While reading through the Bible this year, I came to the passage from Acts 8:28-40. Comically, we read the Holy Spirit telling the Apostle Phillip to run and catch up with a chariot that has just passed him. Inside the chariot, a eunuch is reading out loud from the book of Isaiah. Still running next to the chariot, Phillip asks, “Do you know what you are reading?” (Wow, not only did he catch up to the chariot, Phillip can still speak while running.)
The Eunuch says, “Well, how could I unless someone explains it to me?” Those are beautiful words for a preacher. The passage describes how Phillip used that chapter in Isaiah to give the Eunuch the gospel, then baptized him in the nearby river.
At that point, the Holy Spirit astounds us by plucking Phillip out of the waters and planting him in Azotus. (This is better than Start Trek. What’s fascinating is that neither the Eunuch nor Phillip seems surprised by the Apostle’s spontaneous space travel.)
When I stopped giggling, I “saw” Phillip. He was at the right place and time, but more importantly, he was ready to minister to whomever God gave him to serve that day.
What does that take? Phillip had to be well-read in Scripture. When he heard the Eunuch reading out loud, he recognized the passage from Isaiah. Phillip was also well-versed in the gospel. He understood how to use the reading and clarify its meaning to show the man his need for a Savior in Jesus Christ.
Thus, the Holy Spirit used Phillip because he was ready for action.
Many say, “That’s great for Phillip, but I’m not an Apostle, a pastor, or a group leader.” One-on-one discipleship is described in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” It’s not the type of gift that is set only for preachers. It’s a product of study for all those who have taken the time to learn.
Even so, God did not choose Phillip for a long-time relationship with the Eunuch. The Spirit used him briefly, then whisked him away to another job. That can be our task as well. How many opportunities do we have at church, family gatherings, or even grocery shopping to give someone the gospel, a word of encouragement, lend an ear to their hardships, or find a way to serve someone out of the blue? The Holy Spirit does not have to nudge you to reach out to someone in your path. We are to look for opportunities.
In 2 Timothy 3:2, Paul urges his protege to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching.”
Finally, I have always said spiritual growth is like filling an empty well. If you want God to use you, fill the well with Bible reading, study the meaning of what you’ve read, and memorize critical verses. Instead of a podcast, why not listen to a sermon on YouTube or your church’s website? Ask your pastor for book recommendations. You can glean much from Christian authors who have long walked with the Lord. They will help you build a solid Christian worldview to answer today’s issues. Moreover, seek out older believers and ask them to hold you accountable to memorize verses.
As Phillip’s life demonstrated, the Christian journey can be an adventure. Are you ready? Get busy!
A Tree Firmly Planted 