Holy Spirit Draws Believers to those Searching the Scripture

Acts 8:26-40

• Holy Spirit led Philip to an emasculated eunuch working under Candace the queen of Ethiopia.
• Holy Spirit leads us to speak to people where they are in their understanding of the Scriptures.
• Confession of our belief in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God.
• Salvation brings rejoicing and the Holy Spirit leads us to share the Gospel with others.

Holy Spirit led Philip to an emasculated eunuch working under Candace the queen of Ethiopia.
“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.” Acts 8:26

The angel of the Lord gave direction to Philip to lead him to man who was ready in heart and mind to receive Jesus as the Christ and Savior. The Holy Spirit leads us to people whose heart is good soil for receiving the Gospel seed. They are willing to hear about Jesus, have been reading the Bible, and are eager to hear Believers explain the word of God to them. In today’s culture, which is global, there is a spiritual desert where belief in God does not bloom, faith in Jesus Christ does not bloom, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit does not bloom. If we are ever led to share our born-again experience, it will be in a desert environment. Our born-again experience is the gospel of Jesus written on our heart. A heart receptive to Jesus would be like a lone and scarce desert flower.

Today, people are led by the voice of the beast that also has power over physiology to give them what to do and speak. The beast leads people to places and to other people, sometimes by what seems to be a coincidence and other times with the full awareness of the person being led. The beast empowers people of today’s atheistic culture with uncanny knowledge and heightened intuition. It makes them seem to have a GPS system built within themselves. I know a person who loves to flaunt how much extraordinary knowledge she has in finding places without having any familiarity with the area. She even curses the GPS unit on her car for being useless. However, this type of leading has nothing to do with God, Jesus Christ, nor the Holy Spirit, unless it is to disrupt a Christian gathering [which happens frequently in my experience]. Where the door could open to share the Gospel, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there will appear those who live by the GPS of the beast to trample on the gathering. The beast sets itself up as God, within the temple of God [our body], as if it is God. Click here for a post on 2 Thessalonians 2:4

“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.” Acts 8:27-28

“Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians”” is not the name of a person but is a title like “Pharoah, the king of Egypt”. She was a ruler over the Ethiopians. A eunuch is a man who does not have sexual relations with anyone [someone who has been emasculated], as our Lord Jesus says, “For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.” Matthew 19:12 This is prophetic for today’s culture as men are being “emasculated” as women gain more and more authority and power in the world [and in the home]. The home built with our Lord Jesus as the head over the family is very rare in today’s atheistic culture.

Philip was led by the angel of the Lord to the emasculated eunuch. The eunuch was an employee under Candace who had charge over all of her finances. He was a non-Jewish “God-fearer” who was learning the Scriptures in Jerusalem according to the laws of Judaism. He was returning from worship and sitting in His chariot reading from Isaiah. The Jewish rulers would never apply those prophetic Scriptures about Jesus Christ to Jesus as being the Christ who was the “Lamb of God”.

Today, there are many, many emasculated men in this world who may attend the manmade churches but never really know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Especially the part of the Bible that speaks of the husband being the head of the wife as Christ is head of the Church, “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:23-24 Click here for the Scripture text from Ephesians 5:22-33 As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to continue to lift up the Bible as the word of God, and to know that Jesus is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy as the Christ and Son of God. He gave His life on the Cross as the “Lamb of God” to atone for sin, God raised Him from the dead after three days, and today He lives in Heaven at the right hand of God. Because He lives, we will live eternally with him.

Holy Spirit leads us to speak to people where they are in their understanding of the Scriptures.
“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.” Acts 8:29-31

As read in the previous section, the eunuch had just left services in Jerusalem and on his way home he pulled over alongside the road to read a portion from the Prophecy of Isaiah. In today’s world, people who have a sincere desire to know the word of God feel something lacking in the churches, so they search scriptures for themselves. That is the Holy Spirit within us seeking for Jesus Christ within the Scriptures, which the churches of today have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit knew the eunuch was searching for Jesus within the passage of Isaiah and sent Philip to the eunuch’s chariot. That is the way the Holy Spirit works in us today; He leads us to those who want to know Jesus and are searching for Him within their soul. In today’s atheistic culture, the majority have closed the door to the word of God and want nothing to do with Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. They have shut the Holy Spirit out of their life. There has been a global falling away from the Gospel of Jesus, as described in 2 Thessalonians 2.

Philip heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” As followers of Jesus Christ, we must speak to people where they are in their understanding of the Bible and their search for Jesus Christ. A person would think that the eunuch would have accepted the teachings of the Pharisees during the worship services, but he didn’t. The Holy Spirit was leading him to seek for a more satisfying explanation of God’s word than what the Pharisees [who rejected Jesus Christ] could provide. Today, there must be some in the churches who realize that something is seriously amiss about the message and fellowship happening there. In the presence of the Holy Spirit, they want to know the Truth, they want to know our Lord Jesus. They say to we who live for Jesus in the presence of the Holy Spirit, “Come up and sit with me to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

“The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” Acts 8:32-33

The place in the Scripture was Isaiah 53:7-8. This is remarkable that the same Scriptures being read then are the same Scriptures we read today in the Old Testament. In fact, anytime the Scripture is mentioned in the New Testament it is referring to the Old Testament Scripture. I wonder if those writing about our Lord Jesus ever thought they those writings would become the Scripture of the New Testament Bible?

The eunuch was reading the Old Testament Scripture about the Prophecy of our Lord Jesus being oppressed and afflicted and did not open His mouth in protest. He was like a sheep led to the slaughter. Jesus was cut off from the land of the living as He was crucified to atone for our sin [as the Lamb of God]. The question is asked, “…who will declare His generation?” Who will decare the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Why couldn’t the eunuch come to the Pharisees and Scribes for an explanation of those verses? Because they are the ones who oppressed, afflicted, and conspired to have Him put to death. They refused to decare the testimony of Jesus. How could they possibly have given a satisfying answer as to what those verses mean?

In today’s churches, they have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ to partner with the community agenda. They are those who spiritually oppress and slaughter the Lamb of God and refuse to decare the message of the Cross. They are not able to properly explain the Scriptures to those seeking to serve God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spriit.

“So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” Acts 8:34-35

Philip gives a very straightforward answer to the eunuch’s question, “…whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” The answer is Jesus Christ. Philip began preaching Jesus to the eunuch from exactly where the eunuch was in his search for Him. That is exactly how the Holy Spirit works through us, to reach people exactly where they are in their understanding and desire to know the Scriptures and to be introduced to Jesus the Christ.

Confession of our belief in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God.
“Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Acts 8:36

Within the heart and mind of the eunuch, he believed that he needed to be baptized in water to be living correctly with God and Jesus Christ. What would happen in times of severe drought when water is hard to find? Would that mean that Salvation is called off until the drought ends? Of course not! In Ohio, and all around the United States, the summer heat brings water shortages. In those times of drought, city government calls for the end of unnecessary water usage, such as washing cars, watering the lawn, filling play pools, and even filling baptism tubs. Even so, we can still come to Jesus Christ during draughts.

in “the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 3:20-21

There is no verse in the Bible that says, whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life except in times of drought.

“Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Acts 8:37-38

Philip said that if the eunuch believed in his heart he could be baptized, and the eunuch verbally confessed that he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Philip knew the truth of what the Holy Spirit spoke in this verse, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 The eunuch received Salvation before he ever stepped foot into the water. As John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16

Water baptism is an outward appearance that says to those around, “I believe in God, I acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I embrace the presence of the Holy Spirit.” The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an inward presence that begins the sanctification/washing of our spirit and attitudes. This process of sanctification is the work of Holiness within us.

“…whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15

Salvation brings rejoicing and the Holy Spirit leads us to share the Gospel with others.
“Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.” Acts 8:39-40

The phrase, “…the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away…” does not mean Philip was teleported from one location to the next in some type of “…beam me up…” experience. The book of Acts is about the work of the Holy Spirit not about the experience of teleportation. The Holy Spirit within Philip led him to leave, immediately, and the next place Philip was found is in Azotus. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who ascended into Heaven, and then he was in His resurrected body, not a spirit but flesh and bones, as quoted, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Luke 24:39 There were eyewitnesses to see Him ascend.

Philip brough the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the cities he came to until he reached Caesarea. As followers of Jesus Christ, wherever the Spirit brings us, we are ready to share our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

After the eunuch was baptized, he didn’t see Philip anymore, but he went on his way rejoicing. Jesus Christ is our teacher through the Holy Spirit and in Him is our joy, not in other human beings.

 O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I’d wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11