1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,334
Good afternoon.

2
00:00:06,722 --> 00:00:13,315
We began this morning to discuss Philip, Philip the Apostle.

3
00:00:14,095 --> 00:00:26,540
Philip is first introduced to us in John chapter one when he having seen Jesus is told by
Jesus to follow him.

4
00:00:27,721 --> 00:00:31,782
We're also introduced to him again in Matthew chapter 10 where

5
00:00:33,324 --> 00:00:47,761
Philip will be one of the twelve that Jesus will name who will be among his apostles,
among the disciples who are sent out into the towns, the cities, the villages of Israel to

6
00:00:47,761 --> 00:00:53,214
prepare for his coming and preaching to those cities.

7
00:00:53,835 --> 00:01:02,359
But as we consider and continue this idea of Philip as an example of faithful service,

8
00:01:02,740 --> 00:01:05,721
Let us turn to Mark chapter 4.

9
00:01:05,721 --> 00:01:19,305
In Mark chapter 4, we see a number of other things, and while I did not go through and
pull every single reference to what the apostles did collectively, I did pull a few of

10
00:01:19,305 --> 00:01:30,528
them for the sake of us understanding that as you're reading through the text, when you
read of something that the Twelve did, you're reading of something that Philip did.

11
00:01:30,972 --> 00:01:37,077
Sometimes I think as we think concerning the apostles, we read so much of Peter.

12
00:01:37,077 --> 00:01:39,119
We read so much of John.

13
00:01:39,119 --> 00:01:42,282
We read a little bit more of James.

14
00:01:42,282 --> 00:01:53,431
These apostles, we read about the things which they said, the things which they did, and
we don't often pause to think that, you know what, if we think about Philip or Bartholomew

15
00:01:53,431 --> 00:01:59,017
or some of the other apostles and we look up their name in the Bible, it only shows up
three or four times.

16
00:01:59,017 --> 00:02:04,110
and most of those are records of the same thing in different gospels.

17
00:02:04,290 --> 00:02:18,840
So sometimes perhaps we don't think about the fact that when we read about what the Twelve
did, or what the Apostles did, we're reading about the lives of those others who are less

18
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,311
well known among the Apostles.

19
00:02:21,311 --> 00:02:24,643
But we read in Mark chapter 4, Jesus

20
00:02:24,643 --> 00:02:26,334
is giving a parable.

21
00:02:26,334 --> 00:02:38,502
Jesus would often teach in parables and there are times we find in the text that Jesus
would teach in parables and the people would hear the parable but the people didn't

22
00:02:38,502 --> 00:02:40,133
understand the parable.

23
00:02:40,333 --> 00:02:48,558
And sometimes the people would ask concerning it and sometimes after all the teaching was
done the apostles would ask concerning it.

24
00:02:48,558 --> 00:02:49,419
You find

25
00:02:49,419 --> 00:02:59,343
the parable of the sower that is given in verse 10 we read, when he was alone those around
him with the twelve asked him about the parable.

26
00:03:00,024 --> 00:03:13,209
You find here amongst the twelve and those who came with them into that private setting
that after Jesus gave the parable of the sower they had questions.

27
00:03:13,369 --> 00:03:15,910
They wanted to know the details.

28
00:03:15,910 --> 00:03:18,031
Jesus had told about the

29
00:03:18,031 --> 00:03:29,437
the rocky soil and Jesus told about the wayside soil and Jesus had told about the thorny
soil and the good soil and yet they didn't understand what was being discussed.

30
00:03:30,679 --> 00:03:45,579
Here, Philip, though he is not mentioned by name but he is mentioned among the twelve,
inquire concerning the meaning of the teaching and it helps us to learn

31
00:03:45,579 --> 00:03:53,025
that Philip was faithful to ask deeper questions about Jesus' teaching.

32
00:03:53,206 --> 00:03:59,431
He wanted to know not just what had been said, he wanted to know what it meant.

33
00:03:59,512 --> 00:04:07,738
He wanted to have a full and a complete understanding of that which Jesus taught.

34
00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,567
You can turn over to John chapter 14 and as...

35
00:04:12,567 --> 00:04:17,967
the time of Jesus' life on this earth is coming to a close.

36
00:04:18,467 --> 00:04:31,707
That last week of His life there in Jerusalem, the last day of His life as He has been in
the upper room with them, Jesus will say to the twelve that were present, among which was

37
00:04:31,707 --> 00:04:37,887
Philip, Let not your heart be troubled, verse 1, you believe in God, believe also in me.

38
00:04:37,887 --> 00:04:42,365
In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you.

39
00:04:42,365 --> 00:04:44,797
I go to repair a place for you.

40
00:04:44,797 --> 00:04:52,222
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that
where I am, there you may be also.

41
00:04:52,303 --> 00:04:54,424
And where I go, you know.

42
00:04:54,424 --> 00:04:56,045
And the way, you know.

43
00:04:56,045 --> 00:05:01,929
Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?

44
00:05:02,350 --> 00:05:05,883
Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

45
00:05:05,883 --> 00:05:09,255
No man comes to the Father except through me.

46
00:05:09,693 --> 00:05:27,130
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also, and from now on you know Him and
have seen Him." Now, Philip responds, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for

47
00:05:27,130 --> 00:05:27,950
us.

48
00:05:28,931 --> 00:05:32,552
Philip desired to see the Father.

49
00:05:32,833 --> 00:05:38,805
Philip desired to have the understanding of God the Father that Jesus had.

50
00:05:39,049 --> 00:05:45,083
Jesus responds to him, have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me, Philip?

51
00:05:45,444 --> 00:05:51,108
He who has seen me has seen the Father, so how can you say, show us the Father?

52
00:05:51,249 --> 00:05:54,832
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?

53
00:05:54,832 --> 00:06:02,298
The words that I speak to you I do not speak of my own authority, but the Father who
dwells in me does the works.

54
00:06:02,438 --> 00:06:08,799
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the sake
of the works.

55
00:06:08,799 --> 00:06:10,131
themselves.

56
00:06:12,513 --> 00:06:24,110
Philip, as exhibited here in this example, was one who was faithful to Christ even when he
didn't understand.

57
00:06:24,710 --> 00:06:29,613
Even when he didn't comprehend everything that Jesus was saying.

58
00:06:29,994 --> 00:06:39,081
The text is going to tell us as we go through the remainder of the events of Jesus' life
that as Jesus is crucified,

59
00:06:39,081 --> 00:06:53,419
and then after he is resurrected and after he ascends the Holy Spirit will remind them of
all the things that Jesus had said and they'll finally understand the things which he

60
00:06:53,419 --> 00:07:05,956
taught them which tells us that even amongst the twelve and even with Philip there were
times where they were faithful to do what he said, faithful to follow him even though they

61
00:07:05,956 --> 00:07:07,527
did not understand.

62
00:07:08,929 --> 00:07:16,204
And there are times in our lives where we're going to realize, I don't understand.

63
00:07:16,659 --> 00:07:19,547
I don't understand why it's this way.

64
00:07:19,547 --> 00:07:22,909
I don't understand why things are happening the way they're happening.

65
00:07:22,909 --> 00:07:31,285
I don't understand this or I don't understand that, but the reality is we do know what
we've been told to do.

66
00:07:33,377 --> 00:07:43,617
Philip provides us an example of someone who could obey, who could be faithful, even when
he did not understand.

67
00:07:44,458 --> 00:07:48,527
But then you consider as well Matthew chapter 20.

68
00:07:48,983 --> 00:07:57,311
Matthew chapter 20, we find that Philip was faithful to follow Jesus to his death.

69
00:07:59,255 --> 00:08:10,175
Matthew chapter 20, beginning in verse 17, now Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve
disciples aside on the road and said to them, all right, if he took the twelve who did he

70
00:08:10,175 --> 00:08:11,195
take aside?

71
00:08:11,295 --> 00:08:13,455
Well, Philip was among them.

72
00:08:13,615 --> 00:08:23,695
And he said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be
betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and

73
00:08:23,695 --> 00:08:28,755
deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify.

74
00:08:29,311 --> 00:08:32,094
and the third day He will rise again.

75
00:08:34,017 --> 00:08:46,842
Philip is being told that we're going to Jerusalem and when we go and when we get there
they're going to take me, they're going to imprison me, they are going to beat me, they

76
00:08:46,842 --> 00:08:56,565
are going to scourge me, they are going to crucify me, they are going to mock me, and then
I will rise again the third day and Philip goes anyway.

77
00:09:00,289 --> 00:09:09,606
There was an earlier occasion in John chapter 11 where Jesus has been informed that
Lazarus is sick.

78
00:09:10,967 --> 00:09:21,875
And as the word of Lazarus' sickness comes to Jesus, he waits for a while and then after a
few days he departs to go where Lazarus was in Bethany.

79
00:09:23,297 --> 00:09:26,709
And the apostles determine

80
00:09:28,170 --> 00:09:35,281
Do you not realize or tell them, do you not realize that they threaten to kill you, that
they desire to kill you if you go back?

81
00:09:37,011 --> 00:09:38,908
And says we're going anyway.

82
00:09:40,693 --> 00:09:44,859
And the apostles determined, if he's going to die, we're going to die with him.

83
00:09:47,105 --> 00:09:58,560
Philip was one who was faithful to follow Jesus to his death, even if it meant Philip was
going to die as well.

84
00:09:58,980 --> 00:10:07,203
And we know ultimately that's not how it turned out, and yet that required even more
faithfulness from Philip.

85
00:10:07,384 --> 00:10:13,206
In Luke chapter 24, Jesus has been crucified.

86
00:10:14,326 --> 00:10:16,297
The third day has come.

87
00:10:17,375 --> 00:10:31,061
And the beginning of that Sunday morning, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and
others arrive at the tomb as soon as they could, as soon as the law would have allowed it.

88
00:10:31,861 --> 00:10:36,713
And they arrived there at that tomb and they found the tomb open.

89
00:10:38,367 --> 00:10:47,681
And once Mary has interacted with Jesus, she is told by Jesus to go and to tell the
apostles what she has seen.

90
00:10:47,681 --> 00:11:00,076
And in Luke chapter 24, beginning in verse 10, we read, it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna,
Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the

91
00:11:00,076 --> 00:11:01,196
apostles.

92
00:11:02,457 --> 00:11:08,199
And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

93
00:11:10,147 --> 00:11:20,437
One occasion, there are a few, but one occasion where you read of Philip's reaction
amongst ten of the others.

94
00:11:22,037 --> 00:11:25,469
is that they did not believe the message that Mary was giving them.

95
00:11:26,251 --> 00:11:29,873
They were doubtful of her declaration.

96
00:11:30,875 --> 00:11:41,663
Now you see a contrast between Peter and John and their reaction to the news because Peter
and John run to the tomb.

97
00:11:42,504 --> 00:11:48,529
To see for themselves the state of the tomb, no word of Philip doing so.

98
00:11:49,210 --> 00:11:50,931
But Peter and John do.

99
00:11:51,753 --> 00:12:02,609
and yet it will not be much longer and Jesus will appear in their presence and there's
Philip still with the other apostles.

100
00:12:03,010 --> 00:12:17,959
Not everything that we read about Philip is positive and yet even in this scenario one of
the things that you should consider is that after Jesus was crucified

101
00:12:18,641 --> 00:12:25,395
after Jesus was put on that cross and was laid in that tomb and that Sabbath day came.

102
00:12:26,737 --> 00:12:29,138
Philip didn't go back to Bethsaida.

103
00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,100
He didn't travel home.

104
00:12:32,621 --> 00:12:37,204
He didn't go back to his occupation that he had before Jesus had come.

105
00:12:37,204 --> 00:12:44,569
He was there in the presence of the other of the twelve that remained, Judas having killed
himself.

106
00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:46,951
And he was with them.

107
00:12:48,343 --> 00:12:54,643
He had not given up, though they did not understand what was coming.

108
00:12:55,423 --> 00:12:57,983
Consider as well Acts chapter 1.

109
00:12:58,283 --> 00:13:12,023
Not many days forward from the occasion that we just read about in Luke chapter 24, we
find Jesus has interacted multiple times with the apostles and with other disciples and

110
00:13:12,023 --> 00:13:17,781
with, as Paul will describe to us, about 500 of those who were

111
00:13:17,781 --> 00:13:19,592
followers of Jesus.

112
00:13:20,453 --> 00:13:28,619
And in Acts chapter 1, we find that as Jesus is about to ascend back into heaven, Philip
is still faithful.

113
00:13:29,020 --> 00:13:32,862
He is faithful to the resurrected Jesus.

114
00:13:33,303 --> 00:13:38,761
He is willing to follow the resurrected Jesus and he'll be faithful to the ascended

115
00:13:38,761 --> 00:13:39,542
Jesus as well.

116
00:13:39,542 --> 00:13:48,920
If you turn to Acts chapter 1, beginning in verse 2, we read, until the day in which he
was taken up after he, through the Holy Spirit, had given commandments to the apostles

117
00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:59,949
whom he had chosen, to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many
infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things

118
00:13:59,949 --> 00:14:03,982
pertaining to the kingdom of God, and being assembled together with them.

119
00:14:03,982 --> 00:14:07,297
He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait

120
00:14:07,297 --> 00:14:10,950
for the promise of the Father which he said you have heard from me.

121
00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:17,054
For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days from now.

122
00:14:17,054 --> 00:14:23,579
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel?

123
00:14:23,579 --> 00:14:32,325
And he said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put
in his own authority, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

124
00:14:32,325 --> 00:14:34,643
and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem."

125
00:14:34,643 --> 00:14:38,905
and into all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

126
00:14:38,905 --> 00:14:45,549
Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud
received him out of their sight.

127
00:14:45,549 --> 00:14:56,215
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by
them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand, gazing up into

128
00:14:56,215 --> 00:14:56,855
heaven?

129
00:14:56,855 --> 00:15:04,363
This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you
saw him go into heaven."

130
00:15:04,363 --> 00:15:11,067
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a
Sabbath day's journey.

131
00:15:11,067 --> 00:15:14,929
And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying.

132
00:15:14,929 --> 00:15:24,395
Peter, James, John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the
son of Alpheus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

133
00:15:24,395 --> 00:15:32,579
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women, and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

134
00:15:33,423 --> 00:15:48,291
As Jesus is resurrected back to life, as Jesus interacts with these apostles during that
40-day period, and as Jesus now ascends into heaven telling them, your work is not over.

135
00:15:51,403 --> 00:15:56,726
Philip doesn't say, well, mine is; headed back home.

136
00:15:57,446 --> 00:16:05,691
No, rather, Philip continues faithful in his service to the resurrected and ascended Lord.

137
00:16:06,491 --> 00:16:18,058
And still we see and we observe that they still did not fully understand everything
because they're asking about the kingdom even as Jesus ascends back into heaven.

138
00:16:18,818 --> 00:16:20,479
But Philip is there.

139
00:16:20,627 --> 00:16:23,492
and Philip remains faithful.

140
00:16:23,714 --> 00:16:30,447
There are other mentions of the apostles, but I wanted to notice this in Acts chapter 5.

141
00:16:32,087 --> 00:16:37,647
Some time has passed and the church has continued to grow.

142
00:16:38,067 --> 00:16:43,527
The church has continued to flourish and the apostles have continued to teach.

143
00:16:43,947 --> 00:16:54,447
And more and more of an uproar is resulting in amongst the chief priests and the rulers of
Jerusalem as a result of the growth of the church.

144
00:16:54,607 --> 00:17:01,167
And we read in verse 12, and through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were
done among the people.

145
00:17:01,203 --> 00:17:04,646
and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

146
00:17:04,646 --> 00:17:20,017
Yet none of the rest dared to join them, but the people esteemed them highly." Notice that
here are the twelve and they are in the presence of the area around the temple and the

147
00:17:20,017 --> 00:17:23,239
church, the Christians, are not gathered with them.

148
00:17:23,465 --> 00:17:35,834
They're afraid to gather with them and yet the apostles are standing here in the presence
of the people of Israel, of the people of Jerusalem, and they are teaching though the

149
00:17:35,834 --> 00:17:46,151
threat is so apparent from the leaderships of the Jews that the Christians won't stand
with them for fear of their own lives.

150
00:17:46,692 --> 00:17:51,151
Verse 14, and the believers were increasingly added to the Lord.

151
00:17:51,151 --> 00:18:04,863
multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and
laid them on beds and couches that at least the shadow of Peter's passing might uh by fall

152
00:18:04,863 --> 00:18:06,263
on some of them.

153
00:18:06,324 --> 00:18:16,432
Also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people
and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

154
00:18:16,432 --> 00:18:19,903
Then the high priest rose up, and all who were with him

155
00:18:19,903 --> 00:18:21,674
which is the sect of the Sadducees.

156
00:18:21,674 --> 00:18:27,367
And they were filled with indignation, and they laid their hands on the apostles and put
them into the common prison.

157
00:18:27,367 --> 00:18:35,892
But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,
Go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.

158
00:18:36,152 --> 00:18:40,355
And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught.

159
00:18:40,355 --> 00:18:48,029
But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together with all the
elders of the children of Israel.

160
00:18:48,521 --> 00:18:51,514
and sent them to the prison to have them brought.

161
00:18:51,514 --> 00:19:00,573
But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and
reported, saying, Indeed, we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing

162
00:19:00,573 --> 00:19:02,045
outside before the doors.

163
00:19:02,045 --> 00:19:05,329
But when we opened them, we found no one inside.

164
00:19:05,329 --> 00:19:12,015
Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priest heard these
things, they wondered what the outcome would be.

165
00:19:12,383 --> 00:19:20,409
So one came and told them, Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple
and teaching the people.

166
00:19:20,409 --> 00:19:26,754
Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared
the people, lest they should be stoned.

167
00:19:26,754 --> 00:19:34,319
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest
asked them, saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?

168
00:19:34,319 --> 00:19:39,983
And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's
blood on us.

169
00:19:40,555 --> 00:19:47,217
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

170
00:19:47,317 --> 00:19:51,839
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

171
00:19:51,839 --> 00:19:58,761
Him God has exalted to His right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to
Israel and forgiveness of sins.

172
00:19:58,761 --> 00:20:01,342
And we are His witnesses to these things.

173
00:20:01,342 --> 00:20:06,493
So also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

174
00:20:08,415 --> 00:20:18,181
We find under threat that Philip, among the other apostles, was willing to be faithful in
the preach.

175
00:20:18,422 --> 00:20:30,250
We find the prophecy of what Jesus told his apostles they would endure and they would
experience back there in Matthew chapter 10, which we read about this morning, is now

176
00:20:30,250 --> 00:20:31,851
coming to pass.

177
00:20:32,427 --> 00:20:41,209
for they stand before the people and then they get hauled off to prison and then they get
put before the council and then they get told not to preach anymore in his name and what

178
00:20:41,209 --> 00:20:42,290
do they do?

179
00:20:43,507 --> 00:20:55,493
The very next morning they begin preaching again in his name and when the council again
pulls them in, this time without violence, they're brought before the council and the

180
00:20:55,493 --> 00:21:02,055
council says, did we not tell you not to speak anymore in this man's name and yet you have
filled Jerusalem with his doctrine?

181
00:21:03,285 --> 00:21:07,153
They said we ought to obey God rather than men.

182
00:21:09,185 --> 00:21:14,660
Philip was one who was faithful even under threat.

183
00:21:15,501 --> 00:21:27,111
But then you consider as well there in the remainder of that that Philip was one who was
faithful to obey God above the commands of men.

184
00:21:27,953 --> 00:21:35,399
There are going to be times in our lives where we are told by others, you don't do that or
you don't teach that.

185
00:21:35,817 --> 00:21:46,692
Or you're not going to say that, but if it's something that God has said, you better
believe that we're going to do that, and we're going to teach that, and we're going to say

186
00:21:46,692 --> 00:21:50,493
that, because we ought to obey God rather than men.

187
00:21:50,493 --> 00:21:54,655
But then consider also verses 41 and verse 42 of the same chapter.

188
00:21:54,655 --> 00:22:04,988
So they departed from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy
to suffer shame for His name, and daily in the temple and in every house they did not

189
00:22:04,988 --> 00:22:08,439
cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

190
00:22:09,239 --> 00:22:22,283
Philip was one who not only was faithful under threat, not only refused to bow to what men
told him to do instead of what Jesus told him to do, but he also rejoiced when he

191
00:22:22,283 --> 00:22:23,483
suffered.

192
00:22:23,681 --> 00:22:25,332
for doing what was right.

193
00:22:26,573 --> 00:22:33,236
Philip was one who among the apostles was willing to rejoice in suffering.

194
00:22:33,757 --> 00:22:39,181
He didn't look at the things which they suffered and think, you know what, I don't know
why I started this.

195
00:22:39,181 --> 00:22:40,942
I don't know why I'm still here.

196
00:22:40,942 --> 00:22:43,443
I'm not sure why I'm continuing to do this.

197
00:22:43,443 --> 00:22:46,705
It's just going to end up in my life being taken.

198
00:22:46,705 --> 00:22:48,366
Look at Jesus, they killed him.

199
00:22:48,366 --> 00:22:50,287
They could do the same thing to me.

200
00:22:51,464 --> 00:23:01,219
No, rather, Philip was of the mindset that my Lord suffered and I can rejoice if I can
suffer for Him.

201
00:23:01,914 --> 00:23:14,647
But then consider as well in Acts chapter 6, as we're actually nearing the end of many of
the mentions of the apostles and the deeds that the apostles collectively did,

202
00:23:16,071 --> 00:23:19,554
that Philip was also as one among the apostles.

203
00:23:19,554 --> 00:23:23,837
He was one who was faithful in his priorities.

204
00:23:24,478 --> 00:23:33,606
In Acts chapter 6 and verse 1, now in those days when the number of the disciples was
multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists because their

205
00:23:33,606 --> 00:23:36,588
widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

206
00:23:36,588 --> 00:23:44,875
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, is not desirable that we
should leave the word of God and serve tables.

207
00:23:44,959 --> 00:23:55,485
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the
Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." As the apostles, the

208
00:23:55,485 --> 00:24:05,841
twelve, were there in Jerusalem, as they were continuing to teach the people, as
multitudes were coming to salvation as a result of their message, they said, is not

209
00:24:05,841 --> 00:24:12,715
appropriate for us to leave the teaching to go serve widow's tables.

210
00:24:13,439 --> 00:24:25,604
They in no way were demeaning the value of the widows nor of the importance of serving
them and making sure they had their needs provided for, but yet they had a mission that

211
00:24:25,604 --> 00:24:29,646
they had been instructed by their Lord to complete.

212
00:24:30,326 --> 00:24:33,967
And they were unwilling to veer from their priorities.

213
00:24:34,868 --> 00:24:42,451
Philip among the other apostles determined that this was not appropriate for them to be
doing this work.

214
00:24:42,891 --> 00:24:46,214
for they needed to be about their work.

215
00:24:46,696 --> 00:24:51,161
And so Philip maintained his faithfulness in his priorities.

216
00:24:51,161 --> 00:24:53,237
But then Acts chapter 15.

217
00:24:54,941 --> 00:25:07,118
as the church has continued to grow, as the persecution begins, as the church in Jerusalem
begins to go out, and eventually now the Gentiles have received the Gospel.

218
00:25:07,678 --> 00:25:18,394
And the churches have begun in the Gentile cities, and yet there were some from among
those in Jerusalem and Judea who were going out and teaching the Gentiles that they needed

219
00:25:18,394 --> 00:25:20,385
to be obedient to Moses' law.

220
00:25:20,385 --> 00:25:23,527
They needed to be circumcised in order to be saved.

221
00:25:24,779 --> 00:25:35,763
There will be a convening of the elders in Jerusalem and the apostles and others to
discuss this matter, to make sure that there's clarity on this matter.

222
00:25:35,763 --> 00:25:47,728
And one of the things that you see in Acts chapter 15 down in verse 22, then it pleased
the apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to

223
00:25:47,728 --> 00:25:54,581
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely Judas, who was also named Barsobus, and Silas
leading men among them.

224
00:25:54,581 --> 00:25:58,695
They wrote this letter by them, the apostles, the elders, and the brethren.

225
00:25:58,695 --> 00:26:09,244
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, greetings, since we
have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your

226
00:26:09,244 --> 00:26:14,728
souls, saying you must be circumcised and keep the law, to whom we gave no such
commandment.

227
00:26:14,729 --> 00:26:17,832
It seems good to us being assembled with one accord.

228
00:26:17,832 --> 00:26:22,077
So send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul."

229
00:26:22,077 --> 00:26:26,150
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

230
00:26:26,150 --> 00:26:33,215
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of
mouth.

231
00:26:33,215 --> 00:26:44,783
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than
these necessary things, that you abstain from things offered to idols, from the blood of

232
00:26:44,783 --> 00:26:47,385
things strangled, and from sexual immorality.

233
00:26:47,385 --> 00:26:50,827
If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well."

234
00:26:51,581 --> 00:27:07,785
As the apostles and the elders gather together and send this letter, we see that Philip,
among the apostles, was faithful to include the Gentiles in the salvation and the gospel

235
00:27:07,785 --> 00:27:08,767
message.

236
00:27:08,967 --> 00:27:17,605
They were faithful to do that which the Holy Spirit had approved, and that was the gospel
going to the Gentiles.

237
00:27:18,347 --> 00:27:20,070
Philip could have said, you know what?

238
00:27:20,070 --> 00:27:27,742
Back when Jesus was on the earth, back there in Matthew chapter 10, uh he told us not to
go to the Gentiles, so we don't need to go to the Gentiles.

239
00:27:27,742 --> 00:27:30,716
He told us not to go to the Samaritans, so we don't need to go to the Samaritans.

240
00:27:30,716 --> 00:27:31,847
He didn't do that.

241
00:27:33,589 --> 00:27:38,505
Rather, he was faithful to what the Holy Spirit had directed them to do.

242
00:27:39,106 --> 00:27:43,451
He was faithful to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.

243
00:27:46,197 --> 00:27:56,127
The very last mention of Philip, again together with the Twelve, is found in Revelation
21.

244
00:27:56,807 --> 00:28:10,155
In Revelation 21, as the church in its glory is pictured as the bride of Christ, as the
body of Christ

245
00:28:11,537 --> 00:28:16,907
is described in all of its glory here in Revelation 21 and 22.

246
00:28:17,591 --> 00:28:31,301
We find in Revelation 21 and in verse 9, Then one of the seven angels who had seven bowls
filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, Come, I will

247
00:28:31,301 --> 00:28:34,102
show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.

248
00:28:34,403 --> 00:28:40,309
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great
city, the holy Jerusalem.

249
00:28:40,309 --> 00:28:42,780
descending out of heaven from God.

250
00:28:42,780 --> 00:28:49,264
Having the glory of God, her light was like the most precious stone, like a jasper stone
clear as crystal.

251
00:28:49,264 --> 00:29:00,590
Also, she had a great and a high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates and
names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

252
00:29:00,590 --> 00:29:05,933
Three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates
on the west.

253
00:29:05,933 --> 00:29:10,069
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them

254
00:29:10,069 --> 00:29:14,741
were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

255
00:29:15,861 --> 00:29:29,647
The last reference to Philip's name is in a picture of the glorified church which had been
built upon the apostles' doctrine.

256
00:29:30,047 --> 00:29:39,531
There in Acts chapter 2, after the church was begun, after the kingdom was established,
there on that day of Pentecost, what do we read about the church?

257
00:29:39,605 --> 00:29:46,060
We read that they continued daily in the Apostles' Doctrine.

258
00:29:46,941 --> 00:29:58,370
Philip's name, here observed by John, inscribed into the spiritual walls of that great
city, the Bride of Christ.

259
00:29:59,211 --> 00:30:05,416
Philip was one who truly was faithful in service.

260
00:30:06,357 --> 00:30:08,949
So much so that his name

261
00:30:09,643 --> 00:30:14,185
has been and will be remembered for the rest of time.

262
00:30:15,185 --> 00:30:18,706
We need to learn faithfulness from Philip.

263
00:30:19,047 --> 00:30:24,809
We need to learn to bring the gospel to all those who are willing to hear.

264
00:30:25,069 --> 00:30:30,391
We need to learn to be a blessing to those who will hear the gospel.

265
00:30:30,812 --> 00:30:37,154
We need to learn to be willing to say, I'll go no matter what it costs.

266
00:30:37,955 --> 00:30:39,335
We need to learn.

267
00:30:39,627 --> 00:30:46,531
that no matter what men tell us to do, we must be faithful to God.

268
00:30:47,793 --> 00:30:51,835
And then we need to learn to rejoice in suffering.

269
00:30:52,276 --> 00:30:58,420
We need to learn to be faithful and diligent in our priorities.

270
00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:08,757
And we need to learn to be faithful to make sure that all those who are willing to hear
can hear without fear of prejudice,

271
00:31:08,887 --> 00:31:11,948
keeping them from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

272
00:31:12,529 --> 00:31:17,491
Philip is truly an example of faithfulness in service.

273
00:31:17,772 --> 00:31:29,918
If you're here this afternoon and you have need of the invitation of Christ to put Christ
on in baptism, to live faithful to him, if you're willing to accept what that comes with,

274
00:31:30,319 --> 00:31:35,441
because Philip clearly shows us it's not going to be easy.

275
00:31:36,522 --> 00:31:38,943
Now, tradition tells us that Philip

276
00:31:39,157 --> 00:31:40,252
will die.

277
00:31:42,133 --> 00:31:46,264
being in service to his Lord.

278
00:31:47,625 --> 00:31:52,966
But Scripture doesn't paint us a picture of Philip's death.

279
00:31:53,586 --> 00:31:55,847
It paints us a picture of Philip's life.

280
00:31:56,387 --> 00:32:06,110
If you have need of the invitation of Christ to come and to follow him, then we encourage
you to do that together as we stand and as