Scattered Seed

Philip was one of the seven chosen to serve the Church with the daily distribution of food to the widows in Jerusalem so that the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.  He is among the great cloud of witnesses who walked the Way before us and so his example is one we need to consider as we run the race set before us.  Philip was among the scattered seed through which the Gospel took root and began to grow.  So, what can we learn from Philip?

First of all, Philip was eager to serve.  Though Philip himself would prove to be an able preacher and through him God would do signs and wonders, he was willing to serve the Church in the food distribution to widows.  His desire was for the Gospel to be spread and so he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.  He was eager to serve so as to free up the apostles to pray and minister the Word.  And because of that, we read, “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.”

But the advancement of the Church drew an immediate, satanic counterattack. Stephen, one of the seven, was arrested, brought before the Sanhedrin and then executed and his death sparked a persecution under Saul.  Philip faced that persecution with courage.  Saul tried to terrorize the Church so they would renounce their faith, but Saul only spread the church for Philip didn’t respond with fear, but with faith and boldness.  We read in 8:4-5, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.”  Philip did not give in to intimidation.  He didn’t shrink back from opposition.  He trusted the Lord and kept right on doing he was called to do – to share the Good News of Jesus. 

And going into Samaria, Philip showed, not only courage, but a willingness to go outside of his comfort zone.  It is well known that there was hostility between Jews and Samaritans.  However, Philip went directly into Samaria “and proclaimed the Messiah there”.  I’m sure there were other places Philip would have felt more comfortable, but he chose to follow the leading of the Spirit, even outside of his comfort zone.  He chose to be light where it was dark. 

And Philip could go confidently because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit.  And so, at the prompting and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Philip “preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” and did many miraculous signs.  Jesus had told His disciples to wait until they were clothed with power from on high because the only way for them to accomplish what He was calling them to do was by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was because Philip was empowered that he was able to share.

And because Philip was attuned to the leading of the Spirit, he was ready for divine appointments.  That is what Philip’s interaction with the Ethiopian official was – a divine appointment.  An angel told Philip to go down to the southern road to Gaza.  Philip went there and met an Ethiopian official on his way back to the royal court.  And this man, who had been in Jerusalem to worship (probably for one of the feasts), just happened to be reading Isaiah and it just happened to be a Messianic prophecy and at that moment Philip just happened to be there to ask him what he was reading.  All that didn’t ‘just happen’.  It was a divine appointment.  God had opened the official’s heart; had led him to read Isaiah; and had brought Philip to explain it to him.  And Philip was ready He began with the very passage the man was reading and explained to him the Good News about Jesus.  Then they ‘just happened’ to pass by some water and Philip baptized him.  Immediately the Spirit led Philip away and the Ethiopian returned home rejoicing.  God orchestrated the lives of those two men to bring them together so that the Kingdom would advance as far as Ethiopia.  Philip was ready for divine appointments.

And finally, we see that Philip was committed to the Gospel.  He practiced Gospel living in serving the widows in Jerusalem and He preached the Gospel in Samaria, to the Ethiopian official and then, as we find in Acts 8:40, in all the towns until he reached Ceasarea.  And not only did he minister the Gospel to others, but he also taught his children.  For we discover later in Acts that Philip had four daughters who prophesied.  And so Philip’s commitment to the Gospel was not only passed on to Samaria and Ethiopia and the Judean coastline, but also to his children.  They walked in the footsteps of their father as he walked the Way.  They saw and emulated his commitment to the Gospel.

As we walk the Way, Philip is an example for us.

Are we eager to serve the Lord and His Church or only ourselves?  Do you make excuses for why you can’t serve?  Do you hold on to that “imagined Godly future” when things slow down; when work isn’t so hectic; when finances are better; when your list of things to do and to fix and to fix up gets done; when you’re in a better place emotionally and spiritually – you know – that future that will never happen?  Or are you eager to serve – now – not because your life is finally in order, but because Jesus is worth it?  Because His Kingdom is worth it?  Because His calling in our lives is worth it?  Because pleasing Him is worth it?  Because teaching kids about Jesus is worth it? Because leading a Bible Study for adults to learn and grow through is worth it?  Because helping those in need in Jesus’ name is worth it?  Are you eager to serve or eager to make excuses for why you can’t or don’t?

Do you face persecution with courage?  Do you face persecution at all?  In know in my life there have been far too many times when I have not faced persecution because I lacked the courage to really live all-out for Jesus.  I held back because I was afraid.  I’m sad to say that I still do.  May God give me – may God give us – courage to live all-out for Him and to face whatever may come our way as a result with faith and boldness!

Are you willing to go outside of your comfort zone?  Are you willing to be light where it is actually dark?  Not hanging around with other lights but being light where it is dark?  Are you willing to volunteer at local ministries?  Are you willing to enter that terrifying world of youth ministry?  Are you willing to speak to your colleagues and co-workers?  Are you willing to strive to love those who are really difficult to love – those who look different, speak differently, believe different things?  Are you willing to go beyond the bounds of where you feel comfortable?

Are you empowered by the Holy Spirit?  I read a great quote the other day which said, “Burnout takes place when the wick and not the oil is burning” (S. Pearlman in Fernando’s Jesus Driven Ministry).  We know that on our own, we can do nothing, but that doesn’t stop us from trying!  It’s no wonder we burn out.  For it is only when the oil of the Holy Spirit is burning through us that we can be effective for the Kingdom.  Are you relying on yourself or the Holy Spirit?

Are we ready for divine appointments?  How many of us go to work or school or the grocery store ready (perhaps praying for) divine appointments with other people - for God to bring is into contact with someone in need?  Someone who is lost?  For God to use us to tell another person of the hope we have in Christ?  Are you attuned to God?  Are you listening?  Are you prepared to give an answer for the hope you have?

And are you committed to the Gospel?  Do you look for opportunities to share it?  Is your life shaped by it – the way we think and live and work and talk and make decisions and spend our money and spend our time – are we shaped by the Gospel or by the stock market or by the rat race or by the talk shows or by the magazines in the checkout line or by the mall or my the news?  When people look at you, do they see a Gospel-shaped, Gospel-driven life?  When your children and grandchildren look at you do they see that?  Is the Good News of Jesus Christ the legacy you are leaving to your children?  Are you teaching them and setting an example for them to follow (or do you leave that up to the schools and the Disney channel?)  Are you fully committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or just kinda?

Are we, like Philip, scattered seed through which the Gospel takes root and grows and bears fruit in this world for the glory of the Lord?  If not, we’re missing out; we’re settling for less; we’re underemployed.  May God give each of us the grace to walk the Way, to run the race with eyes fixed on Jesus following the example of His servant, our brother, Philip.