The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 17:3 (HCSB)
3 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the LORD is the tester of hearts.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
3 Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Acts 8:4-8 (HCSB)
4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.
6 The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing.
7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
My observation:
I have noticed that the world seems to never learn that you can't defeat God's people by persecuting them. You may take away their place of service, but you cannot take away the person they serve. The story of Jesus is that death could not keep him in the ground. Jesus has defeated death and the grave.
The believers were scattered from their homes, but this did not hinder their mission. Rather, that went everywhere preaching the gospel of the risen Christ.
Philip like Stephen was another one of those deacons who was full of the Spirit of God, and of wisdom. God's ways are not like man's ways. God didn't send Philip to friendly people, but to a place of hostile people.
John 4:9 (HCSB)
9 "How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.
Philip went to Samaria, and he preached the person of Christ, with the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit of God. The persecuted may experience pain, but the pleasure experienced makes it so worthwhile.
Acts 8:8 (HCSB)
8 So there was great joy in that city.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I stand in awe of the power of God to make the enemies of your people their friends by the power of the preaching of the gospel of Christ.
Father God, I am so thankful when we can see the purpose in the pain that your people experience through persecution. O, the power and the pleasure of purposeful preaching by the anointed servants of the Lord. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
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8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
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