Persecution: A Pathway to Gospel Expansion and Growth

Devotional

Day 1: Persecution as a Divine Opportunity

The early church's persecution, following Stephen's martyrdom, was a catalyst for the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. This scattering of believers, driven by Saul's aggressive pursuit, paradoxically led to the expansion of God's kingdom. The Jewish council's desire to maintain power and control resulted in widespread suffering among the believers, yet this suffering was not in vain. It served a greater purpose in God's plan, demonstrating that trials can be used by God to advance His kingdom. As believers fled, they continued to preach the gospel, leading to its reception with joy in new regions like Samaria. This reminds us that our own trials can serve a greater purpose in God's plan. [24:30]

Acts 11:19-21 (ESV): "Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How might God be using this situation to further His kingdom through you?

Day 2: Recognizing True Persecution

Persecution is not merely about facing disagreement or dislike; it involves intentional harm inflicted because of one's identity with a group. The early Christians faced persecution because they were seen as a threat to the Jewish council's authority. Understanding this distinction helps us discern when we are truly suffering for our faith. It is important to recognize that true persecution is a result of our allegiance to Jesus and not just a result of personal conflicts or misunderstandings. This understanding can help us navigate our experiences with wisdom and grace. [27:21]

1 Peter 4:14-16 (ESV): "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt opposed or criticized. Was it truly for your faith, or could it have been for another reason? How can you discern the difference in future situations?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Justice

The early Christians endured persecution by trusting in God's justice rather than seeking revenge. They followed Jesus' example of enduring suffering with grace, believing that God would ultimately judge justly. This trust in divine justice allowed them to endure persecution without bitterness or a desire for revenge. As modern-day followers of Jesus, we are called to rely on God's ultimate judgment and respond to suffering with grace. This perspective frees us from the burden of seeking personal justice and allows us to focus on living out our faith with integrity. [31:55]

Romans 12:19-21 (ESV): "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Reflection: Is there someone you feel wronged by? How can you release the desire for revenge and trust God's justice in this situation today?

Day 4: Embracing Suffering as a Path to Growth

Jesus warned his followers of inevitable persecution, yet he also promised that such suffering would lead to blessings. The early church's experience of persecution serves as a reminder that following Jesus often involves suffering. However, this suffering is not in vain; it is a means through which God's kingdom advances. Embracing this perspective allows us to view our trials as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper reliance on God. By enduring suffering well, we can experience the blessings that come from remaining faithful to Jesus. [47:32]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Consider a recent trial you have faced. How can you view this experience as an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper reliance on God?

Day 5: Boldly Proclaiming the Gospel

Despite facing persecution, the early believers continued to preach the gospel, leading to the church's growth. Their willingness to endure persecution and continue proclaiming the gospel demonstrates the power of faith and the resilience of the church. As modern-day followers of Jesus, we are challenged to boldly share our faith, trusting that God will use our efforts for His kingdom. This requires courage and a deep trust in God's plan, knowing that our suffering can be used for His glory and the growth of His kingdom. [54:48]

2 Timothy 1:7-8 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of Jesus? How can you share your faith with them boldly and lovingly this week?

Sermon Summary

In Acts chapter 8, we witness a pivotal moment in the early church's history, marked by the persecution that followed Stephen's martyrdom. This persecution, led by Saul, scattered the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, yet it paradoxically fueled the spread of the gospel. The early church's experience of persecution was not merely a result of religious disagreement but was deeply rooted in the Jewish council's desire to maintain power and control. They perceived the followers of Jesus as a threat to their authority, leading to widespread suffering among the believers. However, this suffering was not unexpected. Jesus had forewarned his disciples that they would face hatred and persecution because of their allegiance to him.

The early Christians' response to persecution was characterized by a profound trust in God's justice. They did not retaliate or seek to defend their rights aggressively. Instead, they followed Jesus' example of enduring suffering with grace, trusting that God would ultimately judge justly. This trust in divine justice allowed them to endure persecution without bitterness or a desire for revenge. Moreover, as they fled from persecution, they continued to preach the gospel, leading to the expansion of the church beyond Jerusalem. This scattering of believers resulted in the gospel reaching new regions, including Samaria, where the message of Jesus was received with joy.

The persecution faced by the early church serves as a reminder that following Jesus often involves suffering. However, this suffering is not in vain. It is a means through which God's kingdom advances. The early believers' willingness to endure persecution and continue proclaiming the gospel demonstrates the power of faith and the resilience of the church. As modern-day followers of Jesus, we are called to be prepared for persecution, to suffer well, and to continue sharing the message of Jesus with boldness, trusting that God will use our suffering for his glory and the growth of his kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Persecution as a Catalyst for Growth: The early church's persecution led to the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem, demonstrating that God can use suffering to advance his kingdom. This reminds us that our trials can serve a greater purpose in God's plan. [24:30]
2. Understanding True Persecution: Persecution involves intentional harm inflicted because of one's identity with a group, not mere disagreement or dislike. Recognizing this distinction helps us discern when we are truly suffering for our faith. [27:21]
3. Trusting in Divine Justice: The early Christians endured persecution by trusting in God's justice rather than seeking revenge. This teaches us to rely on God's ultimate judgment and to respond to suffering with grace. [31:55]
4. The Role of Suffering in Faith: Jesus warned his followers of inevitable persecution, yet he also promised that such suffering would lead to blessings. Embracing this perspective allows us to view our trials as opportunities for spiritual growth. [47:32]
5. Proclaiming the Gospel Amidst Persecution: Despite facing persecution, the early believers continued to preach the gospel, leading to the church's growth. This challenges us to boldly share our faith, trusting that God will use our efforts for his kingdom. [54:48]
** [54:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:04] - Stephen's Martyrdom and Saul's Approval
[24:30] - Persecution Scatters the Church
[25:29] - Understanding Persecution
[27:21] - What Persecution Is and Isn't
[28:16] - Jesus' Warning of Persecution
[30:30] - The Jewish Council's Motives
[31:55] - The Early Church's Response
[34:24] - Jesus' Instructions on Persecution
[35:36] - God's Respect for Human Choice
[36:37] - The Spread of the Gospel
[37:50] - Philip's Ministry in Samaria
[42:07] - The Power of the Early Church
[43:29] - The Nature of Persecution
[44:45] - Preparing for Persecution
[45:40] - Suffering Well
[50:18] - Responding to Persecution
[54:12] - Go or Stay: Following God's Call
[54:48] - Preaching with Boldness
[56:03] - The Unstoppable Kingdom of God
[57:48] - Enduring Suffering for the Gospel

Sermon Clips

"And as we've been working through these last few chapters, in Acts, we've seen how the apostles were hauled before the council and they were beaten and they were told, essentially, knock it off. Stop telling people about Jesus. But needless to say, the apostles kept preaching. They kept telling people to repent of their sin and to trust in Jesus as their Savior." [00:22:41] (23 seconds)

"To put together a few different definitions that I came across, it's the infliction of undeserved suffering on another person, generally based on that person's identity with a particular group. Right? So it's suffering inflicted intentionally on other people because they're members of a particular group." [00:25:29] (24 seconds)

"Persecution isn't just disagreement, right? There certainly was disagreement here between the church and the Jewish council, but just disagreeing with somebody doesn't mean that persecution is happening. It's not even persecution when somebody is pushing their own agenda, right?" [00:27:00] (21 seconds)

"So in John 15, Jesus is speaking to his 12 disciples in the upper room and he says to them, this is John 15, 18, he says to them, if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." [00:29:29] (19 seconds)

"But Stephen, with his final breath, echoed Jesus' words, asking Jesus to receive his spirit and asking God to forgive those people who were killing him." [00:24:10] (13 seconds)

"And so they persecuted them. But what happened? As they went, everywhere that they went, they told people the news about Jesus. They carried this good news about Jesus everywhere that they went. And so persecution, when it's responded to faithfully, results in the kingdom advancing." [00:36:57] (24 seconds)

"That's part of what Jesus said. If you are my follower, people, if you are a follower of mine, then people will hate you. And they'll hate you because to proclaim Jesus, to live Jesus, means that whatever it is that they are trusting, whatever system of beliefs they have, if it's not Jesus, is wrong." [00:43:49] (25 seconds)

"But friends, we preach a risen Savior who has overcome all of these things. And through him, we also have the overwhelming victory over these things. There is nothing that they are able to do to you that God cannot undo. There is no harm that they are able to inflict upon you that he cannot heal." [00:55:07] (20 seconds)

"And that is a great privilege, that is an honor, friends, to be counted worthy to suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to be used, that our suffering could be used to see that kingdom grow one heart, one life at a time." [00:57:48] (21 seconds)

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