The Book of Acts: A Gospel For Everyone

This week’s devotional was written by J.D. Walt and is entitled, How The Spirit Makes Assignments. J.D. is the Executive Director of Seedbed.com. We hope this devotion encourages you this week.

WORD

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 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, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 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.

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

      “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

            and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

            so he did not open his mouth.

      In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.

            Who can speak of his descendants?

            For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Acts 8:26–35 (NIV)

CONSIDER THIS

In case you are still wondering whether non-apostles have apostolic authority, (i.e., you), keep your eye on the ball. In today's text, Philip takes it from Samaria to the next level: "the ends of the earth," also known as Ethiopia.

Note though, that he did not go to Ethiopia, rather he was on a Holy Spirit errand. The Holy Spirit regularly if not constantly does gospel traffic control. Some call them divine appointments. Divine appointments always lead to divine outcomes, whether we actually witness the fruit ourselves or not. Did you catch the Holy Spirit assignment today? 

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

I see at least two major requirements to moving in apostolic authority: 1. Attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, and 2. Pre-emptive obedience.

First, we need to perhaps demystify a bit what it means to be attentive to the Holy Spirit. Hearing from the Holy Spirit is not reserved for a special class of Christians. It really should be an everyday experience for every follower of Jesus. We tend to set our expectations too high as to how this will happen. We expect an audible voice or an angelic visitation when the Holy Spirit works most commonly through Scripture, wise friends, and quiet inward impressions. Moving in apostolic authority requires honing those Spirit-empowered instincts and trusting them. One more thing of immense importance: purity of heart.

Second, pre-emptive obedience means asking the Holy Spirit to give you an assignment and saying yes before you get it.

Summarizing the keys to apostolic authority:

  • The Holy Spirit favors the attentive.

  • The Holy Spirit favors those who live immersively in the story of the Scriptures.

  • The Holy Spirit favors the pure hearted (and creates pure heartedness in the willing).

  • The Holy Spirit favors those who open themselves up to divine assignments and appointments.

  • The Holy Spirit favors those predisposed to obey his promptings.

I see all of these at work in today's text. Can you spot them?

And Philip, the widow-worker, non-apostle, apostolic powerhouse . . . he's headed to Caesarea.

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

Lord Jesus, I am your witness. 

I receive your righteousness and release my sinfulness.
I receive your wholeness and release my brokenness.
I receive your fullness and release my emptiness.
I receive your peace and release my anxiety.
I receive your joy and release my despair.
I receive your healing and release my sickness. 
I receive your love and release my selfishness. 

Come Holy Spirit transform my heart, mind, soul, and strength so that my consecration becomes your demonstration; that our lives become your sanctuary. For the glory of God our Father, amen.

QUESTIONS

  • Are you becoming aware and attuned to the inward impressions being given to you by the Holy Spirit?

  • Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit for an assignment? Are you prepared to commit to preemptive obedience—saying yes to the assignment before you get the assignment? Journal out some responses today. Perhaps remember and reflect on such an experience in your past.