The Mysterious Ways Of God
Acts 8.1-7
Story of William Cowper
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
When things happen that we do not understand it is so important that we have these pillars to fall back on that we do understand and know to be true.
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
1. God is Good.
Psalm 16.13-14 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
2. God Loves Me.
I John 4.7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not knowGod, because God is love.
Jesus Loves Me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
3. God Is In Control.
Romans 8.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Stephen had been stoned to death. The church had its first martyr. What appreared to be its darkest hour turned into one its finest. As Cowper wrote, “God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. He sets His footstep in the Sea and rides upon the storm.”
We have all experienced things that makes us wonder, things we do not understand, ways of God beyond our finding out. As with Stephen they are in death or other unexplainable issues. This is a sin in the American Church today: Trying to explain the mysteries of God. 18 years later people still saying to me, “God did heal your brother.” No, my brother died. He was not healed. Just ask his wife or kids. People meaning well, said to my oldest nephew, in his teens at the time, “Good is going to come out of this.” He responded, “I haven’t seen one good thing yet!” Why do we feel we need to explain the mysteries of God when zhe Himself told us that right now we see through a glass darkly?
It maked me sick to my stomach and heart today how prayer and being baptized with the Holy Spirit are on such a low level of priority in the church in America. When I see the strategies and programs so many of which end up replacing prayer and seeking to give human explanation to the ways of God.
Listen, there are times when we simoly do not understand what God is doing or what He allows. Habakkuk had that problem, but he submitted to the LORD. Davis certainly lamented that many times. Joseph had troubles for 13 years and never complained or tried to explain what was happening to him.
What was the result of this persecution?
1. The LORD Got People To Where He Said He Would Have Witnesses. Acts 1.8
Acts 8.1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Jesus had told them they would be witnesses for them there. Some feel that they were not apt to leave the wonder of the fellowship of the church in Jerusalem so God used this persecution to get them there. That is possible. It could be that they were willing but had not yet moved out. Either way we look at this Stephen’s murder was a martyrdom was used by God to accomplish His purposes, to fulfill His Words.
The overruling Hand of God is seen in the movement. The wind of persecution scattered the good seed of the Gospel throughout the nation of Israel.
I want to be in His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12.1-3
I want to be willing, not for God to make me willing!
Like a child, much better to obey immediately and willingly than to be disciplined and have to do it the hard way!
Ex/ Pick up your room.
Chairman Mao... we may find out something soon about the the Church in North Korea, something very good.
As with the death of Stephen this seemed to be a defeat for the church. It resulted in great victory for the church and the Kingdom of God. There is a truth here.
Death in the church always results in new life!
*The martyrdom of Stephen and all who have followed is the seed of the Gospel.
*The surest thing to make something grow is to persecute it.
*Jesus
*Believers, nothing quite as powerful as a funeral of a saint! Often results in people coming to Jesus like the thief and the centurion.
*Places of devastation result in new buildings and greater impact.
2. God Had A Great Witness Through His Servants
Acts 8.4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
This is a move of God like we need to see today in America. A movement among all of God’s people.
They preached the Word as they traveled, going and returning.
There was a shattering of prejudice and ethnic barriers. When God’s Spirit works this the result. We need it again in our nation.
They went to undesirable places and they became places where God poured His Spirit out.
3. The LORD Turns Weeping Into Joy.
Acts 8.5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
In verse two and three we read 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
In verse 8 There is great joy in that city in Samaria. Notice it did not confine it to the church. The whole city was effected.
The joy of souls being set free from the bondage of sin and brought into the life of God.
It reaffirms our faith and brings us back to the time we asked Jesus to for our sins.
It stirs things up. “A baby can change your life.”- Milo Arnold Babies upset the routine in a beautiful way... Emma when she was born and she would come once a week to my home.
It is beautiful.
In verse 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.
I love what is happening here. A place once the avoided now became their mission field, a place they were prejudiced against became a place where they went and laid hands on the people.
Philip left the revival in Samaria to go to Gaza, a dry desert place out of a deep desire to do God’s will.
Haiti has become that to everyone who goes. All nations become that to those who go.
God breaks our hearts, pours His Spirit out and because our hearts are tender we go.
This is how we can rejoice in persecution. Being identified with Jesus and seeing what the results are!
Romans 5.3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Matthew 5.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
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