Acts 8:1-8 Living with Purpose August 22-23, 2020 Ryan Pfeiffer NCCC In a time when the believers could no longer meet together as they were used to… while they were being killed, arrested, tortured and scattered… … Where Satan meant to DESTROY THE CHURCH (VS 3) The church flourished! Quite literally— in death no less— the church exploded with new life. HOW?!! How did Philip not get stuck in the scarcity from all he had to leave behind… and somehow tap into some hidden source of immeasurable abundance? FOCUS: When we have clarity and commitment to our LIFE PURPOSE… we find ourselves anchored/ grounded in something that doesn’t change even when our circumstances do. WHAT is that PURPOSE? It’s a 3-fold Purpose.

1. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: to know Him by first- hand experience. Holy Spirit: Acts 2 (filled), 3,000 repented—> Believed—> Filled! Holy Spirit: Acts 8: Vs 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road…”. Where!? Philip doesn’t know! God does! Vs 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Vs 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away.

2. DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER: The Family of God. When a family is divided within itself- it falls: But if UNITED in love, humility and truth- it STANDS- even if persecuted and scattered!

3. SCATTERED BUT FLOURISHING! Even though they’re scattered and can’t meet together the way they’re use to: Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. What kept them connected? COMMITMENT to a COMMON CAUSE. OUR MISSION is to REVEAL the Good news about Jesus in words, deeds, and power by the Holy Spirit.

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Good news = The life and presence of Jesus. OUR CAUSE OVERFLOWS FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND DEVOTION TO COMMUNITY. AND OUR CAUSE PUSHES US TO DEPEND ON GOD and our COMMUNITY MORE. When we LOSE SIGHT of our CAUSE: We turn on ourselves… petty debates and arguments. We become more focused on ourselves… We get hijacked/ co-opted by lesser causes. Beneath the dignity of your TRUE identity as a child of God. APPLICATION: Where do you need a reset? Relationship with God!? Devotion to the Family of God? Commitment to our COMMON CAUSE.