A Man of God in the Church

Philip, the Evangelist

Acts 21:10

Intro:

When Paul was on his last journey before his arrest and transportation to Rome, he stopped several days at a home in Caesarea. It must have been a spacious home, and I'm certain it was a pleasant home. The entire party traveling with Paul were made comfortable there.

The name of the home's owner was Philip. Not Philip the Apostle, but Philip the evangelist— the same man who was chosen to be part of the first "church board" and serve tables, as recorded in Acts 6.

Even though Philip was called an "evangelist," I'm not sure he was an evangelist like we think of evangelists. He was a layman, not part of the recognized clergy. But he was chosen to a place of leadership because he was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.

We get the first glimpse of Philip in Acts 6, where he is chosen as one who help in practical ways within the church. Philip is the second deacon mentioned.

A second passage highlights two episodes of evangelism in which Philip had key roles. In Acts 8, Philip is used to spark a revival in Samaria, and then leads an Ethiopian official to faith in Jesus Christ.

The last passage in Acts 21 we have read. It mentions that Philip has four daughters, all of whom are prophetesses. You might say in summarizing this man of God's life that he was (1) a servant in the church; and (2) a witness to Jesus in the world; and (3) a Christian in his own home. It was because of men and women like this that the church of Jesus Christ changed the course of history.

I. PHILIP WAS A SERVANT IN HIS CHURCH

If the church is really a unit bound in the life and love of Christ, there is no room for rivalry, jealousy, or pettyness. There are no "mean" positions. There are no "privileged classes." And all exist to serve the good of the whole body. Jesus Himself served. Mature Christians will serve the church because in so doing they are serving Jesus.

II. PHILIP WAS A WITNESS IN HIS WORLD

The 8th of Acts tells of persecution, and the church, including Philip, had to leave Jerusalem. They proclaimed Jesus wherever they went. Proclaiming Jesus is the total task of the total church! Proclaiming Jesus is all that the church needs to do. But proclaiming Jesus must be done by each one of us. Proclaiming Jesus is done from the pulpit. But proclaiming Jesus is done wherever Christians go, and whatever they do. It is much more than preaching. In fact, the pulpit is NOT the primary means of evangelism in God's agenda!

In Samaria Philip proclaimed Christ. I wish I had more details (Acts 8) but it seems a community was stirred because of Philip's witness. As we said above, the "clergy" saw fit to supplant Philip, but that was "all right" with him! In the desert (where the Holy Spirit led him) Philip proclaimed Christ to a solitary man. but in so doing Philip may well have influenced an entire NATION for Jesus Christ!

If we are willing, and if we ask God to fill us with His Spirit and keep us full day by day, we will have opportunity to proclaim Jesus! It is exciting! It is rewarding! It is what we are all called/privileged to do!

III. PHILIP WAS A CHRISTIAN IN HIS HOME

As we read at the beginning, the last reference to Philip has to do with his home in Caesarea, and his four daughters who were all engaged in Christian endeavor. (Acts 21)

It is great to serve in the church. It is perhaps even better to witness to Jesus in the world outside the church walls. But to my mind, the real acid test of a Christian, and the kind of Christian that makes the church a healing place is the woman or the man who is at home the same kind of Christian he or she professes to be in the public arenas of life. A powerful Christian is one who is a Christian in the home!

How might we describe such a home? What sort of man was Philip at home?

There has to be "reading between the lines" here. But when a godly man has godly children, there is something wonderful and holy going on! I would make these suggestions:

In a Christian home there is:

1. DISCIPLINE THAT IS UNSELFISH

   Discipline is good and necessary. But it must flow from LOVE, and not from fear or selfish ambition.

   [Illus: I saw "ambition" that grabbed a little boy's arm in anger—]

2. FAITH THAT IS HEURISTIC

   We "do things" in certain ways. But we learn to serve God for better and better reasons. We are not spiritual because we copy our godly mothers and fathers. We are spiritual because we dare to break new ground and follow Jesus.

   A mother or father that is growing in his/her faith will NOT confuse the children in the home. They are smarter than that!

3. COURTESY BEYOND ETIQUETTE

   Some people think that courtesy is a matter of rules. there is a right way and a wrong way to hold a knife and fork, and a proper order in which to pass the dishes. And that is all well and good.

   But happy is the home that has discovered that the heart of courtesy is respect for the individual, and kindness. [Who was it that said that "a gentleman is one who never inflicts pain"?]

   And happy is the home that considers every member of the household worthy of courtesy!

   There is weight in words!

   Too often parents become prophets with their prophecies of gloom and doom, with their pronouncements in anger.

   "You are no good!"

   "You are stupid!"

   Say that to your BOSS! Or to a perfect stranger! But don't say it to your little daughter or son!

Conclusion:

Perhaps I've taken a little poetic (or prophetic) license in filling our Philip's life. But I believe the outline of Acts will bear me out: He was (1) a servant in church. He was (2) a witness in the world. And (3) He was a Christian in his home!

I think we can each do all three of these things!

1. We can have a servant-spirit in our church, and relating to our church. We can "find the open man!" We can talk up our brothers' and sisters' strengths!
2. We can proclaim Jesus in our world! Make this a matter of prayer— to ask Jesus to give us a chance to talk about Him outside the walls of the church each week!
3. We can pray every day we live for grace so that we can live like Jesus in our homes!

We cannot afford to omit ANY of these three things. But if we MUST— lets not omit #3!!!