Riot To Rival | Drench Series

Heavens. Two Intersecting Realms. Earth. We are the community that aligns these realms.

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone
in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Stephen showed them a God they had never met through his human face.
Stephen announced that two things would change:
1. The Location Of God. 2. How We Relate To God

You were created to mirror heaven’s realities on earth. What you behold you worship.
When you reflect God rightly, creation responds correctly.

The gospel delivers you into God's unfailing and unveiled approval.
The same glory that the Father has for the Son, the Father has of you.
You were designed as His image bearer to be able to reflect His approval of you on your face to
redeem creation.

Acts 8:1-40 “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. And
devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women,
committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the
word.”

Turn Setbacks Into Launchpads
Parent eagles disturb the nest and push the young off the cliff.
“Difficulties break some men but make others.” Nelson Mandela
Recklessly stomping on a fire!

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with
one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For
unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who
were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain
man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of
Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the
greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’ And they heeded him because he had
astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the
things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were
baptized.

Grace Loves Honouring Outcasts
John 4:4 “But He (Jesus) needed to go through Samaria.”
Great Joy is on the other side of your inner transformation.
Who’s on your “Wrong People” list?

Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was
amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at
Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who,
when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had
fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid
hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit And when Simon saw (BANG) that through the
laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, …

The Sprit In You Must Rise Upon You
Acts 19:2 "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?”
“The Holy Spirit is in me for my sake. He comes upon me for the sake of others.” Bill Johnson
Inward experience but no visible power.

‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter
said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be
purchased with money!’ You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in
the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of
your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have
spoken may come upon me.” So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they
returned to Jerusalem, …

Grace Delivers And Secures Identity
“The gospel dethrones pride not to humiliate, but to heal.” John Stott
Grace delivers from the counterfeit and imparts the REAL thing.
1 John 4:4 “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” PHILIP

…preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority
under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to
Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him
reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How
can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice
was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or
of some other man?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus
to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here
is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’
Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and
the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the
water, …

Grace Rushes Into The Desert Place
From the crowd to the individual.
Philip isn’t chasing opportunity he is simply following the presence.
“The Spirit choreographs salvation with masterful detail.” F.F. Bruce

the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his
way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities
till he came to Caesarea.”

Grace Outpaces Religious Devils
“Acts shows a gospel that leaps over human barriers and outruns human categories.” Michael Green
Philip, one person, took Good News to the uttermost parts of the earth.

What looked like the end of the church was actually the launch party for the mission to the
nations.
Acts 8 The wind of the Spirit is going global, scattering seed.