What the Holy Spirit Says

25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ 30 Then Philip 
ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. 31 ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.’ (Isaiah 53) 34 The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:25-35)  


26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two – or at the most three – should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.  (1 Corinthians 14:26-31)
There are some verses in the book of Acts where you just want a little bit more explanation. Acts 8:29 is one of them. What does it mean when it tells us that “The Holy Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it’”? What did that feel like for Philip? Was it an audible voice or something he heard on the inside? I’d really like to know! There are many times that I have wanted to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice on something and heard silence instead.  

One thing that I do know, at least, is that one of the reasons why we are gathering back together is because we hear God better when we are together. We have already been gathering back together in a socially-distanced setting for a few weeks now, and one of the highlights for me has been hearing people prophesy and seek to hear God’s voice together. The Apostle Paul informs us in 1 Corinthians 14 that this is one of the primary reasons why we are to gather together. If you are a little bit nervous about coming back to church in person on ‘Freedom Sunday’ 25th July, then you need to hear what Paul says here. He reminds us that our in-person church gatherings are contexts where everyone is able to hear something of what God is saying and where, together, we emerge with a clear sense of God’s voice to us. In case you have missed them, here are some of the things that the Lord has been speaking over Everyday Church over the past few weeks as we have gathered back together.  

Norma Rich – God says “Enough is enough!” There are certain things that you have put up with before lockdown, and even during lockdown, that God says must change. This is a line-in-the-sand moment for some things.  

Ursula Davies – Don’t get distracted from what God is doing in the land. The enemy is trying to steal away the hearts of your children and teenagers, but God is calling you to cry out to him for them and to fight for the souls of the new generation of believers.  

Elisabeth Radtke and Simon Elliott – both stirred independently to prophesy from Haggai 2:9 – “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, and in this place I will grant peace,’” declares the Lord God Almighty.”  

What do you sense that the Holy Spirit is saying as we regather back together? Let’s gather back together in person this coming Sunday to make room for us to listen to what the Lord is saying to us as a Post-Lockdown Church.
1)   What do you sense the Holy Spirit saying to you, both personally and for our church, right now?

2)   How have you shared this sense with people, for their weighing and for their encouragement?

3)   Are you coming to church on ‘Freedom Sunday’? Would you be courageous enough to share what you sense the Lord saying when you come to church this coming Sunday?
Holy Spirit, I want to hear you speak to me really clearly, as you spoke to Philip in Acts 8. Thank you that you have given me my brothers and sisters at Everyday Church to help me to hear your voice as I desire. Please help me, and please help us, to sense what you are saying to us in this season, for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today’s Everyday Devotions were brought to you by Phil Moore, who leads our team of whole-church elders.

If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.  

Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.