[The Scattering of the Holy Spirit]
Acts 8:1-3
When the Early Church was growing explosively and when there had been a martyrdom of the Holy Spirit, God worked and scattered the believers. The world does not understand Gods intention. However, when the dispersion becomes one of the Holy Spirit, it becomes a blessing.
First, they scattered when a great persecution broke out.
When Stephen died, he saw the Lord was waiting for him, but Saul approved of the killing him. They killed according to the Law. In Acts 7:58, it said that people dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man, Saul. He was a student of Gamaliel and a Judaist zealot, passionate in keeping the Law, but he was ignorant of Gods will. In 1 Timothy 1:13, Paul confessed that he persecuted the Church because he was ignorant. Spiritual ignorance is the scariest thing in the world.
This week, 13 people shared that they were somehow related to Shincheonji. I know that there are many who opened up, and since they were already coming to Wooridle Church, I think they will settle well. Stephen died to give a birth to Saul. Saul never forgot this scene. That was why he confessed that he was the worst sinner till the day of his death. And this scene was the key to overcome whatever affliction he had. The death of Stephen brought a great persecution. Satan became a tool through persecution, and God fulfilled His will sincerely through His plan. If dispersion is Gods will, we will yield fruit out of that dispersion. God always fulfills His will with the one who always has the Word with him.
We see the epidemic disease made the dispersion natural. In verse 1, everyone was scattered except for the apostles they kept the Jerusalem Church, and every one of them died for faith except for Apostle John. Your homes and work places are all spiritual battle fields. There are things to obey about the dispersion.
Second, there were people who mourned deeply.
These godly men were not Christians. They were Judaists. They were faithful to the Law. In other words, they were nice non-Christian people. If they thought Stephen was right by doctrine, they would have come and attend the Early Church, but they rather respected Stephen for his acts.
This is important. If we love God, we know that the cross is about wisdom and the timing. The world would never know this. Compliments from others do not make me a person who deserves compliments, and criticisms from others do not make me a person who deserves criticism. We have to focus on piety and redemption. As the believers of the Early Church were scattered, a hope must have risen up in the hearts of the believers that there were non-Christians who mourned for a man of faith.
People are like pottery, easily breakable. People are not perfect. If there was nothing shown visibly after Stephens death, it would have been very frightening for the Christians. They were speechless upon seeing Stephen being stoned to death, but then there were Jews in the synagogues who supported Stephen.
There can be different reactions on same death. Saul remembered everything about Stephens death: how Stephen was stoned to death, how he pleaded God not to hold the sin against people, and how the godly men mourned deeply for him. Even with the mourning, Saul persecuted the Church more.
Third, they were scattered when the Church was being destroyed.
The passion which does not have experience in Christ rather harms the community. That is the reason Wooridle Church let the people to double check themselves by going through trainings even if they hold titles. We have to meditate the Word with a passion, but we must not violate common knowledge, ethics, or morals. Then the Lord will work.
In Philippians 3:6, Paul confessed that he had persecuted the Church only for the zeal to obey the Law, and it showed the gravity of the zeal. Likewise, people think, without any doubt, that they worship God when they actually persecute us. They might imprison our body, but we have to see that wherever Jesus stands is heaven. Saul witnessed Stephen seeing the glory of the Son of God. And he wrote in details how Stephen gave birth to Apostle Paul.
Satan killed Stephen, but he overlooked Sauls presence, who witnessed Stephens death. It is said that Stephen slept in peace, pleading not to hold the sin against the people who stoned him. We can endure Sauls persecution when we see the glory of the Son of God. Satan admits Jesus death but denies His resurrection and His throne by the right side of God until his destruction. You fall into temptation repeatedly, get hurt when you are mocked at, and get enraged because you do not feel Gods Spirit.
No matter how they greatly destroy us and scatter us, it will be the blessed scattering of the Holy Spirit only if we see the glory of the Son of God. Satan might have been joyful after killing Stephen, but he was not aware that there was passionate Paul to continue Stephens work. Workers and witnesses for Gods kingdom are always prepared.
The scattering of the Holy Spirit happens when there is a great oppression, when there is someone who cries deeply, and when the Church is destroyed. We have to carry out the cross. I pray that we would obey anything to spread the cross.
