Notes of Faith August 16, 2025
Rousing Send-Offs: The Persecuted
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Acts 8:4
Everyone in Jerusalem could feel the tension rising and rising. The Gospel was spreading to every quarter of the city, and the resistance of the Jewish leadership was like a fire about to ignite. It burst into conflagration with the murder of Stephen, the first martyr, and widespread persecution erupted against the new believers. Saul of Tarsus was leading the charge.
That drove the believers to flee Jerusalem, and as they did, they took the Gospel with them—to other districts in Judea, to Samaria, to Galilee, to Gaza, and into a widening circle of influence. It wasn’t the send-off they might have wanted, but God used the circumstances to send them forth.
Sometimes the circumstances of our lives force us to do things and go places we might not like. Perhaps a job transfer. Perhaps a hospital stay. Maybe it’s an unwanted crisis that takes us from our home and neighborhood. But remember how carefully the Lord oversees our circumstances. Wherever He sends you, you’ll find people who need Him. Let’s make the most of every opportunity.
There is no greater communication of love than proclaiming the gospel of God.
Alistair Begg
Saul Persecutes the Church
1And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. 6The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip’s message and to the signs they saw him perform. 7With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
Persecution drives us closer to the Lord and to others suffering persecution along with us. All human beings are suffering persecution from the fall from grace of Adam and Eve. Creation…everything that God created suffers from the effect of sin and disobedience to God! Let us pursue holiness and righteousness that can only be found in Jesus Christ and in Him know peace, eternal redemption and forgiveness. May you be relieved of persecution today by walking with Jesus!
Proclaim the truth and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ ending persecution forever!
Pastor Dale