The Exciting Life of Philip the Evangelist
Thanks to Hilda’s much loved friend, Darlene, for igniting this post.
A relationship with Father, Son and Spirit is what the early disciples enjoyed and it’s for us too. It goes beyond just the 12 disciples, or 120 in the upper room.
The Lord was speaking to me this morning from Acts 8, with the ministry of Philip. This was not the same Philip who was one of Jesus’ original 12 disciples. This Philip was a deacon, chosen along with Stephen and 5 others to help the apostles take care of the needs of the early church.
Like Stephen, God used Philip (the Evangelist) greatly. He, along with many of Jesus’ followers fled Jerusalem to escape Paul who was persecuting the early Christians. Philip E. went to the Samaritans, to their capital of Samaria.
Acts 8:5-8 (NKJV) says…
“5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
God Uses Ordinary People Like You and Me
Love that God used a person, who was led by the Holy Spirit, to help these people through miracles of healing and deliverance. Then there was “great joy in that city.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have God use us that way, so that our city was so affected by the presence of Jesus that there was great joy?
What was Philip teaching that caused such a turning to Jesus among these people? I want to focus on teaching about Jesus, so that listeners turn to Jesus! I want to see healings and deliverances in Jesus Name.
Acts 8:12 (NKJV) says…
“12 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.”
It became such a big thing as people turned to Jesus and were baptized, that Peter and John came from Jerusalem to see what was going on.
Acts 8:14-17 (NKJV) says…
“14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
The Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus
So preaching the kingdom of God (about King Jesus and our invitation to be part of His Kingdom) and the name of Jesus Christ (the authority given by Jesus to ask the Father for anything, i.e. healing, deliverance and more), and then the Holy Spirit coming on the Samaritans as Peter and John prayed for them. This was the message that Philip, and then Peter and John shared.
This is so exciting. God is not a God of formulas, but He has given to us His Word. The Name of Jesus is what makes a difference in our prayers. Jesus has given us the authority to pray to The Father in His name. I’ve been learning to do that lately, and am seeing more answers to my prayers. There are so many verses in the New Testament about the power and authority of the Name of Jesus.
Jesus is the Only Hope for Our World
It’s all about sharing Jesus, what He did, and what He said, that impacts people. Our world needs Hope and Jesus is that Hope. He is our Life. He is the only one who can give eternal life and help us in this life.
And Philip’s adventures continue in Acts 8:26 …
“26 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.”
Philip is told by an angel to go somewhere far away, and he does so, and the good news of Jesus is spread through an authority of their queen, into the land of Ethiopia (Africa).
Later in Acts 8 we find out, Philip is caught away by the Holy Spirit to far away Azotus, and then he preached about Jesus in many more cities.
“39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.”
What type of person was Philip? No Bible College or Seminary grad. Not one of the 12 apostles. He was chosen to serve the widows as a help to the apostles, who dedicated themselves to teaching and prayer. But, Philip was filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. He preached the Name of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. As he did so, people were healed, set free, became believers in Jesus and were baptized. This teaching about our wonderful Saviour, King Jesus, turned the city upside down and brought great joy to that city!
The leaders in Jerusalem heard of what was happening, that people received the Word of God (that would be “Jesus” – the Bible had not been written yet – it was all about sharing “Jesus”). So the apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria. They prayed for the new believers, and the new believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was lifted up in the eyes of non-Jews, and doing so changed their world. It was sparked by the Holy Spirit working through an obedient person named Philip.
I WANT THAT TOO. TO SHARE JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM !! HOW ABOUT YOU ??
Jesus loves you, my friend. You can have a relationship with Him. Believe on Jesus as your Saviour today, as the people in Samaria did. Then you become a part of the Kingdom of God. 🙂
Your friend,
Harold
P.S. The picture of Philip and the Ethiopian leader is not my artwork. It sure is good. 🙂
