Topic: Divine Encounter for Advancing God’s Kingdom [Archbishop Margaret E. Benson Idahosa] Above Only Daily Devotional 3 June 2020
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Divine Encounter for Advancing God’s Kingdom
Acts 8:26-29 (NKJV) 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.”
On his own, Philip would never have known that a foreign government official would be passing by that day on his return to his country. Through an angel, God led Philip to the particular road where this man was going to pass so that he could meet him. in his chariot, this foreign official was reading a portion from the book of Isaiah that referred to Jesus but he did not realise it as so. Philip engaged him in a conversation, only to find that he did not understand what he was reading. The official invited Philip to join him in his chariot, following which Philip used the same scripture to enlighten him about Jesus. As a result, the eunuch declared his faith in Jesus and was baptized, Acts 8:35-38. After this encounter, the Holy Spirit supernaturally carried Philip to another location where he continued preaching the gospel.
After praying while on a housetop, Peter had a strange vision during which the Holy Spirit spoke to him concerning accompanying those that Cornelius had sent to fetch him in order to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his household, Acts 10:9-20. After preaching the gospel to them, Peter saw the Holy Spirit come upon the Gentiles for the very first time, and both he and those who went with him were amazed, Acts 10:44-46. In Acts 16:9-10, Apostle Paul had a vision at night of someone in Macedonia calling him to come to Macedonia and help them. He immediately knew that God wanted him to go and preach there and so he left for Macedonia.
Child of God, as these examples reflect, God has not stopped divinely leading us to unexpected people and places whom He has prepared to receive the gospel and be saved. As we remain sensitive to God, He will leas us and use us much more.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I yield myself to You right now. I ask that You lead me and use me to touch lives that You have prepared to be save and changed.
Bible in one year reading plan:
- 2 Chronicles 21-22
- John 14