#1280. God speaks, leads, and saves (6/6/25)
- Matt Beaney
- Jun 6
- 6 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. This is the last devotional in our Ready and Willing series, reflecting on the life of Philip.
Next week, we begin a new series: Wisdom For Life From Proverbs; during this series, I’ll be posting a new devotional on every weekday.
This week we’ve been reviewing some of the things we’ve already looked at; today we reflect again on how God speaks and leads us to bring others to salvation in Christ.
You can listen to this devotional below
‘Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter… 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptised?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:26–40 abridged)
1. God Speaks in Many Ways
As we see in the life and ministry of Philip, God is alive and actively communicates with His people to guide them into His will. In Acts 8, Philip hears God’s voice through:
i. An Angel of the Lord (v. 26): Directing him to the desert road.
ii. The Holy Spirit (v. 29): Prompting him to approach the chariot.
iii. Providence: Philip’s presence in Samaria and this encounter were shaped by circumstances, like persecution scattering the church (Acts 8:1). God uses life’s events—job changes, relocations, or even hardships—to create opportunities for sharing the gospel.
iv. His Word: The Ethiopian eunuch, a God-fearer, was reading Isaiah 53, seeking spiritual truth. The Bible remains God’s authoritative voice, guiding both seekers and believers.
v. People: God used Philip to explain the Scriptures, showing how Jesus fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy. God speaks to us through people; He also speaks through us to encourage and answer others’ questions and point them to Christ.
2. God Leads Us to Divine Appointments
Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch was a Spirit-orchestrated ‘divine appointment.’ The eunuch, a high-ranking official from Nubia (modern-day Sudan), was an outsider by Jewish standards—geographically and socially as a eunuch. Yet, God was already at work in him, drawing him to worship in Jerusalem and study Isaiah. Philip’s obedience led to a conversation that changed this man’s life. This account reveals:
i. God’s Heart for All People: This story shows that no one is too far from God’s reach. In Christ, the gospel is for everyone, regardless of background or status.
ii. Our Role: Like Philip, we’re called to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, ready to engage with “people of peace”—those open to spiritual conversations. Philip met the eunuch where he was, asking, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (v. 30), and explained the gospel from Isaiah 53.
3. The Gospel Saves and Baptism Declares It
The heart of Philip’s message was the gospel: Jesus, the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, died and rose again to forgive sins and offer new life. The eunuch’s response was immediate faith and a desire for baptism (v. 36). This account speaks of many things, including:
i. The Gospel’s Power: Philip didn’t rely on clever arguments but pointed to Jesus’ death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). The gospel is God’s power to save, meeting people’s deepest questions about life, suffering, and purpose.
ii. Baptism’s Significance: The eunuch’s baptism wasn’t what saved him but was an outward sign of his inward transformation. Baptism symbolises:
Justification: Forgiveness of sins.
Regeneration: Being made alive in Christ. Spiritual resurrection through faith (Colossians 2:11-13).
Its importance: Baptism, as taught by Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20) and Peter (Acts 2:38), is a vital response for believers, symbolising death to the old life and resurrection to new life in Christ.
In response:
God speaks and leads us to bring others to salvation in Christ. In response,
Are we listening? Like Philip, are we ready and willing to listen to God’s voice through His Word, circumstances, or promptings? Are we spiritually alert to hear and obey?
Are we open to divine appointments? God is already working in people around us—colleagues, neighbours, or strangers. Let’s pray and be ready to engage with those seeking answers.
Are we ready to share the gospel clearly and lovingly? If we haven’t been baptised as believers, are we willing to obey this command? If we lead others, how can we teach the importance of faith and baptism?
Are we praying? Will we gather in prayer for our communities, like Roehampton, trusting that God wants to lead and work through us?
Let’s Pray Together:
“Holy Spirit, thank You for leading us to Jesus. Help us hear Your voice, recognise divine opportunities, and boldly share the gospel. Use us to lead others to salvation and new life in Christ. Amen.”
Next week, we begin a new series: Wisdom For Life From Proverbs; during this series, I’ll be posting a new devotional on every weekday.
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
For your diary: Our next weekend away will be 19th-21st June 2026!!
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
Ready and Willing? #5
On Sunday, we finish our Ready and Willing? series by looking at a number of aspects of Philip’s life under the theme: Are you ready and willing?
We reviewed some aspects of Philip's life and reflected on our own readiness and willingness to serve Jesus wholeheartedly.
Using the main texts that were used during Sunday's message, discuss:
Main Message – What do you think are the main ideas that God wants us to learn from this passage?
Personal Reflection – What did God speak to you about through Sunday’s message?
Keys from the series - What key lessons from the life of Philip have inspired you during this series?
God's word to us? What do you think are the key applications that God wants us, as individuals and as a church, to apply from this series?
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
Mission inspiration from the text - Is there anything else in this week's texts that inspires or instructs us in our mission—how we approach people, how we listen to the Spirit, or how we respond with obedience?
Share Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Are there any ‘people of peace’ (*see note) in your life—those who are receptive to you and spiritual conversation? Take time to name them and pray for them.
Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.
Pray specifically for the “people of peace” in our lives—asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.
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