Philip The Evangelist

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Philip The Evangelist

Today's Text: 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

The Message:      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 he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."      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.

Commentary: My friend, the work of bringing the gospel to the whole world is not the work of angels, but of men.  Each of us is entrusted with the gospel message that we may work together with heavenly agencies in completing the work of bringing the gospel to the whole world. In these last days the gospel has been corrupted by agencies of evil.  It has the form of godliness, but denies the power of God.  This counterfeit gospel is based upon the god of the trinity in place of the One true God of the Bible.  The whole of the Christian world is worshiping this false god in place of the God of heaven.  It teaches that there are three beings in the Godhead that are all co-equal and co-eternal.  It has the outward appearance of God, but in reality is not. In teaching that there are three beings in the Godhead that are co-equal and co-eternal, it destroys the image of God by denying the Father and the Son, teaching that the Son is not truly a son but is only a role that one of the god-beings has assumed for our salvation.  In denying the Son it denies the Father as well. When the Ethiopian Enrich heard the gospel, he understood that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and was baptized.  Today the Son of God has been turned into a metaphor rather than a reality.  Of this the apostle John warned us in the last days saying "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22, 23). The true gospel that is to go to the world is found in the three angels message, the first of which calls the world back to worship the One true God; the God of creation.  "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Corinthians 8:6).  This message symbolized by an angel is not a heavenly messenger, but human messengers filled with the Spirit of God. My friend, God is looking for evangelists to bring the message of the One true God to the world.  Will you be one of those messengers? God bless,

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