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Philip’s Mission
The Old Testament Lesson for tomorrow is from Acts 8:26-35. It is about the Apostle Philip and an Ethiopian eunuch.
The Apostle Philip was the brother to Bartholomew or Nathanael. Scholars believe that Bartholomew and Nathanael were the same person. Philip was told by an angel to “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (8:26 ESV). Most of you know a lot more about Gaza now than you did last year at this time. Philip went immediately, and upon arrival, when the Holy Spirit spoke to him, he ran to the Eunuch. The Ethiopian Eunuch was passing through on his way back to Ethiopia. (Eunuchs were the servants of royal women in some courts.) This gentleman was a minister of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians. He “was in charge of all her treasures” and “had come to Jerusalem to worship” (v. 27). The Eunuch, who was not given a name in scripture, was returning home. He was “seated in his chariot,” reading from the prophet Isaiah, when Philip arrived. Philip was told to approach the Eunuch, which he did. Philip heard him reading from Isaiah. This becomes Philip’s way of establishing a rapport. Philip asked the Eunuch if he understood what he was reading (vs. 28-30).
The Eunuch responded, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip “to come up and sit with him” (v. 31). The passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” The Eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” and “then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus” (v. 35).
The two traveled together for a little while. And as they went “along the road they came to some water, and the Eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” and “he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him.” Then “when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the Eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing” (vs. 36-39).
Philip baptized with water as John the Baptist did. Even though the Holy Spirit led them there, it was not a baptism of the Holy Spirit, but only water. At least in this case, it appears that way. In Acts 19:1-6, when Paul went to Ephesus, he was preaching and asked how the people were baptized, and they said in the Baptism of John the Baptist. Paul then baptized them in the Holy Spirit. There is no mention that this was the case with the Eunuch.
Philip’s mission was accomplished, and for those of you who remember a show called, “Quantum Leap,” Philip leaped again, to another place where the Holy Spirit was calling him to go. It was to the town of Azotus, and passing on “he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea.” The distance was about 30 miles. We are told that Philip was caught up in the Spirit (Acts 8:40).
The Eunuch went home rejoicing and praising God (Acts 8:39). How about you? If God called you, how quick would you be to respond to a calling by an angel or the Holy Spirit? When you arrived, would you run or walk to tell someone you did not know about Jesus the Christ?
-Pastor Kathy Behrens, serving Picture Rocks and Tivoli United Methodist Churches
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LASAGNA DINNER – Trinity Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, 844 West 4th Street, Williamsport, will hold a Lasagna Dinner on Wednesday, March 13, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. Dinner includes meat lasagna, salad, bread, beverage, and homemade dessert. Eat in or takeout. Cost for the dinner is $13 for adults, $6 for children (12 & younger), and $9 for lasagna only. For more information, call 570-322-0126 or email [email protected].
HELP WANTED: Trinity Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, Williamsport, is hiring for two positions – a Sunday School Director and a Nursery Attendant for Sunday mornings. Background checks required. Call 570-322-0126 or email [email protected].
Overcoming Failed Love
Ah, February: the love month. For the last several weeks, the stores have been full of candy hearts, stuffed bears, and chocolate covered roses. But now the big day is over. What happens to love now? And what if love didn’t meet our expectations? In fact, what if we were hurt, slighted, overlooked?
We did not need one holiday for that. People, it seems, are getting hurt and offended constantly lately. One person’s t-shirt offends another person’s beliefs. One person’s statements after winning the big game are so offensive that a network refuses to broadcast them. And some people are so offended, they are lashing out until the source of their offense is afraid to leave their dorm room.
We can make it more personal too. We have all heard or said these kinds of statements. One is “she really hurt my feelings when she said ____.” Another is “I wonder what he meant by that remark.” A third is “I am so hurt, I am never going back to church again.” What do we do when it seems like love fails?
Well, first, go to the one who hurt you and talk it out. “Jesus said, ‘If your Christian friend has done something wrong against you, you must go and speak to him’” (Matthew 18:15 EASY). Many times “offenders” don’t know what they did, and reconciliation can take place immediately. As the verse continues, “then you can call him your friend again.” If not, at least you made your voice heard, but when you make your voice heard, it is best not to do it in an accusatory way. Be sure to have your emotions under control before you go so that you can talk calmly (and keep that frying pan out of your hand!).
Second, don’t go to everyone else with your hurt. The middle of this verse (Matthew 18:15 CEV) says, “Do it in private, just between the two of you.” So often we tell twenty other people how much we were hurt before we tell the one who hurt us. I guess we hope to get some pity or some folks on our side. But gossip doesn’t solve anything. It just makes the division wider and the hurt deeper.
Last, go to the One whose love never fails. Jesus was the most maligned, hurt, misunderstood person of all time. Yet He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:24 NIV). With His help, you can do the same. Take your hurt to Him in prayer and ask Him to help you to forgive the offense.
John 1 tells us God is love. The omnipotent power of the Almighty placed in the velvet glove of love, combined with an omniscience that knows what is best for us, is a sure thing. There is no way we can fail if we keep ourselves in the palm of His hand.
-Holly Pentz, New Covenant Assembly of God, 1270 Pinchtown Rd., Montgomery, PA 17752