Learning from Philip: A Culture of Obedience

Acts 8:26-27a (NIV) Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship

The beep of her phone broke her concentration, so she dropped the book she was reading and glanced at her phone. She had put her phone on vibration mode, so she could spend some alone time. As she picked up the phone, she made a mental note to put it on “Do not Disturb” mode next time.

When Mrs. Helen swiped her phone open, she saw that the beep had come from an SMS notification from her women fellowship member, Mrs. Ubong. The text read:

“Ma, the Lord has directed me to start a Bible Club for kids in my neighborhood. But you know that I am shy and reserved, I don’t know what to do. What do you counsel Ma?”

It took Mrs. Helen only a few seconds to think of a response, she typed it and responded to the text thus:

“Start a Bible Club.”

Acts chapter 8 records the story of Philip. Philip had just completed what could be termed a successful evangelistic crusade in Samaria when an angel of the Lord said for him to go to a certain location. The details of what he was to do were not particularly given to him, just a location, and the next sentence is profound and instructive, it says, “so he started out”. You can observe the prompt response of obedience to the voice of God exhibited by Philip.

The story unfolds as he meets an eminent personality where God had directed him to. However, there was just one challenge; the man, an Ethiopian Eunuch, was on a chariot back to his homeland. A chariot was an ancient means of transportation built for speed. Then came the next set of instructions:

‘The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. (Acts 8:29-30).

Again, Philip got an instruction, and he responded by breaking into a sprint in obedience. He caught up with the chariot, initiated a conversation, and got invited to sit with the Eunuch and he ended up winning the man to Christ and getting him baptized in water.

A culture of prompt obedience to the promptings and leading of the Holy Spirit makes us useful and veritable vessels profitable in the work and service of the Master.

Go into today with a resolve to build a culture of obedience to the voice of God echoed in the Word, and by the Holy Spirit.
—Ikechukwu Mpama

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