ICS Daily Devotions
The Promptings of the Holy Spirit
Acts 8:26-31 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. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Philip was a risk-taker who responded to the prompting to share the gospel. He was willing to go where the Spirit lead, regardless of the possibility of no one being there. It seemed a risk, but God knew what he was doing. We also need to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The only danger is to our pride.
These “risks” always are linked to everyday life. We must be sensitive to God and not harden our hearts, or else we won’t hear him above the mundane. Too many people have soft heads and hard hearts. We must be hard headed – that is, willing to take great risks in the name of Christ – and also be soft heartened. God wants soft hearts that will be sensitive to him. Therefore, when we hear from the Lord, we need to get up, get out, reach out and speak out! We must not be ashamed of the gospel.
Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
If we are ashamed of the gospel then those who are blinded by the devil will not hear the saving news! Adults and children are blinded by the god of this age, which is not our Lord. Only the gospel is able to shine the light of Christ into their hearts, reveal to them the truth, and set them free!
We should yield to the Holy Spirit when he leads us to share with someone. It is not our duty to ensure that the person responds. It is, however, our duty to obey and share the truth. Do not feel condemned if you do not “close the deal” by leading the person in the sinner’s prayer, even if that person is at their death bed. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict them to respond, and others will reap the harvest if the person does not accept Christ with you. But even if they do not, we know that anyone who cries out to God in the last moment of their lives without us knowing will still be received by God, just as he received the thief who hung at his side during the crucifixion.
It may feel like a great risk, but do not be timid, because you have received the power to do all that the Holy Spirit asks!
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
These were the last words of Jesus. He said that we will receive power to evangelize and be His witnesses throughout the world. That means you and I are carriers of revival because the Holy Spirit lives in us. The Holy Spirit is compassionate, merciful, loving and evangelistic. Therefore, we are His partner in ministry; we are His mouthpiece, His hands and legs to do what He wants to do – if we choose to yield to His prompting. We must not quench the Holy Spirit when He prompts us to share the gospel, minister to the sick or cast out demons. His power and abilities will flow out of us because we carry His presence with us wherever we go! So do not be afraid to take a risk. It is God’s power that we are carrying. It is God’s power that will do the work. Only, follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be God’s ambassadors, ministers of hope, and channels of blessing!
Sermon Series: The Heart and Passion of Christ
