Does someone around you need to hear about Christ today? The Biblical record indicates that God wants to use us constantly to lead people to Himself. But our usefulness depends upon our willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit. He alone knows where we should be, who we should speak to, and what the results will be.
A SPIRIT-FILLED DEACON
We don't know much about Philip in the Scripture except that he was chosen as a deacon in the early church. The requirements for the chosen six men are found in Acts 6.
"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task." (Acts 6:3)
One of these men was Philip, who we see "preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans" in Acts 8. During a great movement, the Lord gives him a strange request to go to a desert road.
He instantly obeyed, and there was an Ethiopian official who just "happened" to be reading the book of Isaiah and was wondering about the one referenced in the Scripture.
Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."… Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:30,35)
When we read the phrase “The Spirit said to Philip,” we must ask, “How did this communication happen? What did it sound like? How did it occur?” Scripture gives no other explanation except that it happened. We can infer from this, that God still speaks! As God, He has the ability to communicate to His children and has bestowed upon us the ability to hear His speaking voice.
A SPIRIT-LED DIVINE ENCOUNTER
This whole glorious experience hinged on one crucial response. Philip listened to the Spirit's prompting and followed His lead. If he had not been sensitive to the Spirit, he wouldn't have been on the road, stepped into the chariot, and led this man to Christ. As far as we know, this official was the first convert on the continent of Africa.
Recently, a friend of mine was doing his daily run. He saw a man ahead of him, and the Spirit said, "Run up to him and talk to him about Christ." He obeyed, and within a few moments, he shared the gospel, and he and the man stopped on the side of the road as he surrendered his life to the Lord.
The Spirit wants to do this in our lives all the time! It should be our common practice to hear the Spirit's voice. “Go talk to that person and lead them to One who alone can save them."
After this encounter and the man’s baptism, “The Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:29). The Spirit moved Philip to the next encounter, and the next, but in His wake, He left a trail of new, joy-filled believers. And Philip went along for the glorious, fruit-producing ride.
We must learn to listen to the Spirit’s promptings and follow His lead. Whole continents may be touched through our witness!
As a pastor for the last 55 years, I have had the joy of being encouraged and blessed and prayed for by so many people. It is what carries you in your task of shepherding people. As I look back over five decades of ministry, their love has dramatically enriched my life.
But also, a pastor leads. And when anyone leads, there are almost always some who disagree.
