Text: Act 8:26-38
Memory verse:
”I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭60‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God always ensure that all of our actions go through His verification exercise before giving it a pass and His backing. Each action must meet the following requirements. First is the “What?” You must do what He told you to do. Second is the “Where?” It must be done at the place He has chosen. Third is the “When?” It must be done at the time He has chosen, that is, done promptly. Let’s consider the third condition today.
Timing is an important aspect of obedience. According to Aaron Armstrong, “Obedience is for the present tense: it must be prompt, or it is nothing. Obedience respects the time of the command as much as any other part of it.”
You shouldn’t only know what God has called you to do and be prepared to do it but you must be ready to do it at the right time. Some people just want to obey God at their own time. Delaying obedience is also disobedience and to hesitate is to be disloyal. God has time for everything. “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.“ ‭‭(Eccl‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭GNT‬‬).
Even God provides time for the salvation of every soul and it can be missed (2 Cor 6:2).
According to our text today, Peter and John had just returned from their apostolic visit to Samaria. They were returning with Philip to Jerusalem when the angel of the Lord directed Philip to proceed further down to the South through the desert road toward Gaza. As he obeyed, he saw a man riding on a cart, ”Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”“ ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬). The CEV says, “…catch up with the chariot”. It was a command not only to obey but to obey urgently. You can miss the move of the Spirit when you delay obedience.
Another case is in 2 Samuel 5:23-24. David had such an overwhelming victory over the Philistines because he acted quickly, according to God’s command. “And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 2 Sam 5:24). The command was to “advance quickly”.
May you not miss your time of favour, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, I receive Your grace never to delay in obeying your instructions, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I break the power of procrastination in my life, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. To provoke God’s blessings, I don’t just obey God, but I will obey Him totally and promptly.
2. Obedience is not only about following God’s instructions but following it promptly.