Scripture Reading: Acts 8:9–12
Introduction
A. When Stephen dies, the gospel begins to leave the confines of Jerusalem and permeate Judea and Samaria (v 4; cf. 1:8).
B. In Acts 8, Luke frequently speaks for added emphasis of several things as “great”: persecution, lamentation, joy, signs, etc.
C. God’s power is so great by comparison with any other that it will always convict the honest heart wherever it is seen.
Discussion
I. Great suffering eventually gave way to great joy.
A. In the wake of Stephen’s death, there was great sorrow among the saints (vv 1–3).
B. Meanwhile there was great suffering in Samaria under the deception of a man named Simon (vv 9–11).
C. God demonstrated His great power in this land of darkness (vv 9–13).
D. The acceptance of the truth of the gospel resulted in great joy (vv 8, 39).
E. Once the gospel left Jerusalem, there would be no stopping it!
II. God is still greater.
A. God’s great power still prevails over the forces at work in this world (cf. John 1:5).
B. God can still open our eyes to purposes that are more significant than our own problems.
C. God can still turn our great sorrow into our greatest joy (Esther 9:22; Isaiah 61:3; 51:11; John 16:22; Jeremiah 31:13).
Conclusion
A. If the church is ever to experience growth like this again, it will surely require us to leave our comfort zones.
B. There will always be forces working against us, but God is greater!