Phillip Didn’t Take an Uber. Part [10] 09/10/2024 (Morning thought)

2nd Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

In other words, to put it plainly, is it possible on our planet for a person under the auspices of The Holy Ghost, to move from point A to B, without using any conventional mode of transportation we know of? And if so, does it raise the prospect that God is not really dependent on man-made technologies, ways and means in order to get His work done? As it stands, God employs the ways and means that are familiar to mortals, but that fact does not mean that He is restricted to using those ways and means.

In His dealings with the human family God employs the principle of “Gathering up the fragments so that nothing be lost”, meaning that He will often exhaust available ways and means before using supernatural power. But if and whenever these man-made means become unavailable, He can, and will use plan B as He sees fit. In addition to this, much of the technology persons boast of today are really many centuries late, as far as God is concerned, since He has been employing them in ages past.

For instance, in the preaching of the gospel in foreign lands missionaries can now use the various language apps, such as Babbel. But God is the one who first introduced Babbel on our planet, almost four thousand years ago, when He confounded and then codified the languages of earth. Later on, on the day of Pentecost, He again used “Babbel” as the apostles were empowered to speak and understand all foreign languages of the then known world.

Genesis 11:6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Phillip Didn’t Take an Uber. Part [9] 09/10/2024 (Evening thought)

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

What happens next is where our study takes off, for after baptizing the Ethiopian, Phillip vanishes into thin air, and was found at Azotus, which is currently called Ashdod in Israel today, a distance of over 30 miles from where the recent baptism took place. This time Phillip doesn’t use any conventional mode of travel known to man. He did not walk, or run, he did use a horse or mule, and Phillip didn’t even take an Uber just to put the scenario in a modern setting.

Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

This singular occurrence or intervention by The Holy Ghost significantly raises prospect that finite man does not have a clue as to what will transpire under the loud cry, when the latter rain will be poured out upon planet earth. Remember, it was under the out pouring of the former rain that this unfolded. Question: Is it true that there are methods of travel which are entirely foreign to conventional wisdom? 

Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, 31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!