How does the Bible say it? “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) And in other place… “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct (or make straight) your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of that truth once again as I read the account in Acts of Philip, the Spirit-filled and Spirit-led follower of Jesus!
Philip got up in the morning, just as he had every other day and had his time of devotion (his time of “coffee with the Lord”) … And I imagine during that time he committed his entire day to the Lord and his service – however the Lord desired to lead him and use him.
Sometime during the day (we don’t know when) the Bible says “an angel of the Lord” spoke to Philip and said, “Arise, and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Now it appears that would not be a road you would naturally choose to travel because “this was a desert place.” But in the words of Scripture, Philip was obedient and “He arose and went.”
On that barren, desert road that day there happened to be an important court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who managed and oversaw all her treasures. He was traveling back to Ethiopia from Jerusalem where he had worshiped. He was a “God-fearer” (a non-Hebrew who worshiped Jehovah). He had an open heart and apparently was searching for spiritual reality.
The Holy Spirit “nudged” Philip, pointed out his chariot, and said to him, “Go over and join that chariot.” Philip did, and heard him reading Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah (Isaiah 53:7-8). A conversation ensued, Philip explained the “good news about Jesus” who fulfilled the prophecy and the Ethiopian, from a pagan country and culture, became a follower of Jesus and was baptized!
When they both came up out of the water, Philip said goodbye to the Ethiopian official, and the Bible says “he went on his way rejoicing!” But the Bible says this about Philip, who had committed that day to the Lord: “The Spirit of the Lord carried him away… and he found himself in Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” Wow! How exciting!!
(Read the story for yourself… It’s found in Acts 8:26-40)
Incredible! And all in a day of someone who was following Jesus, was filled with the Spirit, and was sensitive and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction! What an adventure! Don’t know about you, but I want to live that way! Just a few minutes ago during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I told the Lord that I wanted my day to belong to Him – that I wanted Him to lead me, guide me, and use me in any way He saw fit! …And “I’m fastening my seatbelt” … Gonna be an exciting day!
In the class I teach at Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, Texas we’ve been studying what the great “heroes of faith” accomplished “By faith!” The Bible teaches faith is essential – even critical in our lives! It says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him!” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is how we “get right with God” – you can’t earn salvation by your works! (Check out Ephesi
