lesson ten

AUGUST 29–SEPTEMBER 4

Philip as
Missionary
“ ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ ”
(Acts 1:8, NIV).
sabbath
AUGUST 29
Introduction
The Message in Acts 8:26–39

the Anthill

Who would think that baking bread in a disbanded anthill would be part of
a missionary journey? But that’s what Millie Howard did to help women in the
Congo learn how to prepare healthy meals. She also taught them other practi-
cal skills such as the rudiments of sewing. It’s all part of spreading the gospel.
Millie and her husband, John, followed God’s command and became “a light
for the Gentiles” (Acts 13:47). They went to the mission field and communi-
cated Christ’s redeeming love and His sacrifice on Calvary.

“We are going to the Congo!”

In a casual exchange one Sabbath at a church I was visiting, I said to an
older gentleman, “You look as though you have a story to tell.” He said, “Yes,
I do. I was a missionary in Africa.” Over lunch, John Howard told me fascinat-
ing stories of his travels and work in the Congo. He told of a telephone call
inviting him to become a missionary and of a dream that he was preaching in
French—a language he did not know—then waking up to tell his wife, Millie,
that they were going to Haiti as missionaries. Haiti was the closest French-
speaking country he thought that needed to know about God.
Later, John read an article about women in the Congo walking several miles
to learn about the Bible. He told his wife, “We are going to the Congo!” When
the official invitation letter came, the Congo was their destination.
Stories of David Livingstone made John want to be a missionary. Similarly,
the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch should encourage and inspire
us to spread God’s Word to those we meet casually and to those to whom
we are sent. Upon meeting the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip inquired whether he
understood what he was reading. When the Ethiopian said No and requested a
teacher, Philip gladly explained and then responded to his request for baptism.
We also should encourage others to learn, believe, repent, and be baptized.
Philip’s plan, as well as the plan of the other disciples, was to stay in Jeru-
salem. However, persecution scattered them, and they obeyed God’s great
commission to “ ‘make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you’ ” (Matt. 28:19, 20, NIV).
Missionary zeal seems to be most evident where there is the possibility of
unfair treatment because of our or another’s religious beliefs. But should we
wait for persecution to come before becoming missionaries to those near and
far? Or should we use every opportunity to tell someone about Christ?
____________
* Conversation with John Howard, former Adventist Devlopment and Relief Agency Canada
director and missionary to the Congo from 1970 to 1977.
Beverly Henry, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies
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 sunday
AUGUST 30
Matt. 28:18–20; Evidence
Daniel 6
A Silent Witness

The gospel commission in Matthew 28:18–20 compelled Philip to witness to

others. The Bible gives several other such examples: the Hebrew maid and her
master Naaman (2 Kings 5:1–4); Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20–39);
Joseph (Genesis 39); and Daniel (Daniel 6) all fit the description of good mis-
sionaries and evangelists as described by the Greek word euaggelist es.- 1

There is another window through which we need to witness.

It was customary for Daniel to pray by an open window three times daily
(Dan. 6:10, 13). This served as a testimony to all those around him. However,
King Darius was tricked into signing a decree intended to get rid of Daniel by
throwing him into the lions’ den because of his beliefs and witnessing. This had
a sobering effect on Darius, who went to the mouth of the lions’ den and called
to Daniel saying, “ ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you
serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ ” (verse 20, NIV).
After hearing Daniel’s response, the king issued a decree that everyone in the
kingdom should fear and reverence the living God (verses 25–27). Thus, by
visibly praying, Daniel had unwittingly carried out the commission which had
yet to be recorded in Matthew 28:19, 20.
There is another window through which we need to witness—the 10/40
Window.2 The Ethiopian eunuch to whom Philip witnessed came from this re-
gion. Even today, countries in this part of the world suffer from severe poverty
and are populated predominantly by people who have the “least access to the
Christian message and resources on the planet.”3
When people have access to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will interpret
God’s message to them or will send an interpreter to them. We are to follow
Christ’s example of providing people with spiritual knowledge as well as satis-
fying their physical needs. “ ‘ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out
workers into his harvest field’ ” (Matt. 9:38, NIV).

REACT
1. How does your commitment to witnessing reflect God’s commission to
preach the gospel to the farthest parts of the world?
2. Formulate a plan to help evangelize various groups within your sphere of
influence.
____________
1. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, s.v. “evangelist.”
2. Wikipedia, s.v. “10/40 Window,” last modified June 29, 2014, http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/10/40_Window.
3. Ibid.
Mark Henry, Phillipsburg, New Jersey, U.S.A.
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monday
AUGUST 31
Matt. 28:19, 20;
Mark 16:15;
Logos Luke 24:45–49;

A Spirit-Led Missionary John 20:21, 22;

Acts 1:4–8; 6:2–5;
8:5–7, 12, 26–40

Divine Mission and Mandate (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47;
Acts 1:8)
During the 40 days Jesus spent with His disciples after His resurrection,
His main focus was the divine mandate to take to the whole world the good
news of the salvation that He provides through His perfect life and vicarious
death. His commands in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 and His assertion in
Luke 24:47 make it abundantly clear that His disciples were to share the gos-
pel message with all of humankind. “ ‘Beginning at Jerusalem’ ” (Luke 24:47,
NIV), this message was to be preached “ ‘in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ ” (Acts 1:8, NIV).

The empowerment of the Spirit is the essential ingredient

of successful missionary endeavors.
Divine Empowerment (Acts 1:4)
Jesus was emphatic that this mission could succeed only through the
empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, He commanded the apostles,
“ ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which
you have heard me speak about’ ” (Acts 1:4, NIV). He also assured them
that they would “ ‘be baptized with the Holy Spirit’ ” (verse 5) and “ ‘receive
power when the Holy Spirit’ ” came upon them (verse 8).
This need to be empowered by the Spirit before embarking on a mis-
sion is also found in Luke 24:49, where Jesus said, “ ‘I am going to send
you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been
clothed with power from on high’ ” (NIV). Immediately after commissioning
His disciples with the words “ ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,’
. . . he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:21,
22, NIV). Once again, this shows that for Jesus, the empowerment of the
Spirit is the essential ingredient of successful missionary endeavors.

Spirit Filled and Spirit Led (Acts 6:1–6; 8:29, 30)

Philip’s preparation for missionary endeavors fulfills Jesus’ prescription
with a high level of precision. With respect to the need of the Holy Spirit, it is
worth noting that Philip was one of seven men selected for positions (which
we now refer to as deacons) for which one criterion was being “full of the
Spirit” (Acts 6:3, NIV; see also verse 5).
Further evidence of Philip’s connection with the Holy Spirit is seen in
the Spirit’s involvement in his evangelistic endeavors. When the Holy Spirit
instructed him to approach the Ethiopian eunuch and engage in a study of

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the Scriptures with him, he responded without hesitation. The subsequent
Bible study, in which Philip shared with the Ethiopian “the good news about
Jesus” (Acts 8:35, NIV), led to the Ethiopian’s baptism (verse 38). When
Philip’s mission was accomplished, the same Spirit who had guided him to
join the eunuch transported him away (verse 39).

Philip’s Missionary Activities (Acts 1:8; 6:2–5; 8:5)

The commands of Christ regarding the mission outreach He commissioned
His followers to do had a distinct geographical pattern. It was to begin in Jeru-
salem, spread to Judea and Samaria, and eventually to the whole world (Acts
1:8). The missionary activities of Philip followed this prescribed geographical
progression to a great degree. He began his ministry in Jerusalem as a mem-
ber of the seven-man team that attended to the material needs of the believers,
leaving the apostles free to concentrate on preaching the gospel (Acts 6:2–5).
After the stoning of Stephen and the subsequent persecution in Jerusalem,
many of the believers fled to the regions of Judea and Samaria, preaching the
Word wherever they went (Acts 8:1, 4). Philip was a part of that spreading of
the gospel: “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached the Christ
there” (verse 5). The people responded positively and joyfully to what he said,
because he not only proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ but, empowered by
the Holy Spirit, he performed many miracles, healing the sick and casting out
demons (verses 6–8). As a result, many men and women were baptized (verse
12). Instructed by an angel, he continued moving farther in the field, going
south towards Gaza, when he met the Ethiopian on his way (verses 26, 27).
He was then transported by the Spirit to Azotus “and traveled about, preaching
the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea” (verses 39, 40, NIV).

A Model for Us
There are many valuable lessons we can learn from the evangelistic en-
deavors of Philip: (1) he was filled with the Holy Spirit; (2) when necessary, he
was willing to play a supporting role so that others could focus on preaching
the gospel; (3) he was responsive to the leading of the Spirit as he shared his
faith; (4) he was willing to go wherever the Spirit led him; (5) he was empow-
ered by the Spirit to perform miracles as part of his ministry; (6) he preached
the gospel wherever he went; and (7) he focused on preaching Christ.

REACT
1. Jesus mandated that we should receive the Holy Spirit before pro-
claiming the gospel. Does this mean that we should wait for the infilling of the
Spirit before carrying out the mission of the church? Explain your answer.
2. What may be some of the reasons why our preaching of the Advent
message is not accompanied by the performing of miracles as in the expe-
rience of Philip and others during the apostolic era?

Orlando Moncrieffe, Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A.

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tuesday
SEPTEMBER 1
Testimony
Share the Vision
Matt. 28:19, 20

When Christ commissioned His disciples to preach to the Gentiles, He in-

tended that they should leave Jerusalem and spread the gospel everywhere.
However, it seemed that the disciples did not want to leave their comfort zone.
There “was danger that the disciples would linger . . . unmindful of the Saviour’s
commission to go to all the world. . . . God permitted persecution to come upon
them. Driven from Jerusalem, the believers ‘went everywhere preaching the
word.’ ”1

“Evil angels were waiting for their opportunity.”

“When they were scattered by persecution they went forth filled with mis-
sionary zeal. . . . They knew that they held in their hands the bread of life for a
famishing world; and they were constrained by the love of Christ to break this
bread to all who were in need.”2
“In the experience of Philip and the Ethiopian is presented the work to which
the Lord calls his people. The Ethiopian represents a large class who need
missionaries like Philip,—missionaries who will hear the voice of God, and go
where he sends them. There are many who are reading the Scriptures, but
who can not understand their import. . . . Prayers and tears and inquiries go up
from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the verge
of the kingdom, waiting only to be gathered in.”3
“This Ethiopian was a man of good standing and of wide influence. God
saw that when converted he would give others the light he had received and
would exert a strong influence in favor of the gospel. . . . By the ministration of
the Holy Spirit the Lord brought him into touch with one who could lead him to
the light.”4
“Had Philip left the eunuch with his case hanging in the balance, he might
never have accepted the Saviour. Evil angels were waiting for their opportunity
when they could . . . divert the newly awakened mind from seeking after truth.
The Lord’s agencies must be wholly consecrated to His service, that they may
be quick to understand their work. As wise stewards they must take advantage
of every circumstance to teach the grace of God and draw people to Christ.”5
____________
1. Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 105.
2. Ibid., p. 106.
3. White, “The Gospel in Samaria,” Review and Herald, March 2, 1911.
4. White, Confl ict and Courage, p. 332.
5. White, Christ Triumphant, p. 308.

Carl Henry, Snellville, Georgia, U.S.A.

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 wednesday SEPTEMBER 2

Mark 16:15
How-to
Tweet It

How can we be missionaries once we ourselves have accepted Jesus

Christ as our Savior?
We should be prepared. After Adam and Eve sinned, God emptied heaven
of His most precious possession, Jesus, who came to earth so that we could
learn about the plan of salvation and be saved by accepting the free gift of
His salvation. God prepares us to accept this gift through the outpouring of
His Holy Spirit. A firm knowledge of salvation truth and God’s amazing power
is vital for success (Isa. 55:10, 11; Matt. 5:14–16). Proclamation of the gospel
throughout the world will result in the second coming of Christ (Matt. 24:14).

Our responsibility is to witness wherever we are.

We are to witness everywhere. Mission is the work of every church member.
We are to witness in our own backyard, across the sea, wherever God calls us
to go. He desires that we use our talents and skills with caring attitudes to better
humanity. And don’t forget your neighbor, whose house is beside, behind, or in
front of yours. Often we think of evangelizing only to people in “heathen lands,”
at the expense of forgetting the simple yet important acts we can perform for
even casual acquaintances. Remember that Paul planted, Apollos watered,
and God gave the increase (see 1 Cor. 3:6). Our responsibility is to witness
wherever we are, not only in our home, but as we walk by the way (Deut. 6:7–9).
Be kind. Of millennials in the United States, it is said that kindness “is
becoming the nation’s [the United States’] newest currency.”1 If millennials
generally believe that doing the right thing is mandatory, shouldn’t Christians
advocate kindness as one of the elements of their missionary work? What
revolution would occur if Christians were to be kind to everyone they met?
Be a positive example. A Welsh proverb states, “He that would be a leader
must also be a bridge.”2 When you lead by example, undoubtedly you will have
followers replicating your teachings. That’s a good thing. Don’t be afraid to en-
gage in the use of the Internet and positive social and other electronic media
to build constructive relationships and to share what Christ has done for you.
Sometimes opportunities come in unexpected places and unheard of ways.

REACT
What intentional act can you do to witness to your community and peers?
____________
1. Bruce Horovitz, “Millennials Spur Capitalism With a Conscience,” USA Today, March 27, 2013,
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/25/kindness-panera-bread-nordstrom
-starbucks/1965183/.
2. Quotes, accessed November 25, 2014, http://www.quotes.net/quote/41719.
Andre Henry, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A.
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thursday
SEPTEMBER 3
Opinion
Being a Missionary Rom. 1:16

to Whom?
Philip the missionary was the first named person to preach the gospel of
Jesus to the Gentiles. Prior to this time, the gospel was preached to the Jews
(Matt. 10:5, 6). Two prophetic events provided Philip with the historic opportu-
nity to be an effective missionary to the Gentile community. The first was the
stoning death of Stephen in a.d. 34, signaling the rejection of the gospel by the
Jews as a nation and the beginning of the work to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46;
Rom. 1:16). The second occurred as Saul led a ruthless crusade to persecute
the Christian church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1; 1 Cor. 15:9; 1 Tim. 1:12–14). These
events scattered the members of the early church to neighboring regions, and
as they established their new homes, they systematically preached the gospel
to all (Acts 8:4, 5).

When we accept God’s call,

we must be prepared for adventures!
In this transition, Philip relocated to Samaria (verse 5). The Bible illustrates
how his dynamic preaching converted many who listened to him and they
witnessed the miracles he performed. Many sick and paralyzed people were
cured, while demons were neutralized by the power of his preaching (verses
6–8).
Philip was an influential and persuasive missionary. He was an honest man.
He had a good reputation as a deacon, and he was known by his church
members and the community at large. He constantly walked and talked with
the Lord. He lived his life as an open book, and as such, he was identified as
a man full of the Holy Ghost.
Philip was wise, yet humble—two prerequisites for being a deacon. He be-
gan his ministry as a waiter. He later moved to Samaria in a neighborhood in
which there lived a group of people who were half Jew and half Gentile. History
shows that the Jews had little contact with these people, yet Philip chose to
demonstrate true Christian love by reaching out to them. Philip was diligent
regarding his work in Samaria, and his preaching met with much success (Acts
8:5–8). God also elected Philip to minister to a high-ranking government of-
ficial in the court of Candice, the queen of Ethiopia. Can you imagine getting a
chance to witness to such a person? When we accept God’s call, we must be
prepared for adventures!

REACT
How might you be positioned to witness to a government official?

Trescot Wilson, Sandys, Bermuda

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 friday
SEPTEMBER 4
Matt. 28:19, 20; Exploration
Mark 16:15, 16
You as a Missionary

CONCLUDE
World mission was the main concern of the risen Christ during the 40
days between His crucifixion and ascension. The New Testament preserves
at least five of His great commission statements: Matthew 28:18–20; Mark
16:15; Luke 24:45–49; John 20:21; and Acts 1:5–8. Together, these state-
ments constitute the greatest assignment ever given to Christians. Among
the commands was a geographical strategy for mission outreach, from its
Jerusalem base to Judea and Samaria, then ultimately to the ends of the
earth. This was a command that they, indeed, took seriously, and it is a
command that continues to resonate with Christians today.

CONSIDER
• Purchasing a map of the town in which you live and highlighting areas
that need special attention of some kind. Together with your Sabbath
School class or your church’s Community Services director, choose
one of those areas and determine how to go about meeting that need.
• Teaching someone who has immigrated to your city from another
country how to speak the local language and navigate your country’s
or town’s culture. Your local library or city government might have in-
formation on how to go about doing this.
• Learning about the how, what, why, where, and when of Seventh-day
Adventist missions by going to the Adventist Mission Web site at http://
www.adventistmission.org/.
• Writing your reaction to one of this week’s daily lessons that affected
you more than the others.
• Singing hymn no. 363, “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service,” in the
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. What talents and abilities do you
have that you could use in humble service for Him?

CONNECT
Leviticus 25:35; Psalm 82:3, 4; James 2:1–19.
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, chap. 54, “The Good Samaritan,”
pp. 497–505.

Lyn Vandenburg, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

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