Scripture:
Vs 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go …”
Vs 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian …and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Vs 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join …”
Vs 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Vs 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Vs 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this … ?”
Vs 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Vs 36 “… and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Vs 38 … and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Observation:
There is a tremendous amount of immediate Action/Reaction going on here between Philip and the Ethiopian.
“Rise and go” … “And he rose and went”
“Go over and join” … “So Philip ran to him”
“Someone guide me” … “He invited to come over”
“I ask you” … “Then he told him”
“What prevents me” … “They both went down”
The Ethiopan is hungry for something, but he’s not sure what he is hungry for.
Philip has exactly what the Ethiopian wants and needs.
When those two come together, the results are amazing
Application:
Response … so many immediate responses here!
Responding to the angel … responding to the Spirit … responding to questions … responding to answers!
So often the world clamors to see God at work.
I think I often want to see God make things happen that I can be a spectator of.
But God, in His grace and in His sovereignty, chooses to include us in His unfolding work.
It’s incredible, really! He doesn’t need to do that.
He wants me involved, He wants to include and use me and us in His plans.
The big question is … Am I willing to respond and be obedient?
Of course, the question that goes along with this is … Am I listening for the Spirit?
In a world of distractions, it’s easy to drown something out if I don’t want to hear it.
But I think the more intentional I am about hearing something, the more I will hear it.
This includes the Spirit. … But am I willing to response in obedience?
“And Philip rose and went …” … “So Philip ran to him …”
Philip not only heard, but responded to the Spirit and was used mightily by God.
(Not necessarily publicly, but mightily.)
Another big recognition here … Wherever I am, I am not there by accident.
There is someone around me hungry for the good news of Jesus.
When an eager obedience meets with a hungry heart the Kingdom reigns!
Prayer:
Thank you, God, for good news
May I be willing and obedient to share it
Show me the hunger around me
In Jesus name
Amen