Philip

In this weeks Fuel we read about Philip. Philip was one of the seven men chosen along with Stephen by the church in Acts 6. And just like Stephen we see Philip used greatly by the Lord in the midst of a tough time of persecution of Christians.

The study takes us through Acts 8:4-8 and 8:26-39. There are many things that will be valuable for you to study in order to prepare for this weeks lesson but I want to draw your attention away from Philip and to our wonderful and great God. Notice the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Out of all the tens of thousands Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans that need Christ, God rests his favor on this man from Africa.

This was God's plan. He chose this man. He set up the meeting between him and Philip. God, in his sovereignty and grace, molded the situation in such a way that the timing was perfect. Philip, not knowing where he was, what he was doing, or who he was going to encounter chose to be obedient to the Spirit. The timing was perfect because as Philip approached he heard the Ethiopian reading from Isaiah. This provided a perfect opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

There are two points to this story in Acts 8. The first I think is that God is sovereign. He is in complete control of all things and he is the one who plans and makes things happen. The second point is that the story of Philip is an example of one of the ways God uses to evangelize the world. There is no doubt that evangelism should be planned and carried out (look at all the planning in Acts), but this story emphasizes that we should also be sensitive to the leading of the Lord in personal evangelism as well. God is good and as we abide in Him and his word he will lead us by His Spirit to the right people at His perfect time.