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A Man Involved In Missions
Contributed by Jesher Mark Santos on Dec 26, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: SOME GOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILIP: 1. SENSITIVE TO GOD’S CALL 2. AVAILABILITY TO SERVE GOD 3. INITIATIVE TO BE OF SERVICE
A MAN INVOLVED IN MISSIONS
Acts 8:25-30
Our model for our Mission is Philip, the Billy Graham of the first century. He was only a lay- person like most of us, and the principles we find in his life relate to every Christian.
God had been using Philip to spread the Gospel to many places in the area (v.25). His life had been going better, but suddenly, God step in with an unexpected directive (v.26).
Read!
SOME GOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILIP
I. SENSITIVE TO GOD’S CALL (V.26)
Out of the blue, God tells Philip to travel to the desert. No reason is given and no arrangements were made for someone to take his place. But there’s a command from God to follow.
Philip knew that to serve God better is to be sensitive to God’s call and follow him completely.
II. AVAILABILITY TO SERVE GOD
Sensitivity has a Siamese twins-AVAILABILITY!
Availability is not just good in hearing God’s call but a willingness to follow it when it comes.
Who would have thought it? Out there in the middle of nowhere was a political leader, riding his chariot, and reading the word of God? No one, but God could have known how receptive this mans was.
Philip didn’t know that the Ethopian was the reason for his unexpected journey. He simply was available to the Lord, who is in his sovereign plan caused the path’s cross.
III. INITIATIVE TO BE OF SERVICE
Still obedient, Philip follows the Holy Spirit’s direction.
Read verses 29-30
Philip didn’t wait for the man to learn out of his chariot, he took an initiative—carefully. He wasn’t out to impress or convince. He came graciously, with only one simple question: “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Then on Philip’s simple question, he gets a straight-forward answers that bring them to a good result. He wanted for an invitation to come and share what he knew about Scriptures.
Let us not wait the person to decide to attend our church and our Bible study. Lets simply invite them!