Vital Christianity: The Power of the Gospel

INTRODUCTION

In the last two messages (covering chapters 6 and 7) we saw the work and ministry of the Deacon Stephen. We saw his conviction and persecution and his martyrdom…the first Christian to be killed for the name of Christ. But as we move into chapter 8, we see the work of another of the deacons, a man named Phillip.

This once again shows that the deacons who were appointed by the Church and confirmed by the Apostles did much more than wait tables. They were powerful men of God who stood and proclaimed the truth that Jesus Christ saves.

As we move into chapter 8, we see that the death of Stephen has caused many in the Church to flee out of the close quarters of Jerusalem. Saul, who would later become Paul, was doing all he could to not only stamp out the power of Stephen’s powerful testimony…He was trying to destroy the Church itself.

The word “havock” can mean one of two things (or both really) within the context here. One, he was severely mistreating those who were a part of the church even to the point of causing physical injury. Second, it can mean that he was actively involved in shutting down or destroying the homes in which various Christian groups were meeting. Remember, by this time the Church numbered in the thousands, and there was no “First Church of Jerusalem” downtown.

Secondly, it tells us that he entered into every house…in other words, he had done his homework. He knew who the “Christians” were and where they lived. He made it his primary aim to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who claimed the name of Christ. There were personal threats and attacks.

Then it says that he was “haling men and women”. The term haling here doesn’t mean he was calling to them. Instead, it means that he would violently drag men and women out of their homes or places of business, and he would have them committed to prison for their belief in Jesus Christ. Now, remember, earlier the apostles had been jailed. Now, it is anyone who claims the name of Christ…As mentioned before, Satan does not care to escalate his attacks, and he doesn’t care who he hurts.

But an amazing thing happened. As the Church suffered, it also grew. And we see that play out in not only this chapter, but throughout the rest of the Book of Acts. And what we see is actually the Power of the Gospel put on full display here in verse 8. The Bible says in Romans 1:14-17…

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

As we look at the first part of Acts 8, we see some of what that power of the Gospel does and can do. Notice with me first of all…

I. The Power of the Gospel Uses Opportunity (vs 1-4)

Now, remember that the bold preaching of the Gospel by Stephen is what has caused the persecution that the Church is now experiencing. And while the persecution led many to leave Jerusalem, something incredible actually happened. The phrase “scattered abroad” carries the idea of someone sowing or scattering seed.

Tertullian, the early Church Father who lived between 155 AD and 240 AD said “We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.” Today it is loosely quoted as “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” And here we see the first time that such a principle is actually put into action.

As the seed of the persecuted church took root in various cities, towns and regions, the Bible says that they “went every where preaching the word”. Now, think about this…the preaching of the word is what caused them to be scattered. So what we see here is that they were not scattered in desperation…they were not scattered in fear…they were not scattered in an attempt to flee persecution…they were scattered to carry to others the very message that had led to their being scattered.

And to be honest, that is what vital Christianity looks like. Vital Christianity does not wilt in the face of persecution. Instead, vital Christianity sees persecution as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Why? Basically, for two reasons. The first we find in the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1 that we quoted earlier…

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Vital Christianity sees the spread of the Gospel as vital…as necessary…for all to hear. And then we also see in I Corinthians 9:16…

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Vital Christianity recognizes that our obedience to the Great Commission is not tied to our circumstances…whether good OR bad. Instead, we recognize that everywhere we go…everyone we see…is someone who needs to hear that they are a sinner, and that Christ died for sin so that they could be saved.

But before we leave this point, we need to see one other thing. This scattering was done with some semblance of a plan I believe. Why? Because of two key hints. One, the apostles stayed behind in Jerusalem at this point. Now we know later that the apostles also spread throughout the Roman Empire, based on their own deaths/martyrdoms…

· John went to Ephesus

· Peter went to Rome

· Thomas went to India

And the list goes on. So, the fact that the Apostles stayed in Jerusalem during this time probably meant they felt the need to coordinate things together from a central point. They consciously decided to stay put, while others were sown to various cities and regions.

But then we see Phillip go to Samaria in verse 5. Now remember, Phillip was one of the seven chosen to help with the distribution of food to the widows. They have just lost Stephen to death…and now here we see Stephen moving from Jerusalem (where the need of the widows still remained) to Samaria to preach Christ to them.

That’s why I say that this scattering was not a flight from persecution, but a dispersion to share the Gospel. Stephen left, or maybe was sent by the Apostles, to show the Gospel to those who had not heard.

And that brings us to the second point which is…

II. The Power of the Gospel Touches Lives (vs 5-17)

Now, if we go back to Acts 1, we are reminded of the plan that Jesus gave to the Apostles for the spread of the Gospel. In verse 8 we read…

8 But ye shall receive ppower, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Now, up until this time, the majority of the Church was centered around Jerusalem. But with this scattering, we see phases 2 and 3 begin to take shape…Judaea and Samaria.

We are not told too much about the particular reception in Judaea, and I think that it is basically because the people of Judaea were Jews. So, the reception was very much like it was in Jerusalem. Many believed, some doubted and some were hostile to the message that Christ was the Messiah they had been looking and longing for.

But Samaria was another thing altogether. We know from the Gospels that there was animosity between the Jews and Samaritans. John wrote in John 4:9 that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. We also know that there were major doctrinal disagreements as well as racial tensions between these two groups of people. But the Samaritans were part Jewish, and so it only makes sense that they would be the “middle group” in the spread of the Gospel between full-blooded Jews and full-blooded Greeks.

Phillip had to initially think he was going into hostile territory. But when he got there, he found that the reception was much different than what he had expected. Instead of suspicion and anger, the people were open and ready to hear.

As we look at this passage, then, we see that first of all there was great relief (vs 7). Some people were freed from possession and others were healed of various diseases. As we have said before, the spiritual gift of miracles was a means of both getting people’s attention and showing them that God was doing something different. And that is what we see here.

And then in verse 8 we also see that there was great rejoicing. Not just at the freedom from demonic powers or from the restoration of health. The joy would have been from the forgiveness of their sin. Remember when the woman at the well in Sychar of Samaria accepted Christ as Savior? Her reaction was probably typical for many of the Samaritans as they heard the message of the Gospel. John 4:28-30 says

28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

When Phillip sent word back to Jerusalem about the great work of God in the city, Peter and John came to see how the power of the Gospel was being manifested. Remember, that Christ had given the keys of the kingdom to Peter (Matthew 16:19. That is why you see Peter preaching the Gospel to the Jews in Acts 2, present with the Samaritans in Acts 8, and preaching to Cornelius and the other Gentiles in Acts 10.

So, in these verses we see that the power of the Gospel truly does change lives. But then we also see that

III. The Power of the Gospel Reveals Error (vs 18-25)

Anytime that God is moving on the scene, you can count on Satan trying to sow strife, division or deception in the midst of the week. And the same thing is true here. We see Simon, a magician who had made a name for himself as being “connected to God”, recognize that the works that Philip was doing was entirely different than the spells and incantations that he used.

Now, notice that the Bible says in verse 13 that Simon believed the Gospel and was baptized. But it also tells us that Simon’s motivations were wrong. He wanted what Philip had, but it wasn’t necessarily Christ. What he wanted was the ability to do what Philip (and Peter and John) were doing. And so, like any good businessman, he approaches them and asks, “How much?” To this day, someone who tries to buy power or influence within a church is accused of simony.

And Peter’s answer is both interesting and instructive…

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

In this passage we see that Simon’s thinking was wrong (“thou hast thought), his motives were wrong (“the thought of thine heart”), and his beliefs were wrong (“thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity”).

Simon was blinded by power and prestige. He wanted to be known and seen and patted on the back and looked up to for what he could do. And Peter tells him here that the true Gospel does not produce that kind of life. Interestingly, Christ told the disciples that very thing when they were struggling with who among them would be greatest. In Luke 22:23-26 we read…

23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

And today, the Gospel still has the power to correct our thinking. Through its’ power we learn

· what is right and what is wrong and

· what is acceptable unto God and what is not

· What His will is and what is not

The power of the Gospel is the source of truth and the revealer of error.

CONCLUSION

Vital Christianity is built upon the power of the Gospel. Not only is it the power of God unto salvation, but it is the power of God in our lives even after our salvation.

· The power and truth of the Gospel will cause us to seek out opportunities to witness

· The power of the Gospel touches lives by bringing release from the weight of sin and rejoicing in its goodness

· The power of the Gospel transforms lives as it reveals error and leads into truth.