“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.” -Acts 8:4-8

God’s Mission Advances Through Ordinary People

Here begins the second major section of Acts as the Church is released into her mission to take the gospel to the Gentiles. None of these followers of Jesus, as far as we read, raised their yes to the Lord to be sent ones. But they became accidental missionaries, carried by the wind of the Spirit, and with great faith, they opened their mouths wherever they went!

Just like Stephen, Phillip was selected to serve the widows. Neither of these two guys were apostles—just obedient followers of Christ. Faithfully Phillip served, and faithfully he went where God called him. The anointing on his life was for an even greater Kingdom impact as we read in this portion of Scripture. He was changing the spiritual trajectory even over cities, not just individuals! Taking the people from bondage to freedom, by the power of the Spirit, Jesus was partnering with Phillip to release the Kingdom of Heaven. And when Jesus promised to reach Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the Earth in Acts 1:8, little did Philip know what that would entail for him.

Acts 8:4-8 Shows God’s Heart for All Peoples

The significance of why Jesus commissioned His followers to Samaria is quite profound. First, there was deep-rooted pagan worship in this area due to the Assyrians conquering Northern Israel about 750 years prior. The lowest class of Jews remained there and intermarried with these pagan people, and thus the Samaritans were born. After 750 years, it was time to set them free from their spiritually dark lineage. A new day was coming to Samaria!

Secondly, the Jews hated the Samaritans. There was deep-rooted generational prejudice toward the Samaritans. But God didn’t see them this way—He was for them! In fact, the first missionary to the Samaritans was the woman at the well who encountered Jesus. Now the Lord was sending her reinforcements. The roots of prejudice and hatred were being uprooted. A new spiritual ground was being tilled. Fresh rain was falling on dry ground.

Five Ways God Worked Through Philip’s Ministry

As Phillip walked out the gospel, here was his spiritual landscape:

• The seeds that Jesus sowed before him were now being reaped in a mighty harvest that Philip simply stepped into with faithful obedience.
• Christ transformed Philip’s heart from prejudice to compassion and zeal for the Samaritans to know Christ.
• Phillips’ proclamation of the gospel was demonstrated with signs and wonders.
• Despite great persecution and scattering, Phillip grew even more bold in his zeal for the gospel.
• The overflow of Christ in Phillip changed a whole city—”… there was great joy in that city.”

God’s Work Continues Through His Church Today

Here is your parallel truth:

• When God assigns you a city, region, or nation, you stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before you. You will reap what they planted.
• Christ is the One who transforms our hearts to have a passion for the lost.
• Your proclamation of the gospel can be accompanied by signs and wonders to confirm the power of the Word and work of Christ in you.
• Despite persecution, fear of rejection, and great unknowns, Holy Spirit can give you boldness and zeal for the gospel and those who are lost.
• The overflow of Christ in you, who fills you with all the fullness of Christ, will cause cities, regions, and nations to experience and live with great joy. When Jesus walks into a city, joy follows!

Everything Jesus paid on the cross for you makes these truths your reality! The very Kingdom of God can be manifested through your surrendered life. It’s the great adventure of living submitted to the very life of Christ in you. Phillip was an ordinary man who was filled with the extraordinary life of Christ. Nothing of his vision, passion, or boldness came from his humanity. It wholly came from a life fully given to the Person of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of God who indwelt him. You are no different! All over the world, there are testimonies just like this passage of Scripture. They aren’t super Christians with special powers. They are simply surrendered Christ followers whose lives are conduits of the power and love of Christ!

“This same power that was promised in Scripture to Jesus’ first disciples and chronicled throughout church history is still desperately needed today—power to enter, abide in, and extend God’s Kingdom, and it’s only this power that transforms us into mature and fruitful followers of Christ.” -Bill Randall, “The Life Jesus Made Possible”

It is the very desperation and prayer of my heart to let my life testimony be like that of Phillip simply because Jesus has the right and permission to live the fullness of His life through mine. I have had to repent of the small boxes I have placed Him in during different seasons of my wavering faith. I want Jesus to receive the reward of worshippers who have come to Him in desperation and received His love and salvation, the joy of their salvation. When many captives are set free, it is from there that a city is transformed! The gospel is preached, the sick are healed, the bound are delivered, and the Kingdom of God is released. What a glorious joy indeed!

A Call to Prayer for the Nations

Jesus, we come asking that Phillip’s testimony in Acts would be our testimony! As we abide with You. Sanctify our surrender, vision, and passion so they align with Your heart in this hour! Would You have Your glorious way in and through us? May entire cities, regions, and nations experience great joy because we dared to go and preach the gospel, pray for the sick, and release captives from prison. Raise up an army of freedom fighters who storm the gates of Hell and bring You the reward of Your suffering. And while we go, find our hearts’ cry longing for Your return as the Church has longed for since its birth. Deposit eternity and urgency in our hearts today. How we love You and long for You more than anything! In Jesus’ name, amen!

As you read this, a team of 13 is in Latin America preaching the Word of God with boldness, declaring that this country belongs to Jesus. Pray for a massive harvest and for this passage of Scripture to come fully alive so that the name of Jesus is raised high and great joy rests on this nation!

A Few Key Notes

• One more date is left in our Arise Summer Series! Join us for the last cross-cultural dinner on August 15. We will enjoy a meal while learning about other cultures and faiths. You will experience an evening of sisterhood, education, and conversation as we discuss what God is doing among three major world religions. Registration is free; you will only have to pay for the cost of your dinner.
• Join us at the upcoming Arise Luncheon on August 23, 2024. Lock arms with other women as we welcome author and Bible teacher Kat Armstrong as our special guest! Tickets are $15. Register today!
• Take the gospel to the unreached with Arise! We take teams that are armed with the gospel to various countries to share the love of Jesus with a desperate world. View our open teams.