When I was a kid, I enjoyed Outdoor Life and Field and Stream, thinking about the days when I’d be older and be going fishing all the time. Now that I’m older, I don’t even seem to have time to read those magazines, but I’ll always remember reading the last article in F & S, “Exit Laughing” by Ed Zern. It was one of my favorite parts of the magazine. It was smart of them – to have people will leave your magazine with happy and upbeat thoughts.
Smiling increases your face value! It also makes people wonder what you’re up to. It uses a whole lot fewer muscles than frowning. Science even tells us that laughing out loud is good for your heart.
That shouldn’t throw us too much. Remember
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Honestly, who wouldn’t like to leave here this morning with a reason to smile – to leave rejoicing? That’s what the changed life of today’s text did. Did you see it in v39?
I believe it can happen. In fact, I believe it should. I’m not suggesting it means you pretend that life has no problems. Of course your life has problems. The only people without problems are those who have died in Jesus. Wouldn’t it be great, when it’s our time to go, to be able to exit laughing?
We don’t know much about him. We don’t know his name, or more than just this snapshot in his lifetime. But we do know he could exit the scene laughing, and frankly, we could use some of that. What do you need, to be able to go on your way rejoicing? Here’s what this guy had…
I. A Savior
I know that’s pretty basic, but that’s where we’re going to start. Before you read any of these verses. Before this guy even knows what it is he needs in life, someone has already been planning for his life.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God had this all figured out from the beginning. You need a savior. I need a savior. Take a look around as history is happening on your TV and internet every day. How’s man doing at saving himself? I think it’s getting easier to point out to people that we all need a savior. On our own, as a whole, mankind isn’t doing such a swell job of it! Now, you can let that drag you down, or you can rejoice that there is a savior who gave up His life for all mankind.
1 Timothy 4:10b
we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Not only can you rejoice that there’s a savior like that, but it’s the only way you really can. He gave up His life for all of us – and that was a savior to Whom a man named Philip devoted his life.
At the beginning of this chapter we read how a great persecution has been launched against the Church, and many people scattered. Philip was one of those. He ran “down” to Samaria and started preaching there. Later, when God tells him to make a trip, he goes. What motivates a person to travel, to do whatever he’s told, to devote his days to someone else’s desires?
Simple, when you realize you owe your life to someone, when you remember how you were lost but now have been found, you find it easy to say, “OK, Lord, whatever you want! I’m there for You!” Even if it means running out into the desert to preach to some foreigner!
That Savior, by the way, is enough. The Ethiopian Eunuch didn’t need Jesus and something else to save him. Too many people, even in the Church, are living under a false concept of salvation by works, when the Bible flat-out says that’s not what does it. We’re saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and His blood that was spilled for us. We have a sufficient Savior. That’s basic, but it’s one of the reasons we have to go on our way rejoicing today. Here’s a 2nd reason…
II. A Word From God
Ill - You get an exercise machine – one of those reciprocating bicycle thingies. Just 30 min. a day, 3-4 days a week, and you’d be a lean, mean, gorgeous machine. But when you bought it, they failed to sell you the time and the willpower to use it. There it sits. You’re just not getting it done. Every time you walk past it, it twinkles at you. Finally, you put a cover over it. Not only is it not making you in shape sitting there, but it’s making you feel guilty too. Stupid machine. Whose idea was that anyway?
Once again, too many people, in the church, put reading your Bible on that list of “things I’m supposed to do because I’m a Christian but I don’t do enough of it so I just do some and feel guilty.” When was the last time you actually thanked God He gave us His word rather than resent that He gave you “one more thing to do”? When was the last time that having God’s word was a reason to go on your way rejoicing?
Sometime around 250 BC, 70 or 72 Jewish scholars were commissioned to translate the Bible. That’s the OT at that time. It was written in Hebrew and Hebrew/Chaldea. Many of the Jews of that day were losing their Hebrew, but most everyone was speaking Greek or soon would be. Why not translate the whole OT into Greek so that more people could read it? So, they made what’s called the Septuagint. Now, everyone who could read Greek could read the OT, if they could get a copy of it.
Fast forward 300 yrs. An official from far away in Northern Africa, modern day Nubia, comes to visit Jerusalem. Somehow, he has come to be a person who worships the God of the Jews. Most likely, he has done what he can to become a Jew himself – a Proselyte. Presumably, he has made this trip to be in Jerusalem for one of the great feasts – maybe for Passover. Somehow, while he’s there, he gets a copy of these OT Scriptures. In the hands of a man who had previously been an outcast from the Jews, it was a great treasure. Here was an Ethiopian, reading God’s word to man!
Now would be an appropriate time to mention the great need for worldwide Bible translation. Of the world’s 6,721 languages, nearly ⅓, 2,065, have some or all of the Bible translated. Only 299 languages have an adequate translation of the entire Bible. I encourage you to support groups like Wycliffe Bible Translators and Pioneer Bible translators, and many of our own missionaries who are working hard to give people God’s word in their own language. Why? Because God has given us his word, and just having that word is part of what gives us a reason to go on our way rejoicing this morning.
The next reason may seem obvious – but what’s most obvious is what we sometimes fail to think of.
III. Reading the Word
The one time we get a look at this Ethiopian official, he’s reading the Bible.
Those of you who have been to the NACC, or the NMC, or P&T or something like that, just picture yourself, going to that big event, and while you’re there, you visit one of the bookstore displays, and you pick up a new book. You’re on your way home with your new book. It’s going to be a long trip. What would you be doing? For this guy, it was probably more than just passing time. He was hungry for God. He was cultivating his faith in God. How do you do that? Well, God’s word itself tells us…
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
92% of American households have a Bible. Only 37% claim to read them outside of Church building.
Let’s allow this guy from Ethiopia to teach us something today! He wasn’t reading it because he was elite. He wasn’t a spiritual giant at this point in his life. People hungry to know God, to know truth, will spend time in God’s word. Enough of doing it because you have to make a quota, or because you’ll feel guilty if you don’t! How about reading God’s word because it strengthens our faith and gives us a reason to go on our way rejoicing?
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Here’s another way to go on your way rejoicing:
IV. A Guide to Help
I’ve always loved this scene. The Spirit told Philip to run up to this guy’s chariot, so he did. He’s riding along, reading out loud, which is almost what you have to do when there are no spaces or line breaks in the writing of the day. So, as Philip is jogging alongside the chariot, he hears him reading from Isaiah – somewhere in Ch 53. What do you say as you’re running alongside someone’s chariot on a desert road? Well, Philip used a creative conversation starter – “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
I notice this about the man who went on his way rejoicing that day: he wasn’t too proud to say he wanted help. “How can I, unless someone ‘guides’ me? There’s some stuff here I don’t get.” Sound familiar? Now, don’t walk away from this today saying, “See, I just can’t understand the Bible.” For one thing, you and I have more helps available to us than at any other time in history. If you really want to learn God’s word and to learn from God’s word, it can be done. Just the fact that we have it in our own language means we’re already getting some help, doesn’t it?
Just remember that helping people meet Jesus is a team effort.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
God made it to work that way. We help each other learn His word, just like Philip was in a position to explain it to the Ethiopian that day.
I wonder if the part of Isaiah where he was reading wasn’t a favorite of his. Just a few more chapters, and he would be reading in ch56, where God specifically promises a place of belonging for eunuchs – officials of royalty like him – if they would seek His ways. But there’s ch 53 – about the suffering servant. Up to this time, the Jews had never really identified who it was written about. They had made guesses, but none of them were guessing that it was actually describing Jesus, the Messiah.
Acts 8:32-33
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."
You and I, with the NT in hand, know exactly what that’s about. But here’s man, honestly seeking God, who wants to understand. Who’s it about?
Philip met him exactly where he was at. Beginning with that same passage, he evangelized him about Jesus. He taught him about Jesus. He told him how Is 53 is a description of the life and suffering of the Savior – Jesus – the Messiah that God had promised from the very beginning back in Genesis. He told him about the OT Law and how it was made to bring us to faith in Jesus for our salvation, instead of our good works. He told him about the perfect life of Jesus and how Jesus willingly gave Himself over to be tortured and killed, and how, on the 3rd day, He rose from the dead. He preached Jesus to this man.
If you want to be a good guide to someone, so that he can go on his way rejoicing, tell him about Jesus. Stop short of that, and there’s no reason to rejoice.
V. Acceptance
God promised in Isaiah that
Isaiah 55:10-11
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
In other words, every time God’s word is read and understood, a decision is made. This morning, we’re going to have “decision time.” Even if we didn’t, you’re going to make decisions. You’re going to decide to do something or nothing. You’re going to decide to be moved or untouched. You’re going to accept or reject what God has said – there are a thousand decisions you can make, but not to make a decision isn’t a choice.
Ill – If you’re wearing a parachute, and thrown from an airplane, you have decisions to make – how long will you wait before you do something? Will you pull the ripcord, or will you act as if you don’t have one? Will you take off the parachute, or leave it on? Will you keep your eyes open, or close them as the ground keeps getting closer? You can make any of a whole list of decisions, but there’s one choice you can’t make: whether or not to go down. That’s already decided.
I’m sorry, but life is that way. You’ve been thrown from the plane, if you will. You have a lot of decisions to make, but there are a few that have already been made for you. When it comes to what you’re going to do with Jesus, whether you’re going to accept Him or reject Him, you have to make a choice. Do you realize that?
A lion is about to chase you down and eat you. You could make several choices. But you have to make some kind of choice. The lion isn’t going to just stop on his own.
You’re on the front line of a battle. You may not even agree with the war. You have some choices to make. But you have to make some kind of choice. The war isn’t going to just stop.
You’re a farmer, with a sizeable farm to take care of. Planting season is coming. The clock is ticking. You have some choices to make about what to plant, where to plant, things like that. But you have to make some kind of choice. Time won’t stop while you decide to remain undecided.
This guy, the Ethiopian, was already halfway to Jesus. All he needed was some guidance, and he was all ready to accept the Savior. What about you? Where are you at on this? You’re going to make a decision today. Will you accept Jesus or reject Him? Will you listen to God’s word, accept it as truth, and agree to live it, or will you do your best to act as if it wasn’t there? Your choice. If you want to go on your way rejoicing this morning, like the Ethiopian eunuch, you’ll need to accept what God has said.
VI. Water
Now, how do we know that this man accepted God’s word that day? It’s obvious, isn’t it?
Follow the sequence of events here: a man is reading from the Bible, he hears the good news about Jesus, asks, “why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Is that what the text says or not? Vv35-36.
Remember, this is before the NT is even written. This guy has never read Acts 2:38, Romans 6, or I Pt 3. He has never seen the Jesus film, and he has never heard Billy Graham preach. He hears the good news about Jesus and the next thing we read is, “Look here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” That means that telling someone the good news about Jesus necessarily includes explaining about baptism into Jesus.
Why do we “make a big deal over baptism”? Because the Bible presents baptism as the point of entry, as the occasion when someone hears about and accepts Jesus. Part of what had this man going on his way rejoicing that day was that he was immersed in water in the name of Jesus. His changed heart involved a re-birth on the inside that God works when a person is baptized into Christ.
Some have tried to relegate baptism to a list of “good things a person should do after he becomes a Christian.” But the Bible never calls baptism a good work that we do. In fact, when you’re baptized, you’re not doing a stitch of work – someone else is doing the work! You’re just letting it be done to you! There is no delay in this story. There’s not time for proving his decision to anyone, no waiting so that other people can witness his baptism. Instead, there’s a great sense of very practical urgency – Look! Here’s water! Why shouldn’t I?
People have put a lot of work into answering that question when they feel faced with it. Why shouldn’t I? or maybe, “Why should I?” And I’ve heard too many times, “God’s not going to keep someone out of heaven over a little water.” Friend, it’s not the little water that makes you clean – it’s your appeal to God that’s willing to do whatever He says you need to do where the blood of Jesus is applied to your life.
Story - 1992, Rapid City, SD. Dennis Lee Curtis was arrested for theft. In his wallet, police found a piece of paper on which was written the following rules – rules for thievery that Curtis had made for himself:
1. I will not kill anyone unless I have to.
2. I will take cash and food stamps—no checks.
3. I will rob only at night.
4. I will not wear a mask.
5. I will not rob mini-marts or 7-Eleven stores.
6. If I get chased by cops on foot, I will get away. If chased by vehicle, I will not put the lives of innocent civilians on the line.
7. I will rob only seven months out of the year.
8. I will enjoy robbing from the rich to give to the poor.
Isn’t it reassuring to know that there are some thieves who at least have some standards? But you know what, when he stood before the court, he wasn’t judged by his own standards. He was judged by the higher law of the state of SD.
Who are we to draw up the standards when it comes to how we’ll relate to God? You and I need something better than a list of ideas we’ve thrown together and try to live by.
Look at the story. Do you want to go on your way rejoicing? The only way to leave with God’s promise is to leave with baptism into Jesus as a part of who you are.
Conclusion
I like the way this ends. He goes on his way rejoicing, and Philip goes on his way, continuing to share Jesus as he goes.
Why the joy? If you were to ask this man, it would be because now, without a doubt, he belonged to God’s family. He who was a foreigner and an outcast was now a child of God.
The best way for you to leave here rejoicing today would be to leave with the full assurance that you’re God’s child. Jesus described the moment someone comes to the Lord as a time for rejoicing in heaven.
What a day for rejoicing it would be this morning, in heaven and here, if someone were to decide to accept Jesus and be baptized into Him…
