This sermon from Apostle Allison Smith Conliff explores the biblical book of Acts, focusing on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the early church's resilience. The Apostle emphasizes how Apostle Paul, originally a persecutor named Saul, underwent a divine name change and a radical conversion to become a pillar of faith. Using the story of Philip the Evangelist in Samaria, the message highlights that true spiritual authority cannot be purchased with money, as demonstrated by the rebuke of Simon the Sorcerer. Listeners are encouraged to move beyond "convenient worship" and embrace a life of genuine service, devotion, and forgiveness. The message concludes by asserting that the power of God is unstoppable, capable of healing the broken and protecting believers through every season of trial.

Key Points:

God uses human persecution to expand His global kingdom by having it act as a catalyst that forces the church out of its comfort zone and into new territories. According to the Apostle, the following ways illustrate how this process works:

• Scattering Believers for Evangelism: When a "great and relentless persecution" broke out against the church in Jerusalem, the believers were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Rather than silencing the faith, those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the "good news of salvation through Christ". This movement ensured that the Gospel reached areas beyond its initial center in Jerusalem.
• Breaking Comfort Zones through Pressure: Believers often stay in one place when things are going well, but God may allow "pressure" to come to force expansion. This pressure serves as a "wake up" call because some believers would never move to touch new lives unless they were forced to by difficult circumstances.
• Transforming Persecutors into Preachers: God expands His kingdom by converting those who were once instrumental in the persecution itself. The Apostle highlights Saul (later the Apostle Paul), who went from "ravaging the church" and dragging believers to prison to becoming a powerful preacher of the same Gospel he once fought against.
• Demonstrating Unstoppable Power: Persecution proves that the word of God is "unstoppable" and cannot be put to death. Even when prominent believers like Stephen were killed, the word did not die; instead, the Gospel continued to be preached with miraculous signs, wonders, and the demonstration of God's power, which validated the message to new audiences.
• Reaching the "Unreachable": Persecution pushed figures like Philip the evangelist to the city of Samaria, a place the Apostle notes "nobody wants to go". The pressure of persecution resulted in great rejoicing in that city as people who previously followed magic and sorcery were converted to the faith.

Finally, the Apostle describes persecution as a "process" that God uses to ensure His servants are not just "convenient worshippers" but are instead active in service and the expansion of the kingdom regardless of the season.

Rec. Date: 23rd June, 2024