Do the wonders the Bible speak of leave you gasping for breath, in awe of God’s power, in tears at His mercy? For so many the answer is no. So where has our awe of God gone?

Last week in episode 17 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at how Paul after his conversion went out and preached the gospel as given to him by Jesus Christ. It was exactly the same gospel that Jesus gave his disciples.

Paul lived his life like he believed God was real. And I challenged us, do we live like God is real? Do the decisions we make reflect that? Does the way we treat others reflect that?

It’s so easy to instead of asking ourselves if our decisions will please God, instead say, “Well, I don’t think it’ll necessarily displease God…”

It’s a subtle shift, but it has a big impact. Because instead of focusing on doing everything we can to please God, we’re instead trying to fit God into what we want to do.

But if we know God’s power, if we’ve seen it in our lives, let’s live like we know that power.

Today we’re continuing that theme as we look at an absolutely amazing passage about the Holy Spirit’s power. Our passage is Acts 9:32-43 (WEB):

32 As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralysed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 35 All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37 In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

So the early church is experiencing a time of peace. After the insanity of the persecution at the beginning, finally there is some peace. One of the driving forces behind the persecution, Saul, has instead become one of the driving forces behind the gospel.

Saul’s teacher, Gamaliel said that if the pharisees fought against the disciples and it turned out the disciples were from God, then they’d lose because they were fighting against God Himself.

Saul, however, wasn’t as wise as his teacher and set out and started fighting against the disciples, and, surprise, he lost. Jesus struck him blind and confronted him with the truth that he’d been persecuting not just people, but the very God he claimed to follow.

But now Saul has seen the truth—literally—and is preaching the good news of Jesus. And Peter, in that time of peace, is travelling the country and ministering to people.

The Holy Spirit gave Peter an incredible gift. The gift of healing. That gift he used as he visited a paralysed man, Aeneas. After eight years as a bed ridden cripple, Peter visits and tells him to arise.

Through the Holy Spirit’s power he does exactly that.

The question that comes to my mind as I read this story is: Do we care?

Do we care?

Do we care that a man who for eight years had been paralysed,

Do our actions show that we believe God is real? Or do they show that God is just a nice idea to us, something to do on a Sunday morning?

Last week in episode 16 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we took another look at Saul’s conversion, but focused rather on the disciple Ananias. We had a look at the courage he needed to go and talk to a man who, so far as he knew, wanted to drag him off to prison.

We saw that in the West we don’t often face talking to people about Jesus who want to kill us, rather, we face talking to friends and family about Jesus. And that can be terrifying. What if they hate us for talking about Jesus? What if we lose the friendship, their love, because of it?

I challenged us to be willing to speak up, but also to relax. Relax because it’s not up to us how and when we tell our story of what Jesus did in our life, it’s up to the Holy Spirit. Our job is to get to know the Holy Spirit through time in God’s Word and prayer so we recognise when the Holy Spirit is prompting us to speak up. Our job is to simply open our mouths when the Holy Spirit prompts us to, He’ll give us the words we need when we need them.

This can take so much pressure off because it becomes about God and His timing, not us and our timing, for which I’m grateful, because I’d say all the wrong things at all the wrong times.

But we do need to be willing to speak up, because the reality is, for some of our friends and family, unless they put their faith in Jesus, the Son of God, they face hell.

I, in all honesty, don’t want to think about that. I don’t want anyone I love to suffer that. And yet… I have to ask myself, do my actions show that? Because half the time, I’d rather stay silent because I don’t want to risk them disliking me for speaking up.

This week, we’re looking at the question: Do we live like God is real?

Our passage today is Acts 9:19b-31 (WEB):

Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 He was with them entering into Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. 30 When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

So there’s a few things we miss about Saul’s journey here if we just read this passage in Acts. In verse 23, Luke tells us that “After many days had gone by. there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him.” We find out from Galatians 1:17-18 (WEB), that this attempt on his life actually took place three years after his conversion:

17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me,

Are you prepared to take one awkward moment to tell others your story of what Jesus did in your life?

Last week in episode 15 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we witnessed the incredible conversion of Saul when he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. In one moment, Saul’s life was turned upside down, and he realised something incredibly painful. He realised that in his zeal to serve God, he was actually fighting against God, he was attempting to destroy God’s church.

When he discovered the truth, he immediately stopped and instead started preaching the good news of Jesus. But I suspect that the harm Saul had caused others would stick with him until the day he died. Even knowing he had forgiveness I don’t think would have erased the pain.

This week, we’re actually going to stay on the same passage, because I didn’t feel I could move on without talking about Ananias. Our passage is Acts 9:10-19 (WEB):

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

17 Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptised. 19 He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

So Ananias, living his life in Damascus, worrying about the arrival of a Pharisee named Saul who was on a mission to destroy the Christian church. Doubtless he and the other believers in Damascus were desperately praying that God would save them from the hand of Saul.

But as Ananias is praying for God to save them from Saul, I doubt he imagined just how God would save them.

Then finally, Saul arrives in Damascus. Word quickly gets around that he was led into the city like a blind man! God had answered the Damascene believers’ prayers! There’s no way Saul could go about arresting people if he was blind. I can imagine as word filtered throughout the city that there was great rejoicing.

And then God calls to Ananias in a vision. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for Saul from Tarsus, I’ve sent him a vision of a man named Ananias coming to restore his sight.”

There was no room for confusion in God’s order. God was talking about the Saul, the Saul persecuting unto death people who believed in Jesus.

I can well imagine Ananias’s legs getting weak and him sinking to the ground thinking, “No way. Not Saul. I can’t talk to Saul about Jesus, he’ll arrest me, and I know what happens to the people he arrests… they die!”

Imagine Ananias’s fear as God tells him to go talk to Saul. This isn’t just talking to a stranger, this is talking to a man bent on seeing you and your Christian brothers and sisters killed!

I admire Ananias’s courage though, that he only objected once to God’s command before he went. He learned a lot faster than Moses had when God told Moses to go speak to Pharao...

What does it take for God to get our attention?

Last week in episode 14 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at Philip as God called him to leave his successful ministry and travel into the wilderness. We looked at how sometimes in our lives, God calls us to leave success and go into the unknown, and we need to trust Him and have the courage to follow.

We also saw that sometimes God calls our friends and/or family to leave their success and follow Him into the unknown. We looked at how we need to encourage those people to follow God. And if they come to us for advice, make sure our desire is for them to honour God no matter what, even if it means we’ll miss them like crazy.

Today, we’re going to look at how Jesus’ resurrection completely changed one man’s life, how it turned him from a man determined to destroy Christianity and everything it stood for into one of the most powerful voices in our Bibles today. Our passage today is Acts 9:1-19 (WEB):

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he travelled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5 He said, “Who are you, Lord?”

The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6  But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men who travelled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

17 Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptised. 19 He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.

This is truly one of the most amazing conversions we see in the Bible—in my opinion.

It’s so incredible because of Saul’s history. See, Saul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, from the tribe of Benjamin, about as Jewish as you could get. He was born in Tarsus, a Roman state, which earned him Roman citizenship from birth. In his early years he trained beneath a well known Pharisee’s of his day, Gamaliel. Gamaliel himself was a Pharisee from the school of Hillel and his followers were a group of Pharisees known for their openness and generosity—we saw that attitude come into play in Acts 5 when Gamaliel spoke to the chief priests and advised them to let the disciple...

Has God called you to leave a successful life or ministry to follow Him? Has He asked those you love to leave successful lives and ministries to follow Him? Today we’ll look at what the Bible has to say about leaving.

Last week in episode 13 of the God’s word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at one man’s desire for a gift of the Holy Spirit, but his motives were evil. He desired the gift for his own glory and gain.

But we also saw that we should desire gifts of the Spirit, but we should desire them to build up the church, to support Christian brothers and sisters.

Today we’re going to look at how when we follow God, He orchestrates events that should be impossible. Events so coincidental we’d struggle to believe them if they didn’t happen to us. Our passage today is Acts 8:26-40 (WEB):

26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go towards the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”

27 He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”

30 Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this,

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.

As a lamb before his shearer is silent,

so he doesn’t open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation, his judgement was taken away.

Who will declare His generation?

For his life is taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”

35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus. 36 As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptised?”

37 * 38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the Good News to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

* 8:37 TR adds Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

So Philip had been preaching in a city in Samaria for some time, but now the Holy Spirit had a new mission for him. One which would spread the gospel all the way to Ethiopia.

But Philip didn’t know that yet. He was in the middle of a highly successful ministry in Samaria. The Holy Spirit was so powerfully at work in Samaria that Peter and John themselves travelled to Philip to support the ministry there.

Now, many of us if we were in the middle of a ministry that was clearly growing would be reluctant to leave. Why would we leave if God was obviously at work? Aren’t we supposed to jump on board with what God’s doing?

Yet here, an Angel of the Lord told Philip to go, take a long and dusty walk down a desert road, days away from where he probably was in Samaria.

If that was me, I would be scratching my head and saying, “Are you sure, God? Things are going really well here but you want me to head out into the wilderness? There’s nothing out there but wild animals and dirt. Can’t very well preach to them…”

How many of us would try to just stay where we were?

It can be tough to know how to discover what our Spiritual Gifts are. Today we’re going to take a look at that and have a look at some ways to start discovering our gifts.

Last week in episode 12 of the God’s word, Today’s World podcast, we had a look in Acts at the terrible persecution that happened after Stephen was martyred, a persecution so bad it drove thousands of believers out of Jerusalem. Saul had made it his mission to destroy the church, and was imprisoning every believer he could find.

But despite the darkness of that event, God was still at work. There was light in the darkness.

The gospel, instead of being snuffed out, suddenly spread like wildfire. As the early church scattered, they shared the gospel far and wide.

Saul intended his actions to destroy the church.

God intended it that the gospel would go out into the world in force. Instead of small groups heading out as missionaries, thousands headed out. Certainly it was under painful circumstances that they left, but the results were no less significant.

No matter how dark events appear to be, there is always a light shining in that darkness, we just may not see it, especially if we’re focused only on the darkness.

Today we’re looking at one man’s desire for the gift of God and where he went wrong with his desire. We’ll look also at the correct way to desire gifts of the Spirit, and how indeed, we should desire those gifts. Our passage is Acts 8:9-25 (WEB):

9 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practise sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, 10 to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.” 11 They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women. 13 Simon himself also believed. Being baptised, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptised in the name of Christ Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

25 They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

So last week we saw that Philip was in a city in Samaria, preaching the gospel and performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Also in that city was a man named Simon who practiced sorcery there and amazed all the people. Exactly what kind of sorcery he practiced is unknown, but whatever power he had was likely given to him by Satan. It was evil power, but people called him the Great Power of God.

What exactly his power was we don’t know, but what we know for certain is that it was not fro...

No matter how dark the world is, there is still light, God’s light. And as disciples of Jesus, we can be that light in the darkness for those around us.

Last week in episode 11 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at the importance of spending time in God’s word so if and when the need arises, we can defend the gospel, we can defend what we believe.

We also looked at the importance of testing everything we hear against the Bible. We can’t let podcasts, commentaries, theological books or even sermons replace the Bible. We need to go back to the Bible every time and test what we learn to make sure what we learn is correct.

This week we’re back to Acts’ ever-present theme of persecution. This week we’re seeing that no matter how dark, no matter how terrible the situation, God is still at work, light can still be found. Even in the darkest places.

Our passage today is Acts 8:1-8 (WEB). It directly follows the stoning of Stephen, during which we were introduced to a man named Saul. Acts 8 opens with these chilling words:

1 Saul was consenting to his death.

A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and lamented greatly over him. 3 But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

What a terrible start Chapter 8 has. After all the incredible works and growth we witnessed in the first seven chapters if Acts, this happens. Persecution more serious than anything they’d faced before breaks out, and this man Saul made it his mission to destroy the church, going from house to house and dragging men and women off and throwing them in prison.

If Acts were a movie, this section would be that terrifying and heartbreaking scene early on where the good guy’s world gets destroyed by the evil force in the story.

But the good news is, the passage doesn’t stop there! After we witness this horror, Luke immediately continues with this in verse 4:

4 Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip when they heard and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralysed and lame were healed. 8 There was great joy in that city.

That dark, dark day where the Jews stoned Stephen sparked something incredible.

The church scattered…

And grew.

Instead of remaining in Jerusalem, the church spread throughout the known world.

As they scattered, they preached the gospel. They shared the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and what he’d done on the cross with his death and resurrection.

Instead of the gospel only being shared in Jerusalem, suddenly it was being shared throughout the region. In Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

In Samaria, we see Philip—one of the seven originally chosen to oversee the administration of the food to widows—performing miracles. The Holy Spirit allowed Philip to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits.

Great joy entered that city because Philip was there and the Holy Spirit was working through him.

And the only reason Philip was in that city?

The persecution in Jerusalem.

That is the only reason. He had a big job to do in Jerusalem, he was tasked with helping distribute food to probably hundreds of people every day. He already had a task, why would he travel to Samaria?

But he was forced out of the city by the wicked actions of sinful men and women who hated Jesus.

It reminds me of Joseph’s words in Genesis 50:20 (WEB) when ...

Are you ready to give a defence of the Gospel, even if it means your death? Today we talk about Stephen and his defence of the gospel in Acts 6 and 7.

Last week in episode 10 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at how the Apostles dealt with an issue the church had brought to them. They didn’t deal with it by going out and fixing the problem themselves, but rather, they had the church choose seven men filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom to handle the situation.

In doing so, that freed the Apostles up to continue focusing on the ministry Jesus had given them, preaching the gospel.

We saw that their action made the church healthier, and today, we can do the same to improve the health of our churches. The solution to fixing issues within the church isn’t that those already working do more work; that those serving serve more. The solution rather, is that more people need to start serving.

As a church we are a body made up of many different parts, and a body functions best when all parts are working, doing their different tasks, but working together.

Today we’re looking at the importance of being able to give a defence of the gospel, of what we believe. It’s quite a long passage, but I want to read all of it because I believe it’s important to let God’s words through Luke do the talking here instead of me trying to paraphrase and trim it down to just what I think is important. Our passage today is Acts 6:8-7:60, but before we start on it, I want to bring something to attention as we go: I talk about the importance of sharing the truth of God’s word mixed equally with love. As we read through Stephen’s defence of the gospel here, it can be hard to spot his love for the people in his words. However, his love for them is revealed in his very last words. So while sometimes his words sound harsh here, know that he does care for them, and his words are still the truth. So let’s get started! Acts 6:8-7:60 (NIV):

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’

“So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said,

The church in the West is sick. Very sick. It’s a barely functioning cripple. Sure it looks okay on a Sunday morning, but it looks nothing like the church in Acts.

Last week in episode 9 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast we continued our look at persecution, a topic which appears many times throughout Acts. We saw last week that the Apostles, after they had suffered disgrace for Jesus name, rejoiced. They rejoiced not because they had been flogged, but because they had been counted worthy of suffering for Jesus.

To them, the persecution was proof they were living as Jesus had taught them because they were suffering the same way Jesus had.

Today is no different. When we seek to love others as Jesus loves us and we face persecution of any kind for that, it’s a proof that we’re honouring God. It’s proof because we’re suffering the same way Jesus suffered.

That does not mean persecution is easy or that it won’t hurt. It will cause pain. But we can rejoice because it’s a sign of something more.

It’s a sign that we’re honouring God.

And which is better, to please God?

Or to please the world?

Today we’re looking at the health of the western church. Our passage today is Acts 6:1-7 (WEB):

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore select from amongst you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

5 These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The Twelve Apostles have been doing what Jesus commanded, they’ve been spreading the gospel. They’ve been doing signs and wonders through the power of the Holy Spirit. They’ve been suffering for Jesus, they’ve been in prison, they’ve been flogged, they’ve been ridiculed. For what? Loving others and telling people the truth about Jesus.

But all is not perfect within the church. Some Jews, those not native to Palestine, but from Diaspora, believed their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Caring for widows was an incredibly important part of church life. There was no government welfare, God had always commanded the Israelites to care for the widows and orphans. That was a duty they were still to perform.

However, some were being overlooked.

And those being overlooked complained to the twelve about it, asking them to fix the situation.

On the surface, this seems perfectly reasonable. If you’ve got a problem in the church, you take it to the pastor.

Nothing wrong with that, right? It was the Apostles’ responsibility to make sure everything ran smoothly, right?

To a degree that is right.

However, there was a simple matter of logistics that needed to be addressed.

See, by this point, it’s not an unrealistic estimate that the church in Jerusalem could have been around 20,000 people. In Acts 4:4, Luke records the number of men who believed to be around 5,000. That’s not including women and children. Nearly every chapter Luke also records that the church continued to grow rapidly.

So, what we have here is 12 men responsible for maybe 20,000 people.

Can you imagine the number of complaints and issues that woul...

Persecution hurts. And yet… when Jesus’ disciples were persecuted for his name they rejoiced! Today we’ll look at how they could rejoice in the face of persecution.

Last week in episode 8 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we had a look at how when we repent of sin, God takes our ugly life and makes it beautiful. When we repent of sin, we cease to be slaves to sin, but we have a new master, God.

We also saw that we can damage our testimony by refusing to give up sin in our life, but… when we repent of that sin, our freedom from it can become a part of our testimony because it’s a personal example of God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy.

Today’s episode ties back to an event we looked at a few weeks ago.

Peter and John were thrown in prison overnight and then questioned by priests. They were told to stop speaking about Jesus, to which Peter and John responded in Acts 4:19-20 (NIV): “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

In Acts 5, we see them doing exactly what they said they would: continuing to speak about Jesus. Acts 5:12-42 (WEB):

12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done amongst the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honoured them. 14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. 16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy 18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, 20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. 34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law,