Daily Bible Reading Program

Greetings Brethren,

Today we are at Acts 8 where we see persecution intensifying against the Church but despite this, the revival continues the revival is no only longer only focused on Jerusalem; Samaria was experiencing a mighty visitation of the Lord, and inroads were even been made into Ethiopia through the government official who can to Jerusalem to worship.  

One of the lessons that  I am intentionally attempting to get from my "head" into my "heart" is that Jesus is always in control of our lives and that, challenges whatever forms they manifest themselves in are not meant to destroy us but sent to perfect the work that God has started in us.

Have you considered the climate of this day? A leader in the Church was falsely accused and then martyred.  When these kinds of tragedies occur it is necessary that loved ones come together to mourn and heal, but instead of coming together to grieve they "were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria."  The brethren were fleeing from Saul who was leading a campaign to rid the earth of all Christians.  He was entering their homes and imprisoning men and women perhaps with a view of martyring them as well. 

Despite this organized persecution by the religious State, the believers continued to have revival. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Jesus Christ and the people gladly received the message, a message that cause them to have "great joy in that city." Brethren, we don't need to take "a break" from the work of the ministry because we are experiencing persecution.  The Church had revival amidst intense persecution. We can have revival too despite our discomfort. We cannot allow "light afflictions" to stop us from fulfilling His mission. Our brothers and sisters in the first century Church did not and we should not. They gave their lives for the propagation of the Gospel so the least we can do is endure hard times and remain faithful to the Great Go Mission. 

We also observe the rebuke of Simon (the former sorcerer) who became a believer.  Peter rebuked him. " ¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. ²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Simon wanted "power" and thought that it could be "bought with money." See why as leaders, we cannot afford to appoint people to leadership positions because of their affluence or influence. Simon had a heart problem - "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Many people have been appointed to areas of leadership in God's Church because of the stuff that they possess. The prerequisite for service in God's house is not one's material resource or skill set - it is having a right heart in the sight of God.  Lord help me never compromise truth because it may appear to be convenient. The sad state of many assemblies has been occasioned by many leaders who have been derelict in executing their God-given responsibilities according to the Scriptures. 

Finally, we observe the hunger of the Ethiopian eunuch. We are told in the 27th verse that he had made the long journey to come to worship the God of Israel. This involved coming to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice. This would have taken several weeks each way. For a man in his position as Minister of the Treasury of Ethiopia, this meant the expense of a long journey for not only himself but his entire entourage. He was a Cabinet Minister to the Queen, and would never travel alone. Travel would likely be by boat and then overland using chariots.

He finds that on arrival in Jerusalem, he has several strikes against him. First, he cannot enter the Temple. No Eunuch was permitted to enter the Temple. Second, he was a Gentile, and at best could have only entered the Court of the Gentiles, but that too was now unattainable. (He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord" - Deu. 23:1.) So he could not fulfill his objective; to worship God directly, as he had purposed.

The rules and regulations of the Temple Worship had perplexed him, but he purchased a copy of the holy writings upon which so much of the religion was based. It was a copy of the book of the Prophet Isaiah. It must have cost the Eunuch an enormous sum of money to make this purchase. Having invested a small fortune in this book, he commenced to read it as he traveled homewards. Again he is Perplexed as he reads this book of Isaiah. He did not understand what the Prophet was saying. He desperately wishes for someone to explain all this mystery.

God, who knew this man’s heart, had already decided to intervene.

Now Philip was walking the road to Gaza, and the Spirit of God instructs him to join himself to this chariot. The Eunuch is reading aloud from Isaiah 53. Philip heard the man read. Philip asks the Eunuch if he understands what he is reading, and is invited to explain this writing.

"³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  ³⁶And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 

The Eunuch was hungry for God this was demonstrated by the actions he took.  He journeyed for weeks to worship.  The Eunuch received the word of God this was demonstrated by his outward declaration  -"See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" and  "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  The Eunuch returned home exceedingly happy - " he went on his way rejoicing."

Like Brothers  Stephen and Philip, may we all commit ourselves to the Cause of Christ regardless of the cost that we may have to pray. Revival is for now. God wants us to have revival. However, revival will only happen when the believers of 2022 begin to practice those principles that were operational in the "early church."

Maranatha