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SPIRIT POWER (5 OF 9)
by Marion Clark
Scripture: Acts 8:1-22, Acts 8:24-25
This content is part of a series.
Spirit Power (5 of 9)
Series: Acts
Marion Clark
Acts 8:1-25
Introduction: I hope you noticed, in a subliminal way, my power tie. Not trusting the tie to do it for me, I went to the fount of knowledge-the internet-to learn how to gain personal power-that ability to change the direction of my life, as explained by the internet article. The article I read was helpful, although it made clear that people who are truly serious about this will take the paid Self Mastery Program. Alas, being cheap and powerful do not go together!
Our text presents another perspective.
Text
Persecution Begins
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
The first wave of persecution begins. Up to the arrest and stoning of Stephen only the apostles had been arrested and once beaten. The frenzied mob action against Stephen was evidently the tipping point of long hostility by the religious authorities. Young Saul now spearheads a concerted attack against the Jerusalem church, determined to crush this new religious movement. He acts, no doubt, with the power of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish authority. And he acts with zeal and ruthless determination, dragging off even women out of their homes.
This is power, indeed. And yet, it proves to not only be powerless against the spread of the gospel, but even sparks its movement to greater territory.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
We are not told why the apostles were not scattered. All we know is that ''they'' were scattered, indicating the ordinary church members. And ''they,'' as they were scattered, took on the role of persona ...
Series: Acts
Marion Clark
Acts 8:1-25
Introduction: I hope you noticed, in a subliminal way, my power tie. Not trusting the tie to do it for me, I went to the fount of knowledge-the internet-to learn how to gain personal power-that ability to change the direction of my life, as explained by the internet article. The article I read was helpful, although it made clear that people who are truly serious about this will take the paid Self Mastery Program. Alas, being cheap and powerful do not go together!
Our text presents another perspective.
Text
Persecution Begins
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
The first wave of persecution begins. Up to the arrest and stoning of Stephen only the apostles had been arrested and once beaten. The frenzied mob action against Stephen was evidently the tipping point of long hostility by the religious authorities. Young Saul now spearheads a concerted attack against the Jerusalem church, determined to crush this new religious movement. He acts, no doubt, with the power of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish authority. And he acts with zeal and ruthless determination, dragging off even women out of their homes.
This is power, indeed. And yet, it proves to not only be powerless against the spread of the gospel, but even sparks its movement to greater territory.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
We are not told why the apostles were not scattered. All we know is that ''they'' were scattered, indicating the ordinary church members. And ''they,'' as they were scattered, took on the role of persona ...
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