In Acts 8, we read about how Philip led an Ethiopian eunuch to the Lord. There are three commitments reflected in Philip’s life that I want to challenge you to make this week.
Write them down and say, “By the grace of God, I am going to do these three things this week.” Then, I would like for you to write and tell me what God has done through you.
If you make this commitment anew every morning, God is going to dramatically change your life.
Philip had ears to hear the Word of the Lord. Acts 8:26 says, “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.” Acts 8:29 says, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
Philip was in the middle of a revival in Samaria and God called him because his heart was tender enough to hear God. Now, Philip didn’t know anything about God’s plan, because God’s ways are often unknown. God just said, “Arise and go.” And Philip got up and went. Would you do that?
Christians do not need an explanation from God when He calls. Instead, we need to say, “God, I’ll do it. Wherever You want me to go. Whatever You want me to do. If You explain it, fine. If you don’t, that’s fine, too. But God I’m going to do it.”
Now, I want to caution you about this call. You need to make sure what you hear isn’t an idea you have hatched. It is just as bad to run ahead of God as it is to run behind God. But when you are close enough to God to hear Him speak, you need to obey.
Acts 8:35 says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him."
Did you know that the Holy Spirit is very single-minded? He has but one cause. John 15:26-27 tells us what that is. Jesus said, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (emphasis mine).
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him...” The Holy Spirit is preparing somebody in your office, your school, your neighborhood, or your family. Will you be sensitive to His cause to witness when He calls?
It is time we got excited about what excites God and that is bringing people to Jesus Christ. We need to be inclined to the call of the Spirit and insistent for the cause of the Spirit.
Acts 8:29 says, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” And what happens next? “So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”" (Acts 8:30, emphasis mine).
Philip did not take a leisurely stroll. He ran. Why? Because that chariot was moving on. There was a split second and God wanted instant obedience. When the Spirit said go, he went.
I have a feeling that had Philip been the kind of Christian that some are, he may have said, “I can’t go. He is a rich man. I am a poor preacher man. He is in a gold chariot. I can’t go up there.” But riches didn’t keep Philip from going.
Or he might have said, “He’s a different race than I am. And I don’t feel comfortable talking to someone of a different race.” But race didn’t keep him from going. Or he might have said, “I don’t want to disturb him. He is reading and he looks so busy.”
How many golden opportunities have we passed by? Three things I want you to do this week, be inclined to the cause of the Spirit, be insistent to the cause of the Spirit, be instant to the commands of the Spirit. Don’t go to heaven alone, take somebody with you.
