God's Gift(s) – Priceless! (7/18/23)
Acts 8
Freya
7/19/2023
Life Lesson(s)…
In each segment of Acts 8, priceless gift(s) of the Lord is/are shown:
Unity of faith despite Saul's persecution;
The water baptism and joy of many Samaritans through the work of Philip;
Baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the new heart-felt converts in Samaria; and
Philip's work with the Ethiopian eunuch.
The persecution upon the Jerusalem church unleashed after the stoning of Stephen should have put an end to the Christ-following discipleship of men and the work of the apostles. Yet the gift of Christ and of the Holy Spirit kept growing through the work of the apostles and devout followers of Christ. As noted in the Bible, Philip preached the Good News in Samaria and many came to accept Christ. These new believers then received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John "prayed" and "laid their hands upon them". Philip was then sent by Holy Spirit to personally teach, preach and baptize an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official to Queen Candace of Ethiopia.
The life lesson is that God's gift(s) are priceless, and God's ways cannot be stopped as the Lord points out in Isaiah 55:8-11.
Your Thoughts…
To ponder, discuss, and/or journal:
What are God's gift(s) in each segment of Acts 8 that you have identified?
Pray for revelation to see what lesson the Lord wants you to learn from Acts 8?
Why do you think the Lord focuses on the "heart" of believers? What does the "heart" reveal about man? What would your "heart" reveal to the Lord about you?
Explain the context of the quote in Acts 8:20-23. Do you see this quote applying to any circumstance(s) occurring in this present time?
Explain the connection, if any, between Isaiah 55:8-11 and Acts 8.
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But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
ACTS 8:20-23 (ESV)