The story of Jesus first evangelism work in the Bible is in John 1: 43 when He instructed Philip to “Follow Him”. There is something about Philip the Evangelist which I would like to draw your attention to. As an “evangelist in the making”, he did not waste time at all and immediately after he was called to follow Jesus, he went and found Nathanael with these words, “We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph”.
Philip the Evangelist, I believe was with Jesus at the wedding of Cana and witnessed the miracle of turning water into wine, among other subsequent ones done by our Saviour, but before the feeding of the 5,000 people in the sixth chapter, he failed to realise that Jesus could do another MIRACLE to feed the people when Jesus asked him the question, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”. He was clearly overwhelmed with the sight of ‘a great multitude coming towards Jesus’ in a REMOTE LOCATION with NO ‘HOTELS; RESTAURANTS AND BARS, SUPERMARKETS, FOOD STORES AND EATERY JOINTS!!
Jesus tested Philip the Evangelist FAITH, for ‘HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT HE WOULD DO’. True demonstration of the power of God through Jesus Christ of feeding about 5,000 people with a lad’s lunch of 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish which Philip witnessed to build his faith as an Evangelist!!
Jesus had ascended to heaven in the first chapter of the book of Acts and I am fast-forwarding the story of Philip the Evangelist to the eighth chapter with this Scripture. Philip was used by God through an angelic ministration to travel south from Jerusalem to Gaza and the Spirit of God instructed Philip to join the Ethiopian eunuch. Evangelist Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch, followed by water baptism.
Evangelist Philip completed his assignment of winning the Ethiopian eunuch into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
This is a clear demonstration of Jesus Christ words and commandments in Matthew 24:14; 28: 19,20 and Acts 1:8 and its FULFILLMENT.
Evangelist Philip’s travel method to the south of Jerusalem – Gaza to “evangelise” the Ethiopian eunuch was not stated but it states clearly that after his assignment was completed, the Spirit of the Lord caught him away so the eunuch saw him no more and the new convert went on his way rejoicing. Evangelist Philip was found in Azotus, passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
The EVANGELISM ERA is about gathering God’s CHOSEN ONES together in their respective family homes, houses, flats and within communities and localities. The PRIMARY OBJECTIVE of this end-time evangelism work is clearly about the Holy Spirit using us as His ministration vessel to move the peoples’ of the nations into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The technological tools (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PC computers, social media channels) in the hands of the Youth and Young adults can primarily be targeted and reached out to. All we need to do as workers of the Lord’s vineyard is to avail ourselves for the work we have been called to do.
Acts 8: 26 – 40
The 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 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.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 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?
37 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. 38 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.39 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. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.