Copyright © S P Townsend
WCF - THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
Study Number 11: Acts 8 v 1 - 25
23 April 1989
Passionate devotion to the wrong cause will lead only to grief and destruction (Proverbs 14:12).
- Saul devoted himself to destroy the Church; he caused havoc in and around Jerusalem(Acts 9:13,21).
- Misplaced fervour and ambition can destroy relationships, families, lives and communities.
- What is the cause that grips and motivates us? God calls us not to 99% but to 100% allegiance to Jesus; are we indifferent about that final 1% of commitment and obedience?
The persecuted and scattered disciples proclaimed the good news of Jesus wherever they went; and so the very weapon intended to destroy was a tool for propagation in God's hand.
- Persecution for some led to salvation for others.
- God is sovereign, maintaining all things under His control, and using all things to accomplish His good purposes (Romans 8:28).
- Philip: Proclamation of Christ -> Demonstration of God's power -> Close attention by all people -> Receiving salvation -> Great joy in the community.
- God's people could not be subdued; is that a characteristic of our lives in our community?
What wrath we risk when the Christian life is viewed as a means of personal gain and selfish ambition.
- The gospel of Jesus is of salvation by the grace of God through repentance and faith. Everything - my sins, my guilt, my failures, my ambitions, my desires, my possessions, my money, my relationships, my time, my body, myself - all are laid at the cross of Jesus, and I rise from there leaving them to follow my Lord in devoted service.
- Christian meetings are meant to be 'services' at which we express and renew our service to the Lord; how often though are our minds preoccupied with what He will serve up to us?
As the presence and power of Almighty God came upon His people, the difference was remarkable and unmistakeable.
- The apostles were concerned that 'the word become flesh' in these new disciples, i.e. that God's purposes for them be actual and real in their lives. For them doctrine and theology was practical and life-changing.
- When the Holy Spirit comes upon the people of God He makes such a difference that it is evident to believer and unbeliever alike - evidences that clearly distinguish between God's power and occult power, evidences that free and enable people to praise God (Acts 10:44-46), evidences that are remarkable (Acts 8:18).
- With refreshing honesty and frankness, when the Apostles failed to recognise the evidences of the Spirit upon the people, they took steps to remedy the situation (Acts 8:16; 19:2).
- Are our lives so characterised by the manifestation of God's presence that people looking at us see the radical difference between what we are and have, and what they are and have, and attribute the difference to the power of God?
In this passage we read about Saul, Philip, Simon, and Peter (with John). For each one write down the things they did and said. Write down the things that were different about Philip and Peter that showed God was with them. Pray that the presence of God's Holy Spirit upon you will make such a difference in your life that people who know you will want to follow Jesus.
Copyright © S P Townsend