DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR W.F.KUMUYI, SATURDAY 1st JUNE 2019.
TOPIC: IN, AND OUT OF SEASON
BIBLE TEXT: Acts 8:1-13
1. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.3. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.4. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.5. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.6. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.7. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.8. And there was great joy in that city.9. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one;10. To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.11. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.13. Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
KEY VERSE:
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” – (Acts 8:4).
DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY
“Do you know grace?” that was the question the world-famous preacher D.L. Moody (1837-1899) was said to have posed to people he came in contact with. If the person did not know what he was talking about and asked, “Grace who?”, Moody would sit down to explain the meaning of grace using various Bible references. It was an evangelism and soul-winning strategy that worked effectively. Many listened to his interpretation, explanation and application.
It took the church the death of Stephen and the persecution of Church to have apostles and disciples of Jesus to go abroad to preach the gospel everywhere. Philip escaped to Samaria, which recorded great conversion of souls with signs and wonders accompanying his ministration; unclean spirits came out of many, the possessed were set free, those with palsies and the lame were healed; even a notable sorcerer was converted. This brought great joy to the city.
Evangelism and soul-winning is every believer’s ministry and should not be seen as the exclusive duty of pastors and church workers. It should be our highest priority as believers and our commitment to it must be total and wholesome.
It should be done everywhere and at anytime. Our method of evangelism can take many forms which may involve conventional methods that can draw and retain the attention of a soul to what we have to say until we have finished the message.
Today, many believers find it difficult to preach the gospel because the response of the people are negative. To be effective, we must avoid mannerisms and appearance that can repel the honest seeker of the Word.
We need to avoid being drawn into arguments. Believers who have assurance of salvation are the only hope in Christ for sinners in the world. No matter what sinners possess, like Simon the sorcerer, their eternal loss will cancel all their earthly gain. If we neglect to save the lost and they die in their sin, their blood shall be on us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Signs and wonders are for those who go forth to preach.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 23-24
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