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“a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 7:59, 8:4)

Last Sunday we continued our series on the Church Unleashed, considering our unleashed potential in Christ, baptised and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Learning from a church that suffered hardship and persecution. It is following Stephen’s stoning in Acts 7 that we read about a great persecution breaking out against the church, with all except the apostles scattered throughout Judea and Samaria (8:1). What do we notice about this persecution and scattering? First, the fulfilment of Christ’s words in Acts 1:8 and second, the boldness of God’s people in persecution, preaching the word “wherever they went” (8:4). Whilst we have been scattered by this recent hardship during COVID-19 we must surely be encouraged here to have the same boldness to proclaim Christ despite restrictions. Ultimately because lives and communities are in need of God’s transformation, like Saul. In Acts 8 we read about Saul’s approving Stephen’s stoning and his destroying the church. Also in Acts 9, his breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples and yet, as Gavin and Anne Calver point out, his whole world is transformed inside out, upside down and back to front as he encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus. Blinded by the light of Jesus, his spiritual eyes were turned to truth and Ananias was used by God in this transformation. Perhaps you need to see the Truth again? Perhaps you need transformation? Perhaps God is asking that you will serve Him for the purpose of transformed lives and communities in Jesus’ name? Nothing is impossible for God and you can be unleashed for His service in the world today.