A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Chris Musgrove, The Daily Stir)
Scripture for the Day (October 8, 2015)
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8)
Acts 8:26-40 says, “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. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” I don’t think it is a coincidence that the Ethiopian Eunuch is reading the Word of God (Book of Isaiah) when the angel gives Philip the first instruction to get him to the place he needed to be. Also, when Philip got to that place, the Holy Spirit told him to go near to the Ethiopians’ chariot. I believe the angel and the Holy Spirit were acting on behalf of God because the Ethiopian was drawing near to God through His Word. I like that the angels and the Holy Spirit work together to accomplish what God desires when people seek after God through the Word and prayer.
Let’s continue reading, 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. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 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?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Romans 10:14, 15 and 17 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
God used the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (The Word of God), the Angel, a preacher (Philip), and of course the Holy Spirit, to coordinate this wonderful conversion and baptism of this Ethiopian Eunuch. Draw near everyday by spending time in God’s Word and He will draw near to you through His angels, His Holy Spirit, and His ministers.
Sounds like a pretty good plan to me!!!
