SetApart1

In reading through Acts Chapter 8 one man really stood out to me. The man Philip. He was a man moved by Jesus. He wasn’t seeking fame or glory. He wasn’t after position or power. Philip new he was a sinner who had been saved from his sin by a incredible saviour. Philip was serving tables in Jerusalem. He had been moved by God to preach in Samaria. There in Samaria God uses him to declare the gospel in signs and wonders. As he proclaims the gospel many realize that they need Jesus and repent of their sin. Philip goes from serving tables to a huge work of God. Then in the middle of this great work the bible tells us in Acts 8:26 God had some new marching orders for Philip.

Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went.

So in the middle of this great work of God an angel of the Lord speaks to Philip and says, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Luke makes sure to tell us that this is a desert area. God doesn’t tell Philip why! God doesn’t say how! This angel tells Philip, “go to the south.” The bible tells us that Philip arose and went.

Now you have to imagine the thoughts that went through this mans head. You want me to go down to the desert? There is no one in the desert. No huge ministry is going to come out of the desert. Everything is dead. No one is there, God? God, did you hear me there is no one in the desert! Philip might have thought in his mind, “here in Samaria I have the Philip ministries. I have a podcast. I’m on the radio. I’m on TV. I have a website. Philips hour of power is on every night. People are getting healed and saved through the power of the Spirit. And you want me to leave this great work to a place where no one lives?”

Oh imagine that. You have this great huge ministry and lives are being changed by the gospel then God says stop! Go to a place where no one lives. What would you do? I know I would probably start thinking the enemy was at work. Not Philip.The bible tells us exactly what Philip did in verse 27 “So he arose and went.”

This man Philip was not concerned about huge ministries. He was not concerned about being great in the eyes of man. He just wanted to follow the moving of His precious Master, Father, and Saviour Jesus!

Philip goes out to the desert meets a man in the middle of the desert. What does he do? He shares the gospel with him. The man is saved and Stephen baptizes him. Then immediately the bible tells us that God had different plans for Philip.  We read in Acts 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away,…
Philip is taken up by God and moved somewhere else for Gods ultimate plans. Philip was a man literally moved by God in every sense of the word.

Then we find Philip in Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Philip is once again moved by God. To Azotus. He made his way to Caesarea. On his way he did not stop preaching until he came to Caesarea. This is not the end of Philip but we see him again later in Acts 21:8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Philip did all those great things until God brought him to Caesarea. It was here that this man did not stop being a man moved by God. It was in Caesarea where Philip stopped and raised a Godly family of young ladies that were gifted by God in Prophecy.

You mean he stopped ministry to raise a family. YES!

I tell you buy studying this mans life. That this was God’s next moving for Philip to raise a Godly family.

How many people would look down on that today. Philip you could be doing so much more with your gifting. You could have great crusade ministry. You could be reaching thousands for the gospel. Never the less Philip was a man that lived only for his Saviors bidding and did nothing other than what the master bid him to do.

I love Philip.

He was a man moved by his master.

His drive was not ministry.

His drive was not to be a great man of signs and wonders.

His drive was not preaching to thousands.

His drive was not even to just reach one.

His drive was not even to just raise a godly family.

Though he did those things. Though he was used mightily that was not his drive.

What drove Philip to do all those things was his love for his master. Whatever God said that is what Philip would do.

Philip was a man moved by God and Him alone.

I ask you today? What drives you? What drives you to church every week?

Why are you involved in this church? Why do you want to share?

Why do you want to preach?

Why do you want to pastor?

Why are you on the worship team?

Why do you usher?

Why do you do what you do for God?

Is it your own selfish motives that move you? Or is it your genuine love for your master.

May God purify us today. Let us be so in love with Jesus that the only thing that moves us is the Spirit of the Living God. Wether it be great, or small. Wether it be thousands or just one. Wether it be all over the world or just in our homes. Let us be moved by God, and moved only by His Spirit.

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