Led to Significance: Ethiopian Eunuch

Spirit Led to Significance

Acts 8:26-40

God leads by speaking to us and we follow by obeying.  Trusting in Christ as your savior and Lord brings you within his voice range. All you need is to tune in and listen.  Being led by the Spirit is a mark of being God’s children (John 10:27, Romans 8:14). In acts 8:26-40, Phillip provides an example of being led by the Spirit in sharing Christ. He was a person with a heart to obey.

Being Spirit led requires FAITH- ‘Go south to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza’. To the extend you hear you have faith. Faith comes when God speaks because fit is required in responding (Romans 10:17).  Phillip started out to the desert road not knowing how and why. He simply trusted God. Following God requires faith and commitment. He took a move based on God’s word despite feelings, economics, science, circumstances, likely consequences, etc.  Walk of faith is walk of obedience. Walking by faith is being led by the Spirit.

Being Spirit led POSITIONS for Significance. God works on the way. While on his way, Phillip saw a chariot and the Holy Spirit instructed him to go near it. Note that it was in the middle of him going about his life of obedience … not only quiet with eyes closed somewhere. He obeyed swiftly (he ran) and that positioned him for significance. Success is not good enough without significance from making a difference in other people’s lives. We need to get close enough to people to hear their needs/questions/problems (v. 29). From a distance, everyone looks fine. The Eunuch was reading aloud – you cannot miss people’s needs when you get close. People are looking for spiritual solutions. We need to be close enough to identify with people (Mat. 5:13-16). The Eunuch was a man of influence and a bridge to taking the gospel to Africa.  He had gone to Jerusalem to worship but now ON HIS WAY back with unanswered questions. God honors hunger and thirst.  Where there is hunger God will always appear.  

Being significant requires COMPASSION (Acts 1:8; Mat 28:18-20).  When Phillip realized the eunuch had a need he immediately knew why God had led him to the desert road. Notice that he does not need to be told what to do next. People who are truly born again and led by the Spirit are unable to keep the message of Christ to themselves (2 Cor 5:11). Be eager, ready and not ashamed (Rom 1:13-16). Phillip had compassion to initiate conversation around the felt need or area of concern to the eunuch (Acts 8:30, 31; Rom 10:14). Compassion is deep care about a need that moves to involvement. The key to your next level is a person. The eunuch's divine appointment with his destiny had come. He invited Phillip onto the chariot (ref the donkey that carried Jesus –Luke 19). It was not often that he was on a chariot with such a top official but he remained focused on the mission. Do you SEIZE the opportunity to ask people in need ‘How can I pray for you?’ How may I serve you?’ Do you want to know how I would deal with this? Etc. We are not in Johannesburg to grow a church but to serve and meet needs. Church growth is only a result. Lets direct the good news to the needs/questions/problems of people. Begin from where people are (v. 35).  The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized (v. 36).

Being Spirit led is the key to POWER. The greatest ministry power is demonstrated when you pass on enough to another that they no longer need you. Phillip left the rest to God. He was suddenly snatched away (harpazo) in a miracle of transportation (Acts 8:39, 40) to preach in other places.  The eunuch went away rejoicing despite the disappearance of Phillip. He found in Jesus what he had not found in Jerusalem. Hearing and obeying God is the key to walking in the supernatural. Blessed are the feet of him who brings good news. A divine manifestation happens when a man who is searching and a man of faith who is available and ready meet on their ways (v. 27, v.28, v.39). 

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa