Carried Away by the Spirit! (From Somewhere to Azotus)
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 18 2025 | Acts 8:36-40
KEY VERSE:
“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." Acts 8:39 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
The Christian walk is an exciting journey in which we are exposed to the thrills of God’s fantastic adventures in various forms. The narratives concerning the biblical characters sometimes seem extraordinary, out of this world and heart-pulsating! Phillip moves from a very successful ministry situation in Samaria in obedience to the voice of God, to a desert road where he meets an important foreign official who receives the Gospel from his mouth. Philip is given the privilege of baptising the Ethiopian eunuch, but the adventure is not over. We must hear Acts 8:39; “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.”
The excitement of a rapture-like carrying away, whisked away as it were, escorted by God as it were, translated by God as it were, suddenly taken away by the Holy Spirit of God to his new assignment in a place called Azotus to spread the Gospel all the way to Caesarea. Wow, what a breathtaking experience to be had by anyone, anytime, anywhere.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
You can have an exciting experience of life with God in your own way. You can trust God to show up in your life in ways that steal the breath from those who hear your story. You do not need to be carried to Azotus, but you can talk about how you were moved from sinfulness to holiness, from being an ordinary human being to becoming a conscious child of God. That is an exciting life, enjoy it. PRAYER:
Dear Father in Heaven, I am grateful for the new birth and the exciting experience of becoming a child of God and a member of your blessed, holy family. And now, Lord, I pray, grant me the ear that ears, and the heart that obeys, so that moved and led by your Holy Spirit, I will know the thrill of walking with you and walking before you, and enjoy the thrilling life from anywhere to my Azotus. For Christ’s dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 138: Ruth 4 - Redemption and Restoration
DAILY word study: AWAY
The word away in Acts 8:39 (Greek: ἥρπασεν, hērpasen) means “to snatch, seize suddenly.” It conveys swift removal, used elsewhere in reference to powerful divine action (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
Philip’s removal wasn’t random. It was Spirit-directed. He had completed one assignment and was suddenly taken to the next. God’s Spirit moves people purposefully.
Reflection:
You may not vanish like Philip, but the Spirit can move you into the next phase of your calling. Don’t resist divine transitions. Stay ready for Spirit-led change.
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