Read Acts 8:26-40 (ESV)
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south…(v.26)
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot…(v.29)
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (v.30)
Structure and schedule govern our society with imperative regulations set in place without much room for interruptions in the rhythm of our daily life. Only a fully liberated soul is attuned to the promptings of the Spirit. The early Christians knew full well how to walk in step of the Spirit. They heard and obeyed instantaneously. Specific instructions were directed to Philip by the angel, step by step. Once Philip moved and obeyed one step, another new direction would be issued. He didn’t demand for the full knowledge before he made haste. Pure radical obedience. Spontaneous.
His spontaneity led him to meet a seeking heart. A supposedly unlikely candidate to believe in Christ. An Ethiopian. An eunuch. An important official. Moreover, he had just gone to Jerusalem to worship. Had God wanted to save him, it could have well taken place in the worship ground! Divine directions trailed through the long journey in the desert where Philip’s spirit stayed close and open to God’s. Spontaneously in every step under the Spirit’s sovereign guide to sit with the seeker to explain the scripture.
Have we ever been interrupted in our moment by the Spirit to go and seek out a hungry heart? Spontaneous is not our nature, so we claim. God will understand our tight schedule. We cannot afford to detour. Sit with them and explain scripture? That is totally awkward. Me? I am inadequate. That guy is too intelligent. That woman is too high profile. Too rich. Too stubborn. Too contemptuous. Indifferent. Impossible case!
Courageous soul causes the Christian to be spontaneous in seeking out and sharing Christ’s compelling compassion to any yearning soul. Forbid ourselves to adjudicate who is the sure candidate for salvation. We ought to be his spontaneous tool. He has the sovereign rule.
A great reminder to keep our mind open on who, where, when and how one comes to salvation point is Paul (Acts 9). Paul the destroyer of church, became the most tenacious fighter for Christ. The most impossible candidate to believe in Christ turned out to be a dominant figure who suffered for the eternal cause and the most prominent writer of the New Testament.
What is God’s Spirit prompting you to do?
Who does he want you to seek out?
Where is he leading you to meet this precious one(s)?
Which portion of scripture should you open up to and share?
How? Step by step under the Spirit’s tutelage.
Be spontaneous in seeking out the seekers to sit and share the scripture.
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 23 May 2020.