"Ordinary Joe--Extraordinary Impact"

Scripture Passage

Acts 8-9:43

Scripture Focus

Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. (Acts 8:6 NLT)

Observation

Philip, it seems to me, was just your average Joe—or, at least, just your average Philip. Nothing of what we know about Philip suggests he was particularly educated or wealthy or popular or…anything, really, except available. He had not been personally disciple by Jesus—this was not the Philip among Jesus’ twelve disciples. Rather, we’re introduced to Philip as one of the seven men selected in Acts 6 to solve the challenges of equitable food distribution among the widows. In that regard, about all we know of Philip is that he was “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3 NLT). Oh, yeah—and from Acts 6 we also know he was willing to take on specific and challenging responsibilities in order to see God’s Kingdom advance. I suspect that’s significant.

But when Stephen is martyred and persecution breaks out against the whole church, it’s Philip’s story the New Testament picks up on. You’d have to work pretty hard to convince me his story is especially unique—Acts 8:4-5 describes the believers (all of them, apparently) preaching the good news about Jesus wherever they went, and then cites Philip specifically only as an example. But what an example!

Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5-8 NLT)

Here’s the deal. This was Philip—just an ordinary guy—being used mightily of God in miraculous ways to advance God’s heavenly kingdom on earth. These miracles were not just isolated events, but expressions of God’s eternal Kingdom (the kingdom Jesus announced was “at hand”) invading time—the “stuff” of heaven invading the now! (When people are healed and delivered, God’s Kingdom comes on earth as it always exists in heaven, and the prayer Jesus taught us to pray is answered.) This, I’m convinced, is God’s ongoing intention for the people who bear His Name—to continue to do "everything Jesus began to do and teach" (Acts 1:1 NLT).

Which means the story of Philip’s faith is an indictment of my faith, and of Christian faith generally (at least, within the U.S., to be sure). Though I’ve seen the miraculous happen, and specific prayers clearly answered, I’m convinced God’s intention is to “show up” more consistently and more powerfully through His people. And so I pray…

LORD, I have heard of your fame;
     I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
     in our time make them known;
     in wrath remember mercy.
                 (Habakkuk 3:2 NIV)

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