The Unkillable Church

Text: Acts 8:1-25

Central Idea of the Text: When the church is persecuted, the church scatters into areas where it is most needed.

Proposition: When faced with great opposition, the church spreads into the places and people where it is most needed.

Purpose: All who follow Jesus should look for opportunities to advance the love and the message of Jesus.

Life can be both a fragile thing, and a hearty thing. We are reminded that in some states, living things can die all too easily. You may experience that with either houseplants, or gardens, or even pets or livestock at your house. But in other cases, we are reminded that some living things are very hard to kill even when you want to.

You may be experiencing this with dandelions on your lawn currently. Do any of my lawn people care to testify about how hard it is to put down the dandelion population? They just keep getting out.

There are some animals that hunters look for that are notoriously hard to put down and dangerous to kill. According to Field & Stream Magazine, Cape Buffalo, Leopards and Bears are among the hardest animals to take down in a hunt, and the most likely to put a hurt on you if you don’t take them down with a clear or accurate shot.

Then there are the other smaller challenging pests. The East African Giant Snail cannot be put down by common pesticides, or even by using a flamethrower to light their forest on fire. Water Bears, or tartigrades, can actually survive in the vacuum of space. And ask a friend who has had a worm or a parasite how that may have turned out for them. My sister has a pretty good story about that one and how she had to eat nothing but garlic for several months to kill it.

Desirable living things, like kittens, we want to keep alive. Undesirable things, like wolf spiders or rattle snakes, we are glad to crush or chop the head off of.

But there is one organism that inspires a polarized response from people. They either want to see that organism live and thrive, or they want to see that organism flail, struggle, starve or even die painfully. What is that organism? It’s the church. The Ekklesia.

Let’s get back into our Acts study and gain a greater understanding of the polarizing response that the church evokes from people. We pick up this week in Acts 8:1-25. (Read Text)

This is the word of the Lord for us this morning.

Would you pray with me? Lord, we thank you that your church is a living body. It is not a dead or stagnant thing, nor can it be killed by human hands or means. Would you please remind us from these words what life in the church is to look like, and how we are to live obediently to ensure that the life of the church continues until Jesus’ return? We ask for your blessing in this time in your word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The church. People love it, and people hate it. And this is being proven in stronger and stronger ways from the beginning of the book of Acts. Christ set apart his church with Peter’s Great confession, the confession upon which he would build his church. Peter recognized Jesus first in Luke 9: “Then [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” From that point, however, Jesus continued to do his earthly ministry and his saving work on the cross and rising from the grave. It was 40 days after that resurrection that we celebrated last week that Jesus commissioned his church to do his work of bringing people to saving faith in him by sharing his message. Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses.” From that moment in Acts 1, this is all that we have seen the church do. Witness, witness, witness. They have boldly done it over and over again in Jerusalem, with Peter acting as the ringleader. He has been the most faithful of witnesses, consistently going back to the temple and proclaiming Jesus as the messiah who has come. And we have seen the church grow to a living body of north of 5000 people now.

But as this organism has grown and thrived, there are those among the Jews that have hated Jesus and sought to imprison, beat, and (as in the case of Stephen) even kill members of the church. Back in Acts 5, Gamaliel had encouraged the Jewish leaders not to do this, because (in his words) “they might be found opposing God.” That has not stopped the angry Jews of chapter 7 of confronting, trying and putting to death Stephen, the good and faithful servant and witness of the church.

The fact that the book of Acts continues after chapter 7 is a testimony to the truth of the message of the church, and the living nature of the church. If the church was simply a building, a monument, or an institution, it’s at this point that the story would have been done. I mean, a guy just died for this message. And dead things don’t reproduce, replace, live and thrive. They just die and fracture and disintegrate. People like belonging to the the YMCA, but if it required dying, I’m guessing a whole lot less people have a membership there. People like joining a club like Optimists or Kiwanis, but if a membership there involved bloodshed, the roles would shrink. People like being Husker fans, and Husker fans may like the pain of losing, but if actual pain and suffering was required, Memorial stadium would be a whole lot less full each Saturday.

If the church was what many mistake it for, it would have died long ago. But the church is a living organism. Some want it dead, some want it alive. Some want to trap, torture, or kill it. But like a surviving and thriving organism, life gives birth to life. Survival instinct kicks in, and the church moves in the direction of life. So as it is pressed, the church gives. It is squishy and organic. It grows, changes, shifts and moves. It’s like an octopus, that’s pressed into a small box, but can find the small hole in it and maneuver its entire body through. Because the church is full of the everlasting life of Jesus, she will survive. She cannot be killed, not even in the wake of Stephen’s martyrdom.

This morning’s text shows us 5 unlikely ways in which the church (and the gospel that fuels her) operates, survives and thrives.

First, The Church & Gospel Find Unlikely Survival

Granted, the church is a sizeable group, 5000 plus. But the church in planted in a main home region, Jerusalem and surrounding Judea. And the Gospel comes, as Paul says in Romans, first to the Jews. They are the people of the promise of Abraham. They are the covenant people of Sinai. They are the ones to whom the prophets spoke. Everything in terms of the Gospel’s arrival had gone according to God’s design. The people most prepared to receive Jesus are receiving Jesus.

But not even close to all of them are receiving Jesus. The Jews are influenced by corrupt leaders with powerful followings. When Stephen is killed, a large group is opposed to his message. They see it as being opposed to God and anti-Jew/anti-Israel. And now we cue the Darth Vader music, and we have the entry of the villain of this book, Saul. Saul had been there to give blessing of the killing of Stephen. Verse one says that he gave approval to it. He was egging the Jews who would not hear the message to do it. But he did not stop there, verse 3 says that Saul was truly a tyrant. Under Roman authority, he was operating on behalf of the Jewish leaders to put to an end this uprising, this division among the Jews. He was going to house to house, throughout Jerusalem, finding those who followed the Way, and placing them in prison.

What does the church do in response to what has happened to Stephen? They scatter. The text uses that word two times to describe what the church is doing. Like an organism or living thing, when you know more danger or pain might be coming, what do you do? You move out of the way. When you see the punch is being thrown against you, a good instinct to develop is to duck, back up, or dodge. It is not a noble thing to take pain simply for the sake of taking pain. What if you were a person who was a Christian, saw what had happened to Stephen, and yet had your wife and small kids at home. Would you simply want to risk staying, having something happen to you, then leaving your family defenseless and without provision? No, they are your first ministry and witness. And so it was wise for those with means, ways, family in surrounding areas, to spread out and make a larger footprint for the enemy to try to attack.

It is good to note this this morning, because when we talk about being like Stephen, or being a martyr, many who have been placed in those positions have done so because they had no other choice to run, to hide, or to fight in some other tactical way. The church ought not face an unnecessary martyrdom. To do so would be to commit suicide as a church. We are not here to simply live as the last generation before Christ’s return and throw all caution to the wind. We are here to live and serve for the faith of our children, and our grandchildren, and generations to come until Jesus returns. We are not on a suicide mission, but a mission of mercy to the world. The church ought to survive.

Second, The Church & Gospel Go to Unlikely Places

Again in verse 4, we see this keyword, scattered, used to describe the church. That is not shattered, like broken pieces of a pot or cup, but scattered, like the grain seeds from a head of wheat. As they go, they don’t leave behind that which they have been invested with, but they take it with them. The verse says that they went about, preaching the word. They are headed into the regions surrounding Jerusalem, Judea to the south, and Samaria to the north.

One of those people who goes is this key servant Philip. We remember him from chapter 6, when Justin shared with us a few weeks ago that the church designated several key servants to do one of the great works of the church’s ministry, caring for the widows of the church. It is certain that Stephen was both a good friend and Christian brother of Philip, and it is likely that Philip was among the devout disciples who mourned and buried Stephen. But this is where we see Philip start to act, rather than just react. It would have been very easy for him to live in depression or deep grief, easy to not do what he does here.

But he takes a very active position. He goes to the North of Jerusalem, and goes into a region & city known as Samaria. As many of you may remember, it was Jesus himself who had visited this very region in the early days of his ministry to ask a Samaritan woman to draw water from a well for him in John 4. Into this region, in a place that to some Jews would have be considered a perfectly good place to travel past or away from. But Philip went to it, perhaps because he knew the very words that the Savior had promised in Acts 1:8, that these followers would be his witnesses … in Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

To this point, Philip has gotten the message of Jesus, that the Gospel is meant to follow followers of Jesus wherever they go. And that is the missionary heart of this book that is just starting to get played out. Philip is at the tip of the missionary spear of the church. When the church scatters, they scatter with strategy, and they scatter with mission in mind. The church looks for areas where the Gospel is not and goes there. That is why we thank God for ministry partners in missionary friends in Kenya, in Guinea, in North Africa, in the Middle East, in India. They are going to take a message of the truth and love of God where it needs to be. The church ought to be a going church. Any church that is not going or supporting those who do is not functioning properly as a church.

Third, The Church & Gospel Transform Unlikely People

Now we see Philip going to preach, and who do we see him preaching to and practicing miraculous signs among? Samaritans. Saul and the other Jewish leaders had to feel especially gross about this when they heard of it. Samaritans were half-Jews. The people of the northern kingdom who were assimilated by the Assyrians. They were not pure Jews, and were considered dirty outsiders. But Philip had to remember it was that same Jesus who asked a Samaritan woman for water, who had told a story about a Good Samaritan, and who had commissioned this mission, not just to a territory, but to a people who did know something of the one true God. If there was a next best people to proclaim Jesus’ arrival and work to, it was these Samaritans.

But that’s not all … look who ELSE Philip preaches to. He preaches to Simon, a man who practiced magic … a sorcerer. Understand when we say that that he wasn’t just into doing Cosplay at the local Harry Potter convention. No, he did his own signs by consulting demons, knowing dark arts and selling his soul. The text says in verse 10 that everyone paid attention to him, because of his “amazing magic”. He had proclaimed himself to be someone great, like many other magicians or sorcerers before and after him.

Wouldn’t it be so wrong for the church to recruit filthy Samaritans? Wouldn’t it be out of bounds for a people who say they follow Jesus to preach to a man that knows the meaning of evil and wickedness in calling upon the powers of evil to do his bidding? Surely God would not save someone like them. But that is the difference between Jesus and every other religious leader or religion. When Christ comes near, his power and message can rescue the most lost among us. That is why it says in verse Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” To hear the message, to believe that Jesus died for you and can save even you, even me and even the most lost among us, this is the best news. Samaritans heard, believed and were baptized. Simon heard, believed and was baptized.

And yes, even you, not matter what you have done, where you have been, who you’ve been with are outside of the saving message of Jesus. This is what the love of God does. It comes near to unlovable people, so that they may witness the love of God and respond to it. Acts’ message is becoming clearer and clearer. ANYONE can respond to Jesus. ANYONE can find salvation in his name. ANYONE can respond to obey the savior’s command to be baptized. And like Philip, The Church is to look for and witness to people that are far from God.

Fourth, The Church & Gospel Give Unlikely Affirmation

Now, as we have noted before in Acts, there are several who do signs and wonders. As we note in today’s text, there are signs and wonders being done by Philip. Specifically, he is casting out demons/unclean spirits in the Name of Jesus, and he is healing the paralyzed/lame in the name of Jesus. As we see implied in today’s text, this was likely a gift that Philip had received at his commissioning by the Apostles in Jerusalem. We note in chapter 7 that Stephen was doing the same. But these were not things that every believer was doing.

However, signs like these were displays that showed the power of Christ from those who had been in the physical presence of Christ. Now, as Philip comes into a new territory, preaching among a new people, he notes that there has not been an affirmation of the Holy Spirit’s advance into this people group by the signs that took place on Pentecost and have been present in Jerusalem. But Philip cannot give this on his own. The Apostles in Jerusalem come down to give affirmation of the Gospel’s movement and the Spirit’s power among this new people. And so Peter and John come, they lay hands on people, and it is affirmed [implicatively] through signs and wonders.

Now we should note that Acts is of course descriptive at points and prescriptive at points. There are passages that report the things that happened, and there are passages that tell the church how things ought to be practiced. This passage is one of the former, rather than the latter. It is descriptive but not regulative. What Peter and John are affirming is that God is with the Gospel advance outside of those who are just Jewish in blood-line. There are people who will hear and respond that are Samaritans as well, and they are no second class citizens of the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit can live in them, work thru them and empower them to do God’s work. What is happening in Acts 8 with the Samaritans will also happen in Acts 10 with the Gentiles. But it won’t happen at every church, in every town, with every people. These miracles are signs of the initial movement of the Spirit. It is an inauguration of the next phase of Christ’s outward rippling plan: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends of the Earth. And what Peter & John here are doing is using the power that they received directly from Jesus in Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”” It is a declaring from Peter and John, in the name of Jesus by the power of the Spirit, that the Kingdom is open to Samaritans too. It is not Jews only.

The true bottom line here for the church is that the church ought to move where God is moving, and the church ought to affirm the movement of God. We may be different congregations, meeting in different locations, but the Holy Spirit that live is me in Auburn, lives in Lincoln, in Omaha, In Canada, In Mexico, in the hearts of believers. The Spirit binds believers together, giving them purpose and unity.

Fifth, The Church & Gospel Encounter Unlikely Grace

Now, on the face of the thing, what Simon does here is repulsive, he is not saved, and he is cast out of the church. He wants to purchase this Apostolic Holy Spirit power for money. A man who knows about great power, and drawing attention to himself wants to purchase this Jesus power from Peter so that he can be one of these powerful people like Peter and like John. By his own experience and sinful nature, he wants to manipulate God and the apostles of the church by the power of money. But look at Peter’s strong rebuke in Acts 8:20–23 “But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” Strong stuff, right? You are repulsive, Simon! You’re not saved! You’re gonna burn outside of Jesus forever!

But look at the true content of Peter’s words for a second. Is Peter saying Simon’s going to hell? No. Is he saying that Simon’s believing in Christ or obedience in baptism were of no effect or consequence? No. But what is he saying? He is saying that money cannot buy either the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit which God gives freely. Just a few short chapters ago, you might remember another situation regarding money: Ananias and Sapphira. Now in that situation, they lied to God and to the church regarding money. But in this situation, Simon is tempted because of his old way of life, to want what another believer has, in terms of gifts and think that he can just buy it. But Peter is stern: No way can you buy this.

I want you to think critically about something that God is giving Simon in this moment. God is giving Simon GRACE. Grace to see your error. Grace to turn. Grace to change. Grace to live differently. Grace to be content in what the Holy Spirit does give. The Presence of the Spirit. The Fruits of the Spirit. The gifts of many kinds that the Holy Spirit has given and gives to believers.

None of us can buy a gift of the Holy Spirit, but we can produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit by living in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit daily. And what we are seeing is a great example of the way the church ought to guide new believers: coming out of old life, old ways of thinking and old habits into a new walk. Yes, even those who are new converts or old converts still need to hear the call to repent. The Church looks to guide new converts in the knowledge and grace of God. And they do this in experiencing the bold guidance and correction that comes from those God places around us to shepherd us.

Closing:

This morning’s story of Philip’s encounter with Samaria and Simon has left the church with several illustrations of the nature of the church. The church has experienced unlikely survival, because it is fueled by the Holy Spirit and guided by the wisdom of God. The church goes to unlikely places, taking the message of the Gospel and the Kingdom to places it has not been. The church goes to unlikely people, because we believe in the power of Jesus to forgive and transform ANYONE who calls on his name. The church gives unlikely affirmation, because it follows the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not simply the will of men. And the church encounters unlikely Grace, because that is what Jesus offers.

And that is simply the message that we need to hear as we give the invitation to come and follow Jesus. How do you need to experience the Grace of God today and connect with His church? We are the Ekklesia, the called out ones. We are the ones who know Christ, those who are being saved. Do you know you are being saved? Or are you bound to the world that is on a Highway to Hell, lost in sin? The call of Christ is fresh and new every time it is proclaimed, in every place it is proclaimed, among every people it is proclaimed. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin.” (1 John 1:9) “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 2:38)

The call to join with this living, growing, surviving and thriving body called the church is open 24/7. So ...

Would you believe in Jesus today, that he is the Son of God who died for your sin?

Would you repent of the sin that is dividing you from God? Would you pledge your life to Christ to grow in grace, loving what is right and hating what is evil?

Would you be baptized in the name of Jesus, your old self buried with Jesus, raised up to walk in a new life?

Would you take the next step in declaring with other believers, you are a part of his church?

Would you speak and serve to make the name of Jesus great where you are? The living church must do living church things.