A desert place…Overflowing

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he got ready and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him..
Acts 8.26-31 NASB

Philip the evangelist was sent by God to a desert place.

This was a divine appointment.

It might seem strange to us that God would send an evangelist to a desert place. Why would there be need of an evangelist in such a place.

Philip may have had the same question. He had just had a very successful mission sharing about Jesus in Samaria and signs and wonders and miracles had followed and testified to his message. Many people had come to faith in Jesus.

It might have been tempting to stay where there was such a fruitful harvest place.

However, God had a bigger vision..the nation of Ethiopia and Africa needed to hear the gospel.

Philip was obedient to God’s command to first of all “Get ready” and then to “Go”.

What does the Lord want us to” Get ready” and then “ Go” to this year. May we too like Philip have ears to hear the Spirit’s leading.

God may be sending you from what you perceive as a successful ministry to go to what looks like a barren and desert place. Trust God who sees the bigger picture.

Philip only testified to one man and then was taken away by the Lord but that one man took the message of faith in Jesus to Ethiopia and the fruit of that grew and grew throughout that nation but also to other African nations.

There is potential for the seed of God’s word to blossom and grow even in what may appear to be the most barren of places.

Be encouraged my friends. Philip did not see the fruits of his message and sometimes, we are called to plant the seed and others will water and others will reap.

When we get to glory the Lord will show us the fruits of our labour for Him. Let us be encouraged to be obedient to God and His Word and commands and as Go as the Spirit leads us.