3. GUIDANCE BY AUDIBLE VOICE

Acts 8:26,29 "Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is desert. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.'" (NKJV)

Both messages were "Go", or calls to action, messages resulting in the conversion of a key national figure, the Ethiopian eunuch.

The angel's responsibility as God's messenger: To tell Philip to go, and where; to help to bring the preacher and the seeker together. The angel is not sent to preach. Philip's responsibility as a redeemed sinner was to witness for Christ. Likewise it is God's will to use you and your witness in the matter of soul-winning.

The specific guidance at that time, for Philip, was to be more than the inner voice of the Spirit, because sanctified common sense could have come down in favour of not leaving Samaria. It would not seem reason to leave a revival and go to a desert place. This guidance of Philip by an angel, should build up our confidence in God's leading when He wants us to do a job of work. He will not leave us in doubt, even if it takes dispatching an angel to inform us. An unusual directive will be received in an unusual way.

The angel could call attention to the work at hand, and give geographic direction, but Philip had to exercise faith and obedience.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: ..." (KJV)

Only when we move in faith can we expect further guidance to come.

Acts 8:29 "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, ..." (KJV)

He can speak by angels but He speaks most frequently by a 'still, small voice', or, as it has been put, 'the sound of gentle stillness in our hearts.'

When guided by the external voice of an angel, or preacher, or counsellor, it should result in more awareness and openness to the voice of the Spirit.

The experience of Elijah would suggest this.

1 Kings 19:12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. " (KJV)

A margin alternative reads: "A delicate whispering voice." God is not always in the loud, boisterous, or highly demonstrative worship. Quietness or gentle worship must not be taken as a sign of lack of the Spirit. We need to learn to be sensitive to the soft whisper of the Spirit of God. God does not need to speak up when we need to listen. It is normal when living close to Jesus to hear the voice of the Spirit. Note: We must learn to distinguish the voice of the Spirit from the wrong voices that try to get our co-operation. The voices of SELF, the WORLD and the DEVIL - follow only the voice of the Spirit of God.

This wonderful example of external and internal leading by voice, shows three questions for testing the guidance.

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Does the voice call to the way of self-sacrifice?

Philip was directed from revival to a desert - from prominence and popularity to remoteness and obscurity.

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Do the circumstances bring confirmation?

Philip was sent to a definite location to fulfill a definite task. The Holy Spirit arranged an amazing piece of timing, a wonderful link-up.

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Do the results justify a direction by voice?

Through Philip's hearing and obedience an important diplomat found Christ, a witnessing process began that affected a whole nation.

These questions can test and prove our hearing the voice of the Spirit, and keep from God-dishonouring mistakes. God would have us learn:

	He will not keep us in the dark when He wants to use us, even if He has to send an angel to tell us.
	He would have us take our wilful fingers out of our ears and listen to His softly spoken words of direction.
	He would have us sensibly examine and prove His leading.