Acts; Led by the Spirit ...or God Still Speaks

Aug. 14

Read: Acts 8:26-40

Acts;

Led by the Spirit

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza…And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”” (v.26,29)

Philip didn’t get to the Ethiopian Eunuch by reading his bible. He got there because God SPOKE to him. You cannot live the Christian life without God’s voice… without his speaking to you. Likewise, you cannot recognize and understand his voice without the scriptures. There is a symbiotic relationship between the written word of God and The Spirit of God within us. You cannot truly understand the scriptures without the Spirit; and you cannot truly grasp or authenticate the voice of the Spirit without the scriptures. You simply need them both.

I am afraid that the notion that God still speaks to us may not be as present as it once was in the midst of God’s people… at least for some of God’s people. The fact that the phrase, “ God told me…” has been abused often has led some to dismiss it all together. In the absence of HEALTHY and BIBLICAL prophecy, we are left with a caricature of what it is like to listen to the voice of God. Some may declare “Sola Scripture” (Only the Scriptures) as if God is done speaking to his people… and he has said all he is ever going to say in the written word. It is true that God only speaks what is in alignment with his written word… but this is quite different than saying he no longer speaks at all! The scriptures themselves do not paint this picture (that God only speaks through his written word) but rather show us what life in Christ ought to look like… and it is clear that God is still speaking to his people!

Philip traveled to a desert place when God spoke to him. He didn’t read a verse in the scriptures that told him to go there. It was on the direction and authority of God speaking to him. In fact, this happens time and time again in the book of Acts; the Angel of the Lord comes to the people of God and speaks… directs… and even opens prison cell doors at times! (cf. Acts ch. 5:19; 10:3; 11:13; 12:7, 23; 27:23 etc.) This was not a new phenomenon though, in the Old Testament we see this same activity - God speaking to his people through “the Angel of the Lord”. (cf. Judg. 6:12; 13:3) When Philip arrived “in the south” in the “desert place” that the Lord had directed him to, then the SPIRIT of God spoke to him and told him to approach a chariot. How did Philip know what to do when he arrived where he was going… the Spirit told him. In your day to day life, God is going to tell you what to do by his Spirit within you! He is going to speak to you. This is how we live our lives! All of the bible reading in the world won’t replace this necessary dependance on the Lord’s direction and voice. (cf. 1 Cor. 2)

Once Philip met the Ethiopian Eunuch, he found him reading scripture. Look at the two comments in this exchange. The Eunuch declares, “how can I know what this passage means unless someone guides me?” (v.31) We need to be guided in our reading of the scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the one who guides… he guides us directly or through the ministry of other people of God. In this case, Philip is sent as that guide by the Holy Spirit. Either way, the truth is clear… we must be Spirit-guided as we read the word - whether directly or indirectly. Notice how Philip responds though: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” (v.35)  The scriptures were an integral part of God’s message delivered through Philip. The scriptures were the starting point - where Philip “began” his presentation. The scriptures were the grid that Philip used to orient his conversation and movement by the Spirit. Philip shows us - you cannot have one without the other. Reading the word seems to be the “starting point” … where we “begin”… but it does not stop there!

When you show up to wherever it is that you are going today - take a moment to ask the Spirit of God within you what he wants you to do. Take some time to read the written word of God today - it is the fit foundation and starting point to conversation with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your reading… ask the author of the book to show you what it means; the author of the scriptures lives within you after all! If you do not think that God still speaks - pray that to him … and ask him to speak to you. Lean into the reading of his word… like the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Spirit of the Lord showed up in a big way for that Eunuch. God will send his people into your life… he will send a “guide”. Imagine how that Eunuch felt when Philip just vanished and tele-ported away after they came out of the water!? That is a whole other story… LOL. For today - ask the Lord to open your ears to his voice. Read his word. Look for your God-sent “guide”. Make room on your heart and mind for this biblical truth: God is still speaking. He has not gone silent! Love you guys. - JDP