Acts 8-- You've Got to Move It Move It

My kids got this toy from McDonalds that is a plastic animal character from an animated movie. Every time you move, bump, shake or otherwise disturb the little plastic creature it breaks into a song..."You've got to move it move it. You've got to move it move it." Lately, my wife has been carrying it around in her purse. She and the children think its funny, but personally, I think its annoying! There is, however, a lesson that can be learned from this little guy--there are times in our life when we need to move it move it! When we do move it move it--out of our comfort zones--we often see God do great things, as we see in Acts 8. This chapter marks a major transition in the life of the church and in Christianity itself.  It is the wide-scale movement of the gospel message to those outside of Jerusalem, and eventually to non-Jews. 

It is interesting that one of the key characters in history used by God to move the gospel around the world was used here, and he didn't even realize it.  Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul) consented with the stoning of Stephen and then goes on a rampage to persecute and imprison every follower of Christ that he could find.  The result of this persecution was the fleeing of the believers to regions beyond Jerusalem.  As they settled into new locations, they shared their faith, which resulted in multitudes coming to the Savior.  What Saul meant for evil, God used for good.  Saul, of course, would later be converted and would take that passion to knowingly reach the lost.  These unnamed believers moved because of persecution.  Others moved intentionally in order to share Christ. The chapter focuses primarily upon the ministry of Philip and the masses coming to Christ in Samaria.  Philip was obedient to God and moved out of his comfort zone to minister cross-culturally (the Samaritans and then later the Ethiopian).  When God's people move out in obedience then movements happen.  We see the same thing happening all around the world today as large numbers of people are responding to the gospel brought by those who moved out of their places of comfort. Is it time for you to move it move it out of your comfort zone so that others can come to Christ?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.