Acts 8:40 (KJV) Family First

Acts 8:40 (KJV)
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
 
Here is a fascinating passage. After serving in the town of Samaria, establishing what appears to have been a solid work, the Holy Spirit of God moved Philip to head into the desert where he met and led the Ethiopian eunuch to a saving knowledge of Christ.
 

The desert, not being commodious to live in, Philip began an itinerant ministry starting first at Azotus, and preaching in all the cities between it and Caesarea on his way. How long he was in these cities we are not told. Experience has taught me that stopping to preach one message isn’t really preaching “in all the cities.” It’s possible, I suppose, that he stopped in each city, preached, and if there was little response, moved on. It’s more likely he stayed in each of these cities long enough to either have established a beachhead for future ministry or else to have determined that God’s Spirit had not worked there as of yet.
 
At any rate, he preached in every city “till he came to Caesarea.” Adam Clarke writes,
“It is likely that his itinerant mission ended here; though he continued occasionally to perform the work of an evangelist, and to bring up his family in the knowledge and fear of God, which is the most imperious duty that any master of a family can be called on to perform, and which it is impossible for any man to accomplish by substitute…”
 
While Clarke steps into what I consider to be heresy in his phrase following this,[1] I appreciate and find instruction here. He sees the most important duty as bringing up his family in the knowledge and fear of God. Far too many in the Lord’s work have lost sight of this.
 
It is a wise man who, while burdened for and busy about the work of world missions, evangelism, and church planting, recognizes that place where God wants him to plant his roots and bring up his family.

 

#PhilipAndTheEunuch #DesertMinistry #FamilyFaith #RootedinFaith #ItinerantMinistry

Family First: Following the Spirit

---

[1] “...and which none can neglect without endangering his own salvation.” A man’s most important work is to provide for his family. This is especially true of providing for them spiritually. But salvation cannot be endangered by any means. Many may people have a false profession of faith. Caring for their family won’t cure that problem. Those who are genuinely saved should know the responsibility toward the family. I believe many in the ministry a generation or two ago were taught that reaching the world was equal to or more important than the family. Believing that lie would not have caused them to lose their salvation.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Acts 8:40 (KJV) Family First