Tuesday, 30 June 2020 Acts 8:1-17
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.” - Acts 8:5
This chapter did not start on a great note. Everything stood against the church and their very security and safety was at stake. The persecution forced the united first church of Christ to be scattered. But this did not hinder the believers from preaching the gospel wherever they went resulting in great works of God by the end of the chapter.
Today’s reading focuses on one of the scattered believers, Philip and his ministry.
Uniqueness of his Life
We are introduced to him in chapter 6 where the Bible records him as one who had a good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and was picked to wait on tables (Acts 6:3,5). This as not a great task; he had no opportunity to show any of the qualities listed about him. But all that time as he waited on the tables, God was preparing him for a greater task.
Philip’s life can be compared to The Chinese bamboo tree. They say after it is planted, it does not show any growth above the soil for about four years. But in the fifth year, we see it growing to 80 feet tall in just three weeks. All this while it was deeply rooting itself to support its exponential growth.
That’s how we see God using Philip in Acts 8. God was working deeply in him to make him an instrument that would be the cause of change in many lives. You could be in a place of insignificance right now but remember, God is molding you to become his instrument elsewhere. Don’t miss the opportunity of getting deeply rooted in Him.
Uniqueness of the place of his ministry
In ancient times, the relationship between the Jews and Samaritans were strained. We read it in John 4 how Jesus deliberately made a detour through that region to meet one Samaritan woman, showing that His heart was for them. This love for these people was stated in Acts chapter 1:8 when Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witnesses not only in the Jewish towns but in Samaria too. Though the disciples were concentrated in the Jewish towns enjoying the fellowship with one another, God hadn’t forgotten Samaria. When He allowed the persecution to happen, the tight knit family was scattered causing the gospel to reach lives that were still in darkness. God chose Philip to go to the very place which once was a ‘NO GO’ zone.
The pandemic has caused many a disruptions, but it has also opened many avenues for us to preach Christ. May we like Philip reach out to many whom we could never have otherwise done and bring them into God’s marvelous light!
Uniqueness of His ministry
From obscurity to preaching to a multitude, to being sent to speak to one Ethiopian eunuch, Philip’s ministry touched many a lives in a short time! His message was very clear as stated in Acts8:5,12 – He preached things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. His speaking was accompanied by signs and wonders, that many were healed and set free. There was great revival in the city that brought it great joy.
Why could this happen? Because of…
One life that served tables with obedience to his call
One life that was willing to go to preach where the Lord wanted him to go
One life that preached The Truth completely that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on them
Jesus too lived in obscurity for 30 years before God brought Him out into the open. He also reached out to the rejected in society and began His ministry preaching the Kingdom of God. His solitary life changed the course of this world—His disciple followed Him in the same manner.
What would He say about us?
Quote for today: “All heroes are shadows of Christ.” ~John Piper
Listen: ‘One Life!’
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