Scripture
Acts 11:19 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Acts 8:2-4 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 12:1-3 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.
Observation
Christ told the early church that they were going to get a power source in the Holy Spirit. He would give them power to be His witnesses and in fact he said that they “will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” They just had no idea how that was going to be accomplished.
God used the persecution of the early church to spread the gospel to a regional level and nationally and beyond.
Philip went to the Samaritans, the people the Jews hated, and he was so powerful that a revival broke out and the church sent Peter and John to check things out.
Peter learned that the gospel is for everyone (chapter 10) while he was traveling around the country he is eventually thrown into prison. Even Paul became a believer and he was also persecuted.
God’s purposes will always stand despite human efforts to hinder His plan.
Application
I will take your message to the ends of the earth. Give us wisdom in planning mission trips for next year.
Prayer
Give us the grit to stand in the power that you gave us in the Holy Spirit to take your good news everywhere.
