Acts 8:1 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.

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.

Acts 8:26 NKJV

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

Acts 8:29–31 NKJV

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:36–38 NKJV

36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

This is Desert

The Book of Acts Is Transitional

To be transitional involves

++movement

++A change from one state to another

++A shift

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The Word Acts

++Practice

++Scene in a play

++Activity influenced by change

++The Acts of the Apostles

Acts is Anchored

++In a new reality

++Christ has Risen from the Dead

++He that was dead is now alive

Acts 1:3 NKJV

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The Book of Acts Is Historical

In The Book of Acts the Church was

++Born in power

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In The Book of Acts the Church was

Born in power

++Unified in purpose

Acts 2:41–42 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In The Book of Acts the Church was

Born in power

Unified in purpose

++Generous in provision

Acts 2:44–45 NKJV

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

In The Book of Acts the Church was

Born in power

Unified in purpose

Generous in provision

++A people of praise

Acts 2:46–47 NKJV

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

The Book of Acts Is Transformational

In the book of Acts we see

++The promise received

John 14:17 NKJV

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

In the book of Acts we see

The promise received

++The proof of the promise declared

Acts 1:4 NKJV

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

In the book of Acts we see

The promise received

The proof of the promise declared

++They knew what they had

Acts 3:4–7 NKJV

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

This empowerment changed everything about God’s People

In the past man sought

++God’s favor for them

Psalm 79:1 NKJV

1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

In the past

God’s favor for them

++God’s wrath for others

Psalm 79:6 NKJV

6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.

Everything has change

Persecution has always been the tool of the enemy

It was the

++Taskmaster in Egypt

++The evil toward Joseph

++The suffering of Christ

The Purpose of Persecution

++To bring fear

++To foster a hostile environment

++To hinder the God’s plan

Things would be different this time

Persecution would bring

++A greater resolve

++A hope

++A deepening dependence

Acts 5:40–41 NKJV

40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Even a great church faces pressure

++External Pressure _Persecution_

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 NKJV

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Even a great church faces pressure

External Pressure _Persecution_

++Internal Pressure _Distraction_

Acts 6:1–2 NKJV

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

Acts 6:4 NKJV

4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

There will always be pressure

Galatians 5:7 NKJV

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

You were

++On the right path

++God the right way

++On the right pace

Why did you stop?

We must Keep the main thing the main thing

Persecution increased

Philip was chosen

Acts 6:3 NKJV

3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

Acts 6:5 NKJV

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

He was chosen because

++He was known by the people

++He had a good reputation

++He was full of the Holy Spirit

++He had demonstrated wisdom

Philip was appointed

The Apostles

++Agreed with the people choice

++Prayed for them

Acts 6:6–7 NKJV

6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The Church Grew in

++The spreading of the Gospel

++The number of the disciples

++The obedience to faith

Philip was in Samaria

Acts 8:6–7 NKJV

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.

Acts 8:12 NKJV

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

The Angel of the Lord

Acts 8:26 NKJV

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

The Angel (Messenger)

++Had spoken

++Provided specific directions

++Declared “This is Desert”

The Desert

++Dry land

++Wilderness

++Lifeless

Acts 8:27 NKJV

27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

Philip responded to the messenger

Philip

++Heard the message

++Got up

++Obeyed the message

The Spirit of God

Acts 8:29 NKJV

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

There is a benefit to being sensitive to the Spirit of God.

++Stephen saw the glory of God

Acts 7:55 NKJV

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

There is a benefit to being sensitive to the Spirit of God.

Stephen saw the glory of God

++We are the sons of God

Romans 8:14 NKJV

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

There is a benefit to being sensitive to the Spirit of God.

Stephen saw the glory of God

We are the sons of God

++We know what we have

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

To hear the Spirit of God we must

++Hear the messenger

++Respond to the message

2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Show Me the Way

Acts 8:27–28 NKJV

27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.

This man

++Was from Ethiopia

++Had great Authority

++Guarded the treasury of the Queen

++He was returning from worship

++He was reading from scripture

Sometimes we have to read it again

He was not satisfied

++Just attending the service

++Just listening to the message

He had to read it again

Acts 8:30–31 NKJV

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

The word helps us

++Grow in faith

++Grow in knowledge

++Understand truth

The Spirit

++Brings life

++Speaks to the heart