ACTS 8 A. His Enemy (Satan).
1. Destruction from without - Saul's opposition.
2. Division - from within.
3. Discouragement - against the individual.
4. Deadening our faith - paralyzed.
5. Dampening our faith - watered down.
B. His Teachers.
1. The second generation.
a. Started out low, waiting on tables. b. Used the same principles the apostles taught them.
2. Didn't argue. Acts 8:12.
3. Followed the example of overcoming darkness by turning on the Light.
4. Scattered out like they were taught.
C. His Identification.
1. Death to self. Jn.12:24; Rom.8:11-14
a. Separated from sin. b. Surrendered to God.
2. The Word of God. Philip knew Isa. 53...
3. Prayer. Stephen died praying for his murderers.
4. Fellowship and servanthood.
a. Considered others. b. Served tables. c. Pulling together towards a common objective.
5. Witnessing.
a. Preach Christ b. "Preaching" and "proclaiming" are mentioned six times when describing the dispersion due to persecution.
6. Eager to learn.
a. New converts want to learn. b. Use this good foundation for discipleship.
7. Consistent
a. Stephen faithful to death. b. Philip, 20 years later, was still known as "the evangelist." c. Philip's family didn't turn him aside, but he won them.
D. His Leader
1. Guided by divine authority.
2. When God spoke, Philip obeyed.
3. He was available to God.
4. He submitted to the will of God.
5. He believed in the Word of God.
6. His obedience was instant, wholehearted, unquestioning.
7. He never allowed failure to discourage him.
ADDITIONAL NOTES Expansion: Instead of responding to the command to take the Gospel everywhere, the believers were reluctant to leave Jerusalem. In spite of what we know is right, we like to settle down into a comfortable pattern. Discomfort may be the best thing for us. Intense persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria.
Philip: the deacon (Acts 6:5). Philip, the apostle (Jn.1;43,41). Went beyond the Jews to the Samaritans despite age-old prejudices. The Assyrian conquerors (722 B.C.) left the poorest people of the northern kingdom of Israel in the land. Then they resettled it with foreigners, and they intermarried with the Jews who were left. Samaritans were considered "half-breeds" by the "pure" Jews of the southern kingdom, and there was intense hatred between the two groups. But Jesus went there and commanded to take the Gospel there.
The response was immediate and great. We can't pick and choose where we go. It was crucial when Peter and John went to Samaria (John had wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village) because it kept them from being separated from other believers. They were able to evaluate the work and get involved in it themselves. They were assured that the Holy Spirit worked through all believers: mixed races, Gentiles, and Jews.
In the middle of this success and excitement, Philip was directed by God to another foreigner in the desert. One important encounter with a significant man from a distant country may have affected an entire nation. Then, he was moved on to Caesarea, where later, he was Paul’s host. Paul’s persecution forced Philip out of Jerusalem, and now Philip’s work was continued right across the Roman empire by Paul.
LESSONS: We are never free to disqualify anyone from hearing about Christ. The Gospel is Good News to all. God has a variety of uses for those who are willing to obey wholeheartedly. The Old and New Testaments can be used to tell the Gospel message of Christ. Both mass response and individual response to the Gospel are valuable. Don’t despise either.