Untitled Sermon (15)

Persecuted: Now & Then

Stephen’s death initiated a new era of death and terror for the Church

The Church moved from ostracized to criminalized

History does not repeat itself, but it certainly echoes

The Church in the US experiences growing ostracization (though certainly not criminalization yet!)

We too face death, only in a different form: Coronavirus

We face a restless, raging nation

Tolkien, who lived through both World wars, likely reflected his thoughts in LOTR:

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Gift of Power

Every age of the Church is faced with its own challenges, but we are not left alone

Almost always, rising persecution and hardship, though terrible, also spark great movements for God’s kingdom

God gifts his people the power of the Holy Spirit not only to endure such times, but to thrive in such times

Simon & Serpent

The very visible power of the Holy Spirit, however, attracts all kinds of attention

While God often seeks to use evil for God, Satan is always eager to thwart such revival.

Simon reflects the character of Judas and Ananias: in league with evil powers, fixated on money, and thus ultimately condemned

In times of hardship, the Church will always be tempted to lower its standards

When just trying to survive, money and power are even more appealing.

Trading the power of the Spirit for the powers of money and fame, however, is always a mistake

Satan only offers such things because he knows he’s getting the better end of the deal: God’s Spirit is much more powerful than money and fame

We too will be tempted to lower standards

Temptation from places of worldly power

Temptation to settle for less than what is Holy

Temptation to excuse slothfulness towards God

John Wesley: I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.

Spirit’s Call

Therefore, We must not heed Satan’s call, but continue to heed the call of the Spirit

In times of hardship, the Spirit may call us to strange and unexpected places

Samaria was not a place good Jews expected God’s Spirit to go

The Spirit may call us to strange and unexpected people

“Eunuch” emphasized by Luke

Eunuchs were socially ostracized, even those in places of political power

Unlike Simon, the Eunuch’s social status made him understand the nature of God’s gift as something money and prestige could not buy, though technically he had both

To where and to whom might the Spirit be calling us today?

To places we otherwise would not go

To people we otherwise would not talk to

Desert: Now & Then

Oddly enough, God often calls his people to the desert wilderness before a great revival

Moses and the Israelites, Elijah, Jesus, and Philip are all called to the desert by the Spirit

In many ways, we too have been called to the desert, and to the desert we have gone: willingly or not

The wilderness is a time of testing and preparation, God ensures his people are ready for what is to come

The wilderness is pass or fail: The Israelites serve as a warning for those who wish to go back to the way things were. To cling to old ways is to fail the test.

Even in the wilderness, God’s Spirit is with us. He does not call us here and leave us.

Even in the desert, we are likely to come to unexpected people and places.

Then as now, in a time of distress, the Church is being called to a desert place to be tested

We must not compromise for promises of this world

We must not lower our standards, especially in the desert

Sin of Sloth

We must lean solely on God’s Spirit for power, and listen to his call to the unexpected

There is no fear that the Church will cease to exist. Instead, we should be afraid that we may reach the other side of this desert and have the form of the Church without the power.

A- Persecuted: Now & Then

leads to

B- Gift of Power

but

C- Simon & Serpent

therefore

D- Spirit’s Call

and

E- Desert: Now & Then