“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went.” (Acts 8:26-27a nkjv)
Quick obedience. A keen ear to listen to the Lord’s leading. An angel of the Lord spoke. Philip heard. And it says, “he arose and went.” It wasn’t into the lush, green pastures, but rather into a desert. Nevertheless, the obedience of this one man to the leading of God, led to a man in power coming to Christ. (“a eunuch of great authority” Acts 8:27). God touched him.
I heard a story of a U.S. pastor, in recent years, who felt led by the Holy Spirit to take lunch early. So he did. Then he felt led to walk into Mcdonalds and eat. For him, this was like a desert… But he arose and followed. Next he felt the Holy Spirit nudge him to dip a french fry in an unknown biker’s ketchup.
When he finally did (while covering his head, expecting to be whacked), this biker broke down and confessed he was planning suicide. But he stopped in McDonald’s and prayed, “God, if you are real, have someone stick their french fry in my ketchup”.
And God heard…
Philip obeyed too, and a man in power came to Christ. God knows how to lead. Quickness to follow is key.
Let’s be sensitive to His leading!… even when it’s into the unexcpected, or a desert.
Blessings. He can make streams in the desert!