THE MINISTRY OF PHILIP THE EVANGELIST
Acts 8:1-5
I. His Ministry was Born of Persecution Acts 8:1-3
A. Persecution is One of the Centrifugal Forces of Providence
B. We may be Propelled toward Missions by any number of Factors
1. Command
2. Conviction
3. Strategy
4. Necessity
5. Persecution
II. Philip’s Ministry was a Venture which invited more Persecution vv. 4-5
A. God’s Ways are not Our Ways
1. Sometimes God appears to show Greater Favor to His Enemies than His Friends
2. God wants people in Heaven I would rather see Left Behind
B. Under God’s Sovereignty Persecution and even Death become Instruments to Advance the Gospel
- Saul the Pharisee may kill a few, but Paul the Apostle will Save a Multitude
C. Persecution and Death are not to be Avoided if they lie in the path of Duty
“We are sometimes like Lot in Sodom or the Israelites in Egypt.
Though we claim to long for Canaan we falter at the time of departure.
What prince is content to live uncrowned?
What heir is disappointed when he is at last called to come and claim his inheritance?
Do we prize eternal life or do we count it a misery and burden?
Can we pretend to love Christ and yet perpetually dread His company?
What is the reason we so resist His hospitality? Is it excessive love of the world? What favors has the world done for us to make us prefer the world to Christ? The longer we live the more we sin. Have we not yet provoked the Lord sufficiently?
If it is not love of the world then it must be fear of death.
What cowardly argument inspires fear of an enemy so often vanquished by Christ and His saints? That great Goliath Death is now fallen. Christ has slain the Slayer. Come now and inspect the corpse. When Death makes its final assault remember, Christian, it is Death’s last gasp, not your own. Remember what Moses told the Israelites on the shore:
These Egyptians you see today, you will forever see no more.”
Thomas Manton (1620-1677)
Preaching in London 25 August 1651
At the funeral of Christopher Love
(paraphrased)
III. The Miracles God Sent were for the Deliverance of Unbelievers vv. 6-7
IV. Philip’s Ministry Brought Great Joy v. 8