“Philip ran over and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30)
First, let’s look at some background information. “An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get ready and go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is not used nowadays.) So Philip got ready and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch, who was an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia, was on his way home. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God and was going back home in his carriage. As he rode along, he was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that carriage and stay close to it." Philip ran over and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:26-30)
We learn in the next Scriptures that the Ethiopian eunuch did not. Philip then shared the Gospel with him and Philip baptizes him in some water they came upon on that road.
Some things in this Scripture which are important to note from what happened is that God the Holy Spirit gave Philip a directive. If you make yourself available to the Holy Spirit, He can give you a divine directive. Another thing is that Philip obeyed. Unlike Moses and others who when given a mission by the Lord, they didn’t feel competent and made excuses. If we do make ourselves available to the Lord, it’s foolish to then make excuses as to why you can’t obey. Believe me, it’ll be at an inconvenient time. But if the Holy Spirit directs you, you must obey. One other thing is that the Lord arranged all the circumstances. The Ethiopian eunuch was wanting to understand. And Philip was willing to obey.
It may have been through this eunuch’s missionary work that Christianity was brought to Ethiopia in the first century. But Islam is growing and there is persecution even though 59% of the population is Christian in Ethiopia.
What we want to focus on for our study is the question Philip asks the Ethiopian. “Do you understand what you are reading?" Many start reading the Bible because they know it’s God’s Word. But when they read it they don’t understand. “Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis.” (1Corinthians 2:14) The main reason for this according to Scripture is because they are trying to understand it with natural understanding. But God’s Word can only be understood by the spiritual. We need the Holy Spirit of God to reveal its meaning.
Then there’s the believer, who is not willing to give up his fleshy desires. He refuses to obey and rides the fence of faith and doubt. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this. “As a matter of fact, my friends, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith. I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready for it,” (1Corinthians 3:1-2) They were still living by the world’s standards rather than God’s standard.
The unbeliever cannot understand Scripture. He does not have the spiritual capacity which is given only by the Holy Spirit. His disobedience and disregard for God has closed the door for the Holy Spirit and the light of understanding to give him the understanding of the Scriptures. “And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it.” (Romans 8:7)
The prophet Isaiah in speaking about people who make idols of worthless things, says they are blind. They don’t know that what they are doing is foolishness. In the end they will be disgraced and ashamed. (Isaiah 44:9-20) It is so much easier to worship idols. They don’t demand anything. But it is sin to worship any person or thing other than God. They cannot know the things of God and bring a death sentence on their lives for eternity.
“For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power.” (1Corinthians 1:18) It is not the eloquent speeches and prayers that bring understanding, but the Spirit of God. “and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God's Spirit.” (1Corinthians 2:4)
God’s Word has the power to change our lives. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,” (2Timothy 3:16) But no change will occur if we only agree with the Word of God and don’t act on it, obeying it.
The reason why God’s Word is alive, powerful is revealed in Revelation. “The robe He wore was covered with blood. His name is "The Word of God." (Revelation 19:13) John wrote about Him. “In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.” (John 1:1-5) “This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father. The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.” (John 1:9-14)
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