“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. 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 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 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?’ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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.” — Acts 8:26–31, 34–39
In Acts 8, God uses Philip to perform miracles and preach in Samaria (verses 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.
Reflect:
1. Recall a time in your life when God guided you in a decision.
2. 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.
Pray:
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.
Day 4
Guidance
Acts 9:10–19, Acts 16:6–10, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5–6
Why Miracles
We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.
Introduction
Matthew 28:16–20, Jeremiah 32:27, Luke 18:27
“‘[. . . ] John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” — Acts 1:5–8 Acts 1:6–11 is often referred to as the thesis statement of Acts, setting the stage for the rest of the book. The themes found in this passage continue throughout the rest of Acts—the Holy Spirit will empower, lead, and guide God’s people as they advance his kingdom. In Matthew 28, Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission to “go make disciples of all nations,” but in Acts 1:8 he gives them the power necessary to fulfill such a mission. Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit of God would come upon people for a specific time to do miraculous things and then depart from them. But after the miracle of Christ’s resurrection in the New Testament, the Spirit was given to remain with God’s people. He was sent to stay with us. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives his disciples the supernatural power to be his witnesses and live a life that honors God. The stories we see throughout Acts are marked by the miraculous. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a miracle as a “divine intervention in human affairs.” God is still intervening, even today. He still loves to cause a miracle to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. He demonstrates his power to show his love to his people, through his people, and for the world. The miraculous is always tied to the mission in Acts 1—that we would be witnesses of God, his goodness, and his power. God performs miracles so that we can know God and let him be known. Reflect: 1. Has there been a time when God divinely intervened in your life? 2. Set aside time to pray and thank God for his power and goodness. Faith Step: Write down some practical ways that you can be a witness in your everyday life. Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for stepping into our broken world to change our circumstances for good. Your Word is full of miracles that display your love, power, and goodness. I pray that you would open my heart to truly believe you can do all things. You are the Almighty, kind and worthy of praise, and I am ready to see you at work in my life and through my life this week. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Day 1
Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:14–17, Acts 2:9–41, Exodus 4:10–12
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.’” — Acts 2:1–8, 14 In Jewish tradition, the Feast of Pentecost was a time to thank God for the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. In Acts 2, the disciples celebrate a different kind of harvest at Pentecost: a harvest of people who respond to the gospel. Jesus tells the disciples in Acts 1 that they will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, and then in Acts 2, he gives them the power of the Holy Spirit, a gift necessary to fulfill that calling. The Holy Spirit is the gift of God himself, dwelling within believers and empowering us not only to live a Christian life but also to be conduits for miracles. Each sign and wonder that the Holy Spirit does through believers points us back to the miracle of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But let’s rewind to the Great Commission. Jesus gives his followers the command to go and make disciples of all nations. That may sound impossible, but here’s where we rely on God’s power with faith and obedience. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we cannot. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples receive this incredible gift. What we see at the beginning of Acts 2 is a miracle. The Holy Spirit falls on the disciples and they begin speaking in new tongues—new languages—in such a way that everyone hears the gospel. The crowds are amazed as each person hears “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11) spoken in their native tongue. More people begin to gather and, even as some skeptics doubt what’s happening, God gives Peter the ability to preach effectively, and through preaching, 3,000 people repent and accept the gospel! This same gift—the indwelling and empowering of the Spirit—is available for us today. But this gift isn’t just for us. It’s so the world would know the one true God. He gives us the ability to share his gospel with accuracy and boldness. The call of the Great Commission may make us feel ill-equipped or unqualified, but God doesn’t give us his mission without the Helper, the Holy Spirit. Through this gift, God can use us in miraculous ways to advance his kingdom. Reflect: 1. Have you ever had a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit? When was the last time God filled you afresh with his Spirit? 2. How does depending on the gift of the Holy Spirit change the way you think about sharing the gospel? Faith Step: Have an intentional gospel conversation with someone and trust the Holy Spirit to help you speak with boldness and clarity. Pray: God, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. I welcome him into my life by faith and with expectation. Thank you for the power to live a fruitful Christian life with boldness and sincerity. I receive your call to take the gospel to my neighbors and the nations. I know that you are with me. Show me how to live a missional life so others would know the grace and goodness of your gospel. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.