Smothered, Covered, Scattered, & Splattered

 

As we enter chapter 8 of Acts, we begin to see the group and the movement begin to be tore, moved, sent in different directions and taken to different places. The stoning of the disciple Stephen has just happened. Some times a tragic, horrific event is just what is needed to get things moving and have people go to find new places to be. Yes, I'm suggesting the stoning of Stephen was part of the overall plan. The church needed to get moving into the world. Many times it is the shocking, tremendous moments around us that get us into the "doing" where we should be headed. 

Acts 8 is broken into 4 sections. I could have spent 4 weeks here, but that seemed like "spinning the wheels" a bit. There's no reason to get stuck here for a whole month. Also, I was thinking about my favorite restaurant, for some reason, as I entered Acts 8 to read it over. The 4 sections had me thinking about good down home cooking the way it's supposed to be. And, today's title says it all. We get a little bit of all of it through this chapter. My favorite place to eat is Shannon's Pit Stop and she does an incredible dish called "The Haystack". Lots of places do a dish like this. It's all about biscuits and gravy and then add some taters and scrambled eggs and cheese and a few green onions, and slather that plate with some....gravy! Oh my goodness! You don't know what you're in for! Might have to take some home in a box. 

Makes me wonder if any of these disciples/apostles had any idea what they were in for. I can't imagine that they did. They are along for the ride. Jesus is at the wheel and the Holy Spirit is here to remind them of everything Jesus taught them to believe. They get a pretty harsh reminder and we aren't very far into Acts. It's reminder they need to take to heart if they intend to take this life seriously. We mentioned it last week in the heart of Stephen's message. Jesus told them that the world would not like them. They killed the Messiah. The One sent to save the world. What would the world do to these twelve? To any of the masses that followed? We are going to see something that we need to take to heart in each sections of the chapter this morning. Lets get moving. 

And, "get moving" is what many of them have to do. It seems the apostles fins it necessary to stay around Jerusalem. The necessity is not clear. Even though there is persecutions breaking out. Jerusalem seems like a stronghold. Staying here ensure that the work goes on. The church as a whole has this Great Commission. The twelve will join in and we know the fate of all of them. They give their lives to spread the word. But, for now, Jerusalem seems of importance. 

And, Saul... dear Saul sounds like a mighty force to reckon with, but we will see very shortly how easily God will deal with the man who thinks he is doing righteous work.  Lets see what else happens when the people are dispersed and displaced. 

For many of us, it would make more sense if it read, "Those who had been scattered when and found a safe place to hide." But, that's not what it says. The very thing that is causing them trouble, that is bringing persecution on them is the thing that they continue to do. And they "preached the word wherever they went." Great joy comes when people listen. Any pastor or preacher who has people who pay close attention to what is being said and taught will find great joy. But, that's not what this joy is about. People are finding salvation. People are finding healing. And, people are listening to what the message of the Messiah is all about. Nothing could be so marvelous. It is the kind of revival we hope and pray for in our own times. 

And, then, we have those who misconstrue the whole thing...

We'd like to think that maybe Simon finally learned his lesson. You can't buy power or favor with God. But, it's kind of left open ended. We aren't given a clear resolution to what happens with Simon. At least he doesn't offer any money in his last stanza in this section. He simply wants prayer. It's what all of us should want. "Just pray for me."

I could go on and on. The televangelists and the tv and radio people who have done nothing but try to make a buck doing this work. As entered the 1990s when i found Christ as my Savior, it became clear the Christina recording and media industry was an actual multibillion dollar industry. There was money to be made in the name of Jesus. Bookstores were everywhere. Music. CDs. People writing about any subject you could imagine. 20 to 30 years later, where have all those bookstores gone? Cleaned out by the online industry where all the same things are still going on but in a much more compact way. Crazy to think that people would and could make a buck by throwing the name of Jesus around so easily. 

The lesson here is to not get caught up in the person heralding the message. Get caught up in the message. When Philip comes and the people see what he is doing, mostly, how the attention is not on the man but on the message about the Messiah, they turn to Philip. Exactly the kind of leaders with the good news that we need to be. 

One last section to see...

All the footnotes in this chapter were in the last section with Philip and the eunuch, so why not include them?

Our last lesson has to do with always being available and never turning away from someone who wants to learn. We live in a world where self-righteousness and judgment abound. It would be rather easy for Philip to just walk away and leave it all behind here. The eunuch isn't someone he knows or anyone from his country that he might be familiar with. The eunuch is an outsider. But, he wants to learn, He wants to know, And, The Lord being Philip here for just this reason. And, the eunuch believes and wants to be baptized. And, he gets exactly what he wants and more!

Jesus is willing to use us if we are willing to be used. 
Philip is used in three different ways in Acts 8. A preacher. A calming force. A guiding director.
How could God use each one of us in the midst of a stormy and derivative culture. Things are constantly changing. God wants us to change as well. Let Him make the changes in us that He desires. Let us be the people of God we are supposed to be in this harsh and difficult world. 

Blessings all.