Effective Ministry Lasts

In Acts chapter 8, Luke wrote about two effective missions by Philip. This was one of the culturally Greek Jews the Apostles laid their hands on to ordain them as food delivery deacons in chapter 6. Stephen was another.

The powerful gifts given to them by the Spirit of Jesus through the Apostles made them able to perform miracles.  When Stephen was murdered, the ensuing persecution drove all but the Apostles out of Jerusalem to do ministry.

Philip went to Samaria and evangelized a whole town with preaching and miracles. Even the town witch got saved. Then, Philip was led by the Spirit out to the desert to encounter a man who worked for the government of Ethiopia. Immediately after leading the man to faith in Messiah, Philip was whisked away by the Spirit to Azotus. 

When missionaries went to Ethiopia later, the church was already strong there, because of Philip’s ministry to the man he met and evangelized and baptized.

The “in passing” ministry was both easier and more effective than the work in Samaria. Do what you’re told by the Spirit and expect awesomeness.