March 22, 2014–Just another Spirit-led day…

March 21, 2014 By

Day 12: Acts 8:26-40

Ron and Nancy MillsFor today’s fascinating passage, I will mention important lesson points throughout the discussion.

We start with an angel giving Phillip directions: “Go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza.” We aren’t told if Phillip saw the angel in a dream, vision, or in person. We should note, however, it is unlikely that Phillip would have gone where he was instructed on his own.

Phillip was an evangelist, and generally frequented the more populous locations in town. The location given by the angel was remote, leading into the desert. Once Phillip arrives, he sees an Ethiopian, and the Spirit says to Phillip, “Go and join this chariot.”

We have already been witness to two communications from the Lord to Phillip, each given in a different manner, but both very specific. Phillip did not debate the merit of his instructions.

Point 1. When the Lord speaks – Quick obedience saves time and energy.

Do you remember the parable of the lost sheep?

Point 2. God is as interested in the individual as He is the crowd.

The Ethiopian was reading Scripture, and Phillip quickly asked him if he understood what he was reading. Phillip knew he had been led there for a reason and he was looking for his window of opportunity.

Point 3. Be observant for the opportunities God will bring your way.

After hearing the message of Christ (and the cross), they came to water, and the Ethiopian inquired if Phillip was aware of any impediment that would prevent him from being baptized. Since there was none, the baptism took place.

Point 4. Spiritual hunger will quickly lead to spiritual progression. (Matthew 5:6)

Now the story takes quite an unexpected turn!  In verse 39 it says, “when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more…”

I wonder what that looked like! Did the Ethiopian see Phillip as he was carried away, or did Phillip suddenly disappear from sight?  All we can tell for certain is that it was a “sign” from heaven that gave credibility to everything that Phillip had just shared with the Ethiopian.

The necessary assignment for Phillip was apparently complete and so this grand finale I would think would have a huge impact on the newly baptized believer.

Point 5. God delights in signs and wonders.

How does this end for our Ethiopian friend? It says he “went on his way rejoicing.” His spiritual need and hunger had been filled, his questions answered, and he had a personal encounter with a resurrected Jesus.  There’s something about discovering truth that sets one free. This one man just a little earlier had many questions, but God has miraculously intervened and brought him the answers he needed.

And Phillip? Oh, he is about 30 miles down the road at a place called Azotus. (I’ve always wondered if he was wet when he arrived there!) But we find him preaching the gospel to all the towns on his way to Caesarea.  Just another day in the life of …

Let me finish with some background information. This episode fulfilled Psalm 68:31, a prophetic word that indicated Ethiopia would stretch her hands out to God. Bible scholars agree this incident introduced the gospel to Ethiopia and Africa. Phillip may have thought he ministered to only one man; but in reality that encounter impacted a nation and a continent. May I suggest we look once more at Point #1 and keep that in mind the next time God asks us to do something we don’t understand.

Filed Under: Ron Mills

March 21, 2014–The Harsh Reality of Walking in the Spirit

March 21, 2014 By

Day 11: Acts 7:54-8:25

Darren & LydiaPeter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:20-23)

Can you hear the people around Peter saying, “Dude, settle down! The pour guy didn’t know what he was saying.”

Peter was very bold in this situation and those who don’t understand the things of the Spirit would listen to his words and judge what he says harshly.  You see most people do not discern the deeper matters of the Spirit.  They could not perceive that some of the things that were being said in that moment were not from the hearts of men, but from the heart of the devil.

Peter was sensing something deeper in this moment.  This man was a sorcerer of a greater power that had a hold of that region.  When Philip came in preaching the name of Jesus, he was confronting a power in that moment that did not like being displaced.  Simon the sorcerer was still in agreement with this power when he spoke to Peter about buying the Holy Spirit.

It is very normal in witchcraft circles to pay for potions and spells that will give control over people.  Witches are constantly buying and selling their magic.  In Simon’s mind he was bartering for a greater power.  The spirit within him understood this power and coveted it.

There are times when you walk in the Spirit that God will have you make declarations that seem strange to the minds of those who are hearing it.  Recently I was in a small town when the glory began to break out in our midst.  A glory dust was visible upon the hands of the people in that room.

Suddenly I heard an angel speak to me saying, “Someone is saying that you made that dust appear.”  I began to move toward the person who said it saying, “Who just said that I made that happen?”  The young man raised his hand.  I said “Put out your hands.  He dutifully put them out and there was glory dust on them.  I said, “Did I touch you or do anything for that to appear?”  He had to agree “no.”

But then his girlfriend began to come into agreement with the power of unbelief in that region and she began to say this wasn’t real.  She said, “This isn’t gold dust.  If it was, then why are you shining the light on it to make it appear?”

I understood in my heart that this was not a human voice speaking.  I rebuked it in front of the room and told it to be quiet.  I think many were stunned, but I knew if this spirit was allowed to speak, then the Holy Spirit would not be able to move in the lives of those in front of me.

This spirit operating in these young people was so strong I had to have them removed from the front of the church because healings could not take place in their presence.  It was mocking the work of God.  As soon as they were gone, three people got healed and a wave of peace washed over the front of the church.  One woman who had migraines for three weeks was instantly healed.

I believe Peter understood what was going on at a deeper level.  Fortunately Simon confessed his sin and repented.  That spirit was hopefully removed from his life.

We must do the same in our time or many lives will be in jeopardy simply because we fear rebuking the dark powers.

Filed Under: Pastor Darren Canning