When Persecution Comes Acts 21:27-40
March 20, 2021 Pastor: Terry Embke Series: Book of Acts
Topic: Book of Acts Passage: Acts 21:27–40
032121- “When Persecution Comes” Acts 21:27-40. Five men entered the jungle in search of a savage tribe . . . and never returned. In January 1956, a tragic story flooded headlines around the world. Five men, spurred by a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ, ventured deep into the jungles of Ecuador. Their goal: to make contact with an isolated tribe whose previous response to the outside world had been to attack all strangers. At an agreed-upon time, their five young wives sat by their radios, waiting for a message that never came. . . . "Through Gates of Splendor, " the story of Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Jim Elliot, was first recorded in 1956 by Jim's widow, Elisabeth. Decades later, its story of unconditional love and complete obedience to God still inspires new readers. This story challenges the readers and forces them to ask, "How much would I give for the advancement of the kingdom of God?" "Through Gates of Splendor" has become the best-selling and most powerful missionary story of the twentieth century.
From the book-“My very dear child, What shall I say? A holy and good God has covered us with a very dark cloud. O that we may kiss the rod, and lay our hands on our mouths! The Lord has done it. He has made me adore His goodness, that we had him so long. But my God lives; and He has my heart. O what a legacy my husband, and your father, has left us! We are all given to God, and there I am, and love to be.” -Your ever affectionate mother" .... “I don’t think God merely tolerated my dad’s death. I don’t think He turned away when it was happening… I think He planned it. Otherwise I don’t think it would have happened.” -Steve Saint (Nate Saint's son).
Our Sermon In A Sentence: God Would Not Allow Evil In His Works Unless As The Supreme Good He Was Able To Bring Forth Good Out Of Evil. -Augustine (paraphrased). Acts 21:27-29 “As the seven days were about to end, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple complex”. Genesis 50:20 “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.” Persecution Often:Commences With A Fabrication, Crops Up From Religious Sources, Conceals God’s Sovereign Plan, Contributes Space To Testify. “Sometimes God Allows What He Hates To Accomplish What He Loves” -Joni Eareckson Tada
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