The Gospel Message is Unstoppable
Notes
Transcript
Imagine a large, ancient oak tree. It has stood in the same place for hundreds of years, weathering countless storms. The tree’s roots run deep, anchoring it firmly in the ground. One day, a powerful storm comes, with fierce winds and pounding rain. Other trees in the forest bend and sway, some even snap and fall, but this particular oak tree remains unshaken. It’s not that the storm isn’t strong; in fact, it’s one of the fiercest storms the forest has seen. But the oak tree is stronger. Its roots go deep, and it stands as a symbol of unwavering strength. The storm comes and goes, but the tree is still there, unmovable.
The Gospel message message is like this oak tree. It is unmovable. It is unwavering. It will never fail. It will never lose its power. No matter what tries to take it out. It will always remain.
Today, we want to look at Acts 8. It is in this chapter where we see the Gospel message begin to spread. Look at how the Gospel message began to spread.
1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in 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 both men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
It was in the persecution that the Word of God began to go to other parts of the country.
The scattering of the church fulfills what Jesus spoke about in Acts 1:8
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.”
And just because there is opposition the believers don’t stop doing what God has called them to do. When difficulty comes our way that is when we need to rise up as the people of God and work to make sure that the Gospel is preached to everyone.
An amazing thing about this persecution was it brought out a greater boldness as each of these preached the word wherever they went.
And the Gospel message didn’t stop there. Philip goes to Samaria.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.
7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
This is where the Jews begin understanding that the Gospel message was not just for them. Philip, who was one of the seven chosen in chapter 6, goes to an area, Samaria, a group of people that the Jews believed were beneath them. There had been a bad relationship between the Jews and Samaritans for a long time. They were a mixed race of Jews.
People who were possessed by demons begin to be set free. People who were paralyzed and lame were healed. The power of God was moving amongst the people. Lives were being changed.
The Gospel message is for everyone, even your worst enemy. What would someone who is your enemy think if you showed them the love of Christ. That is what the Gospel is all about, seeing lives restored and people set free from bondage.
Even Peter and John come and pray for the Samaritan’s to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This was a changed group of people. There was one man there name Simon who was a sorcerer. He sees the power that is displayed by Peter and John and he tries to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. They let him know that this kind of power can’t be bought.