5 Smooth Stones

they practiced. In the local’s courts, the testimony of a Christian witness was always accepted. This is in contrast with the north of India, where the missionaries came in more modern times and reached out to the “poor and down cast” but neglected the upper classes. Today there are very few Christians in the upper or ruling classes in the north of India, and many of the ruling Hindus believe Christianity is a religion of Europe and poor people. This is also a root of the anti-Christian e ff ects and persecution found primarily in the north of India. There are some in fl uential evangelists who have had great success in leading people to the Lord and salvation in their evangelistic campaigns around the world. However, historically, with follow-up in areas where even thousands of people received the Lord, within a few months there is no discernable or measurable change in the city or region where the gospel was preached. This is not the pa tt ern we see in the gospels and the book of Acts. One reason for this is we tend to de-emphasize reaching out to the cultural leaders in the various sectors of society, as mentioned. Another reason is lack of discipleship with those who are saved, and a third reason is not employing the apostolic ministry along with the evangelistic. Philip did not make this mistake. Once he started the work in Samaria, the apostles, whom he was in relationship with, came and con tinued the work. The apostles did a few things that Philip did not do. In Samaria we fi nd the fi rst time recorded in the book of Acts where people received the Lord but did not manifest the spirit with the manifestation of speaking in tongues. Some believe this is because of the in fl uence of the sorceries of Simon. At any rate, it had not happened before and dealing with such things falls under the apostolic mantle. Peter the apostle was called upon in his ministry to bring the fi rst Gentiles into the new birth (Acts10), and, after he accomplished this, it was possible to o ff er salvation to the Gentiles through any believer who presented the gospel. It appears that keeping with biblical order, Philip planted or birthed the work in Samaria, but the apostles established it and set a fi rm foundation which historically continued through the church in Samaria. When apostles and evangelists carry out the work of the Kingdom by functioning in tandem with one another according to the will of God, both the gospel of salvation and the gospel of the kingdom is preached. People will be brought into the new birth as well as continue on to discipleship, and that which is begun will also be established. This will allow the Kingdom of God to move forward with power and might. One reason the early church had lasting success is the ministries working together, each doing what they were called to do and building the 115