Week 16 (13 - 19 Apr): Arise and Shine
- Belimbing
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 20
We started our Saturday session last week with a time of fellowship over delicious food and an amazing time of worship.
We then read Acts 8. In Acts 8:14-17, Peter and John laid hands on the believers and prayed for them. The believers then received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Simon the Sorcerer tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit can’t be bought.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit can be felt. During our mission trip to Surabaya, I saw how the Spirit was transforming the lives of the locals as they surrendered to Him on the altar, as led by Ps. Angela. While we were not able to see the Holy Spirit with our physical eyes, I could feel something burning inside of me and I could feel His power while the locals were crying out to Him.
In Acts 8:25, we also note that those who were scattered due to persecution preached the word wherever they went. Don’t lose the opportunity to share with someone about Jesus!
In Acts 8:26-40, we meet Philip, an unexpected messenger. An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and asked him to arise and go. Philip obeyed and went without questioning the Lord. If the Lord asked me to go somewhere without giving me further instructions, I would hesitate and ask Him a million questions!
Here’s what we can learn from Philip’s obedience to God:
We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and follow His calling
We should obey the Holy Spirit even if it takes us out of our comfort zone – because God always knows what He is doing!
During our mission trip, it wasn’t planned for me to share my testimony. I prayed about it and told God that if he were to send young people to the church, I would share. On Friday night, one of the Indonesian pastors brought a handful of young people from her congregation and I was so amazed to see so many young people! I realised that God had orchestrated everything for me and I needed to obey Him so that these young people could be encouraged by my testimony. I shared my own story, and how God can use anyone. On our last day, some of the young people shared that they wanted to share about Jesus with their friends, and it moved me to tears. I was so happy that I obeyed God and He used me to touch their lives.
There’s a parable in the Bible about how God, the Good Shepherd, leaves the 99 to search for the one lost sheep. Philip obeyed the Holy Spirit for THE ONE, and because of Philip, the Ethiopian was saved, which probably led to the nation of Ethiopia coming to the Lord! The passage the Ethiopian was reading was the prophecy of Jesus being led to the cross as the sacrificial lamb, and it gave Philip the opportunity to share with the Ethiopian about Christ, resulting in him getting baptised.
Now, you may wonder, how can God use me? I am just an ordinary person going to work or attending school. Firstly, God doesn’t use perfect people; He uses people who are willing to be used by Him. The mission field is right here where God has placed you, at work, school, etc. God doesn’t wait for you to fly overseas to start working through you! He can use you right where you are! Secondly, look at someone from God’s eyes and see them for how God sees them. While it may be challenging, remember that the person you may not like is someone whom Jesus died for, and someone whom Jesus loves. In our weakness, God is strong. God works His will in our lives if we allow Him to use us as His vessels.
Just like during our mission trip, my testimony may not have spoken to the entire congregation. But I know that it touched someONE. God can use you to touch that ONE today.
Ps. Ben joked that the path to following Jesus may not always be straight but God will always be there with you, walking side by side with you.
I would like to leave all of you with this verse and a call to action.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
Time to arise and shine and say “YES” to God!
Melody,
on behalf of Diakonia and Belimbing
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