Believe in Me and Live
Philip explained his encounter with Jesus and they all rejoiced at his salvation.
A Muslim leader named Philip, who oversees a region in Northern Ethiopia, heard the Gospel from a church planter. Philip rejected the man’s message at the time but began to think privately about what he’d heard. He turned to God in prayer and asked, “Who is the true prophet, Mohammed or Jesus?” Uncertainty now plagued him. That night Philip had a dream. He saw the whole world was in great turmoil. Jesus was in the sky commanding a host of angels. Philip saw that trouble had befallen the earth, causing a great crisis. Everyone was affected except for the Christians who remained unshaken. In this dream, Philip turned to the Christians and begged them for help, but they could not hear him. Despairing he turned away, but a voice from a bright light spoke: “It’s not too late, this dream is to warn you. Believe in Me and live!” Still seeing himself in the dream, Philip immediately believed in Jesus and was overwhelmed with peace flooding through him. He was joyful until he looked around and saw all the others, thousands of others, still in turmoil. They accused him of having what they lacked but desired: peace. Philip asked Jesus what to do and He answered, “Tell them, one by one. Tell them the truth. Tell them who I am.” When Philip awoke he went to the church planter who had first proclaimed the Gospel to him. Philip explained his encounter with Jesus and they all rejoiced at his salvation. He then went to one of the Muslim men who he had seen in his dream and told him about his newfound faith. This man also gave his life to Christ and now they both are experiencing great spiritual fruit in their lives, as they continue to proclaim to all men, one by one, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
We are reminded in 1 Timothy 4:10 why we continue to set our eyes on Christ and work for His Kingdom. For it is for this we labour and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the Living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of believers.
Philip found his hope in Jesus. He continues to run the race set before him energized by a burden for those who remain lost in their sin.
