Thursday, June 12

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

1 Kings 9:1–10:29

Acts 8:14–40

Psalm 130:1–8

Proverbs 17:2,3

 

 

“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.  ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.

 

“… The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’  Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:31,34,35)

 

 

Acts 8 marks the beginning of the fulfillment of Acts 1:8, as the Gospel spreads beyond Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria.  Please recall the Risen Jesus’s prophecy and promise in Acts 1:8:  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  These widening circles for the Gospel will come to greater and greater fruition with the continuation of the Book of Acts.

 

Directed by an angel, Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch, who had traveled to Jerusalem to worship.  This man came upon Isaiah 53, a passage that many of us have read and studied.  The passage clearly delineates the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus.  Remarkably, the Holy Spirit compelled Isaiah to write these words about 900 years before the events transpired.

 

Similarly, the Holy Spirit guides Philip to assist the Ethiopian in understanding this crucial passage of Scripture.  Philip appears to have taken the Spirit’s lead and presented the “good news about Jesus” from a series of Scripture passages.  You may recall that the Lord Jesus revealed the truth in Himself to the disciples on the road to Emmaus in a similar manner:  “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

 

It is important to recognize that Philip did not “save” the Ethiopian eunuch.  Rather, he served as a vessel by which God, in His grace, revealed truth through the Word and His Holy Spirit.  The man’s faith in Jesus and trust in His saving power unlocked salvation; like Abraham, his faith became “credited as righteousness:”  Philip’s willingness and faithfulness played a key role in allowing God’s plan for this man, who would bring the Gospel to his people.  The Ethiopian translation of these verses suggests that this Queen ruled from ca. 42 to 52.

 

This passage and others in Acts suggest that the spread of the Kingdom will indeed come through the power of the Word and the power given by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will make the proclamation of the Word effectively, opening hearts and minds to truth once hidden.

 

Hebrews 4:12,13 clearly explains the rich power of God’s Word:  “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

 

Likewise, John 16:12–15 indicates the truth-revealing purposes for the Holy Spirit:  “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 

Let us rejoice in God’s gracious provision of His Word and the Holy Spirit.  May we see the Kingdom advance in Stamford and beyond according to this pattern from Acts.

 

 

Father God, thank You for revealing truth to us through Your Word and the Holy Spirit.  Just as in the Book of Acts, we wish to see greater revelation of Your truth and the power of Your Word, displayed through turning of hearts in faith and signs of Your glory.  We wish to glorify You today and to open Your Word to hungry hearts.  Guide us, as Your Spirit guided Philip, where we may go and serve as a blessing to others.  Help us to take on a servant’s attitude and love all the people You have created.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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