Preach Christ No Matter What
[Preached by Pastor Kenneth Chin at Acts Church Malaysia on 6 May 2018]
Will the church continue to thrive or will we sink into complacency? Acts 8:1-8 tells us that persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and as a result of this, the people of the church were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Read | Acts 8:4
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Despite this, they continued to preach the Word wherever they went. The church thrives, grows, unites, prays, and even preaches harder during times of persecution!
Read | Acts 8:5
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
The people in Samaria were blessed by Philip’s preaching. We should not fear what lies ahead, even if it means there might be discomfort forthcoming, because God is in control. We must not forget, be it in times of prosperity or in times of hardship, that the church’s mandate is to fulfil the mission that God has given to us.
Preach the gospel
In Philip’s day, the Jews had to believe that Christ was the Messiah – the Chosen One who had the power and authority to right wrongs and to bring about truth and order. To preach Christ, then, means declaring that Jesus is not just the Saviour, but also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the only way through which we can be saved.
It is a radical message. And as a church, we must be willing not only to believe it but to declare it among the nations.
Preach with power
Read | 1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Philip preached the gospel with power and the multitudes in Samaria saw signs and wonders take place. When they saw this, they believed.
Read | Mark 16: 17-18
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
God’s amazing signs will follow those who believe. We need God’s power if we want to see miracles! In other words, our hope should not be in men. Our hope should be fixed on God because it is the Spirit of God which brings about change in the spirit of man.
Read | 1 Corinthians 2:5
That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Samaria was not changed until the people saw the power of God. The multitudes that came to hear Philip preached were hungry for the truth. Our nation, too, is hungry for the truth. Are we, as a church, willing to preach Christ? Are we declaring the radical message that Jesus is the truth and the way? Are we living radical lives so that God’s power may be seen?
In another record, John 4:4 shared to us that Jesus needed to go through Samaria. This led to the encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, and her testimony caused many Samaritans of that city to believe in Jesus. At the end of the day, it is God’s power that changes lives!
What will we, as a church, do with what we have right now? Regardless of the outcome, will we be complacent or will we be stirred to further action in fulfilling our mission?
#decadeoflegacy2030
Written by Writer’s Ink
Edited by Hailey Chung
