Back in Acts 1, Jesus told the Apostles that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. Have you noticed that everything they’ve been doing has been in Jerusalem so far? That is, until you get to chapter eight!
Today we read that a great persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout . . . (wait for it) . . . Judea and Samaria. What we are seeing is the Spirit of God using the terrible evils of Stephen’s death and persecution to advance God’s kingdom. This makes me think of what Martin Luther says regarding the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” He writes, “God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let his kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.”
God was doing some serious breaking and hindering in Acts 8. He breaks the plans of the devil as He uses this persecution to push the Church out into new areas. As Christians went to these new areas they proclaimed the Good News, and people came to faith. So instead of killing the church, the church grew. In addition we see him breaking the devil’s grip on Samaria as Simon the Sorcerer not only comes to faith, but completely repents and requests Peter to pray for him. He went from being, “the power of God that is called Great,” to begging for salvation. There is not a doubt in my mind that he received it.
God also broke the plans of the world. When the Gospel came to Samaria they confronted a huge racial barrier. You might recall this from Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4, or the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke says that Philip (one of the deacons) went to, “the city of Samaria.” I can’t help but wonder if this wasn’t the same town that Jesus met that woman at the well. This is also the case when Philip speaks with the Ethiopian eunuch. There are barriers of race, class, and status here. Over and over again we see God working to bring salvation to people’s lives despite the barriers the world puts between them.
And God hindered the work of the disciples’ sinful nature. They were told to be witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, but where were they? In Jerusalem. They were doing a great job sharing the Word, but they weren’t following Jesus’ instruction to go out. So, like a mother bird with a fledgling learning to fly, the Spirit kicks them out of the nest. And when He does, look at how they spread their wings and fly! They have been proclaiming the Word in Jerusalem, now they are in Judea and Samaria, and, through the Ethiopian eunuch, it begins to spread to the ends of the earth.
God is still doing that work of breaking and hindering in the world. It’s worth asking, “Where is He pushing on us?” How do we faithfully witness regarding Jesus’ death and resurrection in today’s world? What is holding us back? Where are we compromising the mission and message for the sake of our comfort? God calls us to repent and receive forgiveness, and He breaks through it to achieve his purpose of bringing life and salvation to us and others through us.
Father, help me to see where you are pushing me and where I am resisting you. Forgive me and help me to follow you for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Today we read that a great persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout . . . (wait for it) . . . Judea and Samaria. What we are seeing is the Spirit of God using the terrible evils of Stephen’s death and persecution to advance God’s kingdom. This makes me think of what Martin Luther says regarding the Third Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” He writes, “God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let his kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.”
God was doing some serious breaking and hindering in Acts 8. He breaks the plans of the devil as He uses this persecution to push the Church out into new areas. As Christians went to these new areas they proclaimed the Good News, and people came to faith. So instead of killing the church, the church grew. In addition we see him breaking the devil’s grip on Samaria as Simon the Sorcerer not only comes to faith, but completely repents and requests Peter to pray for him. He went from being, “the power of God that is called Great,” to begging for salvation. There is not a doubt in my mind that he received it.
God also broke the plans of the world. When the Gospel came to Samaria they confronted a huge racial barrier. You might recall this from Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4, or the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke says that Philip (one of the deacons) went to, “the city of Samaria.” I can’t help but wonder if this wasn’t the same town that Jesus met that woman at the well. This is also the case when Philip speaks with the Ethiopian eunuch. There are barriers of race, class, and status here. Over and over again we see God working to bring salvation to people’s lives despite the barriers the world puts between them.
And God hindered the work of the disciples’ sinful nature. They were told to be witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, but where were they? In Jerusalem. They were doing a great job sharing the Word, but they weren’t following Jesus’ instruction to go out. So, like a mother bird with a fledgling learning to fly, the Spirit kicks them out of the nest. And when He does, look at how they spread their wings and fly! They have been proclaiming the Word in Jerusalem, now they are in Judea and Samaria, and, through the Ethiopian eunuch, it begins to spread to the ends of the earth.
God is still doing that work of breaking and hindering in the world. It’s worth asking, “Where is He pushing on us?” How do we faithfully witness regarding Jesus’ death and resurrection in today’s world? What is holding us back? Where are we compromising the mission and message for the sake of our comfort? God calls us to repent and receive forgiveness, and He breaks through it to achieve his purpose of bringing life and salvation to us and others through us.
Father, help me to see where you are pushing me and where I am resisting you. Forgive me and help me to follow you for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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