Dear Everyone,

 

I will have a break over July and August. Will start posting again in September.

 

Have a great summer!!

Philip baptises the Dignitary: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/9

                                           Read Part One HERE   

                                   

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART VIII - VII

"I, Philip, had gone to the Desert Road at the direction of the Lord.... There I had spotted a chariot.... An Ethiopian eunuch was travelling in it.... He had been to Jerusalem.... But was now on his way back home.... While travelling he was reading from the Book of Isaiah.... But he did not understand it... So he invited me to join him in his chariot.... I explained to him who this passage was about.... And I then shared the gospel with him... He gladly accepted the fact that Jesus had died for his sins....I explained to him as well the importance of water baptism... As it happened we passed by some water.... He stopped the chariot... And I baptised him there and then... Afterwards he continued his journey home... No doubt, he will share with others at the court of Queen Candace what has happened to him.... God will obviously use him as His tool to spread the gospel in that nation.... As for myself, I was taken away by the Holy Spirit... I ended up in Caesarea where I still am.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the water baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch....

               ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART VIII - VII

The Ethiopian euchuch believed the gospel message preached to him by Philip and asked to be baptised as you can read in Acts 8:36-38

As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptised? And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him.

After the man was baptised, we would expect Philip to stay with him for a little while at least to continue teaching from the Word of God since the man would have little knowledge of God's Word. But that is not what happened for, according to the Holy Spirit, Philip's task was done and the Holy Spirit had other work for him to do so He took him away to another place as you can read in Acts 8:39-40

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. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all towns until he reached Caesarea.

The Ethiopian eunuch went back into his chariot after he had been baptised to continue his journey home. As for Philip, the Holy Spirit deported him to Azotus and from there on he visited other towns in the regions to share the good news of the Lord Jesus

Philip explains the gospel to the Dignitary: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/8

 

                                           Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART VIII - VI 

"I, Philip, had been sent by an angel of the Lord to the Desert Road... When I got there I noticed a chariot.... The Holy Spirit told me to get near to it.... So I did..... As I got closer to it I noticed a man sitting in the chariot....He was reading a passage from the Bible.... It was clear he did not understand what he was reading...But this passage was very familiar to me.... For it was about the Messiah.... I then realised why the Lord had led me to the Desert Road... It was so that I could present the gospel to this man... He had come all the way from Ethiopia..... And he was on his way back there....Only God could have arranged the details of our meeting.... And He had made sure I was at the right spot at the Desert Road just when the chariot was driving past.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Philip's meeting with an Ethiopian eunuch.....

 

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                            PART VIII - VI

When Philip got close to the chariot he heard a man reading a particular passage from the Book of Isaiah as you can know from Acts 8:32-33

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: 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 humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.

This passage can be found in Isaiah 53:7-8

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgement he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living....

It is clear that this man did not understand what he was reading so Philip joined him in his chariot, explained the passage to him and shared the gospel with him.

Read Part Nine HERE

                

                                             

Philip meets a Dignitary: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/7

                                           

                                             Read Part One HERE

                                    A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          ART VIII - V

"I, Philip, had left the town in Samaria, where I had been ministering... I did so beause an angel had appeared to me... And he had told me to go to the Deseert Road.. .. He had not told me why I should go there.... And I did not ask him... I knew one thing though... I knew I should go to the Desert Road.... For I was confident that God had a reson for me to go there... And I believed I would find out why I was to be there once I got there.... I was right... For once I got there I spotted a chariot.... It was quite far off... So I waited for it to come closer....Once the chariot came nearer,  the Holy Spirit spoke to me... He told me to get near to it and to stay near it.... So I did.... I noticed someone in the chariot.... He looked very important... And he was reading a scroll."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn who Philip met on the Desert Road....

                     ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                            PART VIII - V

As Philip walked on the road he had been directed to, the Holy Spirit spoke to him and told him to go to a chariot that was on that road, and Philip did so. He did not question the Holy Spirit as to why he had to leave his successful place of ministry where he had manistered to the many to now minister to just one person. Philip simply obeyed as you can read in Acts 8:27-29

So, he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important officail in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen  of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it".

The one person Philip met was a very important person from Ethiopia. He had been visiting Jersualem and was on his way home. 

Read Part Eight HERE

Philip is given a new assignment: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/6

                                             Read Part One HERE

                                A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART  VIII - IV

"We, the believers in Samaria, just had a quick meeting with Philip... He told us the following... "I had planned to go out to do evangelism work today... But while I was getting ready, an angel appeared.... He told me to go to the Desert Road.... I am not exactly sure who I should go there.... Nevertheless, I believe I should obey.... So I am leaving right now.... I hope to come back to you afterwards.... But it will depend on what the Holy Spirt has for me to do next.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about Philip's encounter with an angel..

 

 

                 ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS                                         

                                                     PART VIII - IV

 It is very clear that Philip had a very successful ministry in that particular town in Samaria. We can, therefore expect the Holy Spirit to want him to stay on so that even more people can become believers. However, that is not what happened as you can read in Acts 8:26

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

We can well imagine Philip saying to the angel, "Thank you, angel, for your message. Do you know by any chance what I am to do there?.... You don't know. Never mind, I am sure it is very important. So let me have a look at my diary to see when I have some time. Oh, I see that I have three days of important evangelistic meetings planned. We have invited many people to attend, and we believe that many people will respod to the messages that will be preached. Moreover, we believe that many people will be healed and delivered.... Excuse me, angel. you mean I have to go right away? But what about these meetings?And what about the people who have helped me organise these meetings? They will be very upset with me if I do not show up for them. In fact, they may be so upset that they will never want to work with me again.".... But that is not what Philip said. On the contrary, Philip simply obeyed the words of the angel and set of for the Desert Road, now knowing what he was to do there....

Read Part Seven HERE

                 

Once a Sorceror always a Sorceror: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/5

 

                                            Read Part One HERE

                                           A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART VIII - IIIA 

"I, Philip, am so delighted with the visit of Peter and John.... We have had such sweet fellowship since their arrival a few days ago.... They were so thrilled to learn that so many people in Samaria have become believers... They then laid hands on all the believers for them to become empowered by the Holy Spirit... And we all witnessed that did happen.... However, very sadly, something happened that was extremely upsetting....For Simon, the one who used to be a sorcerer, offered Peter and John money... He thought that by paying them a sum of money he would be able to do what he saw them doing...I was so shocked when I heard what he said to Peter and John... For I know that God's gifts are freely given and cannot be bought.... Thankfully, the Holy Spirit gave Peter wisdom in knowing what to say to Simon in response.... He and John are now returning to Jersusalem."....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what Simon offered Peter....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART VIII - IIIA

One of the believers, Simon, witnessed Peter and John laying hands on the believers in order for them to receive the empowering of the Holy Spirit. He was so impressed by what he saw that he offered to give them money so he might have the ability as well as you can read in Acts 8:18-19 

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying of 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."

Peter's answer shows that he was very upset with Simon's request for Peter knew that gifts from God are freely given as you can read in Acts 8:20-23

Peter answered; "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart."....

All of us, as believers, will have to pass the "money test." Sadly, Ananias and Sapphira did not pass the "money test" as we know from Acts 5 where we learn that both died as a result of lying to the Holy Spirit. It seems, Simon did not pass the "money test" either for we do not read of him repenting. He simply asked Peter to pray for him as you can read in Acts 8:24

Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

We do not know if Simon at a later point in his life repented of his sinful activity but at this moment he seems to only be worried about any possible consequences.

Read Part Six HERE

 

Some Special Visitors from Jerusalem: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/4

                                           Read Part One HERE  

                                A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART VIII - III

News travels fast, doesn't it?.... For I, Philip, found out that the Apostles in Jerusalem had already learned what had happened here in Samaria... And they were very excited that so many people here have come to faith in Christ Jesus... Peter and John have now come over to meet with these new believers... They are thrilled that so many people have become believers and have been healed and delivered... And I told them that they have all been baptised in the Name of Jesus.... Peter and John then prayed for the believers.... And they laid hands on each believer in order for them to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.... Just as they themselves had been empowered by the Holy Spirit at the Day of Pentecost.... What a wonderful day that was."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the visit of Peter and John to Samaria....

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                                                             PART VIII - III

The news of what was happening travelled all the way back to Jerusalem so that even the twelve Apostles, who had remained in Jerusalem, heard that many people in Samaria had become believers in Jesus because of the preaching of Philip. No doubt, they were thrilled with that great news. However, they knew as well that they needed to make sure that what was happening over there was truly a work of the Holy Spirit so Peter and John went to visit Samaria as you can read in Acts 8:14-17

When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptised into the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

After Peter and John arrived in Samaria, they realised that the people who had been ministered to by Philip had become genuine believers and the Holy Spirit was residing on the inside of them. But these believers had not yet been empowered by the Holy Spirit in order for them to be able to fulfill the task that God had for them. Therefore, Peter and John prayed over these believers in Samaria so they too would receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit just as the believers in Jersusalem had received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit at the Day of Pentecost.

Read Part Five HERE

A Baptismal Party in Samaria: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/3

                                           Read Part One HERE 

                               A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART VIII - IIA

This morning we had a very special occasion .... Many of the new believers in Samaria were baptised.... You can imagine that we celebrated that event....Philip baptised all the new believers.... Among those baptised was a man named Simon... He used to be a sorcerer....He is well known in Samaria.... He called himself great.... But then he saw the miracles that Philip was able to perform... However, Philip performed these miracles in the Name of Jesus...It seems Simon noticed the difference between what he had done and what Philip had done....And he has become a follower of Jesus.... That meant, of course, that he had to give up his magic tricks.... Otherwise Philip would not have baptised him."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of a man named Simon....

     

                    ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART VIII - IIA

One of the people in Samaria who heard Philip preach was a man named Simon. He was a sorcerer and had influenced many people there because of his magic as you can read in Acts 8:9-13

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the diving power known as the Great Power." They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptised and he followed Philip everywhere, asthonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

It seems Simon had a genuine encounter with the Lord Jesus after he had heard Philip preach, and had given up his occult practices. His genuine conversion seems to have been confirmed by the fact that he had been baptised.

Read Part Four HERE

Some Believers have gone to Samaria: Ministry Beyond Jerusalem P/2

    

                                         Read Part One HERE

                                         A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                               PART VIII - II

We, a group of believers, miss being with our friends in Jerusalem... But we know that God has a reason for us to be in Samaria.... We could have chosen to live a quiet life....After all, we have just fled persecution in Jerusalem.... But I am glad to say, we have not....Philip, with whom we have come, has begun to preach.... And to our amazement, many people have responded favourably to his message.... Many people have been healed as well....It is very clear that God is at work even among the Samaritans.... Who would have thought that could happen?... It is true, of course, that Jesus did go to Samaria.... While there, He spoke with a Samaritan woman.... And through her the whole town came to faith in Jesus.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn more about Philip's ministry....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOKOF ACTS

                                                              PART VIII - II

Someone named Philip ended up in a city in Samaria. Philip is first mentioned in Acts 6:5

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

We would expect, Philip to, at least initially, live a quiet life so that no one would find out who he was and why he had gone to Samaria. After all, he had just had to flee Jerusalem because of the persecution that had broken out there. But is that the lifestyle he chose? Let's read Acts 8:5-8 to find out.

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and crippled were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

 Far from being quiet, Philip began to minister publicly right away. And the Holy Spirit empowered him to not only be able to clearly preach the Good News about Jesus Christ, He empowered him to do many miracles so that many people were healed and delivered. What an excting time that was for the people in Samaria. 

Read Part Three HERE