Breaking Barriers 2

It is difficult to be a manifestation of Christ to someone if you fear them or hate them. You don’t have to understand them, but you need to be willing to understand them. What do they fear? What do they hate? What do they value?

After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, at this time are You restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:3-8 HCSB ©®)

Barrier 2: between Jews and Samaritans when persecution broke out.

In chapters 6 & 7 of Acts of the Apostles, Luke recorded the empowerment of 7 young men to supernatural works when the Holy Spirit filled them as the apostles laid hands on them to appoint them with authority over a meals distribution ministry. Stephen, one of the 7, was murdered by Jewish national leaders for his powerful ministry.

Stephen’s death opened a flood of attempts by unbelieving Jewish leaders to persecute servants of Jesus. Saul of Tarsus was a major player in the persecution. Followers of Jesus were scattered out of Jerusalem, leaving the apostles behind there.

Luke recorded in chapter 8 how Philip went to a town in Samaria and lead the entire population to believe in Jesus as he performed miracles among them and told them the truths related to Jesus being a King and a Savior.