PT-2 “Common Men, Uncommon Calling PT-5: Philip, Bartholomew”

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/28/2026 8:47 PM

PT-2 “Common Men, Uncommon Calling PT-5: Philip, Bartholomew”

(Luke 6:143, f)

Message of the verse:  “and Philip, and Bartholomew,”

            “The Apostle Paul is the New Testament model of a bold, courageous leader.  He fearlessly preached the gospel, in the face of threats, hostility, and persecution everywhere he went.  That opposition began immediately after his conversion in Damascus, where his proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah so enraged the Jews that they sought to kill him (Acts 9:22-24).  Paul faced similar opposition from his countrymen in Antioch (13:46), Iconium (14:1-2), Corinth (18:4-6, 12-16), Jerusalem (21:27:-22:23); cf. 21:10-13), before the Sanhedrin (22:30-23:10), and in Rome (28:16-31).

            “Paul’s preaching of the gospel also aroused hostility from the Gentiles.  In Philippi he was beater and imprisoned (16:16-40); in Athens he was mocked by the skeptical Greek philosophers (17:16-34); in Ephesus his success in preaching the gospel sparked a riot by the devotees of the pagan goddess Artemis (19:23-41).  Paul also courageously testified to the Lord Jesus Christ before Gentile authorities, including Felix (24:1-26), Festus (25:1-12), Agrippa (26:1-32), and the emperor (25:12, 21-27; cf. 28:17-19).  When the ship taking him to Rome encountered a severe storm, Paul though only a prisoner, took charge of the situation (27:9-10, 21-26, 30-36).

            “Unlike many pastors today, Paul did not hesitate to denounce false teachers.  He confronted the ‘Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus’ on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:6), the Judaizers at Antioch (15:1-2), and Hymenaeus and Alexander at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:20).  He also repeatedly warned Christians to beware of such ‘savage wolves’ (Acts 20:29; cf. 2 Cor. 11:2-4; Gal. 1:6-7; 6:12-13; Phil. 3:2, 18-19; Col. 2:8, 18-23; 1 Thess. 2:14-16; 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 4:1-3; 6:3-5, 20-21; 2 Tim. 2:14, 16-18, 23; 3:1-9, 13; 4:14-15; Titus 1:9-16; 3:9-10).

            “But not every leader is a Moses, Elijah, or Paul.  The Lord also uses quiet, contemplative, analytical, cautious men.  One such man was Paul’s dear son in the faith, Timothy.  Timothy was unquestionably a man of conviction, in whom Paul had the utmost confidence (Phil. 2:19-20).  The apostle sent him to deal with the troubled situation at Corinth (1 Cor. 4:17), to Thessalonica (1 Thess. 3:2, 6), and possibly to Philippi (Phil. 2:19).  Paul also installed Timothy as the pastor of the important church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:1-3).  Timothy endured imprisonment for the cause of Christ (Heb. 12:23), possibly because of his loyal service to Paul (cf. 2 Tim. 4:9, 11, 13, 21).

            “Yet Timothy could also be fearful, hesitant, and lacking in self-confidence.  Paul had to encourage and exhort him not to allow others to intimidate him because of his youth and lack of experience (1 Tim. 4:12-16).  Timothy also needed to be more faithful in the exercise of his spiritual gift (2 Tim. 1:6), to stop being timid (v. 7; cf. 1 Cor. 16:10), and not to be ashamed to be identified with either the Lord or Paul, but be willing to suffer for the gospel (v. 8).  Later in that same epistle, the apostle repeated his exhortation to Timothy to renew his commitment to his ministry and to be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ (2:1,3).

            “Like all spiritual leaders, the apostles also were men of diverse temperaments.  As noted in earlier chapters of this volume, Peter, James and John were dynamic, upfront, take-charge individuals.  Andrew, consistently overshadowed by his more prominent brother Peter, operated more in the background.  The next two individuals on Luke’s list of the Twelve, Philip and Nathanael (Bartholomew), were also quiet, analytical, reflective men content to work behind the scenes.” 

6/28/2026 9:12 PM