Ethiopia

We have 2 of our church members in Ethiopia this week working with preachers from throughout Ethiopia.  These are Bob Owen and Steve Patton.  It is amazing how the gospel of Christ has been accepted in that country.  It seems much more readily accepted and growing there than in many other countries of the world, perhaps even in the U.S.  We were once a Christian nation, but more and more we are getting away from that.  Unless that changes it will likely be the downfall of our nation--just my prediction.  I digress.

The point of this lesson is that it was the command of Jesus to His disciples just before He left them that they were to spread the Word.  Note this teaching at the very end of Matthew:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been to given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Then in the first chapter of the book of Acts, just before Jesus ascends to heaven, He gives this statement to His apostles:

"...you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

At the beginning of Acts 8 we read that this spread of the gospel begins:  On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria."

The book of Acts chronicles the growth of the church throughout the known world at that time.  And speaking of Ethiopia, there is an interesting story at the end of chapter 8 of Acts that tells of a Jewish man who came up from Ethiopia and was converted to Christ.  I will let you read that one on your own if you wish, but it is an interesting read of a conversion.

The charge of Jesus was made primarily to His apostles.  But we know that He expected this effort to continue long after the apostles were dead and gone.  It is up to us now to see that the Word is spread throughout the world.  We can do this at home and abroad.

Let's do our part.  Thanks for reading and have a great week!