Project 119: Acts 8:26-40
| Project 119 | Tim Sanderlin
What does it sound like to hear from the Holy Spirit? Is it a nudge in the right direction? A whisper in our ear? Or something made keenly aware to us? At times, it would be easiest if the Lord would just use words and tell us what He would have us to do! We don’t know exactly how the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip, but when he felt the call to stand by a chariot, he ran.
In Acts 8:26-40 we look into the scene of Philip walking to Caesarea, but then he is called by the Holy Spirit to deviate from this path and stand next to a horse and buggy. Philip obeys without delay.
It is important for us to know that the Holy Spirit is not a “conscience” or “angel on your shoulder” telling us the difference between right and wrong. The Holy Spirit absolutely aids us in our discernment and keeps us from sinning at times! But the Holy Spirit is also so much more. The Holy Spirit is the part of the Trinity that intercedes on our behalf, groans for us in prayer, comforts us when chaos ensues, and gives us the words to say when we have none. The Holy Spirit is our Companion. God promises that the Holy Spirit will do so much more than just tell you right and wrong, because God Himself is concerned with much more than mere morality.
As we look into this story, we really see Philip and the Spirit of the Lord walking from one mission field to the next. The Holy Spirit then makes Philip aware that on the road to the next destination, God has laid an opportunity before him. Philip puts aside the agenda and follows the Spirit into a setting where he is able to share the gospel and a soul is saved!
We, living where we live, have some of the busiest itineraries in the western world. And most of our itineraries are filled with godly things! But when is the last time we just sat in a coffee shop and said “Lord, lead me to someone who may not know You.” Or stayed late at work to talk to a custodian we’ve never met? It can be easy to overlook and drown out the Holy Spirit with our holy schedules, but here we are reminded the road that we walk on is crowded with people who need to hear the gospel.
Lord, slow our hearts and our routines. Lead us by Your Spirit, our Companion, to the ones around us who need You. May our days be centered around Your mission first before our schedules. Teach us to lean on Your Spirit moment by moment for direction. Amen.
Acts 8:26-40 (ESV):
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the southto the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.