Title Acts 08:5-13 Philip's Mission
Contents Philip missionary (Acts 8:5-13)
“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to the people.” verse 5
“Believing that Philip was preaching concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they believed, and both men and women were baptized.” Verse 12
The text could be said to be the highlight of the Samaritan mission.
It is very meaningful in that the mission field moves from Jerusalem to Samaria and the center of gravity of the mission is the starting point for the Gentile missionary movement from the Hebrew apostles to the Hellenistic laity.
While examining the characteristics of Philip's mission in Samaria, I pray that it will become a new challenge and guide for all of us today who pray for world missions and regional prosperity with a missionary vision.
1. Philip's mission is God's mission strategy that is entirely led by the Holy Spirit.
If we look at chapter 8 of the text, there was great persecution (verse 1), and there was a great weeping (verse 2), and a demon came out with a loud noise (verse 7) and there was great joy (verse 8). ) is the power of God, which is called great (verse 10) and was amazed at the great power (verse 13), having great authority over all treasuries (verse 27).
Philip Then, the first thing that comes to mind is that he was a great evangelist who repented of Samaria and caused a great miracle.
But we must remember that Philip had no intention of doing this from the beginning. This is self-evident.
Stephen and Philip, at least, were not chosen as representatives of the Word. Those who have come down to Samaria now say, "Let's go and evangelize, let's preach the word." And they didn't come down, they ran away on a first-come, first-served basis because they were afraid of persecution. "Come, look at the great Philip!" that it cannot be
Because he didn't come down to do such a great thing.
He had neither the desire nor the will to do so. But it was this great thing that happened.
Paul also said this. See Gal 1:11-17.
I ran frantically to kill those who believed in Jesus, but "When the one who chose me and called me by grace is pleased to reveal his Son in me to preach to the Gentiles..."
1 Timothy 1:12-16. The Apostle Paul was not preparing to be used, but he said that he was a persecutor and a blasphemer.
Philip turned Samaria upside down. Because it was written by the Lord. Comparing Paul's or Philip's results with our beginnings is the same as solving the same exam questions for juniors and seniors. What we realize through Philip missions is that missions are entirely led by the Holy Spirit.
2. Philip's mission is God's mission strategy that transcends man.
It was difficult for Jews to enter Samaria. It was because of Jewish prejudice.
The Samaritans were despised and detested by the Jews.
No one wanted even the apostles to set foot on the land of Samaria.
But the scattered people went into Samaria and preached the gospel.
Jesus set the example first. (John 4) And Jesus introduced the Samaritan as the protagonist of a true neighbor. (Luke 10) And Jesus did not spare great praise for being the only Samaritan among the ten lepers who gave thanks to God and gave glory to God. (Luke 17) And what was the great mission given to the disciples before the final ascension?
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you; and you will come to Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and
You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth."
God's mission strategy is God's transcendent mission strategy that transcends prejudice, borders, and ethnic groups.
But from near to far to the ends of the earth. In mission theological terms, this
Same culture/ People like me, Similar cultures/ People similar to me, Other cultures/ People completely different from me
In Jerusalem, Judea is a homogeneous culture, Samaria is a quasi-culture, and in Roman Savannah at the end of the earth, it is a different culture.
In that sense, North Korea is a homogeneous culture in our missionary work in the Korean church. Similar cultures are China, Japan, and Mongolia. In particular, Mongolia is said to have the same seeds as us. When a baby is born, it is said that only Koreans and Mongolians have blue cheeks. If your baby doesn't have blue cheeks when he is born, it's not purebred. I think it was in this context that I was involved in the Altai Mission.
God's mission strategy is to transcend prejudice and go from homogeneous cultures to similar cultures and to other cultures. The result of the persecution was the beginning of missionary work, and the road of refuge and hardship became the road of missionary work.
I believe that the gospel is God's only way to break down the walls of borders, races, languages, and prejudices.
3. Philip's mission is God's mission strategy to spread only the Gospel.
Do not forget that what the Lord has asked us to be witnesses of Christ.
God's mission strategy led by the Holy Spirit is to preach only the gospel of Christ.
We must not fall into any academic theories, whether as a relief work or as a code of morals and ethics.
Verse 4 Those who were scattered went about preaching only the word of the gospel.
5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to the people.
Verse 12 Philip preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
25 Even the apostles preached the gospel in the villages of the Samaritans.
Verse 35 Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this writing, taught Jesus and preached the gospel.
Verse 40 Philip appeared in Asodo and passed through the cities, preaching the gospel.
"Believing in Jesus is a good thing. There's nothing bad about it. Everything he teaches is good."
You may be grateful for not being negative, but in fact, it is a blasphemy against the cross (the gospel).
The content of Philip's evangelism is clear. Verse 12, “I preached about the presence of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
What we cry out is the cross. Jesus Christ is his name. What is the relationship between the name and the kingdom of God? God mobilized power and miracles to believe in this fact and obtain salvation.
The demons go away. The lepers are cleansed and the lame rise.
Philip missions is God's mission strategy led by the Holy Spirit. Philip's mission is God's mission strategy that transcends man.
Philip missions is God's mission strategy to preach only the Gospel. However, the reward given to Philip cannot be found.
There's no such thing as a farewell party. (26:40) When and where will God show Philip the reward?
A missionary returns home after losing his family while doing missionary work in Africa...
What voice is God giving us this morning?