This week, some of you are experiencing the joy of a Holy Spirit breakthrough in your ministry. Others of you may feel discouraged or tired. As you read Acts 2, below, remember that God loves to breakthrough with his Spirit and surprise us.
<aside> 📖 Acts 2:5-12 (NIV) 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
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God is very gracious in Acts 2 by bringing the entire known world right to the disciples. Their job was to be faithful and open their mouths. Let's pray that God brings all kinds of people to you, just like he did for Cole last week.
God flips the script later in Acts. Instead of bringing the nations to the disciples, God scatters the disciples to the nations. Check out what some faithful disciples do as they are scattered.
<aside> 📖 Acts 11:19-24 (NIV) 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
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The first disciples of Jesus were Jewish, and due to their purity laws, they avoided contact with Gentiles. Those who were scattered had never tried to share the gospel with Gentiles. No one had ever done this before. But that did not stop these faithful witnesses from trying something unprecedented.
The faithfulness of these disciples who were scattered transformed the church. Later in Acts 11, Paul (Saul) is shaped by the Holy Spirit's work in the church at Antioch. Two chapters later, Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to bring the good news to the ends of the earth. How might Jesus want to shape you, your leadership, and your ministry during this season of scattering and isolation?
<aside> 🔥 Ministry can be series of tasks or ministry can be a joyful adventure of following the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you now about each of the below adventures.
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