PREACHING THE GOSPEL IS WHAT MATTERS!

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

Acts 8:1-8 (NLT) – 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

Ecclesiastes 7:8a (NLT) – “Finishing is better than starting.”

• The man identified as Saul here in this passage would later give His life to Jesus and become the man we know today as the Apostle Paul. (Acts 9)
• Paul’s start wasn’t a very good one. This is the first time we’ve ever heard about him, and he’s participating in the brutal murder of an innocent man.
• His bad reputation only gets worse as he goes “everywhere” attempting to destroy the church and imprisoning Christians.
• Yet, this same man would go on to become one of the greatest missionaries of all time and the most prolific writer of the New Testament era. His letters are still preaching to us today, revealing the Gospel and God’s truth in a challenging and life-transformative manner that has no equal.
• Paul did what all Christians must do if they are to make a difference in the world and leave a legacy that matters. He didn’t let his past define his future.

Philippians 3:13b-14 (NLT) – “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Acts 8:1b (NLT) – “A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.”

• Previously, the apostles had been arrested, beaten and persecuted, but now, the entire church as whole was suffering. EVERY believer was being threatened with violence and perhaps even death.
• But God was at work even in this trying circumstance, just as He always is!

Romans 8:28 (NLT) – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

• This wave of persecution actually became the catalyst to spreading the Gospel farther than ever before.
• It’s interesting to note that the word “scattering” used here is the same Greek word used for “planting or sowing seed.”
• The enemy thought this wave of persecution would crush the church and silence the Gospel message, but all it did was cause the Gospel message to be planted in more and more people’s lives!

Genesis 50:20 (CJB) – “You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good — so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved.”

• Although individuals like Philip had to endure abuse and bear the loss of friends and coworkers (like Stephen), they never stopped preaching.
• In the end, more people heard the Good News, more souls were saved, and more disciples were made!

• Philip and the other believers in Jerusalem were going through one of the greatest tests of their lives. Yet, the sorrow they were forced to endure led to “great joy” in the city of Samaria.
• In a broken world, great sorrow often precedes great joy.

Psalm 30:5b (NKJV) – “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”

• People who had previously been living in spiritual darkness received the light of the Gospel and were saved, just as Jesus had promised.

Matthew 4:16 (ERV) – “The people who live in spiritual darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined for those who live in the land that is as dark as a grave.”

• This is the shared purpose of all believers – to shine light in the darkest places so that others can come to know Jesus and be saved!
• The Apostle Paul had the right idea when he said that his life was worthless if he did not fulfill his assignment to share the Gospel.

Acts 20:24 (NLT) – But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

• Like Paul and Philip, we must never lose sight of the most important mission any of us has ever been given – to tell others about Jesus!
• We will all endure trials, pain and sorrow in this life. Yet, if at the end of our lives we can say that our temporary sorrow led to eternal life for others, we will certainly say, “It was all worth it!”