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  Rushing Streams Ministries

Thinking out loud

A God Encounter

9/25/2015

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On the desert road Philip met his assignment, a man of great influence. 
“Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”)  Acts 8:27

From a revival in Samaria to a solitary traveler on a desert road, it made no difference. 
He did what the Holy Spirit led him to do: he preached the Gospel and touched another heart.
His words brought revelation and stirred a hunger for a deeper life.

“…What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” Acts 8:36

What would cross Philip’s or your mind if you were moved from a glorious move of God into the presence and the confidence of someone of great importance in a ruler’s court?

What were his thoughts during the time with the Ethiopian?
Could this be another opportunity for him, another open door to do great things for God? 
Was God opening a door for him to go to Ethiopia to start a revival, a church, convert a nation?

However,  

“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. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.”  Acts 8:39-40

We do not know how he felt about his sudden change in circumstances, but we know that he did not lose heart.  He traveled about the towns of the region and preached the gospel, with signs and wonders following, until he reached Caesarea.  Always obedient, he now fades into human history and into the hidden purposes and places of God. 
There is no memorial in his name, only a record of his trust, faith and obedience.

He becomes, it seems, a simple side note to a bigger story that is about to begin.  Yet, he and those he touched were never the same.
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God’s Assignment: The Desert Road

9/20/2015

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Philip preached and signs and wonders followed.  He turned a city that was steeped in the occult into a place submitted to Jesus and the Kingdom of God. 
Something big was happening and Philip was very much at the center of it.

Then the new assignment:
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Acts 8:28

In the middle of a revival, Philip is called to leave town. No instructions other than, “Go south on the desert road…”
With God we must always have our bags packed and be prepared for the “Go.” 
It seldom makes sense, but God’s instructions do not need to make sense. 
They only need to be obeyed.

We may be intensely involved with something that is clearly of God, only to suddenly (or not so suddenly) become aware that we are called away into something different. 

It make no sense, but it does to God. 

Philip soon finds himself walking down a desert road away from where new life is happening. 

Our dry places are often on the way to our next assignment.  We must learn to rejoice in those moments when all we can see and experience is a sense of loss on a hot sandy road to an assignment not of our choosing.

In those confusing, dry times attitude matters; it keeps us in the will of God.

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18
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God’s Moments

9/14/2015

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Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.  When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.  For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.  Acts 8:5-8

Philip, because of his wisdom and the Holy Spirit in his life, had been chosen to serve at tables (Acts 6:5).
Now he was running, fearing for his life, feeling neither the Spirit nor wisdom.

Fear is a dreadful advisor. It causes us to do things we later regret; it tries to defeat us at every turn. It captures our heart to destroy our destiny.
Philip ran for his life into the purposes of God. Samaria was not a favorite place for believers, but it was on God’s heart.

There he stopped and reasserted the Lordship of Jesus in his life.  He began to proclaim the truth and reclaim his identity.

Making a stand can happen anywhere at any time; there is no disqualification great enough to stop the word of God from going forth.
The crowd heard him, saw the signs and could not ignore him.
The words of God always bring freedom and life. 

We must never forget that our moments of defeat, of fear, may be so for us, but for God any moment is a good moment and any place is a good place.

We look for the right moment of opportunity. 
With God all moments are opportunities.

What moments has God planned for you today?
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The Gospel Leaves Home…

9/6/2015

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Stephen is dead. He was condemned as a heretic and stoned.  His death started the exodus of believers out of Jerusalem.

Now the church begins to “Go.”

And Saul approved of their killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… 
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 
When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.
  Acts 8:3-8

Until the stoning, the gospel was limited to those in Jerusalem and the few who came to the city and were touched by the word of God.

Now, the followers of Jesus were driven out into the towns and villages of Judea.The city was no longer a safe place. But wherever they went they preached. Signs and wonders followed. Life would never be the same again.

The experience of Jerusalem was transported into the country side and Jesus’ command was finally being obeyed: “GO!”

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

It took a persecution, but the word of God now began to move into Israel. 

The world was about to be changed. The persecution intended to destroy the church suddenly spread a fire to the whole countryside that would soon be felt to the ends of the earth. 

When we do not obey the word we receive, we may find ourselves compelled by forces that are not of our choosing.

God will accomplish His will; how we participate is our choice, but as His children, we will participate.
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    Thinking Out Loud

    These are short meditations on some of the thoughts and ideas we receive as we read, study or ponder the things of God.
    They are short blogs meant to cause us to think, explore, meditate or simply delight in the things of the Lord.


    Author

    In a counseling career spanning over 30 years, author and teacher Martin Frankena has shared the life-changing power of Christ’s redemption with individuals and churches in America, Canada, South America, and Europe.  Martin's heart is to further the Lord’s mandate of releasing people into freedom from bondages to experience greater wholeness and fulfillment in life. A major focus of the ministry is healing from generational issues.

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