OBEYING THE SPIRIT

Acts 8:36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents (hinders) me from being baptized?”

What a fantastic response to the preaching of the gospel. When the Ethiopian eunuch heard the gospel he responded and then he wanted to act.

Then as the song says “There’s a new name written down in glory,” and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing. This amazing event was made possible because Phillip was obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." Phillip had been given instructions by the Spirit of GOD to go south on the road that leads from Jerusalem and away he went.

Without questioning, worrying about results or the logic of the directive he obeyed. This can only happen when you are in tune with GOD.

Many years age I heard about a young preacher who was directed to preach at a small country church and when got there at the appointed time there wasn’t anybody in the church. He sat there alone, ill at ease squirming in his chair he finally decided to get and leave. Then he asked himself why am I here? His answer was because the LORD sent me. So after a few moments he decided if he was sent to preach he would preach.

He began to preach a message that got hotter as he continued. Finally he ended with an altar call which was his custom. Since no one responded he left wondering what this was all about but knew he had fulfilled his mission.

As it turned out a man had came down to make fun of the preacher but when he crawled under the floor to make a noise he got the surprise of his life, the preacher’s words began to convict him of his sin and when the altar call was given he accepted Christ under the floor of the church. The preacher left before the man had courage enough to crawl out and confess up to why he had done what he had done.

As the story went on, years later he met the preacher and related the whole embarrassing tale and then the preacher understood why he had been sent to that church and was glad he had been obedient to the Spirits leading.

There are two things every Christian needs to know and do. They need to know if and when they are being led by the Spirit, and then to act as they are directed. A distinction needs to be made as to whether it is the leading of the Spirit or just some thought that popped up in your mind that can send you on a fool’s errand.

You may experience some trial and error before you learn the difference but in the end you will succeed.

1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

This post is Linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday