{"id":1578,"date":"2019-05-14T10:51:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T18:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1578"},"modified":"2019-05-14T10:51:20","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T18:51:20","slug":"devotion-acts-826-31-hearing-and-obeying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1578","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 8:26-31 Hearing And Obeying"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 8:26-31\u00a0<\/b>\u2013\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/b>Now an angel\u00a0of the Lord said to Philip,\u00a0\u201cGo south to the road\u2014the desert road\u2014that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.\u201d<\/i><\/span>\u00a027\u00a0So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian\u00a0eunuch,\u00a0an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means \u201cqueen of the Ethiopians\u201d). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,28\u00a0and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.<\/span>\u00a029\u00a0The Spirit told\u00a0Philip, \u201cGo to that chariot and stay near it.\u201d\u00a0 30\u00a0Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. \u201cDo you understand what you are reading?\u201d Philip asked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i>31\u00a0\u201cHow can I,\u201d he said, \u201cunless someone explains it to me?\u201d So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cNow an angel\u00a0of the Lord said to Philip,\u00a0\u201cGo south to the road\u2014the desert road\u2014that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.\u201d<\/i><\/span>\u201d\u00a0 It is would be easy to read quickly through these scriptures and miss the \u201cwow factor.\u201d\u00a0 This story of Philip with the Ethiopian has plenty of \u201cwow\u201d in it.\u00a0 First of all, how many of us have had an angel of the Lord give us direction?\u00a0 Not me, not that I know of, though it is possible that I could have talked with an angel and not known (Hebrews 13:2<\/b>).\u00a0 Certainly an angel appearing that we recognize as being an angel would be a very startling and humbling experience (Revelation 22:8<\/b>).\u00a0 Angels are heavenly beings who are messengers of God.\u00a0 Therefore this angel had been in the presence of God and was bringing a direct message of God to Philip.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 Though we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7<\/b>) most of us would be very blessed to have such an encounter.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian\u00a0eunuch,\u00a0an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means \u201cqueen of the Ethiopians\u201d).<\/i>\u201d\u00a0 So what did Philip do after hearing the direction from the Angel?\u00a0 He obeyed it.\u00a0 It would be natural to snap back \u201cof course he did!\u201d\u00a0 Yet\u00a0Luke 16:19-31<\/b>\u00a0teaches us that a person who would not obey the Holy Word of God is also the person who is likely not to believe a person who is sent back to tell them to get right with God.\u00a0 If a person will not accept and follow the Word of God, and the urging of the Holy Spirit, it is unlikely that they would listen even to an angel.\u00a0 However, those who desire to please God will obey.\u00a0 Philip immediately obeyed. Lord, may we be so obedient at every opportunity!<\/span><\/p>\n

This Ethiopian eunuch was very likely to be so by his own decision.\u00a0 Although becoming a eunuch was certainly imposed upon slaves, servants and even advisors, it was also a known choice for some men to become a eunuch in order to become a trusted official of a king or queen.\u00a0 Obviously it was an extreme sacrifice and display of loyalty.\u00a0 As a result, they would often be elevated to positions that required great loyalty and trust.\u00a0 Obviously, he was rewarded by the queen he served. \u00a0The name Kandake, or Candace (KJV) is not a personal name.\u00a0 It referred to a person of a queendom, to a queen in the kingdom.\u00a0 It was usually a hereditary position.\u00a0 The area of this queendom was from the south of Jerusalem at the Nile River.\u00a0 The actual queen whom this eunuch served is often thought to be Amanitore, though she may have been Amanitere.\u00a0 These queens were leaders of their country and lead and fought in the battles.\u00a0 They were strong women who led powerfully and have been depicted with weapons in their hands.\u00a0 Being in charge of the treasury of such a person was a big deal with great responsibility and power.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,28\u00a0and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.<\/i><\/span>\u201d\u00a0 This man was obviously, at the very least, a God-fearer.\u00a0 He had travelled a distance to get to Jerusalem and worship there.\u00a0 It is impressive that after travelling to get there, even though he was not allowed in the temple (Deuteronomy 23:1<\/b>), he had not become bitter or angry but had continued to seek God through the Holy Scriptures.\u00a0 Yet, too many others, then and now, are told that their behavior must change to align with God\u2019s will and instead of obeying and thereby being blessed, they reject, hate and deny God.\u00a0 Let us all be seekers of God such as this Ethiopian man.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Spirit told\u00a0Philip, \u201cGo to that chariot and stay near it.\u201d<\/i>\u201d\u00a0 To start this journey an angel from the Lord appeared to Philip.\u00a0 Again, a visit from an angel to give us a message from God, wow!\u00a0 Now the Spirit of God spoke to Philip.\u00a0 Any way you slice it, another wow moment.\u00a0 The word translated as here as \u201ctold\u201d is exactly what we would think it would mean, the Holy Spirit literally spoke to Philip.\u00a0 It did not mean that the thought was impressed upon him.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit of God spoke to Philip and he heard God speaking to him.\u00a0 It may have been a \u201cstill small voice,\u201d or it may have been a powerful voice from without him, but God literally and audibly spoke to Philip.\u00a0 Now that is an even bigger wow!\u00a0 Yet, Family, we have no scripture that tells us we will discontinue to hear from God.\u00a0 In fact we have scripture to the contrary that tells us that we will hear the \u201cvoice\u201d of our Savior and God (John 10:27<\/b>). \u00a0Completely determined by God, we may hear in a big and bold voice, or we may hear a tiny whisper, but we should hear.\u00a0 Furthermore, the word used here for \u201chear\u201d is the same word that is used to tell us that God \u201chears\u201d our prayers (John 9:31<\/b>).\u00a0 How greatly God has blessed and honored us that we should know His voice. \u00a0Family whether we were raised to believe in God still working in supernatural ways or not, God still speaks to us and we can still hear His voice and, my dear Family, that is supernatural!\u00a0 Praise God! \u00a0God speaking to us is not by man\u2019s individual inspiration or will, but solely according to the will of God.\u00a0 Amen!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.<\/i>\u201d Philip ran up to the moving chariot, though some believe this chariot may have been pulled by an ox, most believe it was being pulled by a horse, or horses.\u00a0 Perhaps for those who are inclined to question the supernatural, the ox may be what one chooses to believe was was pulling the chariot.\u00a0 However a chariot is usually considered to be pulled by horses and an ox would usually pull something referred to as a cart or wagon.\u00a0 For travelling distances, a horse drawn chariot rather that an ox drawn chariot would seem to be the choice for a wealthy dignitary.\u00a0 So assuming it was a horse, here is another \u201cwow.\u201d\u00a0 Since Philip ran up to the chariot, we can assume that his journey, at least that part of it, was on foot.\u00a0 So Philip ran beside a horse (s) drawn Chariot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u201cDo you understand what you are reading?\u201d Philip asked.\u00a0 31\u00a0\u201cHow can I,\u201d he said, \u201cunless someone explains it to me?\u201d So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0 Philip asked the dignitary if he understood what He was reading.\u00a0 We know that the full understanding of the Word only comes through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14<\/b>).\u00a0 And the Ethiopian rightly responded that He did not understand and needed someone to explain it to him.\u00a0 So this God-fearing and seeking dignitary, who likely recognized Philip as of Jewish descent, invited him in.\u00a0 Family it was folly then, as it would be now, for a common person to run up to dignitaries such as this man and approach them uninvited.\u00a0 Yet, Philip having been directed by the Holy Spirit, boldly did so.\u00a0 We have to like this educated and wealthy Ethiopian who was humble and willing to be taught by a common looking man.\u00a0 We will see that God rewards his humility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Again we have seen Philip immediately obey God and so he was used by God.\u00a0 May we be open to hear from God and then to immediately, and in obedience, respond to God.\u00a0 May that be true as we are used to minister in His name and may that be true as we cry out in desperate need.\u00a0 God desires to speak to us and we, as His children, are able to hear His voice.\u00a0 Family, I don\u2019t tend to say such things as the following, so as not to appear proud, or to state the incredible, but I know the voice of God.\u00a0 I am not unique in that ability.\u00a0 God has equally enabled us all.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t been hearing from God, call out to Him to hear and know His voice, cry and plead if that is what it takes.\u00a0 Don\u2019t stop asking until you do.\u00a0 It is what God desires.\u00a0 And there is no voice and no communication that compares.\u00a0 Praise God!\u00a0 Oh yes, praise God!<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/i><\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; And what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 8:26-31\u00a0\u2013\u00a0\u00a0Now an angel\u00a0of the Lord said to Philip,\u00a0\u201cGo south to the road\u2014the desert road\u2014that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.\u201d\u00a027\u00a0So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian\u00a0eunuch,\u00a0an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means \u201cqueen of the Ethiopians\u201d). This man had gone to Jerusalem…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,2518,104,100,94,17,711],"class_list":["post-1578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-corinthians-luke-deuteronomy","tag-hebrews","tag-john","tag-micah","tag-psalm","tag-revelation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1578"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1579,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578\/revisions\/1579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}