Unstoppable Gospel

We live in a world full of problems and adversity.

Sometimes these can seem overwhelming, even casting a shadow over our faith.

You might be facing financial problems this morning. Cost of living has gone up, and income has not.

It could be caring for aging parents. Family pressures. Health issues.

But trials and adversity don’t have to beat us down.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, we have the God of the universe on our side.

I was bullied when I was a kid. It went on for some time in grade school.

But I remember when a new kid started school one year and didn’t know anyone. I made friends with him and we hung around together during recess along with my other friends.

Jimmy stood out from the crowd, literally. He was huge, at least compared to the rest of us. He was what you might call a gentle giant. But he stood up for his friends.

One day, three boys, who regularly made life difficult for us, came up to us during recess and started calling us names. Jimmy walked up to the leader, looked down on him, and without saying a word, pushed the boy down. It reminded me of what you see in the movies when a person is pushed back by an explosion.

Jimmy shook his head and turned around and we followed him. Needless to say, I tried to stay as close to Jimmy as I could when on the playground. I had renewed confidence because of who my friend was.

The followers of Jesus in Jerusalem were being bullied. They were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus.

So they scattered. But the amazing thing is, they didn’t lose their confidence. They faced their adversity with confidence because of what Jesus had done for them.

They were unstoppable. What Saul and Satan had used to eradicate the Good News of Jesus, only served to advance it.

Adversity can advance the gospel, and the gospel brings joy.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you have been made to matter. Your life can change the world.

Your adversity doesn’t have to push you down. God can still use you to change the world.

Let’s look at what happened when adversity hit the early church.

Let’s start with what happened after Stephen was put to death.

Acts 8:1–3 NKJV

1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

“Consenting” - Paul agreed with and approved of Stephen’s murder.

“Persecution” - Systematically hunted down the followers of Jesus.

“Scattered” - to sow as seed

“Judea and Samaria” - Fulfilling Acts 1:8.

Verses 2 and 3 contrast each other sharply. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. On the other hand Saul began to wreak havoc on the church.

This dark hour illustrates humanity's fallen condition: our capacity for violence, intolerance, and heartless zeal in promoting our own beliefs at the expense of others. This behavior isn't alien to us today. Whether in the form of social, racial, or religious intolerance, we often seek to suppress those different from us.

This passage encourages us to examine our own hearts for such destructive behavior.

Who of us hasn’t called someone or some group we disagree with, calling them names, and impugning their character without taking the time to get to know them, show them love, and show them the life-giving power Jesus can bring to their lives?

Now we’ve got the stage set for what happens next...

Acts 8:4–8 NKJV

4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

I. The Believers Responded to Adversity by Proclaiming the Gospel (4)

“Therefore” the result of persecution was to bring the gospel wherever they went.

They were scattered. They went everywhere. Just like a farmer who sows seed scatters it about liberally with a view to a bountiful harvest.

They “preached the word”

“preached” - word is “evangelized.” To proclaim.

The sense “word” here refers to the content of the message. They proclaimed the message of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

They didn’t use adversity as an excuse to pull into their shell and keep quiet.

How do we respond when things get rough in our life? How do we react when things don’t go our way?

Retreat into our shell? Run away? Or do we realize we have our BIG Savior right here with us and He’ll take care of the situation and we don’t have to worry?

C’mon be honest! I know how I react sometimes.

I have my own little pity party. I don’t have the energy to get into the office and work on my sermon. I don’t feel like doing anything.

What’s wrong with that? Jesus saved us for more than that! He made us super-conquerors, world-changing overcomers through the power of the resurrection.

We can take on the world with Jesus on our side.

Pulling into our shell or taking our toys and going home and not reaching out will lead to frustration, loneliness, and an unfulfilled life.

Next we see...

II. Philip Brings the Gospel to Samaria (5-7)

He didn’t waste any time proclaiming Jesus to the Samaritans.

The Samaritans were a mixture of Jew and Gentile. The nation originated when the Assyrians captured the ten northern tribes in 732 b.c., deported many of the people, and then imported others who intermarried with the Jews. The Samaritans had their own temple and priesthood and openly opposed fraternization with the Jews (John 4:9).

“Preaching” - “to proclaim” or “announce as a herald” “to make known publicly and loudly” as a town cryer. “Hear Ye, Hear Ye.”

What did Philip announce to them? Jesus!

He didn’t preach Methodist theology, Baptist theology, Reformed theology, or any “ology” other than Jesus.

Our churches will never save people, only Jesus. The personality of our leaders will never bring lost people to God, only Jesus. Our programs will not lead people to eternal life, only Jesus.

A great number of Samaritans came to Jesus through the witness of Philip.

“one accord” - sense is “unanimously.”

“heeded” - “pay attention to” “listen intently” “adhere to”

Philip also demonstrated God’s power by performing miracles.

The miracles were exciting, but it was the message that made the difference. They heeded what Philip said.

We see here that adversity can advance the gospel. Next, what does the gospel do in people’s lives?

III. The City Responded to the Good News of Jesus with Joy (8)

Anytime Jesus shows up, things get exciting!

The whole city was glad that God had come.

Anytime people come to Jesus and have their sins forgiven it ought to be a time of rejoicing.

Would that we would be excited if people just kept coming up after the sermon and wanted to know how to follow Jesus.

What if we went over thirty minutes? An hour? People just keep coming to Jesus.

Many churches worry about if the service is going to go over and if they’re going to beat the Methodists to the restaurant. God have mercy on us!

There was not just joy in the city, but great joy!

Why not get excited about getting new life in Jesus?

Have you been delivered from the power of Satan and the demons? Are you walking in victory today? Are you joyful that He saved you? Do you need to revisit that day that you were saved! Would you repent today and rejoice in the Lord today?

Jesus can carry us through any adversity life can throw at us. Not only that, He can empower us to change our world. Bring healing to the hurting. Bring hope to the hopeless. Bring restoration to the broken.

Adversity can advance the gospel, and the gospel brings joy.