“So the word of God spread.  The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”  – Acts 6:7

The book of Acts records this same kind of experience again and again.  God’s word took the greatest leaps when His people were found doing what He commanded them to do.  In Acts 6, the Church had chosen its first deacons to facilitate ministry among those who were in need.  Because they did as Jesus had instructed, the Gospel spread.  In Acts 12:24, the Gospel began to spread because the church was faithful in the face of King Herod’s persecution.  In Acts 13:49, the Gospel began to spread when it was preached openly to the Gentiles.  In Acts 19:20, the Gospel began to spread because true believers were able to display miraculous spiritual gifts.  Over and over as we read, we find that obedience bears much fruit.

We live in a world where everyone is looking for something to believe in.  We have the true Gospel written on our hearts and we believe in the God who has provided that good news for us.  If we will be found faithful –  caring for one another, standing strong in the face of persecution, openly proclaiming Jesus Christ, and exercising our faith in Him – then the Gospel can spread from our community, into our county, and across our state, and beyond.  From there we can win our nation and our world.  Would you ever believe that your town or your church could be the epicenter of world-changing events?  It can.  It starts with you and me doing what God has commanded us to do.  The ripple flows out from there.  Just think of all the lives it can touch along the way.  And it all begins with our simple obedience to God’s Word.