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Obeying the Great Commission

Obeying the Great Commission. In. Times of Persecution. Acts 8:1-4.

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Obeying the Great Commission

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  1. Obeying the Great Commission In Times of Persecution Acts 8:1-4

  2. Acts 8:1 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” “Now at that time a violent attack was started against the church in Jerusalem;” BBE

  3. tThreats to Our Religious Freedom • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center • Army Chaplain - post on Facebook • School in Canada - “Life is wasted without Jesus” • London England - Preacher arrested • Fox Sports Sportscaster - Craig James fired • San Antonio, Texas - City Council

  4. tThreats to Our Religious Freedom • School Teacher in New Jersey - Facebook • New Mexico - Photographer • Phoenix, Arizona - Home Owner arrested • Florida - Bible study in their home • Washington State - Gary Tabor - Judge

  5. Gary Tabor “Judicial authorities in the Pacific Northwest state of Washington formally admonished Gary Tabor” …. “for voicing his preference not to perform same-sex marriages.”

  6. WE HAVE A COMMAND Matt. 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them …….” Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Acts 1:8b “and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

  7. Acts 8:1 “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 22:20 “I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death” Persecution floodgates were opened Christians scattered

  8. Acts 8:2 “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.” Brethren buried Stephen Grief at loss of a good man More intense when death by violence

  9. Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Saul hunted Christians to persecute Acts 26:9-10 “I verily thought with myself” “I shut up in prison” “When they were put to death” “I gave my voice against them.”

  10. Acts 8: 4 “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Enemies thought this would kill the church. Instead it ignited the gospel fires Mt. 10:23a “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.” They scattered and preached the word

  11. Application Preach the Word Warned about persecution Jn. 16:33 “In the world ye shall have…” 2 Tim. 3:12 “…shall suffer persecution.” Phi. 1:29 “also to suffer for his sake.” Never been this bad ? Noah - Genesis 6 Never compromise the truth to avoid trouble !!

  12. Application Joseph - Genesis 39 Sold - in Egypt v. 2 “And the Lord was with Joseph” God will be with us Gen. 45:5-8 “and God sent me before you to preserve” “now it was not you that sent me”..”but God” Gen. 50:20 “but God meant it unto good”

  13. Commanded to “Go into All the World” Tarried in Jerusalem Persecution God can use these circumstances Have to be shaken out of comfort zone

  14. Acts 11:19-21 “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

  15. In Times of Persecution Is it possible that God would allow persecution to awaken us to the task of preaching the Gospel ! Would we spread the gospel if persecution came. Disciples in first century More they were persecuted The more they multiplied We do not know what is coming !

  16. We must Obey the Great Commission In Times of Persecution

  17. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 evanscoc@bellsouth.net www.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning December 15, 2013

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