Acts 8:26-40
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea
Psalm 113
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the Name of the Lord is to be praised!
The Lord is high above all nations,
and His glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
The Lord does astonishing things with water.
Ephesians 1:7
In Him
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace
Philip has 32 mentions in the Gospels and is gone forever after The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8.
Well, was Philip all that exciting? Yes, when we find Philip he is one of the very first, with Andrew, Peter's brother, to understand Jesus is God and sign on. John's Gospel, First Chapter. And important beginning. And one of the very, very, very first Jesus welcomes as His Disciple.
Jesus doesn't just tell Nathanael of his prayer, Jesus saw, Jesus tells Nathanael, He has seen Philip before they met. Powerful.
In fact, Philip is working so diligently on finding our Father, he insults Jesus, much, much further along in the 3rd final days of 3 years, to ask Him, in the Upper Room for Passover, where and when Jesus would show them The Father. Doesn't this make you think Philip is so intense, he might just suddenly find himself in Azotus, Israel. God gives people gifts and Jesus definitely shows us with, powerful preferment, Philip is very much on God's Radar. Philip is listed on the highest list of Jesus' chosen, several times in the New Testament.
Jesus goes on to let us know in the Scriptures, Philip is from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. These brothers, with their large, extended, live together family, lived quite, quite well in Capernaum. Jesus doesn't tell us everyone's background, but Jesus is telling us, He found Philip someone to know well on His God Radar for a very long time, indeed. Philip returns the favor, of longevity, and tells Nathaniel," This is the Messiah of God. The One Moses told us about."
Philip isn't discardable, easily to the Scriptures and... Poof - Gone. Enoch walked with the Lord and is gone. Philip asks Jesus, how will we afford to feed these people? Philip is probably, in the heart of Jesus, both practical in Philip's concern for the people and a little Jesus "overlooking" for lame, walk and blind, see. Philip is still wondering where the Father is. Like Mary, Philip isn't able to see, entirely, Grace upon Grace, God walks with us. Even, if like Mary, he has announced this profoundly from the first.
Is Philip so discardable? No, the Greek pilgrims - search for Philip to bring Jesus to them. They want Jesus to flee Herod and the trouble, to come to Greece with them to Teach and Live.
What did Philip do, telling us the Holy Spirit was dwelling in Philip?
Acts 8:6
And the crowds with one accord
paid attention to what was being said
by Philip,
when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip
as he preached good news about the kingdom of God
and the name of Jesus Christ,
they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13
Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip.
And seeing signs and great miracles performed,
he was amazed.
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use
whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God's grace
in its various forms.
The Lord tells us in the 8th Chapter of Acts of the Apostles, verse 2, the Lord had scattered the Apostles. And Philip was with those planning replacements of the Disciple Judas. Philip understood more would fill in the gap. And planned for the changes.
Are changes shown in the Bible? Acts 1 lists Philip with Bartholomew. This was an extreme distinction, this is the chapter Jesus' seamless family from Nazareth, becomes seamless again and joins with the Disciples and Mary in daily communion and prayers. Praying for Christ, Church and Christianity to continue.
Philip is placed beside Bartholomew more than any other Disciple. And we know Bartholomew will quit traveling with Paul to travel to India and many other places. In fact, there is a First Century Bible found in India recently, scholars believe to be the Bible of Bartholomew.
The Word of God is unique. God places people in the framework of importance. When we find Philip is in the first Chapter of John, we discover God's heart for Philip better. We know so much of David, and so little of the Disciples, yet the heart God has for Philip is very touching. The Scriptures are so real, we see the flaws in Mary, her philosophy and praise in Luke 1, telling us of growing up in her family that gives no warm nod to her own family. We see her hope and courage and honesty in the words of James and Jude. These are definitely, definitely, definitely flawed people. When Gandi said, I like your Christ, but not your christians. He might have gained more warmth to discover how flawed God sees us all, even the Great Ones.
Sign of the Times
This is important, not just for our self-esteem, to face God, as Isaiah did. But this is for these lava lamp times, Pandemic violence, crazy words, ideas that seem so harmful to even children, not to write off our Jesus Christ idea of the upbuilding of the Church, the Culture and our hope for mankind.
Mankind isn't newly flawed, but the pendulum swings back and forth in the Books of Kings and Chronicles. Mankind is loved through the Generations. Remember, both King Hezekiah and King Josiah were chosen, to literally, have the Temple cleaned. Due to neglect, profiteering and power of self. And King Josiah's generation was so far from Scripture, they knew they had found The Word of God, but were in awe because no one had told them.
Wow.
Actual First Century Israel Jars for Purification
When Mary asked Jesus to begin His Ministry, they used purification sized jars, huge jars, It's not just pleasant God was helping a young couple - marry - and have a party! It's significant, significant, significant - the first Joy of Jesus was a cleansing for the world.
Lord, we are grateful
grateful
grateful
to be Thankful
for
Jesus
Thank Jesus.
Abba, Father,
Thank You for Jesus Christ.
He is the Bread of Life.
We want to be One in that Number
when the Saints Go Marching IN
to Jesus.
Help us to remember like Jeremiah
and like Philip, not to disappear
and avoid going to Church.
The Church is flawed,
so are we,
and we all make
the Body of Christ.
The Church helps us
not to become
the warm water frog
boiled gently into oblivion.
Help us, we pray for Your Blessings,
Dwell in us
and those we love, earnestly pray for.
Help us to seek you first.
You are the Bread of Life,
Help us to have Your blessing to
have hearts pleasing to You
and the aroma of Love
Encouragement
Mercy
Hope
with all
good diligence.
Thank You, Father,
for our many blessings.
Help us to chose Your Joy
and to
see with willing hearts and eyes,
to be Blessing Seekers and Appreciators.
In Jesus Christ
Our Lord
Our Savior
Wonderful Jesus,
we find
Our Alleluia in You.
Amen.
Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of His might,
and because He is strong in power
not one is missing.
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