SCATTERED FIRE

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 Preached at First Presbyterian Church Villa Rica 01/12/03

Acts 8:1 through Acts 8:8 1Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. 4Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. 6The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was much rejoicing in that city.

When John had his vision of the four horses and riders recorded for us in Revelation chapter 6. After the first horse, which was white, there came a red horse. My interpretation of the white horse with the rider with a bow and a crown that went forth conquering and to conquer is that the white horse is the gospel message. Christ is the rider and his Word conquers wherever it goes.

But the success of the gospel only stirs up opposition and persecution. Thus, the second horse is a red horse that goes out taking peace from the earth. A great sword is in the hand of the one on the red horse and he causes men to slay one another.

This is exactly what happened after the gospel began to be preached and was having success in Jerusalem. Stephen was a very articulate spokesman for the Christian movement and men were unable to resist the truth of his arguments. Therefore they accused him of blasphemy and succeeded in enraging the Jews so that he was stoned to death.

And so the church became the target of a vicious persecution following the death of Stephen. And this is not some strange thing. Christ had predicted that if they had hated him they would hate his followers also.

One of the hardest things for the new believer is to discover that there is a resentment and rejection that comes when one turns to Christ. The apostle in writing to the Hebrews told them in Heb. 10:32-34 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 

He counsels them not to throwaway their confidence, which has a great reward. The disciple of Christ should expect opposition and reproach for the name of Christ. There had been this already in Jerusalem but Stephen's martyrdom intensified the opposition. Now it became a firestorm.

One of the chief persecutors was Saul of Tarsus.  What a mighty work of grace was done in his heart later by the Lord.  

I.  SCATTERED FIRE

A. The fire of persecution scattered the believers beyond Jerusalem. This was necessary. It was necessary that Jerusalem be the first city to hear the gospel proclaimed. Truly, the gospel is to the Jew first but also to the Greek. God's program is right on schedule. The martyrdom of Stephen did not catch God unawares. He knew that it would happen even before it happened and it became the torch that sent the Word of God to Samaria and Judea and to the uttermost parts of the earth.

B. But notice that the apostles remained at Jerusalem while the church was scattered. When iron is heated to about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit the impurities are burned up and it is tempered to become steel. Even so, the church is purged of unbelief and fear by persecution and she becomes a mighty sword in the hand of the Lord.

One of the evidences for the truth of Christianity is that the church has endured all the fires of all the persecutions aimed against her. The truth only burns brighter when there are attempts to extinguish the light of the Gospel. And so the persecution that raged against the church beginning at Jerusalem served to extend the gospel message out beyond Jerusalem in a most spectacular way.

II.  SAMARIA HEARD THE GOSPEL AND REJOICED

A. It is true that persecution is painful. No one enjoys persecution. Men die during persecution. But persecution produces blessings. Verse 4 says, Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

One man is singled out of many who were greatly used of the Lord during this period of persecution. Philip was a deacon. He may not have expected to become a preacher, but during the fire storm of persecution he suddenly was thrust into that role. He had seen enough and learned enough at the feet of the apostles to be able to preach the Word of God boldly and clearly. He had a simple message. He proclaimed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

B. Philip's preaching was attended with great power and signs followed the proclamation of the Word of God. We are told that unclean spirits were being expelled from people and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

What a great blessing the gospel message is to sinners. It brings release from guilt and sin and also heals the sicknesses and infirmities of those who believe. The Word of God is a healing Word.

And so the persecution brought joy and release in Samaria and other places. Had there been no persecution there could have been no awakening in Samaria. Our suffering for Christ's sake is never in vain.

C. Though persecution must not drive us from our work, yet it may send us to work elsewhere. Wherever the established believer is driven or directed, he carries the knowledge of the gospel, and makes known the preciousness of Christ in every place. Where a simple desire of doing good influences the heart, it will be found impossible to shut a man out from all opportunities of usefulness.

            It ought to not take persecution to cause Christians to witness for their Lord. Saul, who later became Paul the apostle, went about arresting Christians and instead of silencing the disciples it only caused them to go elsewhere to preach the Word.

We here in this church have the same gospel that those early disciples had. We have the same gift of the Holy Spirit to inflame our hearts. What would happen here at First Presbyterian Church if each and every one of us were as on fire as those early disciples were? Don't you think it would create interest in others in the gospel and that others would come to know the Lord? 

We read in this passage that Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them and they gave heed to him and many were saved. Lives were transformed. God healed sick folks, lame people were restored, some who were paralyzed were healed, and many with unclean spirits were delivered by the preaching of the Word.

This still happens today. We see prayers answered all the time here at First Church Villa Rica. When a person is brought into right relationship with his Creator his soul is made well. I truly believe that those who attend upon the Word experience healing in both soul and body.

Every one of us needs the saving gospel of God that comes through the preaching of the Word. The apostles taught Philip and those early disciples the gospel and then they took it to their fellowman. What a simple yet powerful thing. The gospel communicates life and health. We are the custodians of that gospel in our generation. And we have many ways to spread the good news that those early Christians didn't have. First and foremost we have a well established church that people can be invited to come to where the gospel is preached on a regular basis. We have Sunday school classes that all ages can attend. We have weekly Bible study opportunities. We support missionaries who go to other places and preach the gospel. We now have an Internet website to direct people where they can read or print out gospel messages. We can distribute printed tracts and brochures. There were no printing presses in the first century. You can go on a short-term mission trip. You can sing the gospel. You can sing in the choir. You can work with children or youth. You can teach or help with a Sunday school class. You can think of other ways that you can share the gospel message and seek to reach as many as you can.

Let me ask you this morning, are you a Christian? I am not asking if you go to church or believe in God. I am asking are you if you are a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ? Is he and he alone your Savior and your Lord? If you can't answer that for sure, then I invite you to receive him today by simply telling him that you know you are a sinner and that you want him to save you by what he did for you by dying for your sins on the cross and then rising from the dead to return to his Father in heaven. By simply trusting in him you begin the Christian life and he promises when you trust him for the gift of salvation he will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life under his direction. Come to him today. Don't procrastinate. Don't wait for another day. You may not have the same opportunity again that you have today.

And if you do that, or if you have done it already, I exhort you to do what those early disciples did. Become as involved as you possibly can in sharing and spreading the good news of the gospel in 2003. Witness for Christ! Pray for those you know need the gospel as you did. Do everything you can to proclaim the gospel to others.

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