Guided by the Spirit

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage
Acts 8:14-40

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 8:26 (NKJV)

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” Acts 8:29 (NKJV)

Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; Acts 8:39 (NKJV)

The formal name of the Book of Acts is "The Acts of the Apostles".  It has often been commented that the name of the book might just as well have been "The Acts of the Holy Spirit".  Throughout Acts, from beginning to end, we find amazing ways the Holy Spirit operates in the life of the Church and in individuals.  Our passage today is one of the most amazing of all.

Philip is a New Testament evangelist (see Acts 21:8).  We find the Holy Spirit using him in extraordinary ways to reach lost people for Jesus.  In the city of Samaria, he was used in mighty works of healing and deliverance.  Then, right in the middle of this great revival, Scripture says that God tells him to go south.

There are several ways the Holy Spirit guided Philip. 

1. The Holy Spirit said to go to the desert (vs. 26)!  That doesn't make sense.  If you want to lead people to Jesus, why would you go to a place where there are no people?  Principle: The guidance of the Holy Spirit does not always follow common sense.  In this story, there was an important individual, the Ethiopian eunoch, that the Lord wanted to reach. 

2.  The Holy Spirit spoke clearly to Philip to run after the eunoch's chariot (vs. 29).  It is not often that we might hear such a clear word.  Was this an audible voice?  I think it was an inner voice that was so distinct that Philip recognized that it was God the Holy Spirit speaking to him.

3.  When Philip and the eunoch came up out of the waters of baptism, the Holy Spirit snatched Philip up bodily and carried him to a city in another part of the country (vs. 30)!  This is truly amazing.  Only God could do this.  But, Scripture records that He is able to do it, and as we follow Him on His mission, He will provide such miraculous interventions as they are needed.

It is exciting to walk with God the Holy Spirit.  He may not always do such dramatic things as we read today, but He is still the same Holy Spirit, and HE WILL GUIDE YOU.  Let's walk in the Spirit.