1:8…8:1… Don’t let 1:8 be deterred by 8:1.
, whRememberat Jesus told the apostles before His ascension? Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
You will be witnesses here locally, then beyond your local sphere of influence, then to the world. I am sure the apostles had their expectations of how they would reach the world but in Acts 8:1 we read, “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”
A great persecution arose which sent disciples beyond Jerusalem. The apostles end up staying in Jerusalem which means they raised up and sent out workers into the harvest. No one was making a great name for themselves but was making His name great.
The start of all this ministry was persecution of the church. Sometimes how the Lord works is different than how we expected it. Let Him lead, follow the Spirit, and don’t allow controversy to deter your path to discipling others. The Lord works in good times and in times of persecution. It’s His ministry, follow Him. His plans our different than our expectations.
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.