For such a time as this . . . you.

Listen along here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1b613eee/for-such-a-tim...

For such a time as this ... you.

Acts #23. Acts 8.4-25

For such a moment as this, you were born.

It is no accident where you live, to whom you are related, and with whom you are connected--or for that matter, who you might 'serendipitously'? meet today.

For such a time as this, you are here.

And for such a time as that one, Philip, a very ordinary man did the extraordinary.

We have the perspective of history to see how God was working in his life and through his life - so that we can also know that he is working in ours.

-->>Because God is at work, he is worthy of our trust and also our praise.

Things have suddenly gotten very explosive for the young Christian church in Jerusalem. Emboldened by the stoning of Stephen, Saul is now going house to house

to drag both believing men and women off to prison, as Luke documents in Acts 8.

And we learn about another one of the apostles, Philip; his is an interesting role. The order of names is noteworthy in the Bible, and throughout the gospels, Philip is always listed fifth in the order of disciples­­. So Philip is just an ordinary man, which is all right. Note the impact he had: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing.1

But remember he was just an ordinary guy - or was he?

I submit to you that no one is ordinary when he is walking closely with God.

And then an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip:

“Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.) So he got up and went.2

Philip then encounters an Ethiopian official who is traveling back home after going to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. Right as he 'happens' to be reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah with no understanding of it, it just so 'happens' that a man of God comes near his chariot and 'happens' to be available and willing to explain the passage to him. 

'Wow!' thinks the Ethiopian, 'what are the chances of that? 

What a coincidence! How serendipitous!' 

Hmmm, maybe. But definitely not.

But then, let's think of Philip who is actively engaged and being mightily used of God in Samaria . . . telling people the good news of Jesus, performing the miraculous, and spreading joy among all the people. An angel of the Lord tells him, 'Go down to the desert road that leads to Gaza.' 

That's all-'just stop what you're doing and head out.'

Note: Philip was not asking God for direction, God just spoke into his existence.  

Also, God did not tell him what he was going to do on the desert road, 

he just told him to go.

So Philip listened, and he obeyed. 

And that is usually how God guides us - one step at a time.

Once we obey, then God tells us the next move to make.

So while the Ethiopian might have initially thought that his encounter with Philip was just a 'chance' meeting, there was nothing coincidental about it. Philip was guided by God, one step at a time, so as to be just where God wanted him, just when the man needed him to answer spiritual questions,

because it was God's plan to radically change that man's life.

God loves orchestrating just such 'coincidences' in our lives.  

Let's think a little more about Philip. 

He was faithful. . . 

with that which he knew and was called to do. 

What CAN God do through one ordinary guy? Ask Philip, the guy fifth in line.

Philip had in his hand passion for the truth of the Gospel and the power of the Spirit to do the miraculous. . . God used both, and multitudes came to know God because an ordinary man was faithful. This is your seminal moment; be like Philip.

Philip­--­an ordinary man +

the power of the Holy Spirit +

the authority of Jesus Christ and Scripture +

and a listening ear > obedience - radical changes can happen, like with the Ethiopian.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND, ORDINARY PERSON? God wants to use it to effect change in the world around you. Esther was made 'for such a time as this'­­ and you? You also have been created and gifted and placed at just this time in history, in exactly the circumstances where you can be most used of God. I am passionate about the fact that who you and I are as Christians and how we conduct ourselves in Jesus' name has never mattered as much as it matters now­ ­at this time in history.

And one more thing - stepping back from Philip . . . let's look at how God weaved things together--and synced up the timing of all of it. So too God will do in our lives. If we have prayed, he has heard and he is at work. For we know that God works all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose!3 Because God is at work, we can trust him and praise him for what he is doing; and because God inhabits the praises of his people,4 there is even more power ushered into our lives.

WATCH THIS 3-minute clip

TO SEE WHAT GOD JUST DID!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYO_4nbB8lc&t=44s

Listen - praise! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmSjAPsxSns&list=RDDmSjAPsxSns&a...

For such a time as this . . . you have a God-given purpose.

Now that is exciting, Philip.

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Acts 8.5-6

2 - Acts 8.26-27

3 - Romans 8.28

4 - Psalm 22.3

5 - Power in Praise, Merlin Carothers