Philip the Evangelist

A man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority, … was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. Acts 8:27-29.
A heavenly messenger was sent to Philip [one of the chosen deacons] to show him his work for the Ethiopian. The evangelist was directed: “Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” …
Today, just as much as then, the angels are leading and guiding those who will be guided and led. This angel could have done the work himself, but this is not God’s way of working. Believers must connect with other believers, and as God’s instrumentalities work in behalf of the lost.
Philip understood his work. This man of high authority was being drawn to the Saviour, and he did not resist the drawing. He did not make his high position an excuse why he could not accept the crucified One. The evangelist asked him, “Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” and explain to him the Word of God….
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest…. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” …
While angels from heaven are doing their work, evil agencies are working to draw the mind to something else. Satan is interposing obstacles, so that the inquiring mind that would understand the Word of God shall become confused. Thus he worked with Christ in the wilderness of temptation. The experience of Christ is placed on record that we may understand the methods and plans of Satan. Had Philip left the eunuch with his case hanging in the balance, he might never have accepted the Saviour. Evil angels were waiting for their opportunity when they could press in their falsehoods and divert the newly awakened mind from seeking after truth. The Lord’s agencies must be wholly consecrated to His service, that they may be quick to understand their work. As wise stewards they must take advantage of every circumstance to teach the grace of God and draw people to Christ.—Manuscript 11, 1900.
Christ Triumphant p. 308
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Prayer Requests
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. Please pray. Buck
—-Please pray for me, my husband died almost 2 years ago and I’m still struggling. A
—-Prayers for my friend Jaclyn and her son Joey. Jaclyn will have a heart procedure on Tuesday. She is hoping this will help deal with her health issue as they have determined her episodes that looked like seizures were actually related to her heart. Joey will be having several small procedures done on Thursday. Prayers for good reports and quick recoveries. Jennifer
—-Please pray for the family of a friend who has died. R
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Dear Friends,
Today, we had a baptism at church. It reminded me of the time when we lived in Washington state at one of our church’s campouts our son was baptized. Joy filled my heart! Although he was only about ten, Ronnie Jay had been through Bible studies as well as having the benefit of family worship morning and evening from birth and had a great desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Surrounded by the beauties of nature, we sat on benches and listened as the pastor spoke of the meaning of baptism and then questioned those who were getting baptized.
Then we followed him down to the ice cold Columbia River where the baptism would take place. It was a cold, overcast day with an icy wind blowing. Little chunks of ice even floated in the current. Yet the weather could not extinguish the happiness that we felt to see our son take this important step in his life. As the pastor followed the instruction of our Dear Saviour baptizing him “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” our hearts swelled with joy. Matt 28:19
Our Great Exemplar sanctified baptism by being baptized. “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17 Think of it! The Sinless One came to John to be baptized that He might be our example in all things. I have heard it said that His baptism also covers all who find it impossible to be baptized such as someone repenting and accepting Him on their deathbed. How good and kind He is!
Sometime later, in His midnight interview with Nicodemas, (John 3) He declared that we must not only be baptized by water baptism but must receive a daily baptism of His Holy Spirit, that we may “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:12,13 How much we need the power to live good, obedient Christian lives. Paul tells us, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom 6:3-6
How vital it is that there is a daily working of the Holy Spirit upon our heart. Only then can we truly become a new creature made after the Likeness of the Crucified One. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor 5:17 May we come to our Loving Redeemer to receive the cleansing from sin that He yearns give us. May we receive that daily baptism of the Spirit that He longs for us to have. May “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [be] changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 3:18
Rose