"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot."
Acts 8:29

From the city of Samaria God the Holy Spirit called Philip to go "toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert" (Acts 8:26). There was a divine appointment with a traveling Ethiopian who needed to be saved by understanding the gospel. Philip was God’s chosen vessel to guide the man on his spiritual journey into grace. Several wonderful principles are here established.

First, God has a geographical will for our lives. As God has an occupational will for our lives, what He wants us to do, and as God has a linguistic will for our lives, what He wants us to say, so God has a geographical will. The challenge for every Christian is to be sensitive to the divine leading of the Holy Spirit.

Second, God has the sovereign right to move His people. Perhaps there were other gifted Christians in the Gaza vicinity but God wanted Philip from Samaria to go even though it involved temporary dislocation for him and perhaps extra time and expenses. Suddenly, the issue for Philip was not money. The issue was not time. The issue was not distance. The issue was gospel obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Philip knew that God had the sovereign right to direct him and relocate him for a temporary purpose and He bowed before that sovereign will.

Third, God the Holy Spirit leads individuals whose hearts are tender to His direction. The leading of the Spirit is not simply a theological construct nor a subjective impression but a definite experience and a plain teaching of Scripture.

Fourth, many spiritual experiences of the New Testament saints are repeated throughout the centuries in the lives of other Christians. Recently, a Christian lady wrote the following to me:

Dear Stan,

I have just started my quest to take a trip to India. I have no idea how to go about it, but for the last twenty or more years I have had a desire to go to India. I love the India people. Every time I see someone from there my heart jumps over. I had a friend who use to go over there every so often (she had airline passes through her daughters), to minister to a small school group. I know there are many ministry opportunities, but I am hesitant to go with or to something I am not aware of and what they stand for – i.e. the true Christ Only Gospel. I don't know how much it would cost to go but I am starting to gather money to make the trip. I think it is about time to obey the Lord (20 years!!!!!). (Emphasis hers).

The desire of this lady to go on a short term mission trip is not unique. All over the country men and women and young people are willing to sacrifice time, money and energy to be obedient to the heavenly nudge. What such individuals need is not opposition from family, friends, pastors, elders, deacons or other church leaders but co-operation. Competition for the right to direct the lives of individuals and the spiritual life of the local assembly must end. Co-operation in short term missions must begin.