Who Are You Standing Under?

Acts 8:31
“How can I (understand), “he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Okay, I lost my mind, it's somewhere out there stranded I think you stand under me if you don’t understand me—Lil Wayne in the song 6’7”

We are all out there stranded when we don’t have understanding. Wayne Carter says something profound in his song 6’7”. This phrase is like a treasure that found a dirty cave strewn with the mess of misogynistic lyrics. He says you can’t understand him unless you stand under him. In a sense we are all out there stranded out of our minds without someone helping us understand. Where he falls short in his thought process is that you can’t stand under somebody who is lost themselves. Who we choose to stand under in terms of leadership determines if we ever arrive at a higher level of understanding.

Whether we admit it or not, we are all standing under somebody’s umbrella. Some of us get our understanding from watching the news but you have to be careful because many news networks spin according to their partisan affiliation even though they are supposed to be bi-partisan. Many get understanding from street culture. Rappers like Tupac, Biggie, and Jay Z got their understanding from pimps, hustlers, and drug dealers. Then, in turn, our youth get under these rappers to get their understanding about life, how to treat women, and who God is or isn’t.

Who are you standing under?

In life, we are all seeking understanding for life’s questions. It is only in God that we get unpolluted answers. God is Holy which means God is pure. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Solomon said to his son, in all your getting, get understanding. It’s in God’s word where God gives us understanding about his plan for our lives but without proper explanation you can be left stranded on the side of the road.

An Ethiopian Eunuch, a man that had been cut off and serving the Queen of Ethiopia was trying to read the book of Isaiah 58:7-8 about the lamb led to the slaughter. It was an early reference to the Messiah or Jesus. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go over to the chariot and that when Philip heard him reading. Philip had been one of Jesus’ disciples. Philip asked the Eunuch did he understand what he was reading? “He said, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”

If you want understanding there are some prerequisites:

1. You have to have a hunger for God’s word. The man was pulled over on the side of the road reading the book of Isaiah. When you are stranded on the side of the road of life you should pick up God’s word for instruction.

2. You have to have a teachable Spirit. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

3. You need a spirit led teacher knowledgeable of God’s word. I like when Joel Olsteen closes out his broadcast. He always encourages his listeners to get in a local bible believing church to get under a local pastor. Every believer needs to get under an anointed teacher/pastor.

4. You have to ask questions of the text. The Eunuch asked, “Who is this prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”, that’s when Philip gave him understanding about who Jesus is.

5. You have to take time to get taught. Sunday morning is good but you also need bible study individually and collectively in order to gain further understanding. Tune into TNT Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Online @www.n2newdirection.org for further understanding.

Run DMC said, “The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught. It’s like that and that’s the way it is!

Dear God,
Give me a greater understanding today. When the student is ready the teacher will come. God I’m ready. Please send the Holy Spirit to teach me your ways and to bring back to remembrance the things you already taught me. I don’t want to be out here stranded. I need some understanding.

In Jesus Name,
Amen