Saturday, April 17, 2004 21:13 PM

PHILIP THE 4th. MAN.

Philip was the 4th disciple to be called by Jesus,

The name Philip means Warrior.

Philip the Apostle found in the gospels was a man of a timid retiring disposition, not someone who would aquatinted with the name Warrior, but you know the Lord takes great delight in using the weak things of this world to confound the wise,  [1Cor 1;27-29] 2Cor12:9-10] Heb11:34]
Judges 6:12, remember when the angel appeared to Gideon, what did he say (put your own name here) Gidieon the Lord is with you mighty Warrior, Gideons reply "How can I save Israel, my clan is the weakest and I am the least in my family".
Jeremiah:1:4 The word of the Lord came to me saying "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart I appointed you as a Prophet to the nations".Jer reply "Ah Sovereign Lord I said I do not know how to speak I am only a child"
When the Lord calls us he promises us just like Gideon and Jeremiah, and so many more throughout scripture that he will be with us and that he is the one that will strengthen us for the task.

JESUS IS SEEKING OUT THE 4TH MAN FOR A PACIFIC CALL.

Andrew and John found Jesus, but Jesus went and found Philip, Jesus went to look for him, Jesus is always looking for that person that will respond to the call of being his disciple.
Philip went straight away to find Nathaniel, to bring him to Christ.
The prophetic call is being sounded which will cause the rising up of many Evangelists who will begin to reap a great harvest.
The many ministers that attended the Llandidrindod Wells Conference in August 1903, just before the Revival broke out, made this Prophetic declaration "WALES MAY BE THE CRADLE OF THE EVANGELISTS FOR THE COMING REVIVAL".

Before Philip became an Apostle he first became a soulwinner, when Jesus found Philip he said "Come follow me, the call to faith and to follow came at once, and Philip was ready for both, as soon as Christ found him he sought to bring others to Christ.
(John12:20-22} The gospel of which the Apostle Paul said was of the first importance (1Cor:15-9).

 
TRANSACTION TIME FROM HEAD TO HEART.
(John1:43) The next day Jesus decided to LEAVE for Galilee finding Philip he said "Follow me", Jesus was leaving Bethany to go to a different place, he was going to Cana in Galilee to the place where he would perform his first miracle.
He had taught his disciples many things, but know he moves on to demonstrate his power through the working of miracles, signs and wonders following.
I believe that Jesus wanted Philip with him to see this first miracle, so that Philip himself might experience that shift from his head to his heart , and to increase his own faith to believe for miracles signs and wonders.

Both Philip and Nathaniel were men who loved the word of God, when Philip found Nathaniel he said v45 "We have found the the one Moses wrote about in the law, and about whom the Prophets also wrote Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph".
Philip was a great thinker, like so many of us , he was always trying to work things out in his head, instead of in his heart, we see this many times with Philip.
(John:6:5-6) Feeding of the five thousand.
Jesus said "Philip where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat he asked this only to test him for he already knew what Philip was going to say" Philip made a mental calculation of how much food would be necessary to give each person a portion, and how much it would cost and so declared the project impossible, Philip had tried to work out in the natural that which was supernatural.
(Jonn:14) Again we see Philip unable to grasp the supernatural revelation of who Jesus was. Philip said "Lord show us the Father and that will be enough for us", Jesus answered " Don't you know me Philip after I have been among you such a long time, anyone who has seen me has seen the Father".
Many know ABOUT Christ, Philip when he found Nathaniel said. "We have found the Messiah the one that Moses and the Prophets wrote about". Many know about him but many don't KNOW him. Jesus said Philip don't you know me.
Those that know their God shall do mighty exploits.
 
A MARRIAGE OF THE WORD WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS FOLLOWING.
(John:2) Jesus at the wedding in Cana, demonstrated that his work was done in WORD and DEED, for faith without works is dead.
(Rom:15:17-19). Paul says through me he has caused the Gentiles to obey God by what I have SAID and DONE by the power of the Spirit, so from Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the Gospel of Christ.
(Mark:16:15-17) When the disciples went out and preached everywhere and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his Word by the signs that accompanied it.
Its no coincidence that Jesus this conformation at the wedding at Canan. Just like a marriage between two people, where the two become one in union, they become attached so both belong together.
The Holy Spirit is the Co-Worker with us by signs and wonders.
So the hallmark that the Gospel is being fully preached is by the miraculous signs and wonders that accompany it.

Philip became a great Apostle a person who believed and demonstrated the power of Faith and Works. Jesus had told Philip in (John:14) "I tell you the truth anyone who has faith in me, will do what I have been doing, and he will do even greater things than these, because I am going to my Father, Philip became not just a listener of the word but a doer also.

The same challenge goes out to us today.
Do we believe what Christ has said we can do  in his name, if so then its time to move from that place of just knowing to the place of doing.
Its not when I know more, or when I have another Prophecy, or over come my weaknesses. Jesus said " Go into all the world and preach the Gospel, and these signs shall follow those who believe, lets start to follow our hearts.
(This is one of the posters out on the streets at the moment, think that the Lord is trying to tell us something).


 
PHILIP THE EVANGELIST ACTS:8.

Great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, persecution against the church will cause many to rise up and to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel,
Philip went from serving at tables to ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit with miraculous signs following.
Get ready God is about to raise up those who have been faithful to him in the small things, into the place of doing great and mighty exploits in his name. Philip was faithful in the place of servanthood, let us make every occasion a great occasion for you can never tell when someone may be taking your measure for a larger place, Philip went from serving at tables out into the harvest field he became a great Evangelist.
(Acts:8) Philip goes down to Samaria and when the people HEARD and SAW the miraculous signs he did they paid close attention to what he said, the Word had been preached but it was the signs that Philip wrought before them that caused them to think more attentively to what had been said.(v7) With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
The same mandate that Jesus had did not end when Jesus went to be with the Father, but has been given or to us (Luke:4:18-19).  
V:9 Simon the Sorcer believed and was baptized, this man who was said to have the divine power, now follows Philip, the one who has the true power working through him.
Philip had bound up  the Territorial Strong Man of Witch - Craft over that place or region.
(Mark:3:13-15) He appointed twelve designating them Apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.
Deliverance of Demons does not bring fear upon a church or place as many over the years have had us to believe, but rather great joy V:8, There was great joy in the city.
Let us open the eyes of our understanding and realise that deliverance from demons is a healing just the same as any other (Matt:4:23-25).

PHILIP HAD THE BREAKERS ANOINTING.

(Acts:8:14) When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria han accepted the Word of God that Philip the Evangelist had proclaimed they then sent two of the Apostles Peter and John to them.Philip had broken through Revival had come to Samaria. Philip had now opened up the way for the Apostles to come in and lay the foundation through discipleship and Teaching them the need of the power of the Holy Spirit for service and soulwinning,
Prayer had paved the way for revival in Samaria, and so it will be the same for us, prayer is the foerunner that prepares the way for the Lord.(Chro:7:14-16)
(Acts:8:34) Philip opened up the Gospel to the Eunuch.
(Rom:10:14-15) How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard. and how can they preach unless they are sent. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News.
We are not all called to be Evangelists, but we are all called to Evangelize.

GO WITH YOUR HEART, WHAT'S GOD SAYING TO YOU!

God Bless Gaynor,
Life in the Nations International.

gayn@lifeinthenations.org.uk