The One Who Went

The front end of the 8th chapter of Acts records a great revival in Samaria.  No Apostle or highly paid evangelist from another city led this movement of the Spirit.  Instead, one of the Hellenistic helpers named Philip was the lead evangelist.  The language of the record tells us it was a Pentecost like revival which broke out in that place.  :The two (Peter and John) went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit...they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."  (Acts 8:15-17)  Jesus centered preaching and miracles were a part of this mighty work of the Spirit. 

 

 And midst it all the Word says, "Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'  ( This is a wilderness road.)"  (Acts 8:26)  Had I been Philip, I would have paused.  No, I would not have paused.  I would have said, "Wait a minute, I am needed here."  I would not have wanted to leave a powerful revival where everyone knew my name for the wilderness and all its emptiness.  But, I was not there.  Philip was there and the Word says about his response, "So he got up and went."  (Acts 8:27)  Without blinking an eye or looking back with regret, he went.  Not later. Now. Immediately.

Obedience is what possessed Philip and pushed him away from the crowd to the wilderness.  He was not one who was interested in doing his own thing, but doing the thing that God wanted Him to do.  Even when it seemed to be taking him from a place where he thought of himself as being more useful, he still chose obedience.  Obedience is never about self choice or convenience, but God.  One of the reasons so many of us struggle with obedience is because we are still claiming a right to ourselves.  Philip belonged to God and God's purposes which is where we are called to live.