Being Led by the Spirit to Bless Others
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound impact of being led by the Holy Spirit to bless individuals in our daily lives. We often find ourselves surrounded by people—co-workers, friends, family, and even strangers—who may be seeking spiritual guidance or simply a listening ear. The key is to be sensitive and discerning, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in these interactions. We discussed the importance of listening, not just with our ears but with our hearts, to the questions and concerns of those around us. This attentiveness can open doors to meaningful conversations about faith, salvation, and the love of Jesus Christ.
We shared a story from Acts 8 about Philip, who was led by the Holy Spirit to leave a thriving ministry in Samaria and go to the desert. There, he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch reading the book of Isaiah. Philip's willingness to be interrupted and his sensitivity to the Spirit's leading allowed him to explain the scriptures and share the gospel, resulting in the eunuch's baptism. This story illustrates how one Spirit-led conversation can have a ripple effect, potentially impacting entire communities or even nations.
We also reflected on personal experiences, such as casual conversations at a restaurant or with a co-worker, that turned into opportunities to share our faith. These moments remind us that God is already at work in the lives of those around us, and we are called to join Him in His work. By being open to the Spirit's leading, we can become bridges of blessing, helping others find their way to a relationship with Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: Being led by the Holy Spirit requires us to be sensitive and open to His guidance. This means being willing to have our schedules interrupted and our plans changed for the sake of God's greater purpose. When we allow the Spirit to lead, we can be part of God's work in ways we never imagined. [11:36]
- The Power of Listening: Listening is a crucial part of being a blessing to others. By truly hearing the concerns and questions of those around us, we can discern where God is already at work and how we can join Him. Listening opens the door to meaningful conversations about faith and life. [36:13]
- Everyday Opportunities: We are surrounded by opportunities to bless others in our daily interactions. Whether it's a co-worker, a friend, or a stranger, God places people in our path for a reason. By being attentive and Spirit-led, we can seize these opportunities to share the love of Christ. [32:25]
- The Impact of One Conversation: One Spirit-led conversation can have a profound impact, not just on an individual but potentially on entire communities or nations. Like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch, we never know how God might use a single interaction to further His kingdom. [23:13]
- Being a Bridge of Blessing: As Christians, we are called to be bridges of blessing, connecting others to the love and truth of Jesus Christ. This requires us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, willing to listen, and ready to act when God prompts us. [49:33]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[1:15] - Introduction to Blessing Individuals
[3:45] - The Importance of Listening
[7:30] - Everyday Conversations and Influence
[11:36] - Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
[15:20] - Story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
[20:00] - Being Open to Divine Interruptions
[23:13] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[27:45] - Listening and Engaging with Others
[32:25] - The Impact of One Conversation
[36:13] - Asking and Answering Questions
[40:00] - Being a Bridge of Blessing
[44:30] - Personal Stories of Spirit-Led Encounters
[49:33] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Acts 8:26-40
- Isaiah 53:7-8
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Philip doing before the Holy Spirit led him to the Ethiopian eunuch? [11:36]
2. How did Philip respond when the Spirit instructed him to approach the chariot? [32:25]
3. What was the Ethiopian eunuch reading when Philip encountered him? [36:13]
4. How did the Ethiopian eunuch respond to Philip's explanation of the scripture? [36:13]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might God have chosen to interrupt Philip's successful ministry in Samaria to send him to the desert? [11:36]
2. How does the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch illustrate the importance of being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance? [23:13]
3. In what ways does the Ethiopian eunuch's request for baptism demonstrate his understanding and acceptance of the gospel message? [36:13]
4. How can Philip's willingness to be interrupted serve as a model for Christians today in their daily interactions? [32:25]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak to someone. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [49:33]
2. Consider your daily routine. Are there moments where you might be missing opportunities to listen and engage with others about faith? How can you be more open to these opportunities? [32:25]
3. Identify a person in your life who might be seeking spiritual guidance. What steps can you take to be a bridge of blessing to them this week? [36:13]
4. How can you cultivate a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in your life, especially when it comes to being open to divine interruptions? [11:36]
5. Think about a recent conversation where you could have listened more attentively. What can you do differently next time to ensure you are truly hearing the other person? [36:13]
6. How can you prepare yourself to answer questions about your faith when they arise in everyday conversations? [36:13]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are filled with the Holy Spirit daily, as Philip was? [23:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Sensitivity to the Spirit's Guidance
Being led by the Holy Spirit requires a heart open to divine interruptions. This means being willing to set aside our own plans and schedules to follow God's greater purpose. In Acts 8, Philip's story exemplifies this sensitivity. He was in the midst of a successful ministry in Samaria when the Spirit led him to the desert. There, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, and through a Spirit-led conversation, he shared the gospel, leading to the eunuch's baptism. This story reminds us that when we allow the Spirit to guide us, we can be part of God's work in ways we never imagined. [11:36]
"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?'" (Acts 8:29-30, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt prompted to change your plans for someone else's sake. How can you be more open to these divine interruptions in your daily life?
Day 2: The Power of Listening
Listening is more than just hearing words; it's about understanding the heart behind them. When we truly listen to others, we can discern where God is already at work in their lives. This attentiveness opens the door to meaningful conversations about faith and life. In our daily interactions, whether with co-workers, friends, or strangers, listening can reveal opportunities to share the love of Christ. By being present and attentive, we can join God in His work and become a blessing to those around us. [36:13]
"Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a recent conversation where you could have listened more intently. How can you practice being a better listener today?
Day 3: Seizing Everyday Opportunities
Every day, God places people in our path for a reason. These encounters, whether with a co-worker, friend, or stranger, are opportunities to bless others. By being attentive and Spirit-led, we can seize these moments to share the love of Christ. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch illustrates how one Spirit-led conversation can have a profound impact. We never know how God might use a single interaction to further His kingdom. [32:25]
"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person you will encounter today. How can you intentionally bless them with your words or actions?
Day 4: The Impact of One Conversation
One Spirit-led conversation can change lives, communities, or even nations. Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch is a testament to this truth. By being open to the Spirit's leading, Philip was able to explain the scriptures and share the gospel, resulting in the eunuch's baptism. This story encourages us to be bold in our faith and to trust that God can use our words to make a significant impact. [23:13]
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" (Isaiah 52:7, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a conversation where you shared your faith. How did it impact the other person, and how can you be more intentional in sharing the gospel?
Day 5: Being a Bridge of Blessing
As Christians, we are called to be bridges of blessing, connecting others to the love and truth of Jesus Christ. This requires us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, willing to listen, and ready to act when God prompts us. By being open to the Spirit's leading, we can help others find their way to a relationship with Jesus. Our everyday interactions can become opportunities to share the love of Christ and to be a blessing to those around us. [49:33]
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to know the love of Christ. How can you be a bridge of blessing to them today?
Quotes
1) "You never know when we are led of the Holy Spirit how one conversation with a person could turn into a bigger and greater thing here. Let me tell you a story before we get to Acts here. Several years ago, and she's downstairs today. And actually, my wife is downstairs today. It's her birthday today, so I'm not, I wasn't. She's right here. Okay, well. I was getting ready to say she didn't want me to sing happy birthday because I would be in the dog house. And so now I'm going to sleep with the dog on the couch. Okay, sorry. I won't tell you how, I won't tell how old she was. But several years ago, my wife and I, you know, we had four kids growing up, grazed them in the valley, and everybody knows everybody, right? And I was, my wife. My wife and I, we were at Burger King, and we said, let's take the kids, you know how when they're little, let's take them into the playground with all the slides and bumpiny while we eat, and we can maybe talk to another family while we're in there, okay?" [11:36] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "You realize if somebody's asking a religious question here God's already involved in that and you can be a bridge and you can be a blessing to people here. And in this particular story here I want you to think about being interrupted here. Now how many of you hate or are the type of person here that you You hate to be interrupted, and once you start doing something, I'm this way, if I start mowing the grass, my wife will be like, you got a phone call, you got a phone call here, and I'm like, no, let me finish the grass, I want to finish the grass here, then I'll take the, no, it's an emergency, okay, okay, I got it, okay, but how many of you hate to get interrupted once you start something? I'll be honest here, I like to start something, I like to finish something here, and occasionally on my schedule here, I don't like to be interrupted, but I've learned as I grew as a Christian here, that the Holy Spirit sometimes interrupts what I have planned for the day." [23:13] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Now, can you imagine God guiding you to a man that has great authority here, and he is coming back from Jerusalem. Now, what does Philip and what does this man have in common? This man was a proselyte, in a sense, to the Jewish religion here, okay? And Philip was a Jew, and being a believer here, and they had some things in common here, okay? And can you imagine here, can you imagine here, God guiding you tomorrow to somebody that could open up a door to a greater even opportunity for the Christianity? Now, is it possible? Is it possible that God could guide you to this person, to this person, to this person? But it's not possible, if you're not full of the Holy Spirit. It's not possible if you're not willing to be interrupted of your schedule here." [32:25] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Now, let me ask you a question. All over this county community here, there are people struggling with something, and there are Christians passing them by on a daily basis, and they're saying, would somebody just spend a little bit of time with me to help me understand the Bible? Your coworkers are saying that. You work with every day here. They're saying, hey, I'm struggling in my marriage. I'm struggling with this problem here. I'm struggling with this here. Would somebody just help me with this? But we do not take the time because we're not led of the Holy Spirit. We're not willing to be interrupted here, or we don't listen to people. Let me ask you a question. When your coworker is saying they're having a rough day and you're having a rough day, do you listen? We should, right? We should be because we're all in this together here, okay?" [36:13] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Now, notice here, he runs up to the chariot and what's he doing? What's he doing in this chapter? Jonathan, can you give me this? What's he doing? Reading out loud. He's reading the Bible out loud and he says, man, God must be working on this man. Now he listens. Jonathan, can you put that little slide up here very quickly here? Yeah, a lot of us, we don't listen. Listen, have you ever been like this with somebody? How many have ever been like, how many have been honest to your wife, your husband, don't get yourself in trouble, I've been like this, okay, okay. How many have ever tried to say, hey, listen, you know, or your kids, next slide, next slide, you ever did this, okay, next slide, Jonathan, real quick, okay. You ever did this, you got the next one, I guess I don't have the next one, you don't listen to me, son, okay." [36:13] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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