Do You Believe God Wants to Use You?Do you believe the Holy Spirit could prompt you to help someone know Jesus? The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch demonstrates how God uses a yielded vessel:
Acts 8:26-38 NIV, “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So Philip began with that very passage and shared the good news about Jesus. As they traveled, the eunuch saw water and said, ‘What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’ He was baptized, and his life was forever changed.”
This Ethiopian was a powerful man whose encounter with God likely impacted countless others. God directed Philip to that desert road to reach him. Would God similarly use you? The answer is YES!One morning, after a discipleship breakfast, a man approached me. He had overheard our conversation and shared that his life was in turmoil. I asked if he knew of God’s love and the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ. He didn’t but was eager to learn.
Right there in the restaurant lobby, with people coming and going, he prayed to receive Christ. I gave him a Bible and some resources from my car and invited him to church. He came the very next Sunday and never stopped. A year later, his life was completely transformed—his marriage was restored, and he was serving joyfully in the church. He later told me our meeting had to be God’s doing. That is God’s love in action!Daily, Renee and I pray for God to use us and for others to come to know Him. Psalm 2:8 (KJV) says, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance…” God calls those we reach our inheritance!
Every day, people around you are searching for answers. You might be the vessel God uses to introduce Himself to them. Pray and ask the Lord to use you—and be ready. When the Holy Spirit prompts you, step out in faith. You could change someone’s life for eternity.Pray and ask the Lord to use you, and then pay attention. When you encounter them and open up to them, it will have been a great day in the Lord for both of you!
1 Peter 3:15: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
