First, we’re going to suffer for preaching the gospel. Acts 8:1-2, “And Saul approved of Stephen's execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.” There is no way around suffering, and we cannot concern ourselves with that. We must stand up and preach Christ. We’ve been commissioned by God.

Secondly, persecution is an opportunity! Acts 8:4, "So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news." When a door shuts here, then we go there. It is not time to call it quits. God commanded us to preach to the whole world, so let nothing stop our mission [Matt 28:18-20]. We can’t say, “Others will do it.” We must do what we can. Every believer is to spend his life advancing the gospel. We have a cause!

Thirdly, Christ is the message of the gospel - not morality or miracles. Acts 8:5, “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.” Christ is whom we preach. He is the wisdom and power of God. He must be set forth in the gospel for God to work!

Wherever Christ is preached in power, He works. Acts 8:7, “For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.” Christ works to blind and harden, but He also works to show mercy. He delivers sinners from slavery to sin. Oh, how wonderful! Our relationship with God is healed. Christ’s stripes took our wounds and gave us righteousness by faith. God works in us by the Spirit to live godly. We now walk with God, when we could not previously, and the result is joy [vs8]!

Fourthly, Christ delivers us from bondage to false prophets. Acts 8:9-10, “But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’” We see that Christ is great, and He is the center, as the Holy Spirit works by Him. We taste power and know acceptance with God. The finished work of Christ, the joy of the Spirit, and the clear direction of the gospel enlighten us! We go from following men to following Christ alone. Our souls are liberated!

Finally, baptism is necessary in the gospel: it is commanded; it is how we confess Christ. Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Baptism is how we say, “I’m all in. Whatever the costs, I’m following Jesus. I’m dead to my self-rule, and I live by God’s power. I have an entirely new life."