LOVE, THE SPIRIT OF EVANGELISATION
[p. 304] LOVE, THE SPIRIT OF EVANGELISATION
1 Corinthians 12: 31; Acts 8:5-7; Acts 8:26-40
The link in the scriptures read is in “the way of more surpassing excellence”, and it is the way of love. It has the corresponding effect, that is, of love, in the person of whom I read in Acts, the evangelist Philip (though he is not called that here). So that what I shall be speaking of will touch on evangelisation; indeed it is the only touch, for what is in mind is that the spirit of evangelisation is love, and that Philip had love, as the sequel shows. It had already become evident that he had it, otherwise he would hardly have been given the work of a deacon, for without this spirit of love it would be difficult for a deacon to serve, for it involves the poor, and Paul speaks of not forgetting the poor, and I am sure that was true of him in all his services. This matter of love and serving the poor comes into the matter of the collection for the saints, that is, they are dignified ones, even if poor; and so it was he spoke of a collection, a special collection, and Philip would not be behind in that, and so he developed into an evangelist, he is called that in Acts 21: 8. As I said, he had love, and the best evidence of it is that he became a deacon. Christianity at the outset became a community, anyone doubting this had better read Acts 2: 42 - 47. It is said there that they “had all things common”, and later, in Acts 4: 32, that “not one said that anything of what he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them”; they were unselfish, and the unselfishness of love as seen in Christianity was seen in them. They had love, and it was seen in Jerusalem at Pentecost, and in the days that followed; they had no banking account, I need hardly say! For the [p. 305] matter actually was in the hands of the apostles; it was a communal affair, not a one-man affair; it was recognised by Paul, by God Himself and by Christ, indeed by the blessed Trinity. The work grew, I want to stress that, and the basis of Christianity is the Spirit of God; for when the Lord went up He received from the Father the Spirit of truth, and He indwelt the saints; “they were all together in one place”, and the Spirit came down in the form of “parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them” (Acts 2: 1 - 3), that is the one hundred and twenty, “the crowd of names”, each one remaining identifiable, and then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. There was no rivalry, and when things arose, such as the matter of appointments, or the matter of the poor, they were settled. The apostles said in Acts 6:2, “It is not right that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables”, that is things were properly named. Seven deacons were appointed; it was a communal matter, yet a selective one also; the principle of selection was there, showing how the community developed, and they appointed seven, not twelve, showing that there was a variety of thoughts in the community; the thought of seven, of seven men, chosen to serve the tables; they were called deacons; it was the lowest official you could find in the community. The development of the community is in mind; the idea of the body of Christ had not yet been introduced, but the assembly was there — though it is doubtful whether it is really there in word in Acts 2: 47. The word ‘together’ describes them, and so it is in this town; it is different, it is true, but they move inwardly together; that is the moving principle all the time. Peter and John, especially Peter, were the very cream of what was there; so we can call these two chapters, ‘Peter and John chapters’. They were there in affection, though in a sense they were there officially.
[p. 306] This leads me to the matter of love and how it came down in the deacons, and how they began to work and were led into the most exalted services, far beyond what they were officially, not that heaven does not provide officials; it does! Even Christ is an official name. That love was expressed in them in a remarkable way is evident, for they obtained “for themselves a good degree”, 1 Timothy 3: 13. We need not fear any prominence that anyone may acquire; heaven will see to it that each will get what he deserves. So Philip became an evangelist; and Stephen a martyr, the first assembly martyr. They obtained for themselves a good degree. So what is in my mind in this connection began with Stephen, and now I come to Philip, not the apostle but the evangelist. There is nothing said as to his deacon-work; he was full of the Holy Spirit, and all he did he did well surely, even caring for the poor, the lowest rung in the ladder; he did well also at his evangelical work, at least, he did in the main; but we need to pay attention to a fact which may be true of a Paul, a Peter, or a Philip. All I am going to ask you is why did not Philip’s converts get the Holy Spirit? I am not going to answer it myself. Why was it he was not approved in his service? The community grows; people are what they are; if the Holy Spirit is helping, let us be careful what we say, for it is the community — I use that word now, at this stage — the word ‘assembly’ comes later. The matter goes on; Peter went on, Stephen, Philip, all went on, a wonderful outline of the testimony in these days! It should be read constantly; it is so full of spiritual history, beginning with the God of glory; what a start!
But then we have Philip; and again I ask, ‘Why is it that his converts did not get the Holy Spirit’? And so if there is anyone here maybe without the Spirit, why has he not the Spirit? Philip had converts to support his evangelical ministry,
[p. 307] but still they did not get the Holy Spirit; he had many converts in this town of Samaria; and then a man comes into the company of converts saying that “himself was some great one”, and thus the converts included Simon Magus. He certainly never was truly with them, for he was “in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness” as Peter says to him. God is particular to whom He gives the Spirit. Simon Magus offered money to the apostles if only they would give him the power to give the Holy Spirit, as he had seen them do to the Samaritans, for Peter and John, having been sent by the assembly at Jerusalem, “prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit”, and later, “Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit”; what a wonderful fact! But it is not said the Spirit was working in connection with what Philip did, and later, in verse 26 an angel spoke to him, “But the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Rise up and go southward on the way which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: the same is desert”. He went to Samaria without commission, as far as we know. He had done something, though he had not discerned Simon Magus, and if things are wrong and missed, then they will not be overlooked finally. And so it was; he allowed Simon Magus to follow on. But Peter discerned him. The angel made no suggestion that Philip should have detected Simon Magus, not a word! But now he has the commission, “If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is the Lord’s commandment”. All who serve must be under His commandment. This chapter becomes full for all who have the Lord’s service before them you admire it; the evangelical service particularly. So Philip went down, “And the Spirit said to Philip, Approach and join this chariot”. Now he is fully fledged in the service; it is not an angel any more.
[p. 308] not Gabriel or Michael, it is the Holy Spirit that has taken him on “join this chariot”; we often use the word ‘join’; here it means evangelical service for a person who needs to be evangelised. The Ethiopian is a great commissioner; he had been to Jerusalem; he had been to worship; did he mention Peter and John? There was evidence of the most wonderful work of heaven there, and yet he had missed it. How dense people are! Three thousand converted there in one day, and yet this distinguished man seemed to know nothing about it, just like the twelve men at Ephesus not knowing about the Holy Spirit; how dense indeed people are! Philip had to join this chariot; Peter was not sent; no, Philip must do this, because the Spirit has something to teach us; we are to see that Philip has developed into usefulness, so that the Holy Spirit deigns to say, “Approach and join this chariot”, and he does it. What a place he was acquiring in heaven! No one can take that from him. He had four daughters who prophesied, too (Acts 21: 9); that was no small thing; he had something to do with it! These women were not appointed prophetesses as Miriam was; but they “prophesied”, they did the thing; the power was acquired by the Holy Spirit to prophesy. It is hard to find one today; there is no sister I know of; the brethren do it through the service of brothers. Yes, Philip had these four daughters, and in a later day they prophesied.
I might add now as to the final reference, that “the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip”; he was carried away, raptured, really; and he was raptured just as he came up out of the water, having baptised the eunuch. That is no coincidence; the Holy Spirit has a great matter on hand. But there is what the brethren do themselves, for it says, “those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree” (1 Timothy 3: 13); it is in each of our hands. That is what I want the brethren to see,