Greetings children of God.
Acts 8:26-31 – Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So, he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So, Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.
I love this scripture for a few reasons. One is Philip’s obedience; he was told by an angel of the Lord to go, and he went. He was told by the Spirit to go, and he went. The first time Philip was told to go, it was down a wilderness road where there was nothing. Yet, when Philip is on the road, he encounters the Ethiopian eunuch. The second time Philip was told to go, he ran up to the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot and asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, which led the eunuch to invite Philip into the chariot. Both instances were filled with the unknown. The first being down a wilderness road where there was nothing, where most would not expect anything fruitful to come or be found, yet it did. God knew this, which is why God’s angel prompted Philip to go. The next was Philip not only approaching the eunuch’s chariot but engaging the eunuch in conversation. In either instance, something could’ve gone wrong. Travelling alone, Philip could’ve been attacked on the wilderness road by wild animals or by bandits. And the eunuch could’ve feared Philip may have tried to attack him and responded to protect himself.
How obedient are you when you feel God prompting you to do something or to talk with someone? How often do you reason why you shouldn’t do something because when you look at the situation, you don’t believe anything good can come from it? How often do you talk yourself out of talking with someone because you don’t think anything good can come from it? You’re not alone. There are many out there who do this. I know I’ve done it. But not doing what God prompts us to do, not talking to someone God prompts us to talk to is basically a lack of faith and trust in God. Moving forward, when you feel the Spirit prompting you to go somewhere or to talk with someone, I encourage you to be bold and obedient like Philip. There’s no telling whose life may be changed in a positive way if you do.
Angi is holding a painting fundraiser on May 9 for Victoria, our former custodian, to help with her finances as she had to retire due to a medical condition. There’s a sign-up sheet in the coatroom.
We have a home bound member in Fremont that would like to come to worship on Sunday mornings but are not able to drive. If you would be willing to help and provide transportation, please let me know.
If you have a child that will be graduating this year, please let Pastor Tim know.
God’s blessings,
Pastor Tim