Acts 8:39 - Divine Encounters
Step 1: Pray. Select.
Today, as I begin my prayer time, I am consumed with divine meetings. Divine encounters. Predestined relationships are brought together in due time for a greater purpose. Some meetings are brief, and others last a lifetime. Either way, no matter how big or small, the Lord has a plan.
As I searched for scriptures to delve deeper into the relevance of the Lord’s divine encounters, as illustrated in the Bible, I came across Acts 8:39. I decided to start my journey there, so I moved on to Step 2.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away,
so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
Step 3: Re-Write
With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here are the personalized sentence(s) that came alive in my heart.
Jennifer, the Spirit caught Philip away, the enuch went on his way rejoicing.
If you are doing this alongside me today, add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.
Step 4: Visualize
As I sit and meditate on the sentence from the Holy Spirit today, I reflect on the obedience of both Philip and the eunuch, as well as the timing of this divine encounter. The Ethiopian eunuch was alone on a desolate road reading the book of Isaiah. He possibly has little to no understanding of the prophecy, yet still muscled through what he felt was extremely valuable information. And through the ensuing reading of this prophetic book, little did the eunuch know, he was about to become a key part of the prophecy fulfilled.
Now the Holy Spirit asks me to examine Philip, who was on his journey spreading the word. The chances of him roaming down this desolate road between Jerusalem and Gaza at the exact time the eunuch was there set off a chain of events changing the fate of the people of Africa forever. By the eunuch fully committing on the spot to be baptized, no time was wasted. Philip was ready to baptize, and the Ethiopian was ready to surrender.
What is catching my eye is the fact that, during the baptism, before the eunuch came back up for air out of the water, Philip was gone. Onto the next line of business!
I believe friends, what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell me is that we must be about our Father’s business at all times. We never know when a chain of events can unfold that can change a country, a city, or even just one stranger. And Philip was clearly called to continue along his divine path, and the eunuch was also called to his divine path.
Neither man stayed and tried to figure out what was going on. Instead, they acted and produced results on behalf of the Kingdom. I feel that the Holy Spirit is telling me to stop analyzing the work of the Father, or trying to make sense of things; sometimes, they are just what they are—no more, no less.
This encounter, while deeply personal, was also just a moment in time. However, this brief moment set off a ripple in the atmosphere that impacted many lives and will never be the same again.
I have a question in my mind, so I proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The requests/questions that came to mind are:
Holy Spirit, if the eunuch dunked under the water to be baptized, in the time it took for him to dunk and come up, how could Philip have been entirely out of sight?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Here is the answer I received:
”The point is that Philip was focused. He left the man, knowing there was a higher calling, and he was confident that the eunuch was in the hands of Jesus. Sometimes you need to remember that while you are impactful, the results of your impact are not important. That is for me to determine. You are to focus on the daily assignment I give to you and execute it with joy, as demonstrated by the eunuch. Just show up and be in the right place at the right time; that is all I ask of you. Don't try to figure things out, get up when I tell you to get up, and go where I tell you to go. If you do this thing, you will be blessed going in and coming out, and can do more work for the Kingdom, which is the way. These men were brought together by me and separated by me. Neither one of them was left in lack, so know I am the Lord. I am omnipresent and powerful, and I have more than enough to meet all requirements for my children. Show up, but do not stay too long. For I am a moving God, and you shall come when I call. If you do these things, your rewards will be great in Heaven and upon the Earth. Trust me, I have great plans. ”
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Please let me constantly answer your call so I am on time for my next assignment. Let me not stay anywhere too long, but stay just long enough to leave your presence and fragrance of the Holy Spirit. Help me to stay obedient and fulfill the prophecies that you have intended for my life. Let me spread the good work wherever I go, and know that there is no such thing as coincidence, only divine appointments to get work done on behalf of the Kingdom. And with those appointments, let me find joy in each and every one of them.
Thank you for reminding me to keep my eyes on you, and hand all people over to you once I have delivered your message as you intend—the rest I release to you entirely.
In Jesus' mighty name, I pray and seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus - Amen.
Step 8: Share. Testify
If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we would love to hear how God works in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.
Conclusion:
Friends, I cannot say what will happen next; however, let’s keep our eyes on the Lord and His assignments, which can send a ripple effect through the Earth, affecting the environments we are in with maximum impact for the Kingdom.
Pay attention to where you are called and answer. The Lord has great divine plans.
Trust he will tell you when to come and when to go. Carry the fragrance of the Holy Spirit with you always, leaving a sweet scent of the Lord wherever you go.
God bless you. See you soon!
