Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
A Samaritan woman met Jesus Christ and despite cultural separations and distinctions, he talked to her and blessed her beyond measure. Judeans looked down on the Samaritans. They were considered by the Judean culture to be 'mutt' Judeans, if Judeans at all. Jesus Christ was not bound by culture. He was interested in her life and saw her heart. She got so excited and ran back to town and brought back others.
John 4:39- 40 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
Is it any wonder that Philip the evangelist headed back up to Samaria when persecution hit the disciples in Jerusalem in Acts 8? Philip preached the Word in Samaria and people were receptive so much so that when Peter and John (who had been with Jesus in John 4) heard they decided to go. How exciting that must have been for Peter and John! They must have been so blessed to hear the news of Philip! Can you imagine their conversation as they headed out to help in Samaria. God worked in the heart of Philip, Peter and John in a new dynamic way. What great unity based on what God was working (see sunergeo link to see 'sunergeo' from where we get the word 'synergy') in them! Unity is certainly not based on uniformity, but on how God works the big spiritual picture utilizing a group of individuals who believe. The culture of the disciples was changing as they were growing and maturing in their walk with God.
Philip would have operated discerning of spirits, working of miracles, gifts of healings (verses6,7). evangelist ministry
ReplyDeletePeter and John certainly discerning of spirits, word of knowledge (perceive in v.23)word of wisdom (v.22), apostolic ministry, pastor
Was John a prophet?
They all would have been teaching. All five ministries were in play-Samaratin revival?