Acts 8:1: 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.
It was the design of Christ that the gospel should be preached everywhere. He told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem to receive the baptism of the Spirit so they could be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
They were baptized and the church in Jerusalem grew, the word spread, the number of disciples increased but this growth was only vertical, not horizontal. They grew in the knowledge of Christ, but everything was limited to Jerusalem.
Suddenly, persecution arose against the church and gbam! The church scattered!
The scattering was an organized one! Scripture was specific about the locations they scattered to: Judea and Samaria.
This was not a coincidence, it was divine orchestration! Phillip went to Samaria and preached Christ to them, a whole city. Did I forget to tell you that he was a deacon in the church at Jerusalem before. Oh such beauty in persecutions! It launched him into his specific ministry.
Some disciples even went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch according to Acts 11:19. Persecutions indeed gave spread to the gospel and launched more people into their specific assignments.
There are many occurrences in our lives that we don’t have explanations for, it’s about to launch you into the next level.
I am ever grateful for every closed doors in my life, it has opened new doors and channels that I never knew existed. I am grateful for every rejection, it drew me closer to my first love than ever. Are you presently being criticized or persecuted in ministry, it’s about to give wings to your vision.
Be grateful for the disappointments, God is using it as a set up for a bigger level. Good thus come out of evil.
Persecutions advanced the cause which was intended to be destroyed. Joseph was sold by his brothers not knowing God sent him ahead to preserve a nation including his family.
Be grateful for the rejection, for the people that walked out of your life, for the one that said ‘NO’ to you, for the job appointment you lost, for the miscarriage, for the relationships that never worked, for every occurrence that seemed bad, EVERYTHING is working together for your good.
No persecution can separate you from the love of God or the plans He has intended for you. Christ identifies with every persecution and guaranteed our deliverance from it.
You don’t need to be all down, or depressed about everything that has happened, rather we have been commanded to rejoice in everything!
