Few years ago, understanding scriptures was a challenge to me. Though I love reading the Bible, it was difficult to understand. There were instances I misinterpreted scriptures I did not understand. However, as I grew in my walk with the Lord and developed a consistent fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He began to teach me to understand the word of God. Jesus promised His disciples that “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26). Imagine if the outpouring of the Holy Spirit had not come on Pentecost day. We will all be like the Ethiopian eunuch. When Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30b), the eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31a). The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”(Acts 8:29) Philip was a deacon appointed to serve food: “Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.” (Acts 6:3, 5). Philip’s work in the church was not to preach but to ensure that the widows have enough food. Philip was anointed to serve. This same Philip became the greatest influence to the church in Ethiopia by explaining scriptures to the eunuch: “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”(Acts 8:35). “As they traveled 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 baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 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 8:36, 38-40). The message of Deacon Philip caused a whole Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”) to give his life to Jesus. The Holy Spirit can use any available vessel for the glory of God. What a privilege that because of outpour of the Spirit on Pentecost day, we can also understand scriptures and do exploits because we have the greatest teacher living in us.
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