Acts 8:26-40 | The Leading of the Spirit

“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. And he rose and went. And there 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 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 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 its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 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?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8:26–40 ESV)

A few application questions:

1. Does God still speak to us today? Why or why not? Think biblically here.
2. What is meant by the sufficiency of scripture? And, if God still speaks today, how does our belief in the sufficiency of scripture not get nullified? Do you agree with the definition of the sufficiency of scripture that was given? Why or why not?
3. What are the inherent dangers of subjective impressions and dreams?
4. Do inherent dangers mean that something is erroneous and not to be accepted?
5. Think of your own experience now: have you ever felt "led" to do/say something to somebody - especially when it pertains to gospel proclamation? How do you evaluate that leading? Could it be that the Holy Spirit was leading you? Was it not, in fact, the Lord revealing to you, by alternative means, what he wanted you to do? Certainly not against scripture (consider the "sufficiency of scripture") but "in addition" to it? Certainly not as "authoritative" in one sense but just as clearly and directly the voice of God in another sense?