fill us. And we can hope in the future returning of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ!!! We can accomplish our Mission lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ!
