Is it not true that when we have heard of a place where the followers of Jesus Christ are being persecuted that they are in fact multiplying? I wrote a little bit more about this as a writer for Sixty-six books in a year.

Such is the state of those following Christ in Acts chapter 8. Stephen has been put to death and is buried. The breaking point that pushed the gate open for persecution to come on full-bore. Many were forced to leave Jerusalem. We are introduced to Philip doing the same thing. He went to Samaria and preached the gospel there. They embraced God’s word, even the famous magician of the day – Simon Magus. It was wonderful to read about the Holy Spirit coming upon the believing Samaritans through the ministry of Peter and John. I am wondering if Simon Magus was the first to commit the unpardonable sin by offering money for the power of the Holy Spirit to be given to him. The gospel is also sent to Ethiopia by the eunuch. Philip is the one engaged with him. The eunuch believes and is water baptized. Believe it or not, Philip is transported quite a few miles north of where he was.

Both Stephen and Philip give me two great examples of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how that fits into the multiplying plan.

As a disciple, I must make myself available to God – to serve Him. What I do for Him, whenever I do something for Him, nothing is insignificant. No action, no person, no ministry in the Kingdom of God is insignificant.

Bobby Michaels was a Christian singer and composer. He was at a Bible conference one day when he noticed a young intern attending to them. His job was to get the coffee, clean up the tables, and generally stay out of everyone’s way.

At the end of the conference, another participant asked Bobby how his current album project was coming together. He replied that he needed one more song to finish the album, and his friend pointed to the intern and said, “That kid, the one cleaning up the table, he is writing some interesting stuff. Why don’t you talk to him?”

And so Bobby did and the young man shared with him the words that eventually became his final song for his album. The song was, “My Redeemer is Faithful and True”. The young intern was Steven Curtis Chapman, who has also become a successful Christian singer and song-writer.

As a disciple, I listen to God’s call. I can only be led if I am listening.

 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south^[d] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.  And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship  and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.  And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” – Acts 8:26-29  ESV