神的話被傳開
使徒行傳八章1至8節
1從這日起，耶路撒冷的教會大遭逼迫，除了使徒以外，門徒都分散在猶太和撒瑪利亞各處。
2有虔誠的人把司提反埋葬了，為他捶胸大哭。
3掃羅卻殘害教會，進各人的家，拉著男女下在監裡。
4那些分散的人往各處去傳道。
5腓利下撒瑪利亞城去，宣講基督。
6眾人聽見了，又看見腓利所行的神蹟，就同心合意的聽從他的話。
7因為有許多人被污鬼附著，那些鬼大聲呼叫，從他們身上出來；還有許多癱瘓的，瘸腿的，都得了醫治。
8在那城裡，就大有歡喜。
信息分享
當時的信徒大都逃離耶路撒冷；然而，他們無論逃到哪兒，都向人傳講耶穌基督。神正是利用他們的「逃散」，來成就祂的旨意，使萬民得聞福音。有些時候，我們不喜歡神容讓某些事情發生在我們身上，可是，我們只要願意遵從神的心意，神便可以利用這些境遇來使祂得著榮耀。
第5節告訴我們，身為執事的腓利下到撒馬利亞，向當地的人傳講耶穌。這豈不是很難得嗎？我們從約翰福音四章9節得知，猶太人與撒馬利亞人是不相往來的。然而，此刻的腓利不單是猶太人，他更是一個猶太人的基督徒，所以，這個身分上的改變促使他向撒瑪利亞人傳福音。
神知道腓利有一顆愛人靈魂的心，於是祂便差他到撒馬利亞人的中間。腓利傳福音的方式，未必像司提反一樣；他可能只用簡單的言詞，直截了當地向人傳述基督能滿足他們的內心需要，但無論如何，他卻獲得當地人的親切回應。
你有沒有覺察身邊的人有甚麼特殊需要？他們是否缺乏關懷？你能否透過耶穌基督的眼睛去察看他們的需要？你知道他們需要救主嗎？你願意去到他們中間，用愛心去幫助他們嗎？你願意向他們傳講耶穌基督和祂的拯救大能嗎？無論你是在如今身處的境況，抑或神要帶領你到別的地方，總而言之，神都希望使用你，像祂使用腓利一樣，去向周遭的人傳講耶穌基督。今天，你是否願意求神帶領你去向人傳福音呢？
反思：
透過基督的眼睛去察看人的需要，你就能成為一個有福音遠象的人。
SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD
Acts 8: 1 – 8
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea 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 every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Message
Most of the church members were driven out of Jerusalem BUT everywhere they went, they preached about Jesus Christ. God used this ‘scattering’ to bring about his plan for men and women everywhere to hear his word. Sometimes we don’t like what God allows to happen but he can use it for his glory if we will let him.
Verse 5 tells us where another of the deacons went. Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ to the Samaritans. Wasn’t that wonderful? John 4:9 says that the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans, but Philip was more than just a Jew. He was a Christian Jew and that made the difference.
God could see that Philip had a heart of love for lost men and women and so he sent him down to the Samaritans. Philip may not have been the personality that Stephen was, but he simply presented Christ to them as the one who could meet their need and the people warmly responded.
Are there people around you who have special needs? Are there people for whom nobody else cares? Can you look at those people through the eyes of Jesus Christ and see them as souls that need a Saviour? Could you go to them with love and help them? Could you tell them of Jesus Christ and his power to save? God is waiting to use you just where you are or he may lead you to another place of service. But he will always want you to do the same thing Philip did. Go to people in need and tell them of Christ. Could you ask him to lead you to some soul today?
A THOUGHT:
Vision is seeing men through the eyes of Christ.