It Starts Small

What does it look like when you are thrown in to a situation you never planned for or expect?

Our man Phillip can tell you exactly how that goes down! Let us meet with Phillip today!

Who was Phillip?

³ Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.

Acts 6:3-5
(Bold for emphasis)

Phillip was one of the men appointed to help look into and after the Greek speaking widows. So we know he spoke Greek and he was seen as having a good reputation, full of the Spirit and wise.

Out of no fault to his own, he got thrown into chaos. A massive persecution broke out in Jerusalem where he lived and worked. Overnight, he was forced to leave.

Saul agreed with putting him to death.

On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria

Acts 8:1

He was now jobless and homeless. Can you imagine this situation? Maybe you have experienced it and can relate. It leads many to ask, Lord, why would you treat me like this?

Philip did what few do. He never complained and He knew that every moment was a sacred moment. Even the moments he did not enjoy were sacred. The very moment you are asking God in prayer to remove could be the very thing God wants to use to shape you. It is under the most extreme heat that you can mold the most precious metals. Used properly, heat is our friend.

So what did Phillip do?

He traveled north to Samaria. Phillip had no clue what was going to happen when he got there. Instead he stayed focused on doing the next right thing he knew. He kept working on his ministry, healing the sick and even bringing a sorcerer to Christ.

Suddenly, God interrupted his life again. He traveled down south to meet an Ethiopian eunuch. Again, he had no idea what was going to happen. He just went in obedience. What we read next is the birth of Ethiopian Christianity! Philip did not sit around and feel sorry for himself or complain about all he lost. Instead he sojourned, knowing what the next right thing was. He may not have had all the details, but because of him, the Gospel traveled south and flourished!

Friends, you never will know what the next right thing will lead you to! Be faithful!

I have come to believe in an important spiritual principle. No matter where God is putting you right now, He has something for you to do and learn. God wants us to contribute in some area and grow in others. So do not waste your time in waiting. Do not focus on what you like and do not like, they are irrelevant.

Thoughts to Ponder:

• Reflect upon where you are today.
• Where do you think God is asking you to contribute?
• What do you think God is asking you to learn?

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