Persecution of the saints is something that we read only to realize even in our world it still occurs in our world. The persecution of the church scatters God’s people. God’s people did not so much run in fear but went about doing the work of God, by teaching and baptizing in the name of Jesus. Philip was no exception on what he taught. He taught about Jesus and baptized the people in the name of Jesus, but not the Holy Spirit. A sorcerer had received the word of God. One begins to receive the word of God when one does not reject it. A child may receive the word of God and Jesus and not understand about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must be taught about in order for one to receive and believe in the Holy Spirit. Their will always be misconceptions about the Holy Spirit. One of the biggest mistakes is one thinking they can use God, but the power is not any individual to control. It is like the name of Jesus can not be used but by the Spirit. Yet the name of Jesus with some people is used in cursing and other ways. It angers me when I hear it. Yet I realize the uneducated about God has no understanding what they do to God or the name of God, His Son or Spirit. With that said one has to look at what Philip taught. He taught the bases of faith but not about the Spirit perhaps because of the sorcery in that village. Yet Peter and John went about teaching about the Spirit of God only with one wanting to buy the power of God not understanding God’s power can not be bought.

To be taught about Jesus is not to leave out the Spirit but to learn solely about Jesus and to be immersed in the word of God and Jesus. When teaching little ones, one wants to teach about Jesus, yet some churches even go ahead and teach about the Holy Spirit. Yet I wonder what little ones are grasping, the power of God or mimicry. It is not my place to judge, but I have to ask, how easy for people to misunderstand the Spirit. It not about vain repetition. When the seventy elders in the Old Testament were filled by the Spirit even the elders outside the tent were filled and prophesied. Prophesy is one of those things that can be both encourage or the building up of godly people, or the convincing through the prophetic word the truth to unbeliever. God may even choose to heal during this time of His Spirit falling upon the people, and communication of the word God into other languages occurs. There is purpose in the tongues as well as healing. It is to bring the lost to Jesus.

To journey as a believe with God is to share and testify of who God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is. These believers were compelled by two things to share the Gospel the potential of death looming them for preaching the Gospel and thought of the loss of the word of God. The good news was important enough to share even at the cost of one’s life. To be told about the love and saving of power of God through Christ Jesus who died on the cross for all people’s sin. Let us reason together and think about this journey of the missionary, the teacher of faith. God’s power compelling along with their own fears scattered the church. But the power of God rising in those that believed. The power of good being forced in a world of evil corruption and persecution.

The Gospel message should never invocate hate, but it does. The idea of love and hope seems to bring the worse out of the world. The world idea of hope is in the things they themselves can create and earn and not by the power of what God can provide. Fixing a pot of beans this morning, not because I have to eat beans, but because the weather demands it is soup time. Yet many eat beans because it cheap to make. Rightly so for many a poor man would starve without his bowl of beans and cornbread daily. Yet most people do not know there is a lack of nutrition in a bowl of beans. There is protein but not iron and other vitamins essential for healthy people. Add a little rice with beans or in the diet, actually helps maintain iron, but it still lacks certain vitamins, but it will keep a belly full. The point I brings out is only a diet of Jesus is not enough for the believer, one needs the Holy Spirit and God’s power working in their life to compel the Gospel. Without the strength of God’s Spirit one would not move into action. Without the fruit of the Spirit changing lives their would be no more growth. The things of God is about love, joy and hope that produces faith. To journey with God is sometimes peaceful and sometimes at odds with the world around. Are job is not to worry about where or how we are going but rely on the Spirit of God.

Dear Heavenly Father the journey of your people must rely on you. Help us to trust in you, not worrying about those we are to share with, but teaching as you instruct and following your will for our lives. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Countdown To Thanksgiving 17 Days left: Thank God for the journey of faith that compels one to continue sharing the despite the enemy.