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Hephzibah's avatar

And heavenly father through an angel and the Holy Spirit gave Philip explicit instructions as we see in the book of Acts 8 verse 26

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”....

Acts 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

So heavenly father did in a way teleport brother Philip whom was supernaturally transported away from the place of baptism after baptising the Ethiopian eunuch. But Philip didn't go to heaven; instead, Philip was found at Azotus, also known as Ashdod, which is twenty miles north of Gaza and just south of Tel Aviv.

I actually see most don't live by faith. Many succumbed to fear, the fear of losing their jobs, fear of the heard mentality of those upon the Broadway around them, fear of losing their family, fear of losing their friends all to the pressures of COVID jabs and mask wearing and shutting the doors of their churches and again so many refused to step out in faith and meet up outside of an official government approved building with church plastered on it. Only the few were faithful. Many still insist on having insurance, house insurance etc etc and look to the world and all it's provisions and systems from politics, governments, to healthcare, dentists, pharmacology, technology, to supermarkets, banks, etc, as their safety nets and therien lays their faith, in the arm of the fleshz in self, in man, not in God at all. When they are tested they falter and their faith becomes shaken. They refuse to allow God be God they don't believe Him and they certainly don't trust Him. They refuse to allow themselves to be exercised in faith. Any sort of discomfort or sacrifice to be given, so they can Godliness with contentment as great gain that abundance in the Spirit life in Christ Jesus is not viewed with joy delight or something to strive for. But instead is viewed as a hardship and a burden not the real life and life more abundantly because this works has distorted their thinking understanding and perception hence God calling so many of His people to repent to change their mind into God's mind His thinking and understanding to come into agreement and aligning their minds, hearts & lives alongside His as one beating in unison with divine wisdom and with it understanding.

That's why many are too afraid to take that great leap of stepping out in genuine authentic faith because they don't truly trust in God as they don't really truly know Him, and never have tasted to see how good God truly is! (Psalm 34:8)

As they haven't ever heard from Him in a very real tangible way. Or they choose not to obey Him preferring comfort and complacency over dynamic radical kinetic faith. Not being heaters only but doing the things God is asking and prompting by and through His Spirit in loving their neighbours & in their neighborhood in their communities, to be the salt and the light as their daily living experience of being Holy Spirit led, not because the church has decided to do some sort of inane programme. Just in living out Jesus' Christ daily wherever they are. So that is ultimately why they don't ever progress nor mature & are lukewarm, because they allow themselves to be held back curtailed by the cot bars of so many a church institutional building, they fear men humankind, and that they haven't asked permission from some hireling in a church building & what they or the other members may possibly say to them about living by the unseen as seen, living breathing the very character nature and being of Christ Jesus the word made flesh in them in all they are to say do & respond by His empowering resurrection life and the Spirit of God in them, if they even do Have it in them? They fear the criticism, the ridicule, the mocking, the rejection, the hatred and the fear of being laughed out, misunderstood ostracised and cast out of their assembly congregations, instead of fearing reverencing & honouring loving Almighty Creator God to do what He says and submitting under the headship of Jesus Christ and via being led by the Holy Spirit. But honestly if you truly have the renewing regenerative Spirit of life in You, cannot help but be not only impelled but compelled to carry out that Spirit of life of carrying out God's will purposes and Jesus' commands proactively out to others it is a natural byproduct of it's indwelling.

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Hephzibah's avatar

This world has distorted their thinking not works. Correction on that typo!

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Vance Gatlin's avatar

I've definitely been bouncing around between goodness and self-control.

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Tony Scialdone | GodWords's avatar

An honest man. You sure sound, to me, like you've taken full responsibility for your own spiritual growth... and it seems that you're working hard on self-control. Are there any additional relationships or resources that you need to keep moving forward? Is there anything that you need that you don't currently have?

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Vance Gatlin's avatar

I’m reminded of the parable of the sower. I was a fruitful seed, but now with the trials of life as sole breadwinner working three jobs and trying to be there for my kids and serve in church I’m getting a bit choked.

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Tony Scialdone | GodWords's avatar

Are there any mature, reliable men in your life who can walk with you while you struggle? Not men who will tell you what to do, but who will listen and reflect and respond to help you relieve some of the pressure and keep your head above water? If not, that would certainly help. I'm available for regular visits if you don't already have those men... or if they're hard to find, which is often the case. Feel free to DM me if I can be of service, with no obligation or expectations.

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Vance Gatlin's avatar

A couple.

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Tony Scialdone | GodWords's avatar

That's very uncommon, my man. You have my admiration.

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Vance Gatlin's avatar

Russ and his wife are good counselors, people I can trust to ask the hard questions.

Bobby has literally drove from out of state to check on my wife after work when I was out of town. I didn’t know it until years later.

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Intercessor Todd's avatar

I spent many younger years not growing beyond knowledge to self-control. But when I started to pray like Epaphras, who prayed for his church to be mature, I started maturing. Now years later I think I look a little more like Peter's full list, by God's grace.

This is one reason why we pray what we do.

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