Philip Following Divine Direction In The Desert

Intro: We see in our passage today that God greatly desires to direct His church by way of the Holy Spirit.

You might ask, how does God direct and guide through His Holy Spirit living in us?

God speaks, guides and directs His people in so many different ways.

Imagine the many different ways God has spoken to people, angels, a burning bush, a donkey, a still small voice, a wet fleece, a thirty-three year old Carpenter, An old rugged cross.

He guides through inner promptings that are either heard and heeded, or heard misunderstood and hurled in the garbage.

Through a voice so loud we either know its God or we are so unused to His voice that it merely blends in with the rest of our noisy chaotic world.

But more important than the many ways God communicates, speaks, guides and directs us is the way we respond to God’s direction.

As we focus in on Philip we see a man that is determined to follow God’s direction.

Truth: It takes a determined will to follow God’s direction no matter the consequences. (Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus)

Many of those in the Bible went through difficult days, and difficult deaths but were still determined to follow God’s direction.

Determination to follow God will build conviction to share Christ (Matthew 4.19)

Jesus tells us some truths about the Holy Spirit.

John 16.13 “He will guide you into all truth.” God will direct us if we will follow the direction of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

John 14.16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him, nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (God will help us if we obey His direction)

What does it look like to be determined to follow God’s direction?

Look at Acts 8.26-40 and see Philips example.

I. Philip was Open (Available).

A) To the Spirit’s Call

Acts 8.26 “But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip “

1) A divine messenger with a word from God. 8.26 a

a) There are many ways that God can speak to His people.

1) Through a hymn “Wherever He leads I’ll go” (does he lead you?)

2) Through a song Brad Cox Daystar

“Lead me Lord, I will follow anywhere you open up the door”

3) Through a devotional/prayer time

4) Through a sermon (my call to preach June 13, 1999 “Wasted Talents”)

5) Through a Sunday School/Bible Study

6) Through His holy spirit to my heart.

b) There are many reasons that God’s speaks to His people

1) God speaks to us for conformations, correction, instruction, revelation, and encouragement.

2) God is speaking a command to Philip

2) A divine messenger with a command from God. 8.26b

Get up and go South” 8.26

a) Reminiscent of what God told Abraham

Now the Lord said to Abram Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land I will show you.

Talk about walk on faith! Abraham struck out on a journey and God hadn’t yet told him where.

I’m sure in the back of my mind I would have said, Uh, God, what about food, what about water, I have a family here.

b) Reminds us of Jesus words

Go and make disciples.

1) Jesus’ Great Commission

Matt 28.19 “Go and make disciples of all nations”

Mark 16.15 “Go into all the world and preach”

Acts 5.20 “Go and stand and speak”

Acts 8.26 “Get up an Go south.”

2) Spirits Commission.

The same Greek word is used in all these occurrences of the Lord Jesus or the Holy Spirit telling His church to go!

God is still giving the commands from heaven, go into all the earth and make disciples of all nations!!!!

3) Go – A present tense verb. It is a command for action as you are going. God is thus calling us to obedience to His great commission in all areas and aspects of our lives.

II. Philip was Obedient (Faithful)

A) To the Spirits direction (commission)

“So he got up and went”

What an awesome commentary on Philips spiritual journey.

1) What the Bible doesn’t say

a) Philip didn’t moan and complain; he didn’t need to check his schedule; he didn’t make excuses.

b) Philip heard God speak and he simply obeyed!!!

John Oxenham

Not for one single day

Can I discern my way,

But this I surely know—

He who gives the day

Will show the way,

So I securely go.

2) Where he was sent

a) To an unlikely place (road between Gaza and J 50 + miles)