What would you think if you had and encounter with an angel? How do you think you would react? Do you think you would feel overwhelmed? Would it scare you to death if the angel just appeared out of the blue? Would you do exactly what it told you to do?
We don’t normally encounter angels. In fact, the people of the Bible did not normally encounter angels. You can read the entire Bible and only account for approximately a dozen times in which angels appeared. So, encountering an angel is truly a rare event.
We don’t know what Philip was doing, but he certainly wasn’t expecting an angel to appear. But an angel sent by God suddenly appears to Philip and gives him a mission. Notice the angel doesn’t tell Philip what he is supposed to do. He simply tells Philip to walk down a road. Philip obeyed without question.
As Philip was walking down the road, he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who serves Candace, who is the queen of the Ethiopians. At that time the Spirit tells Philip to go to the chariot. Philip goes over and discovers the eunuch reading from Isaiah. Philip asks if the eunuch understands. The eunuch says he cannot unless someone explains it to him. Philip begins in Isaiah and explains about Jesus Christ.
We may not encounter an angel, but we can encounter people who do not know or understand the story of Jesus. We can take time to explain the gospel to them. Some will say they do not know enough to teach someone else. However, to teach someone else, all you need to know is more than they do. So, even if you feel unprepared, you know more than many others. And just like Philip, rely on the Spirit to guide you in your explanation.
I pray we all look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus. I pray we listen for the voice of the Spirit. I pray each one of us know that we know enough about Jesus to teach someone else. Seek opportunities. Tell others about Jesus. Trust the Spirit to guide you. You know enough.
Acts 8:26 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 wilderness road.)
Marty Pressey 