THE MOST POWERFUL WAY TO LIVE

 

Is it possible to be so led by God that you are always the right person in the right place at the right time, saying and doing the right thing?

Philip was.

The book of Acts gives us a beautiful snapshot into this deacon’s life in Acts 8:25-40. Like most of the Christians in Jerusalem, Philip had been dispersed by the “great persecution” that arose against the church. He went down to Samaria and began “proclaiming Christ.” God did great miracles there, many believed, and all were amazed. (Acts 8).

Peter and John came down to help in the harvest, but at some point, they began the ascent back up to Jerusalem, and they were all “preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.” And then we read this travelogue.

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So, he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”  (Acts 8:26–29)

AN ANGEL SPOKE, AND THE SPIRIT SAID

A messenger from God came to Philip and directed him to head down a desert road. While traveling, he came upon a chariot with an official from Africa who had come to Jerusalem and was returning. He was pursuing God and reading the scroll of Isaiah. Philip saw him, and the Spirit came to him with a simple bit of instruction, with no details. “Go up and join this chariot.”

If you want to hear from God, you must be a man or woman who is predisposed to obey. Philip had been in the wonderful movement of God at Pentecost and beyond in Jerusalem and then the work in Samaria. He knew what God was about. And so, we do not hear him hesitating. In fact, the next verse records the depth of his enthusiasm. “Philip ran up” to the chariot.

The man was reading the part of Isaiah’s prophecy that speaks of Christ and His suffering on our behalf (Isaiah 53). God had been working on the Ethiopian’s end of the equation, and his heart was ready.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)

NO HESITATION

If you want to argue the finer points about the Holy Spirit, how He can speak to and lead both an Ethiopian seeker and an Israelite preacher, you can. But you would miss the point of this event.

Philip was listening and surrendered. The Spirit was gladly willing to lead to accomplish His purposes in the lives of those whom Christ came to “seek and to save.” He communicated to His servant. His servant courageously, instantly, unhesitatingly obeyed.

The hungry seeker heard and believed and was baptized as they came to water along the way … and suddenly the gospel goes to Africa. The first report we know of this people group hearing as the gospel goes to every tongue and tribe and nation, just as God has planned.

Simple. Pure. Powerful. Effective. Just like God has done millions of times around the world. Just like the Spirit wants to do with you and those around you.