47. The guidance and walk of the Holy Spirit

47.  The guidance and walk of the Holy Spirit

 

Acts 8: 26-36

 

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south[a] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.  And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants?

   For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”

35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

 

▣ Through Philip, an Ethiopian eunuch hears her gospel and is saved, and her gospel is spread to Africa.

This process is well described in Acts chapter 8.

The Lord promised his disciples earlier, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

That word is being fulfilled.

 

All processes are carried out under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

See how Philip meets the Ethiopian eunuch.

Only by listening to and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit, work proceeds.

 

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south[a] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26)

 

The place Philip has to go is at least three days away.

But Philip is obedient.

 

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” (Acts 8:29)

 

Philip fulfills God's plan only by obeying the words of the Holy Spirit to him.

 

1. The work of the Lord can be known through the Holy Spirit

 

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south[a] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  (Acts 8:26)

 

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”  (Acts 8:29)

 

Philip only heard the voice of the Holy Spirit and obeyed it.

Every time he obeyed, the Lord's plan was fulfilled.

The Lord told His disciples that the gospel would be preached to the ends of the earth.

He guides you through the word moment by moment about when and how that promise will be fulfilled.

 

Because Philip heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, he obeys and preaches the gospel to the eunuch.

 

1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer[a] named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. 4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. (Acts 10:1-5).

 

The Holy Spirit also spoke to Cornelius.

He invited Peter to Caesarea and asked him to preach his word.

When Cornelius obeyed and asked Peter to listen, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles as well.

If you obey the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit works.

 

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers[a] who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. (Acts 10:44-45)

 

2. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is in God's plan.

 

27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. (Acts 8:27-28)

 

Let's go back to Philip. Philip had no reason to go out into the wilderness.

However, as we followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, there was an Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the treasury of Kandage, an Ethiopian, passing by.

He was reading the words of Isaiah. Like a woven puzzle, God's plan is amazingly fulfilled.

The guidance of the Holy Spirit is all in God's plan.

 

3. When you receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will accompany you.

 

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” (Acts 8:29)

 

Philip was led by the Holy Spirit and went out into the wilderness.

He saw a carriage passing by.

He said, "Go near the chariot," the Holy Spirit said.

As I approached the carriage, I saw the man reading the words of the prophet Isaiah.

So Philip preached the gospel and baptized.

When you receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit continues to accompany you.

This is the mystery of the spiritual world.

Prayer is the language of this spiritual world.

As prayer deepens, spiritual power also grows.

If you pray a lot and for a long time, you will enjoy the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit.

You can be guided by the Holy Spirit and live a life that walks with the Holy Spirit. Amen