Learning from Acts -- Part 4

This is Part 4 in "Learning from Acts", for Part 1, click here. For Part 2, click here. For Part 3, click here.

Philip's Ministry and Simon the Sorcerer

• The persecution of the Church was meant to harm, but it only increased the number of people who heard the Word of God.
• "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." -- 8:4
• Philip was one of those who preached wherever he went.
• He went to Samaria where people paid close attention, one of those was Simon the Sorcerer, or Magician.
• Smion had many convinced that he was the Great Power, full of divine power.
• "...and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, 'This man is the divine power known as the Great Power'. They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic." --  8:10-11
• Then, they saw the work of Philip, including Simon, and were baptized.
• Peter and John came and prayed over them, to receive and have the Holy Spirit.
• Simon saw this and offered money in exchange for this ability.
• "When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'" -- 8:18
• Peter told him that his money was no good and that he had no share in the ministry, that his heart wasn't right with God. -- 8:20-21
• He told Simon to repent and pray to the Lord for forgiveness. -- 8:22
• Commentators argue whether this means Simon had true faith the first time.
• When we have a change in faith, we should have an urge to change our old ways. Sin should grieve our hearts to the point where we run from it. Simon didn't seem to show this as he tried to offer money for the apostles' ability.
• Philip continued on his way where the Lord told him to go.
• On his journey, he met an Ethiopian who had been in Jerusalem to worship.
• Philip felt the Spirit tell him to go and stay near the chariot the Ethopian was in.
• Philip obeyed and heard the man reading Isaiah.
• He asked if the man understood what he was reading and the man said, how could he know unless someone explained it to him. -- 8:30-31
• Philip explained what he had been reading.
• The passage in Isaiah which he was reading was the perfect lead for Philip to tell the Ethopian about Jesus.
• This is what the passage says that he was reading:
• "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humilation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." -- Isaiah 53:7,8
• Philip witnessed to the man and he believed and wanted to be baptized.
• As they were traveling, they came upon some water.
• Which was amazing in itselft. They were traveling through the desert, near Gaza. Which was the last watering place between Jerusalem and Egypt.
• Philip baptized the Ethopian and when they came out of the water, Philip was no longer with the man, but in another city.
• The Ethopian continued back on his way home and he rejoiced for all that happened to him.
• "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing." -- 8:39

Philip's life and ministry is a great example of how our ministry to people should be. Philip was an ordinary man, who believed in Christ and ministered wherever he went. We don't have to feel the call to be a minster, missionary, or Sunday School teacher to preach the Word of God. But as Christians, we are called to spread the Word, no matter where we are. Our mission field is where we are in this moment. Whether it be a student, stay at home mom, doctor, banker, teacher, or construction worker. As believers in Christ, we are called to live out the Great Commission.

"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." -- Matthew 28:19-20

And like Philip, we encounter people who have fallen into many different beliefs. People who try to find satisfaction in other things, in anything but Christ. There are people who claim to be God and have divine power. But we know that they aren't true. We know and trust that there is only One Great and True God. He is the Creator and holds all the power. He is the true Great Power.

Another great thing we can see in this passage is the working of the Holy Spirit and how He leads us to where we need to be. He led Philip to the Ethiopian who was reading a passage about Jesus. What a great and perfect opportunity to preach the Good News! And also to be on a road where there was water, in a land that is mostly desert! The Holy Spirit was definitely leading Philip. And He also leads us. He intercedes for us and puts us where we need to be. We have the promise that we will never be put in a situation that we cannot handle. God works for the good of those who love Him.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -- Romans 8:28

We are called to preach the Word, to carry it wherever we are. To share and show the love of Christ to all we encounter. Our mission field is the world in which we live. But, we also shouldn't stay in our comfort zone. There are many who haven't heard of Christ before. Who is going to tell them if we don't fulfill our call to go and tell them. We need to be in unity with Christ, and the Spirit, who have us in Their control. They will not let us fall. There will be those who reject and ridicule us, those who throw us aside and keep on going. They aren't rejecting us, but the Truth. They are rejecting Him. But we shouldn't be discouraged. As long as we obey and plant the seed, God Himself will continue to water the seed. Our job is done. He changes the heart, He pursues the relationship.

Any work that we do for the Lord is not void. All of it is for the glory of God. All we do, should be done in a way to exalt Him. I pray that we begin to glorify Him in all we do. Let us exalt Him, no matter where we are. We worship the Sustainer of Life.

What do we have to lose?