29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading? ”31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me? ” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. -- Acts 8:29-31

The Holy Spirit's Prompting

Today, we continue our investigation into the encounter between the Ethiopian Eunuch and the Philip.

From the start, God's initiative is unquestionable in this story. Immediately in verse 26 we are told that an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and instructed him to head to the "desert road" that stretches between Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip ends up on these desert road only by God's initiative. God leads, prompts, and guides all throughout this text, his leadership is explicitly stated again in Acts 8:29 and Acts 8:39.May this serve as a challenge to us today: Who is leading the charge of your day? Whose desires is in the drivers seat? Is it you? It is someone else? Is it the Holy Spirit of God? How we answer this question helps determine whether or not Jesus is truly Lord in our life or if he is just on the journey with us to help us carry our stuff.Further, is is worth noting that the Holy Spirit is a person not a "force", "energy", or "feeling". In fact, the Holy Spirit is a one of the three persons of the one true and living God. We believe that God is one essence, which three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory. We see this played out in verse 29 as "The Spirit told Philip". Energies do not tell, forces do not tell, feelings do not tell, the person of the Holy Spirit told Philip to go and join the Chariot of the Ethiopian.The Holy Spirit moves in the life of the believer by illuminating biblical truth, heightening our awareness of personal sin, stirring our affections for God. In all of God’s activity, the Holy Spirit mediates God’s presence in the life of the believer. We see in this text that Philip is attentive to the Holy Spirit.The reality for us today is that the Spirit of God wants to lead us into truth and life. The question is: are we paying attention? Are we creating any room in our day for the Spirit to prompt us unto life and good deeds?For me, too often my days are filled with constant noise. Typically, it is the humming of my glowing phone or a podcast in the car. There are few moments of quiet in which I am attentive and aware to the Holy Spirit.Today, let's be a people allow the Holy Spirit to take the initiative in all things.