How Divine Guidance Transforms Lives - Acts 8

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Responding to God’s Call That Changes Everything

Today, we’re going to talk about “How Divine Guidance Transforms Lives.” God gives divine guidance to each of His children, and when we follow that divine guidance, lives are transformed. Mark and Huldah Buntain’s story is a powerful example of the transforming power of divine guidance. In 1954, they left their comfortable life in Canada to move to Calcutta, India, a city filed with poverty and despair.

They were particularly moved by the plight of those living in the red-light district, an area known for its exploitation and hopelessness. Their obedience to God’s call led them to set up feeding programs, a hospital and schools. They also launched outreach programs to rescue women and children from the red-light district, providing them with safety, education and vocational training. Their work in Calcultta follows the biblical call to obedience and evangelism found in.

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Like Isaiah, the Buntains responded to God’s call with readiness and obedience. They did not hesitate when they felt the divine prompting to serve in one of the most challenging places. Their actions align with the great commission which is Jesus’ command to every believer. This command makes clear that divine guidance is not reserved for a few, but is extended to all who follow Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Buntins ministered to both the physical and spiritual needs of thousands. Their story is a response to Romans 10:14 which emphasizes the necessity of sharing the gospel for each one of us. God calls each one of us to reach the people around us with the Gospel message and to see lives transformed. Divine guidance moves us beyond comfort into obedience that impacts eternity.

Romans 10:14 (ESV) How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching?

Obey God’s Directions

Acts 8:26-27a (ESV) Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went.

Philip had been ministering in Samaria and a great revival had broken out with many being saved. But in the midst of this wonderful awakening, an angel appears to Philip. The angel tells him to go south to a desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. Jerusalem was about 40 miles south and Gaza was about 60 miles further.

The destination the angel directed was in a hot, dusty desert area. And the angel gave no reason why Philip should leave where he was and travel on foot for days to a 60 mile road. What did Philip do? He didn’t argue, he just set out on the journey, obeying God’s directions. Obedience does not always come with explanation, but it always comes with purpose.

Acts 8:27b-28 (ESV) And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Now we are introduced to an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official of the queen. The journey from Ethiopia, modern Sudan, to Jerusalem was about 1800 miles. The trip, even with chariots in a caravan would have taken several months. So this man, was a very serious seeker after God.

As a eunuch, he would have been barred from worshipping in the temple, yet he came. He had undoubtedly been physically castrated to serve the queen. A writer of the time wrote “a eunuch was neither man nor woman but something composite, hybrid, and monstrous, alien to human nature.” Not only had this eunuch made the long journey to worship in Jerusalem, he was reading a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

This eunuch had been following the promptings of the Holy Spirit as well. His hunger for God and obedience to what he knew placed him directly in the path of divine intervention. God was already at work long before Philip arrived. Divine guidance often brings together obedient servants and seeking hearts.

Acts 8:29-30 (ESV) And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

As Philip walked along the dusty desert road south of Jerusalem, the chariot of the eunuch passed him by. At the moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip to go over and join the chariot. So, Philip ran and caught up to the chariot. In those days, everyone read out loud, not silently, so Philip recognized he was reading from the prophet Isaiah.

Philip started the conversation by asking if he understood what he was reading. We notice Philip’s instant obedience to the Spirit’s voice. If he had hesitated, he would never have caught up to the chariot. When God speaks, we must immediately obey His directions.

Living Attentive and Obedient to God’s Voice

How does God speak to us today? He speaks in the same ways that He has always spoken, many different ways. Angels, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, spiritual gifts, pastors and teachers, circumstances, and other believers. God is not silent, but we must be attentive.

How do we prepare ourselves to hear God speak? Be constantly in prayer and listening for His voice. Do not make any decision without asking God for guidance. Jesus said that my sheep hear my voice, and every believer can hear God’s voice.

When you hear God’s voice, which may contradict what you want to do, you must obey. Obedience to God’s voice will put you in the right place at the right time to transform other’s lives. The key to being a powerful witness for Jesus as Philip was, is to hear and obey God.

Share the Gospel Boldly

Acts 8:31 (ESV) And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Once Philip had connected with this divine appointment, things went quickly. The eunuch was reading a passage and wanted to know who it was talking about. The Holy Spirit had orchestrated this meeting and what the eunuch was reading. God often prepares hearts before we ever speak a word.

Acts 8:32-33 (ESV) Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

What the eunuch was reading in Isaiah was a messianic passage speaking of Jesus. Jesus was like the sacrificial lamb that would take away the sins of the world. Jesus was unjustly condemned and crucified, even though sinless. This passage pointed directly to the suffering Savior.

Acts 8:34-35 (ESV) And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

The Holy Spirit had prepared everything and Philip was able and willing to tell the eunuch all about Jesus. Philip told the eunuch how Jesus had been born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles and taught His disciples to believe in Him in order to have eternal life. Then Jesus was crucified, but rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples before ascending back into heaven.

I believe Philip explained to the eunuch that he needed to believe in Jesus, be water baptized and Spirit baptized. Philip shared the entire gospel boldly. He did not shrink back, hesitate, or water down the truth. When God opens a door, we must speak clearly and confidently.

Stepping Into God’s Prepared Opportunities

God has divine appointments for you, just as he had for Philip. These appointments may be with a relative, a neighbor, a workmate, a friend or someone in church. Ask God for divine appointments to share the truth of your faith with others. Then be ready to step out in faith and share the truth with someone.

Often, people will have questions that they want to be answered. Even though the questions may seem obvious to you, kindly answer them from the word of God. If you don’t the answer to some questions, simply tell them you’ll find out and get back to them.

Don’t get sidetracked on argumentative issues. Talk about who Jesus is and what He can do for their lives and problems. Offer to pray with and for them. Realize that many people may take multiple conversations before praying to be saved.

Invite them to church if they are not going to a biblical church. Always carry with you invite cards from the ledge in the foyer to hand out. As you follow God’s guidance, He will use you to transform lives.

Witness the Power of Baptism

Acts 8:36 (ESV) And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

This question of the eunuch clearly indicates that Philip had led the eunuch to believe in Jesus. He had told him about water and Spirit baptism and the eunuch knew that the next step was water baptism. He was eager to be water baptized, an important step in discipling a new believer.

Water baptism for a believer is a command of Jesus and is not optional. Water baptism as taught in Scripture is believer’s baptism. Infant baptism is never commanded in Scripture and is a demonic counterfeit. A believer must be baptized after they have believed.

Acts 8:38 (ESV) And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

So, seeing some deep water beside the road, they went into the water and Philip baptized the eunuch by immersion. Biblical baptism is by immersion which represents a believer dying to his old way of life and being resurrected into new life in Christ. This outward act reflects an inward transformation.

In the early church, Spirit baptism was often experienced immediately after water baptism. Most likely, that happened here, because Philip’s interaction with the eunuch was over. God had another assignment for him. The eunuch had experienced the three important discipleship steps of becoming a believer in Jesus: salvation, water baptism and Spirit baptism.

Acts 8:39-40 (ESV) And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

From this verse, it seems that the Holy Spirit transported Philip supernaturally to a town called Azotus about 30 miles away. The eunuch did not seem distressed by the disappearance of Philip but went away rejoicing over his newfound faith in Jesus. Philip just got back to preaching the gospel everywhere he went.

Committing to a Life of Witness and Discipleship

The end of this story stresses to us the importance of being a witness for Jesus. The lives of those who believe in Jesus are completely transformed. The main purpose we as believers are alive is to be witnesses for Jesus. To be effective witnesses, we need to learn and grow in hearing God’s voice.

And then obeying His voice quickly and boldly. Who do you have on your 5 friends focus list? Pray daily and ask God for opportunities to touch their lives with God’s love. Remember that once someone prays to accept Jesus, that is not the end.

All new believers need to take the next steps of water and Spirit baptism and to grow in their understanding of God’s plan for their lives in a church family. God desires for every believer to witness the power of baptism.

Conclusion: Following Divine Guidance That Transforms Lives

We began this morning with a story of missionaries Mark and Huldah Buntain’s ministry in Calcutta. Their obedience to a difficult call resulted in the transformation of thousands of lives. Each of us, every believer has the call of God on our lives to reach certain people. Most of us here are called to reach the people around us in St Louis, as well as our families.

As a parent, you are responsible to be a witness to your children and grandchildren. Through prayer, God will open doors and give you direction to reach out. In general, God will ask you to do things that are outside your comfort zone. Obey God’s directions and your obedience will impact many lives.

Share the gospel and the truth of God’s Word boldly, not worrying about the response. As you do, you are planting seeds of truth that will ultimately result in new life. Do not neglect to do your best to disciple those who believe so that they will become fully devoted followers of Jesus. As we follow divine guidance, we will see many lives transformed by Jesus.

📘 Continue the Journey

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