[The Great Authority of the Holy Spirit]
Acts 8:25-40
It is the 6th online worship Sunday service. Regardless of the good qualities of sermons on Internet, it feels empty without visible community in this COVID-19 incident. We are in war-like situation now, but I am so grateful for we are still able to have meetings online. In Acts 8, the word great appears many times, and this indicates that the Holy Spirit is working dynamically. We will look into what the true authority is.
First, the authority is led sensitively by the Holy Spirit.Even with the growth of the Church, simony will appear, there will be full of evil people who try to buy everything with money, and injustice will capture them so we must be on alert. Simon loved the titles. To be qualified to have the title, the gift of the Holy Spirit is necessary, not the money. We can keep the Gospel with us when we sensitively feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit, able to reject Simons money. Philip fled to Samaria, but he spread the Gospel there. He did not fall into Simons temptation but helped the church to grow. And then the angel of the Lord told him to go further to south. Philip obeyed immediately, and as a result, he met an Ethiopian eunuch. This man a Jews blood, but since he was a eunuch, he could not be a part of the assembly. He had all the worldly authorities, but because of his loneliness, he must have had been desperate for the Word he was prepared spiritually. When one believes in Jesus, God gives the Holy Spirit as a tutor. And with the sensitivity, one can be prepared spiritually. However, when we are immature in faith, we always get mad after having failures in evangelizing those who are not spiritually ready. Having a great authority means living according to the guidance of the Word: the obedience to the Word.
Second, the authority of speaking of Jesus anywhere.Philip obeyed to get close to the eunuch immediately. The eunuch was passionatelyreading the book of Isaiah but he could not understand it because there was no one explaining the passages for him. Philip did not ask him if he understood the Word, not because Philip looked down on him, but because he sincerely wanted the eunuch to understand the Word. The eunuch was desperate for the Word that there was no shame or pride hindering him from admitting his ignorance. He could not be a part of the assembly, and on the way back home, he met Philip who taught him about the Word and Jesus Christ who died for him. And maybe he had a big reaction to the Word because of Isaiah 56:4-5 which stated that the names of the eunuchs who hold fast to Gods covenant would last forever. He was surprised to read about himself. There are times that we give our testimonies, and there are times we give others testimonies, but most of all, we always have to teach about Jesus and the Gospel.
Third, the authority that vanishes.The long-time problem of the eunuch was now solved with Jesus through interpretation. Then like a miracle, they came to water in the wilderness, and the eunuch received baptism from Philip who was merely a deacon without any hesitation. Since the true authority of Jesus covered the authority ofthe eunuch, an official, he must have hadled many people to the Lordback his home in Ethiopia as a passionate Christian. After the Holy Spirit had done the last work, He suddenly took Philip away. One of the meanings of this phrase can be saving from destruction. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing even when Philip had disappeared because he now had a great joy that overpowered all sadness of the world after meeting Jesus, being spiritually independent. This is the great authority of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit kept appearing to work. And in verse 40, it said that Philip preached at Azotus. This was a preparation so that Paul could preach the Gospel here later. Philip did many chores at the church, and he helped Samaria to grow spiritually, but he gave the honor to Peter and John. He again honored Peter by letting Cornelius, to whom Peter spoke of the Gospel, to be known as the first Gentile Christian. Philip did not see Jesus in person or was not one of the twelve disciples, but he was humble. Someone had to show the Lord being his only prize in life, and Philip, even though unrecognized by the world, had done so with the great authority by showing the Lords authority. The real superstars of the book of Acts were Stephen and Philip, and I think God took them away before they would become arrogant and corrupt.
This is a testimony. One of the subleaders could not understand why he failed to be promoted when he worked so hard, even leading the Christian club at work. Then his 4th grade son comforted him saying that it was too bad that the company did not promote him, but he said thatGod still entrusted the Christian club with him. The son added that his dad would have hard time in promotion in the futureif he continues tomake faces when he hears an opposite opinion. This son has dyslexia and suffers ADHD, but since he is well trained by the Word, the dad could listen to his word as Gods voice. The deacon prayed to walk with the name of Jesus Christ. I think the son showed the great authority of the Holy Spirit. We are living in chaos now, but I pray that you would be led by the Holy Spirit, speak of Jesus everywhere, and have the great authority of the Holy Spirit that makes you able to leave any glory behind you.
