Acts 8:26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south 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.
In this amazing episode, the Holy Spirit arranges a liaison with someone who is searching the scriptures [Isaiah 53], looking for answers.
It was a divine appointment and Philip was armed and ready - in the right place at the right time - able to open up the meaning of the passage the guy was reading.
Acts 8:29 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?” 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Perhaps we'll never be used in the miraculous way that Philip was, being transported and appointed clearly to go and speak to specific people, but we can be aware of people around us - that we mix with regularly.
Let's look at these as liaisons "arranged" by the Holy Spirit.
When you lay out your day before the Lord, ask Him to arrange divine appointments where you can share "the Good News of Jesus".
Look for opportunities to listen and respond to people's inner yearnings for truth and meaning.
Imagine the impact that the Ethiopian guy had on his community when he returned to his homeland, newly baptised and full of the joy of the Lord!
You may not be used to bring millions to Jesus, but there may be one person you can share with, whose life will be transformed with the Good News.
Be ready to respond to the Holy Spirit's promptings. Be armed with a good knowledge of a simple, straightforward way of sharing the message of Jesus.
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