1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And Philip said, if thou believest with 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: Acts eight thirty seven. As I live my life in 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: complete abandonment to my plans, I in exchange, will live 6 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: my life to follow your divine plans for my life. Lord. 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: Like Philip, as I speak the words of Jesus, I 8 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: thank you that chaos becomes order, hearts turn to you, 9 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: relationships are healed, poor become fed, and your children find 10 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: a place in the family of God. I praise you 11 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: that as I declare your word, those paralyzed become healed, 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: those tormented by evil spirits are delivered. Joy is restored 13 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,279 Speaker 1: through you, Jesus, my feet are led to my next 14 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: location of impact. Like Philip an Axe eight. Upon arrival, 15 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: I know that you will guide me to my next assignment. 16 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: Through it all, I am choosing to praise you because 17 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: my journey is paved with blessings and open opportunities to 18 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: share your word and impact lives forever. I trust you, Lord, 19 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: even though I may not see what's next. I'm in 20 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: love with trusting your plans in Jesus name. Amen, thank 21 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: you for praying with us today. Continue your time with 22 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to you 23 00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot com. 24 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: The Mission of Philip. In our last story, we witnessed 25 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 2: the brutal murder of Stephan. As stones crushed his bones, 26 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: he looked up to heaven and saw the living God 27 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: looking down at him. Stephan became the first martyr, and 28 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: a new enemy emerged from the shadows, a pharisee by 29 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: the name of Saul. He would prove to be a 30 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: deadly force for evil. Now we learn about the ministry 31 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 2: of Philip. His story is one of simply saying yes 32 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 2: to God wherever he may lead, inspired by the Book 33 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: of Acts. 34 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you've joined us on the Bible in 35 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: a Year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode, 36 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love 37 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you 38 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day, from the moment 39 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits 40 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention, 41 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 3: but it's in the midst of all this crush and 42 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and 43 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help 44 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving, 45 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 3: life changing Word by sending you my free daily email 46 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 3: devotional PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign 47 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 3: up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jagraham dot org 48 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. In our previous episode, we heard 49 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 3: how Stephens stood firm and fearlessly spoke the word of 50 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 3: Christ even at the expense of his own death. He 51 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 3: was stoned to death by the religious establishment as a 52 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 3: result of preaching Christ and the good News of Jesus. 53 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 3: But even in his final moments he reflects the glory 54 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 3: of God and experiences the grace of God and goes 55 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 3: to Heaven. We also met Saul, who was just getting 56 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 3: started with his vicious, terroristic persecution of believers. And today 57 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 3: we'll hear how, in the face of intense persecution that 58 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 3: the Church scattered to preach the Gospel, and how God 59 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 3: used a man by the name of Philip to take 60 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 3: the message of Jesus beyond Jerusalem to a man who 61 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 3: would then take the message of Christ to a distant land. 62 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: Just as the Spirit of God once hovered over the 63 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: chaotic waters of the world, so did he hover over 64 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: the nation of Israel. The Spirit went before the disciples, 65 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: and as they spoke the words of Jesus, chaos became order. 66 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 2: Hearts were turned to God, relationships were healed, the poor 67 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: were fed, and the hopeless found a home in the 68 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,679 Speaker 2: family of God. All of the disciples scattered around the region, 69 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: preaching the truth and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Even more, 70 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 2: they brought in the lonely and broken. Philip was among 71 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: the scattered disciples. He went into the city of Samaria 72 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 2: to preach the word. He stood up in the city 73 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: streets and began to speak of the history of God. 74 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: He spoke of God's plan for redemption and the life 75 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 2: of Jesus. As Philip spoke, hundreds of people gathered to 76 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: listen to him, as if they all shared the same ears. 77 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: Each one of them listened intently to what Philip said. 78 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 2: As the truth went forth like a coursing river, the 79 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 2: Spirit of God refreshed the hearts of the Samaritans. Those 80 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: who were paralyzed were healed, those who were oppressed by 81 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: demons found peace, and those who were broken felt whole. 82 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: It was a truly spirit filled experience for Philip. He 83 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: rose to the call of God and found joy in 84 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: connecting with the people of Samaria. Then, like a still 85 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: small voice whispering in his ears, Philip heard the prompting 86 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 2: of God, rise and look south. There is a road 87 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip nodded and listened 88 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: to the prompting nudge of God's spirit. Filled with purpose, 89 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: Philip marched towards the desert. The sun was high and scorching. 90 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 2: Philip licked his parched lips as he trudged through the 91 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: desert road. This call of God was nothing like the 92 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 2: one he had before. Before, there were thousands of people 93 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 2: who listened to him. Now there was no one, not 94 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: one living thing, dwelled in the desert. Philip walked for 95 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 2: miles with no sign of people or water. That was 96 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 2: until he saw a carriage in the distance. Philip ran 97 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 2: towards the moving tent with what little strength he had left. 98 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: As he drew closer, he saw that the carriage was 99 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: arrayed with Ethiopian design. Philip approached carefully. It was the 100 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 2: carriage of an Ethiopian official, a counselor to the Queen. Philip, 101 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 2: knelt near the carriage and listened to what the man 102 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: was saying. As it turns out, he was reading from 103 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: the prophet Isaiah. Philip's eyes widened and he poked his 104 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 2: head through the fabric startled. The Ethiopian screamed, and the 105 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: carriage came to a halt. Philip apologized, laughing at his awkwardness. 106 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: Excuse me, Philip said, but I couldn't help, but hear 107 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: what you were reading. Do you happen to know what 108 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: it means? How does one know anything without being taught? 109 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: The Ethiopian answered with a smile, Please come in teach 110 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 2: me these things. The passage the Ethiopian was reading was 111 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: from Isaiah. It read like a sheep led the slaughter. 112 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 2: He was silent, He opened not his mouth. In his humiliation, 113 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: justice was denied him. Who can explain this generation? For 114 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: his life was taken from the earth. The official was confused, 115 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: but filled with joyous curiosity. Who is the prophet speaking of? 116 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 2: He asked. Philip could not have smiled wider. He spoke 117 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: of the suffering Messiah that was prophesied from days of 118 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: old and how oh Jesus fulfilled it all. The two 119 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 2: of them spoke for hours, diving deeply into the truths 120 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: of Jesus and the will of God. The Ethiopian's eyes 121 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: were wide with amazement. He listened to every word Philip said. 122 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: He asked questions and sought deep answers. Then, as the 123 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: desert road became greener, they passed by a spring with 124 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: flowing water. The Ethiopian pointed to it. You see the 125 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: water over there, What is keeping me from getting baptized 126 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 2: right now? So the two men went into the water. 127 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 2: The cool spring was a refreshing contrast to the hot 128 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: and biting sun above. Philip prayed with him. He prayed 129 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 2: that he would receive the spirit of God and that 130 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 2: he would dedicate his life to the Kingdom of God. 131 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: Philip held his hand and back, then gently dipped him 132 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 2: into the water, And as they came up out of 133 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: the water, the Lord took Philip up and sent him 134 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 2: to cessarea. The official would return back to his country 135 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: and share all that he had learned. The world would 136 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: never be the same. 137 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 3: In today's reading from the Book of Acts, we see 138 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 3: the Church on the move fulfilling the mission of Christ 139 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 3: and the great commission to take the message of the 140 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 3: Gospel to the world. Since Jesus had departed, ascended, the 141 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 3: Holy Spirit had come. The Church was alive and growing daily, 142 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 3: but primarily in Jerusalem. There were tens of thousands of 143 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 3: new Christians in Jerusalem. But remember, the Gospel is for 144 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 3: the whole world. The apostles, and the church was charged 145 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 3: with making disciples not only in their city, but in Judea, Samaria, 146 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 3: and to take the message to the ends of the earth. 147 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: But now, as a rabbi by the name of Saul 148 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 3: began to ruthlessly hunt down believers and pull them from 149 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 3: their homes and throw them into prison, the church had 150 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 3: no choice but to scatter. They didn't cower down. They 151 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 3: were faithful and fearless, but they were spread. The gospel 152 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 3: fire is spreading as a result of persecution. It's been 153 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 3: said that the blood of the martyrs is the seat 154 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 3: of the Church, and little did he know it. But 155 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 3: Saul's attempts to destroy the Church where actually helping spread 156 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 3: the mission of Jesus. This, of course, does not mean 157 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 3: he was acting on God's behalf. He was an enemy 158 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 3: of the Gospel, but God, in his sovereign plan Canon 159 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 3: does use what some mean for evil to produce good 160 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 3: things God things. So this persecution created an opportunity for 161 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 3: the word of God and the testimony of Jesus to 162 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 3: go far beyond Jerusalem. And today we hear of one 163 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 3: of the disciples by the name of Philip, who went 164 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 3: into Samaria and began preaching the Gospel. Now this is 165 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 3: significant because you recall from jesus ministry that Samaria was 166 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 3: a place that Jews did not go. If at all possible, 167 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 3: they would avoid it. But now, led by the Holy Spirit, 168 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 3: Philip went to share Jesus in the very place that 169 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 3: so many others avoided. He spoke with boldness, and there 170 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 3: was power to heal the sick and the lame. He 171 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 3: did it with a tender heart, just like Jesus. And 172 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 3: surely as he was doing these things, he remembered the 173 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 3: words of Jesus, who said, the Holy Spirit will enable 174 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 3: you to do even greater things than Jesus had done. 175 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 3: And as a result of the preaching and healing and 176 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 3: the ministry of Philip's, scores of Samaritans had come to 177 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 3: faith in Christ. There was great revival going on in Samaria. 178 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 3: But then we hear how the Lord sent an angel 179 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: to Philip telling him to leave Samaria and to go south. 180 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 3: And what was south of Samaria not much a desert 181 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 3: in fact, and to human eyes and understanding, what's the 182 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 3: value of going to the desert? Why leave this powerful 183 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 3: revival going on in Samaria and go to a faraway place? 184 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 3: But God, of course wanted to spread the gospel everywhere, 185 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 3: and that included far away nations. So God sent Philip. Obediently, 186 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 3: he followed and trusted God's leading to the desert. Now 187 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 3: there is an important, important lesson for us here. God's 188 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 3: Spirit leads us sometimes in places that we don't want 189 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 3: to go or may not even understand why we're going. 190 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 3: But when we are abiding in Christ, when we are 191 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 3: walking in the Spirit, when we're listening and trusting and 192 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 3: obeying Him, we can see distant horizons and opportunities to 193 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 3: share our faith or to go where Jesus is calling 194 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 3: us in order to make a difference someplace far away. 195 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 3: When he arrived in the desert, Philip encountered a man 196 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 3: from Ethiopia. This man was a well to do man, 197 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 3: a counselor to the Queen of Ethiopia. This man was 198 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 3: a eunuch. This man was in a chariot leaving Jerusalem, 199 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 3: where he had gone to worship. He believed in God, 200 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 3: but he had never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 201 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 3: The Holy Spirit prompted him to go to the chariot 202 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 3: and talk to this man about faith. And as he 203 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 3: walked up to the man, he could hear him reading 204 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 3: from the book of Isaiah, and it was a prophecy 205 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 3: about the Messiah. Philip, of course, did not pass up 206 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: the opportunity to share Christ that Jesus is the fulfillment 207 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 3: of the prophecy of Isaiah. The unit wanted an explanation 208 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 3: of what he was reading, so here's what we find. 209 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 3: In Acts eight thirty five, Philip opened his mouth and 210 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 3: beginning with this scripture, he told him the good news 211 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 3: about Jesus. And as he shared the Gospel with this stranger, 212 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 3: in this divine appointment, this man trusted in Christ and 213 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 3: wanted to be baptized. Because of Philip's faithfulness, the Ethiopian 214 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 3: man was forever changed, and he returned home as a 215 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 3: follower of Jesus, filled with the same spirit of Christ. 216 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 3: This is significant because Jesus's command to take the Gospel 217 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 3: to the world is now being fulfilled. Ethiopia in those 218 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 3: days by many, was considered to be the end of 219 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 3: the earth, and so now the Gospel is on its 220 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 3: way there. This was not due to Philip's careful planning. 221 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 3: It was his openness and obedience to do what God 222 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 3: told him to do. In the same way, we need 223 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 3: to be willing for God to use us. There are 224 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 3: three abilities that God really uses. Availability, expendability. Perhaps the 225 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 3: greatest ability God uses is availability. When we are available 226 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 3: to God, he will use us in a great way. 227 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 3: And the same Holy Spirit who led Philip will lead 228 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 3: us as we listen to him. Let's pray together. Dear God, 229 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 3: we thank you for the scripture today in the Book 230 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 3: of Acts that shows us how we can be used 231 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 3: by You to make a difference in people's lives. Help 232 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: us to be attentive and alert to divine opportunities divine appointments. 233 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 3: For we know that there are people that we will 234 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 3: encounter even today who are ready and responsive to receive 235 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 3: the good news and salvation. In Jesus Christ. May we 236 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 3: be faithful and fearless in following You, listening to your spirit, 237 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 3: and walking in your truth. For we pray in Jesus' 238 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 3: name Amen. Thank you for listening to Today's Bible in 239 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 3: a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, and 240 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 3: before we go, I want you to know that I 241 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 3: would love to send you my daily devotional to give 242 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 3: you fresh encouragement every single day. So visit Jack Graham 243 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 3: dot org to sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. 244 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot org