A couple chapters earlier, we find another example of an apostle’s reliance on the Holy Spirit. “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’” (Acts 8:26). Here we find an angel of the Lord giving Philip a directive. It does not say an angel appeared to Philip; rather it says “an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip.” Every single translation confirms this detail. Why is this distinction important? Through this passage we can deduce that Philip could discern between the voice of an angel and the voice of the Holy Spirit, because later in this same chapter we read, “The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot’” (Acts 8:29). Philip was familiar with the Holy Spirit’s voice, even to the point that he could distinguish between the voice of the Spirit and the voice of an angel! This allowed him to know that an angel told him to leave Samaria (where, by the way, a great revival was taking place) and go to the desert (where absolutely nothing was happening). Once Philip was in the desert, the Holy Spirit said, “Overtake this chariot.” Why was this encounter significant? The gentleman in the chariot was third in command over all of Ethiopia. Because of his authority and influence, the Ethiopian’s salvation was the beginning of the gospel’s advancement in his nation. If Philip had not been sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, he would have missed a great opportunity for ministry.

Several chapters later, we find another account involving Timothy, Paul, and Silas:

Now when they [Timothy, Paul, and Silas] had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. (Acts 16:6-7)

Notice it says that they were “forbidden” by the Holy Spirit and that “the Spirit did not permit them.”

Are you starting to see how much communication occurred between the Church leaders and the Holy Spirit? Should it be any different today? Do we have better ways of serving God apart from the Holy Spirit? Were the early Church leaders simply primitive in their methods because they lacked modern technology? Absolutely not. No technology or method could ever take the place of the Holy Spirit’s voice. These leaders expected the Spirit to be intimately involved in their lives, and they respected and invited His presence. Nothing has changed. The Spirit desires to walk in equally close fellowship with us today.

Can you imagine Lisa and me spending every hour of every day together in our house without saying one word to each other? That would be ridiculous. Who would ever want a marriage like that? I love my wife and desire to be close to her. I love hearing from her; the sound of her voice is music to my ears. We’ve been married for over thirty years, but if she were single (thank God she isn’t), I would be hot on her trail. Out of every person on the planet, she is without a doubt the one I most desire to be with. In the same way, the Holy Spirit desires to be in close fellowship with you.