Day Four EN Fast: Guidance
Today is day FOUR of our annual Prayer, Fasting, and Consecration week. Join us for Theology Thursdays at 12:00pm in the building if you'd like to join us and pray together!
Read
Acts 8:26–31, 34–39
26 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. 27 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
28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him
and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you
are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited
Philip to come up and sit with him.
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this,
about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going
along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What
prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they
both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And
when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the
eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
26 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. 27 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
28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him
and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you
are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited
Philip to come up and sit with him.
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this,
about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning
with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going
along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What
prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they
both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And
when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the
eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
Additional Reading
Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:5–6; Acts 9:10–19; Acts 16:6–10
In Acts 8, God uses Philip to perform miracles and preach in Samaria (vv. 4–25). Signs, wonders, and the gospel lead many people to repentance, and it’s clear that God is moving in significant and powerful ways. After such a fruitful time of ministry, you would think that he would guide Philip to a larger city or bigger group of people, but that’s not what happens.
God guides Philip down a road that is isolated and rarely traveled. As we learn in verse
26, Gaza was a desert place.
Philip comes out of a powerful time in Samaria and is sent on his next mission on an unpopular road towards an unpopular place. It doesn’t seem to make sense, but God’s guidance surpasses human logic. When Philip decides to follow his lead, God guides his path beyond anything he could have planned on his own.
Most people make big and small decisions every day. What would it look like if you asked
the eternal God what his plans for your life are? Where might he send you? Who might
you meet, and what might he accomplish through you?
In this story, God guides Philip away from the crowds to reach the one. Not only does
he encounter a high-ranking court official on this desert road but God gives him the
wisdom to explain the scriptures. God—the all-knowing Alpha and Omega—gives us
guidance to be effective witnesses in the places he sends us.
The Ethiopian court official, a person of influence, was reached by an unlikely person
in an unlikely place. In fact, history suggests that he took this encounter back home,
impacting his city and nation with the gospel. God’s plan for our lives goes beyond any
plan we could make for ourselves. When we let him lead us, he brings us into situations
we wouldn’t have expected in order to accomplish his purposes here on earth.
Through the miracle of guidance, God gives us direction and the words to say when we
need them.
In Acts 8, God uses Philip to perform miracles and preach in Samaria (vv. 4–25). Signs, wonders, and the gospel lead many people to repentance, and it’s clear that God is moving in significant and powerful ways. After such a fruitful time of ministry, you would think that he would guide Philip to a larger city or bigger group of people, but that’s not what happens.
God guides Philip down a road that is isolated and rarely traveled. As we learn in verse
26, Gaza was a desert place.
Philip comes out of a powerful time in Samaria and is sent on his next mission on an unpopular road towards an unpopular place. It doesn’t seem to make sense, but God’s guidance surpasses human logic. When Philip decides to follow his lead, God guides his path beyond anything he could have planned on his own.
Most people make big and small decisions every day. What would it look like if you asked
the eternal God what his plans for your life are? Where might he send you? Who might
you meet, and what might he accomplish through you?
In this story, God guides Philip away from the crowds to reach the one. Not only does
he encounter a high-ranking court official on this desert road but God gives him the
wisdom to explain the scriptures. God—the all-knowing Alpha and Omega—gives us
guidance to be effective witnesses in the places he sends us.
The Ethiopian court official, a person of influence, was reached by an unlikely person
in an unlikely place. In fact, history suggests that he took this encounter back home,
impacting his city and nation with the gospel. God’s plan for our lives goes beyond any
plan we could make for ourselves. When we let him lead us, he brings us into situations
we wouldn’t have expected in order to accomplish his purposes here on earth.
Through the miracle of guidance, God gives us direction and the words to say when we
need them.
Reflection
Recall a time in your life when God guided you in a decision.
What is an area in your life or current situation that is in need of God’s guidance?
What is an area in your life or current situation that is in need of God’s guidance?
Faith Step
Spend time in prayer and ask God if there is a specific place he is leading you to share the gospel with others.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the eternal God who planned history before it began and knows all my days before they happen. Give me guidance and confidence to walk in your will and accomplish your purposes for my life. Help me to hear your voice and obey. Thank
you for your grace when I stumble and for your word that lights my path. Guide me as I go through this life and live for you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
you for your grace when I stumble and for your word that lights my path. Guide me as I go through this life and live for you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.