The Prevailing Church

Introduction

Acts 8:1–4 NIV84

1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 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.

What made the church preach wherever they went? First and foremost, they were sold out to Jesus.

Sold Out to Jesus

Are you sold out to Jesus? Have you come to the place in your life where you live completely for the King of kings and Lord of lords, and not for yourself? Being sold out to Jesus means first and foremost that you understand what it means to be born again.

Understanding Being Born Again

When you are completely sold out to Jesus, you fully understand your need to have a Savior. Jesus had a conversation with a man named Nicodemus about this in John 3. John 3:3

John 3:3 NIV84

3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

The young church was full of people that had heard the preaching and teaching the apostles. They witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen and that propelled them to carry out the task of sharing Christ. They fully understood the that being sold out for Jesus meant to not only go through intense persecution and suffering, but to learn how to utilize that suffering.

Utilizing Suffering

The enemies of Christianity do not understand what happens when their persecution is set into motion. First, the believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Isn’t this exactly what Jesus had declared in Acts 1:8? Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NIV84

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The persecution led to scattering and the scattering led to the ends of the earth!

Also notice that according to verse 2, Acts 8:2

Acts 8:2 NIV84

2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

It was normal to bury executed criminals but Jewish law forbade those who buried the criminals to mourn for the executed criminals. This would have caused a great protest and thus leading to considerable risks. Would you have been so bold?

We see from these first 4 verses of Acts 8 that the persecution led to the Christians being scattered. If a person is truly born again, they will take Jesus with them wherever they go and whatever they do. Such was the case with the young church. They were scattered, but the Bible says “they preached the Word wherever they went.” Acts 8:4

Acts 8:4 NIV84

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

You see, when you are sold our to Jesus and have made Him your Lord and Savior, you ultimately take the Name of Jesus with you because you have Jesus in you!

Ultimately Taking the Name of Jesus with You

Acts 8:5–8 NIV84

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

Philip ultimately took the Name of Jesus with him into Samaria. Do you remember Jesus’ encounter with the folks from Samaria? John 4:9

John 4:9 NIV84

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus goes on to share with this Samaritan women about living water and never having to thirst again. Philip uses that same concept when he goes into Samaria preaching and teaching that Jesus is the way, truth and the life! Do you ultimately take the Name of Jesus with you? If so, these next verses remind us that we need to be sound in doctrine.

Sound in Doctrine

Acts 8:9–11 NIV84

9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

Philip had entered an area that did not have sound doctrine. Perhaps it was because that it had yet to be proclaimed. As soon as he arrives, he runs into Simon the Sorcerer. When the truth shows up, it does not take long to ruffle feathers. Simon had fooled the people with his magic. He had deceived many people. We see what is written about him here in Acts 8, but let me share with you what several historians tell us about him. Justin Martyr wrote that Simon lived in Samaria and later moved to Rome continuing his mischief. Irenaeus wrote that Simon traveled with a former slave named Helen and said she claimed to be an incarnation of thought which is a power proclaimed by Gnosticism. Hippolytus, another historian from the first century, wrote that Simon claimed he could be buried alive and would rise three days later. Simon commanded a grave to be dug, then dirt heaped on him. They did as he commanded and he is still in that grave.

I intentionally got ahead of our story line to help you see what exactly Philip was dealing with in Simon the Sorcerer. The truth always prevails. We have already referenced that beautiful verse from John 14:6

John 14:6 NIV84

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Philip knew what was real. It is important for us to know what is real as well.

Knowing What is Real

Obviously, the people who had been conned by Simon recognized that Jesus was the Way, Truth and the Life.

Acts 8:12 NIV84

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

When you know what is real, it is best to keep away from what is not real! This why there are many scriptures warning of false teachings. 2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:1 NIV84

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Philip, Peter and John recognized the false teaching Simon was doing. It was further realized when Simon saw the laying of the hands and the power of the Lord healing people, he wanted that power not to glorify God but to glorify to himself.

Acts 8:18–19 NIV84

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered him is a harsh way. In fact, the translation we have here is actually very mild to what the original declared.

Acts 8:20–22 NIV84

20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

But wait a minute, did this chapter show that Simon was baptized? Yes, it says he was baptized in verse 13. Whatever happened in verse 13 was not genuine. The laying on of hands, baptism, communion, holding offices within the church mean nothing to God who examines the heart. How many fake Christians abound today?

Keeping Away From What is Not

These false teachings still happen today and cause much division and disruption. We who are in Christ must saturate ourselves with sound doctrine so that we will indeed keep away from what is not! Colossians 2:8

Colossians 2:8 NIV84

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

We must go away from that which is false and kneel in submission in heart, mind and soul— to the ways of God!

Kneeling in Submission to the Ways of God

Philip’s example continues to show us this. His submission leads to a life changing event.

Acts 8:26–29 NIV84

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Philip, somewhere along the way in his walk with Christ, decided to become solid in the Word of God.

Solid in the Word

As he goes and stays near a chariot, he hears this Ethiopian reading the Word of God.

Being a Student of the Word

By being a student of the Word, Philip recognizes that this passage is from the Prophet Isaiah.

Acts 8:32–33 NIV84

32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

Believing All Scripture Points to Jesus

Believing all scripture points to Jesus in some way, Philip is able to share with the Ethiopian about Jesus.

Acts 8:35 NIV84

35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Could you do that? As you become a student of God’s Word, you will build a solid foundation that will overcome the false teachings and continuously point others to Jesus.

Building a Solid Foundation

Ephesians 2:19–20 NIV84

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

The church that builds on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ will prevail against false teachings, false prophets, and will boldly share the life changing love of Jesus!

Boldly Sharing

Look at this example of Philip! Boldly going up to an official from a foreign land! And as soon as there was an opportunity, he led the Ethiopian official to be baptized. Are you boldly sharing your faith? Why not if you are not?

Sensitive to the Spirit

All of this happened because of being sensitive to the Spirit of God. The Spirit guided the church in the general way to preach Christ. The Spirit also guided people to witness to specific persons or groups. One tradition holds that the present day churches in Ethiopia can be traced to the one event! Believe it or not, the same Spirit still guides us to do the same thing today!

You have heard me say that we are across the street from a major university that has over 20000 students, including students from all over the world. What can we do to minister to them? What can we do to point them to Jesus? It sure does not happen sitting on our backsides waiting for them to come to us!

Our Present Help

Philip shows us here in this great chapter what it means to allow the Spirit of God to be our present help.

Our Comforter

The Holy Spirit is also our comforter and it is our guide.

Our Guide

As a result, we should ever be so bold and courageous. Every where we go, so goes the Spirit if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Philip kept on preaching. What is keeping you from doing the same? It is time to let go of that excuse.