The evangelist, the charlatan, and the convert (2)

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:4-8

So… what do we know about Philip, the man at the heart of this remarkable revival in Samaria?

We saw last time that this isn’t the Philip who’s one of the twelve apostles, but the Philip chosen by the early church as one of the seven “deacons” (Acts 6:1-6). Taking Acts 8 as a whole there’s a lot we can learn from him – and a lot to admire…

First, he is a man of several parts.

Those verses in Acts 6 tell us that he and his colleagues were chosen “to wait on tables” (verse 2) - which probably covers various jobs to do with practical matters, administration and money - leaving “the Twelve” to concentrate on “the ministry of the word of God”. The apostles had their priorities right.

Yet here in chapter 8 we find him preaching the gospel and leading a dramatic spiritual revival. (And where we meet him again in chapter 21 he is described as “Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven”.)

The point being that whatever else he was, he was far more than simply a “waiter on tables” (wishing no respect here to waiters!).

In some churches a division is made between the “spiritual” leaders (perhaps called “elders”?) and the “practical” leaders (“deacons”?), with the implication that the nuts and bolts people don’t have to be as “spiritual” as the eldership. But Philip (and Stephen, come to that) make it clear that this is wrong.

The basic principle is simple: anyone shouldering responsibility in church life should be of the highest spiritual character: to borrow the words of Acts 6:3, “full of the Spirit and wisdom”.

So… No two-tier leadership!

Second, he is open to God’s leading.

In chapter 8 Philip does quite a bit of moving around. In verse 5 he moves from Jerusalem to Samaria. In verse 26 he is told by an angel to leave Samaria and head for “the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza”. In verse 29 he is told by the Spirit to “go to that chariot and stay near it”. And in verse 40 he “appears at Azotus” and preaches the gospel “in all the towns until he until he reaches Caesarea”.

You can look at a Bible dictionary if you want to find out where those places are. But the point is this: if God said go, Philip went. The original journey to Samaria seems to have been dictated by circumstances – the scattering after Stephen’s death – but then it’s “an angel” who directs him (why did God choose to use an angel, we wonder?), then “the Spirit” (verse 29), and, to finish off, some unspecified but possibly miraculous mode of transport (verse 39).

Most Christians find that being sure of God’s guidance can be difficult (the occasional angel would come in handy!). But still, our Father God is a God who guides and directs his people. Our business is to follow his direction, even in the rather more routine circumstances of our lives.

Do we, like Philip, have the spiritual antennae to pick up, through prayer or conversation – or simply through circumstances – what he wants us to do?

This is the secret of a useful and satisfying life – to pray simply “Father, what do you want me to do and where do you want me to go?” and then to respond accordingly. It may be to go to some distant part of the world. Or to pop across the road to see a neighbour. But remaining fairly and squarely within the will of God is key.

So… Walk with God day by day!

Third, he knew his Bible.

Philip “proclaimed the Messiah” in Samaria (verse 5). And then, in a complete change of gear, he explained the scriptures one-to-one to the Ethiopian (verse 35). He didn’t, of course, have the whole Bible, as we do. But it’s clear that he was knowledgeable enough to convince both large crowds and an audience of one.

God doesn’t expect us all to be theologians or preachers. But being useful to him does require a working knowledge of the Bible. And there is no short cut to that: it requires patient, careful, disciplined reading day by day.

So… Is that part of the pattern of our lives?

Fourth, God gifted him with spiritual power.

Let’s leave Philip where we first met him, in Samaria (verses 4-8). Luke tells us about “the signs he performed” as well as the gospel he preached. There were dramatic healings and alarming exorcisms – all sufficient to set a whole city on fire.

We probably don’t expect that kind of result when the gospel is preached in our day – and, let’s be honest, we possibly wouldn’t entirely welcome it if it happened! But often we settle for something far less: a bland and innocuous teaching of God’s word, accompanied by a vague prayer that God will use it. (I’m very much speaking to myself here.)

Have we lost any expectation of the power of the Holy Spirit to work among us? True, we can’t have the Spirit to order. But we can pray and prepare in such a way as to make his coming possible. This is one of the greatest needs of the modern church. Power!

Jesus’ earthly ministry was accompanied by great displays of power. So were the events of the day of Pentecost. So were the Philip-led events in those remarkable days in Samaria.

So… Why not now? Why not where you and I live?

Thank you, Father, for your servant Philip the evangelist and the unknown numbers of Christians who, like him, have served you faithfully both in the glare of publicity and in personal relationships. Help me to be like him. Amen.