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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We remain with Philip, in Acts Chapter 8 and at verse 16 when an angel comes to him and speaks to him, "Go south to the road - the desert road - to Gaza." This is the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.
Philip is being removed from the scene of exciting revival to the wilderness - from the fertile valleys of Samaria to the desert - why? God says some strange things to us at times. God can ask us to do peculiar things at times, which can surprise us and make us wonder - "What are YOU up to?" Our gracious loving God does not mind us asking relevant questions. Never be afraid to ask questions when you are in prayer. God can suddenly intervene in our plans and change them. Philip is called to leave the crowds and go and minister to one man.
We see in Philip a readiness - a willingness - to do whatever The Lord asks him to do - and to go wherever God sends him. He sets out right away. Philip is prepared to do what the messenger of the Lord commands him to do. When he arrives in this wilderness, he saw a man from Ethiopia - a man of great authority. He was the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ethiopia, and had been to Jerusalem to worship. He was an important man - but a humble man too.
He is seeking spiritual reality. Did he think - "If I go to Jerusalem I may find what I am looking for." He was hungry for God. Crisis can create a hunger, which will make a man do anything and go anywhere, as he seeks and searches. He was prepared to travel miles. Some will travel miles in their search for God, others won't even bother to come round the corner or cross the road to hear God's Word. Ethiopians worshipped the sun - horoscopes and all that - but that did not satisfy this man's spiritual hunger. He wanted the truth. He was after spiritual reality.
In Jerusalem he would not be allowed into the main area of the Temple for the services, having to remain outside in the Court of The Gentiles - trying to hear a word that might satisfy this yearning - this longing - this searching. He was not allowed in the Inner Courts because he was a eunuch.
Imagine if you came to a Worship Service, and you had to listen to The Word of God from behind the outside door, and you were desperate to hear something relevant. He was not put off by this, but continues to seek. Now, he is on his way home, and it appeared as though the whole trip had been a waste of time. It is possible to go to the place of Worship and come away feeling that it was just all a complete waste of time. What was all that about today - and then, something happens. Someone had given him part of The Bible, the book of Isaiah, and he is reading it. That is always a good sign, when you see someone reading The Bible. God can move right in. He appears to be finding it heavy going. Most people, who do not know Jesus and who have never met Jesus, can find the Bible to be difficult. Do remember that.
Suddenly the Holy Spirit speaks to Philip - "Go to that chariot - go near - just be around that man - make yourself available." God speaks to His Servants. Jesus Christ speaks to His servants through the Holy Spirit - to those who are willing to do what He says.
Again we see immediate obedience. In verse 30, he runs with an eagerness "Do you understand what you are reading?" "How can I, unless someone explains this to me!" We all need answers - teaching - help - which is simple, satisfying, nourishing.
Verse 34. Who is this about? Philip begins where the Ethiopian was, and points him to Jesus Christ. He did not offer him a system - a theology - a philosophy. Philip presented to this hungry searching man - JESUS. He feeds him with Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, and the man eats what Philip says. He believes. The Gospel is beginning to spread and go out and out. This government official wants to be baptised. They see water. Nobody has mentioned this. He just knows that this is necessary - essential.
They both go down into the water, and Philip takes this new believer, in front of his servants - (who would be driving the chariot) - and baptises him - a sign that his old life is past dead and buried. Now he has new life within him. When they came up out of the water, Philip is supernaturally removed. Philip just vanishes. It is as if Jesus needs him somewhere else in a hurry.
The Ethiopian official doesn't see Philip again. The man who led him to faith in Christ just disappears, but we are told that he goes on his way home rejoicing. He comes to Israel for satisfaction and spiritual reality, and he meets Jesus Christ and enjoys the greatest spiritual experience any man can ever have. On his return to his country, and to his position of responsibility, he begins to influence a nation for God.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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