Teaching and Hearing

Teaching and Hearing

30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:30-31

The story of Philip in Acts 8 is one of my favorite evangelistic themed stories. It’s amazing to see God directing this faithful man so vividly.

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

Acts 8:26

How great would it be if God also spoke to us like this? Perhaps he does or he would like too. What would be keeping God from doing a similar act with us? We know it isn’t because God has gotten tired of trying to save mankind. Why know it’s not because he’s too busy or no longer has the power. We also know it isn’t because the need is no longer there. So what is it?

27 So he arose and went.

Acts 8:27

Perhaps this is the answer. God spoke to him because he knew that Philip would do it right away without hesitation, fear or excuse. Perhaps we are the ones that aren’t ready to accept the words that God wants to give to us. Perhaps we’re too busy with our own work to do God’s work.

Or perhaps God is speaking to us but we refuse to listen because of all the distractions and noise of the world. When was the last time you took real time off to listen to God?

There’s a lot of guessing and questioning here but one thing is certain. The work is still desperately needed. If God is to come, we must do our work of spreading the gospel. Look at your own life and see if you can’t figure out why you’re not being guided in the same way Philip or the other disciples were in the Bible.

36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

Acts 8:36

This is the future that could be in all our lives. Instead of struggling to reach people to hear about Jesus, people will be asking us to know more and be baptized.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto