Listening to the Spirit

Do you ever feel like you just wish someone would tell you what to do? I like leading, but sometimes it's nice to have someone just tell you what to do next. I think this is why I like lists– they're a way for me to get to tell myself what to do. It's the best of both worlds!

So often we feel like there's no one to show us the way with our faith. We ask questions like, "What am I supposed to do next?" "What is God up to?" We have questions that we can't figure out on our own. And then we read stories in the Bible where God seems to tell people exactly what's going to happen next.

Let’s take a look at Acts 8:26-31:

“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.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”

I always imagine that conversation happening while Philip is running next to the chariot. He had to be  praying that the guy will let him jump in and sit down, or at least stop for a second!

But what do you see leading the action in this passage? It’s like God himself is speaking to Philip. In verse 26, an "angel of the Lord" tells him where to go. The Spirit of God tells him what to do next in verse 29!

That would be nice, right? We wish that the Spirit of God would tell us exactly what we're supposed to do next. That would build your confidence, right? Would you walk a little stronger knowing that you were doing what the Spirit of God wanted you to do?

I get jealous when I read this passage. Philip seems to have some connection with God that we don’t experience. But there’s something here that I think we forget. Let’s look at verse 26 again:

“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.” This is a desert place.”

What do you think that means? Read: The middle of nowhere. no one is there. It’s hot. Barren. Nobody stays for long. It’s a confusing command. Who would want to go there?

If you read the passages before this one, you will discover that Philip was in Samaria. And things were going pretty good there! He was preaching, and people were coming to know the Lord. Why would God want Philip to go to a "desert place," especially when things are going so well where he is? What did Philip do?

“And he rose and went” (Acts 8:27).

He didn’t start packing, or planning, or wondering, or questioning, but he rose and went. That verse can be translated, “He stood up” and went. He listened and responded to the voice of God. He moved. And as he did, God began to reveal to him what to do next. He gets to the road, sees the chariot, then the spirit of God tells him to go speak to the man.

He hears the guy reading Isaiah, asks if he understands it, and the guy invites him to come sit with him. Philip is able to share the Gospel with him and baptize him! This day was probably one of Philip's most amazing experiences with God. How did he get to experience all of this?

1. Philip was willing. He was engaged in what God was doing. We read before this passage that Philip worked with Peter, John and the other apostles to spread the truth of what Jesus has done. Philip wanted to be a part of God’s story. He wanted to be involved in what God was doing in his community: he was willing.
2. Philip was prepared. When Philip heard the Ethiopian reading Isaiah, he knew what it was. Could you do that? Philip knew the Scriptures, he knew God, and he was prepared to talk about Him.
3. Philip was obedient. When God tells him where to go, he doesn’t respond with a question. He doesn’t look for reasons why – he doesn’t need to pray about it, he gets up and goes. He responds.

Our first question shouldn't be, why doesn't God show me what's next? We should ask, "Am I willing?" "Am I prepared?"

The truth is, we know what God is calling us to be: we are a living, flesh and bone examples to our world of who Jesus is. Our lives should be a breathing result of what happens when Jesus changes a heart.

Are we willing?

Are we prepared?

Are we going to obey?