Evangelism: How to
Acts 8:26-39
We first meet Philip as he brings Nathaniel to Christ
We see him again when Jesus feed the five thousand in John 6
Philip ministry was born out of a storm
When the disciples were scattered as a result of Stephens’s murder
He fled and we find him is a revival or crusade in Samaria
Verses 5-13 God stirred the people through Philip
Philip was sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit
Sometimes our only responsibility is to get things started
Sometimes your only responsibility is to get a ministry started and others are to move it forward
You must hear the voice of God and Go where Spirit is working v 26-27
Where is the Spirit calling you to minister not just a place but an activity?
What is He calling you to do in this Fellowship?
Perhaps He is calling you to do something in this fellowship and you are waiting on someone else to start, it may not start without you
What is clear is regardless of the noise of the crowd he was listening to the Holy Spirit
There must also be availability
He heard and obeyed
It is one thing to hear but another to obey
He arose immediately and went
We must be willing to follow the Spirit
He was led to a desert place where there is the appearance of no activity
He was led to a Eunuch who had been to worship, had the word in His possession but didn’t understand
Remember there are spiritual realities at work long before you get there
There were all sorts of possibilities with this meeting
Philip could have said that there is nothing out here worth my time
He could have said he is African and I’m Greek
Or he could have said he is different in other ways He’s a eunuch
Eunuchs weren’t allowed in public worship in Jerusalem
Philip Takes the First Step
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
A simple approach- nothing deep
He asks a question and waited for answer
No pressure
He simply shared the truth
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and….. told him the good news about Jesus.
No you better change your ways
No you’re going to hell if you don’t change
We must realize that we can’t change people that’s the Holy Spirits job
Just present the truth
The truth will lead to a decision
36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?
NASB 37 [1And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
He left his development to the Holy Spirit
God has placed you where He has placed no one else
No one else will go exactly where you will go when you go
No one else has the exact relationships that you have
You like Philip may be in the desert alone with a eunuch
Tony Dungy….
