神的话被传开
使徒行传八章1至8节
1从这日起，耶路撒冷的教会大遭逼迫，除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒玛利亚各处。
2有虔诚的人把司提反埋葬了，为他捶胸大哭。
3扫罗却残害教会，进各人的家，拉着男女下在监里。
4那些分散的人往各处去传道。
5腓利下撒玛利亚城去，宣讲基督。
6众人听见了，又看见腓利所行的神迹，就同心合意的听从他的话。
7因为有许多人被污鬼附着，那些鬼大声呼叫，从他们身上出来；还有许多瘫痪的，瘸腿的，都得了医治。
8在那城里，就大有欢喜。
信息分享
当时的信徒大都逃离耶路撒冷；然而，他们无论逃到哪儿，都向人传讲耶稣基督。神正是利用他们的「逃散」，来成就祂的旨意，使万民得闻福音。有些时候，我们不喜欢神容让某些事情发生在我们身上，可是，我们只要愿意遵从神的心意，神便可以利用这些境遇来使祂得着荣耀。
第5节告诉我们，身为执事的腓利下到撒马利亚，向当地的人传讲耶稣。这岂不是很难得吗？我们从约翰福音四章9节得知，犹太人与撒马利亚人是不相往来的。然而，此刻的腓利不单是犹太人，他更是一个犹太人的基督徒，所以，这个身分上的改变促使他向撒玛利亚人传福音。
神知道腓利有一颗爱人灵魂的心，于是祂便差他到撒马利亚人的中间。腓利传福音的方式，未必像司提反一样；他可能只用简单的言词，直截了当地向人传述基督能满足他们的内心需要，但无论如何，他却获得当地人的亲切回应。
你有没有觉察身边的人有甚么特殊需要？他们是否缺乏关怀？你能否透过耶稣基督的眼睛去察看他们的需要？你知道他们需要救主吗？你愿意去到他们中间，用爱心去帮助他们吗？你愿意向他们传讲耶稣基督和祂的拯救大能吗？无论你是在如今身处的境况，抑或神要带领你到别的地方，总而言之，神都希望使用你，像祂使用腓利一样，去向周遭的人传讲耶稣基督。今天，你是否愿意求神带领你去向人传福音呢？
反思：
透过基督的眼睛去察看人的需要，你就能成为一个有福音远象的人。
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.