Don't Forget God

Don’t Forget God

Acts 8:26-40

The story of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch has fascinated and blessed many readers of the Bible. The Ethiopian’s journey to Jerusalem, his meeting with Philip the evangelist, and his surrender to Jesus Christ, are very well known. However I wonder if the broader implications of this story have passed unnoticed.

We are all too familiar with the....

I. Strange Command (26)

Phillip is picked of God to leave a successful work in the city and despatched to a desert road to Gaza. Philip was involved in a work in Samaria that was very successful. Multitudes of people were coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Leave this revival to go to a desert place was the command. However, behind this command was the foreknowledge of God.

God is far more wiser than His children.

Phillip obeyed without questioning the Lord. From fruitful fields of multidues, he is directed to go to the desert where there appears only the carvan of some traveler returning from the city of Jerusalem. He did not know for what he was sent there, but that ignorance did not trouble or retard him.

The Holy Spirit needs willing, ready, and and obedient hearts.

II. Sacred Cause (27,28)

The eunuch has traveled to Jerusalem in search of some answers, but the bitter disappointment when his questions still went unanswered. However before he leaves he must have purchased a copy of the OT scriptures. He reads the writings of Isaiah looking for some key that would unlock the longing of his heart.

III Strategic Contact (29)

It is a great thing to be so in touch with heaven that our witness and our attempts at soul-winning are directed by the Holy Ghost.

Philip was the right man in the right place.

Three things contribute to his success in soul winning:

1. Following the Spirit got him to the right person.

2. Familiarity with the Scriptures gave him the right power.

3. Faithfulness to share gained the right profession.

Now, we could look at the story by observing the word “man.”

The sinner (27)

The soul-winner (31). The Word written prepared the way for the Word preached.

The Saviour (34)

However, I wonder if we have overlooked some of the broader implications of this story.

I. Don’t overlook God’s FAITHFULNESS

The event was a direct answer to prayer. Do you recall that long before the Ethiopian was born, King Solomon prayed for him?

See 1 Kings 8:41-43.

God is faithful to answer prayer. Believing prayer is a bridge that can be thrown across the centuries of time..

Prayer works because God works in response to the prayers of His children. Adoniram Judson once said, “I have never prayed sincerely for anything but it came, at some time....somehow....in some shape.”

In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.

Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”

Zacharias and Elizabeth had prayed for a son over the decades of their married life. It was not until they were beyond childbearing age that God answered.

The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer.

“God’s children can conquer anything by prayer. Is it any wonder that Satan does his utmost to that weapon from the Christian or to hinder him in the use of it?” - Andrew Murray

II. Don’t overlook God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS

See Proverbs 19:17. The best investment of our property is in deeds of loving-kindness. What is given to the poor or done for them, God will place it to account as lent to Him, lent upon interest (so the word signifies); God takes it as if it were done to Him, and He would have us take the comfort in it that it is in good hands.

See Hebrews 6:10.

God has a wonderful way of paying His debts.