Philip the Spirit-Seeker
The most famous story of Philip comes from Acts 8. We won't read the whole thing, but see if you can spot the role of the Spirit here:
"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." (Acts 8:26-31)
Philip then does exactly that - he sits with the man, shows him how the Old Testament points to Jesus, and when the man sees it and believes, Philip baptises him right then and there.
Following the Spirit's Prompting
It all happened because twice, Philip is prompted by God. First, an angel of the Lord prompted him to go from Jerusalem to Gaza - this was likely a dream he had. Then, when he sees the chariot, Philip is prompted by the Spirit to draw near to it. This is what initiates their conversation, and eventually the man's life is changed.
Philip was a man who was close to God. Here he was on a successful missionary trip in Samaria, with people responding well to his message - and the next thing, he is prompted to leave it all and head out into the middle of nowhere. Maybe this is why he needed some sort of angelic vision from God, to convince him to make the move.
But the crux is this: Philip listens, and goes where he is prompted.
A bit later he comes upon this chariot. I try to picture the scene - I can imagine Philip looking at it and thinking: this is an important person, in a fancy chariot. If I go up to it I'll probably be tackled by bodyguards in an instant.
Have you felt prompted to do something, but then started making excuses for yourself? I imagine Philip doing exactly that! But the Spirit's prompting was too strong, and so up he went. Because he was a man of God with knowledge of the truth, he could lead this man to Jesus.
Ordinary Sensitivity, Extraordinary Results
Philip is an ordinary man. But his sensitivity to God's leading, through the Spirit, is extraordinary - and it leads to changed lives, across boundaries, and even across classes.
This type of sensitivity to God comes only one way. It comes through being close with Him. It comes through living a life of devotion to God - deep in prayer, deep in the Word, deep in Christian fellowship.
Charles Finney, who himself was a great Spirit-filled man of God, once said this: "No human eloquence can ever convert a soul unless the Spirit of God sends the truth home and makes it effectual. All human eloquence and learning will be in vain."
Philip’s learning and knowledge could not supersede his reliance on the Spirit! Let's be Spirit-seekers ourselves, so that like Philip, we can lead others to the love of God.
A life close to God makes us sensitive to His leading - and that sensitivity can change lives. Deepen your devotion today, so that you are ready when the Spirit prompts you.