Acts 2:26-33 (MSG) – Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” He answered, “How can I without some help?” and invited Philip into the chariot with him. 

If God does speak to us, what is the purpose of prompting?

1. A prompting is often an invitation to reach out.

The Spirit of Jesus is seeking out and saving the lost, telling good news to the poor and the spiritually impoverished, releasing prisoners from captivity. So many of the promptings of the Spirit are simply the commander-in-chief directing the rescue operation. His is not an abstract campaign waged in generalities. Person by person he is extending the influence of the kingdom. Philip knew this full well. So when the prompting came to go to a specific road, near a particular chariot, he was ready to reach out. If you sense the Spirit drawing your attention to a particular person through a dream or an inner voice, or a knowledge that goes beyond natural means, be alert to the possibility that you are being prompted to reach out to that person.

2. A prompting is often an invitation to intercede.

The Spirit is an intercessor. Is it any wonder, then, that the Spirit’s promptings would frequently be an invitation to intercession? Not just a general encouragement to pray, but a specific prompting to pray for someone, here and now, or in a certain way. [Rich Nathan and Ken Wilson, Empowered Evangelicals, pp. 197-198]

As we worship with the song, “Holy Spirit”, let’s intercede for the people God places on our hearts. Perhaps a face, a name, knowledge of a need will come to mind, pray over them with the heart of the lyrics to this song “come flood (their) place and fill the atmosphere, let (them) become more aware of your presence”.

– AK