Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go
south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert
road.) (Acts 8:26, New English Translation)
During Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared with us that we
should be prepared to accomplish God’s will in non-traditional ways, being directed
by God’s voice, and doing what has never been done before. We see an example of
this in the life of Philip the Evangelist.
After the martyrdom of Stephen, Philip went into Samaria and preached the gospel.
During his ministry there, Philip heard a directive from the Lord to head towards
the south. And we read the amazing response of Philip: “So he got up and went.” (Acts 8:27a)
That’s it. No debate. No discussion. In the middle of a
thriving evangelism ministry, with the Spirit of God confirming the word of God
with signs and miracles, Philip walked away from it all. Philip didn’t even know
what he was walking into. But, he obeyed the directive he received from heaven.
Well, that is radical... and that is mission. The heart of mission goes way beyond our post-modern, safe,
regimented “mission trips” to build random houses or put a choir’s show on
the road for a week or two. Now, before some of you get offended or send me caustic email, let me say
that there is certainly a place for such things in the work of the kingdom. We do all things in the hope that something will turn a person's heart to God. But I’m
just wondering if there’s anybody out there that is ready to obey God in the
way that Philip did. Are we willing, like Philip, to walk away from a
spiritual activity that is authentic and thriving, and instead take a walk with
God into the unknown, unregimented future?
It's a new season. You are called to a new mission. God is asking you to do something nontraditional. How will you respond?
Lord God, You spoke to us on Sunday and You gave the call
for us to embrace the new thing. You have called us to do things we
have never done before. Please make us ready to leave the thing that is thriving,
trusting You to keep it, and to give us Your joy and peace as we walk on our mission road “towards
the south”. We love You; we hear You; we are obeying You. Let it be. Amen.
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