Philip Prayer

Dear Jesus,

This prayer is based on Acts 8:26-40.

 26 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. 27 And he rose and went.

Philip obeyed, immediately, an angel of the Lord.  Scripture says, “And he rose and went.”  Lord, may I grow to be able to immediately obey you. May I be able to do so without concern.  May my whole life focus be on you, and may I not have any other concerns, but to be able to go where you want me to go and do what it is you want me to do.

27b And here 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 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Lord, may even my travels be focused on you.  As I ride the bus or the lite rail, may my reading be of your word.  May my conversation be such that it points others to you.

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

When I see others reading your word or speaking your word or of your word, help me to respond with boldness to question the level of their understanding.

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

If I am asked for help in understanding, help me to be able to do so without concern of being late to my destination, but to be able to take the time to sit with them and discuss your word.

 32 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 is shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.  33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.  Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

Philip, beginning with the very Scripture read, was able to tell the good news about Jesus. Help me to be able to do the same, from any Scripture in your word.

36 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?”

It is evident from the eunuch’s response that the good news about Jesus included baptism.  Please help me to be able to know how to tell about your good news in a way that incorporates baptism. 

38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 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.

There was enough water for Philip and the eunuch to “come up out of.”   This is 

evidence that the eunuch’s baptism was by submersion.   Please help me to be able to relate to people the necessity for baptism by submersion (flood).

The Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away after he had finished with the eunuch, and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.  Lord, if this happens to me, please send someone to care for my cats!

40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Lord, please give me the words to say and the stamina to do as Philip did, to 

preach the gospel without ceasing.

Thank you for hearing my prayer.

Cari.