The Power of Our Christ-Centered Gospel

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city (Acts 8:4-8).

Philip was representative of the many believers that were scattered from Jerusalem by the persecution that followed Stephen’s martyrdom. They were faithful and obedient to Christ’s commission to… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). Jesus Christ was faithful to fulfill His promise to confirm their proclamation of His gospel… “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18). We notice that Philip’s gospel message was all about Jesus as he “proclaimed to them the Christ”. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to use Philip’s crusade to encourage us to share the good news and release the power of our Christ-centered gospel.

Proclaiming the Christ-centered gospel prompts God’s saving grace. God was working in Philip’s heart, moving him to Samaria, giving him the words to proclaim about the Christ, and confirming his gospel message with supernatural signs. God was working in the hearts of the Samaritans, grabbing their attention and giving them the gift of faith to respond to Philip’s testimony about the Christ. It’s pretty clear here that because of his obedience, Philip got to experience God’s amazing soul-saving grace in action… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). As we tell others about Jesus Christ, like Philip, we will experience first-hand, God’s saving grace at work through us and in others.

Proclaiming the Christ-centered gospel promotes deliverance and healing. The Samaritans were, like everyone else in this fallen world, oppressed by much sickness and disease. Many of their afflictions were the result of personal sin or the sin of others. Many were oppressed by unclean spirits. When they heard the good news about Jesus Christ… “the crowds with one accord paid attention” and they believed there was real power available to meet their deepest needs. The Christ-centered gospel reminds us that in His broken body there is healing, and in His shed blood there is salvation… “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The gospel that proclaims the name of Jesus Christ declares His authority over all visible and invisible enemies… “And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God’” (Mark 3:11). When we introduce needy people to Jesus Christ, we are inviting them to experience His delivering and healing power.

Proclaiming the Christ-centered gospel produces joy. Luke summarizes his record of the impact of Philip’s brief but powerful crusade in Samaria with a very short word… “there was much joy in that city”. It’s pretty clear that many were joyful because where they were formerly sick and diseased, they were now healthy and energized. Many who has been spiritually and emotionally depressed and oppressed were now free and empowered to enjoy life again. Luke mentions later that many had received and believed the word Philip proclaimed about Jesus Christ, and they were baptized… “Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God… but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:14-16). Because Philip helped the Samaritans see Jesus in his gospel message, their hearts were now filled with great joy… “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). When we share the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are introducing people to the source of real and lasting joy.

As we grow up into Christ, we long to tell others about him so they may experience…

The Power of Our Christ-Centered Gospel.

The Power of Our Devotion

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison (Acts 8:1-3).

Stephen’s martyrdom, his testimony sealed in blood, provoked a strong response throughout Jerusalem. Everyone who witnessed this event or heard about it had an opinion because such a strong, Holy Spirit-empowered witness pierced the heart and compelled a reaction. Their response to Stephen’s incredible testimony depended on and revealed the deep devotion of their hearts. Those who were devoted to protecting the religious establishment of the day were provoked to attack and persecute the new, growing community of Christ followers. Those who were leaders of the church were compelled to regroup, remain in the city, and honor Stephen with a proper burial. Many who were devoted to Christ were faced with running for their lives or being dragged off to prison. It’s still true today, that when trials or persecutions come, our enduring and maturing faith depends on the power of our devotion.

Devotion can be misplaced. Saul was a very devout Jew. Listen to his own self-description… “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:4-6). His misplaced devotion drove Saul to persecute the church. The Holy Spirit inspired John to exhort us to be careful about becoming devoted to the wrong people, places, or things… “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17). Keeping our heart devoted to Christ enables us to be available and responsive to His leading, and keeps us close to the center of His perfect will.

Devotion can be modifying. Their devotion to each other and to caring for the new community of believers drove the apostles to stay in the city. They could have run like the rest of the believers, but instead they bravely gave Stephen a proper and public burial. Their true devotion kept them where God wanted them to be… “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). If our heart is properly devoted to Christ then He will place and keep us where He can use us for His precious purpose.

Devotion can be motivational. Devotion to Christ drove the first believers to flee or face prison. They did not love their lives, but instead many were willing to follow Stephen’s example. They gave up homes, possessions, and much more because they were so devoted to following Christ. Perhaps they remembered Jesus’ exhortation… “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). The Holy Spirit brings Jesus’ words to our attention today… “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24). Renunciation of temporal distractions and increasing devotion to Christ is the evidence of God’s transforming grace at work in our heart, motivating us on toward higher levels of intimacy with our Lord and Savior.

As we grow up into Christ, our faith endures and matures despite trials and persecutions through…

The Power of Our Devotion