Acts 8:35-40 (NKJV)
“Passing Through”
June 5, 2022
This is not our home, we are just passing through! In John 15, Jesus said that “we are not of the world,” because He chose us out of the world! Peter said we are “strangers and pilgrims!” in this world (1 Peter 2:11). Paul said in Philippians 3 that, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!” We live in a time and age where we are asked to identify ourselves! Every time I fill out a standardized form It’s not enough to check off that I am Black or White or Asian or Hispanic, but they want to know if I have Latin descent! Every time I go to vote, they say I must make a declaration; I must declare that I am a Democrat, or I am a Republican before they give me a ballad. I signed up for a continuing education course and I got on Zoom they wanted to know my pronouns! I said What? Do you go by he, him, his or they, them, theirs? I said What? The host said, Sir you can’t go by what people look like anymore! Today people must identify themselves! This world wants you to attach yourself to it! But today we look at another Deacon who never identifies himself as a Deacon; We must consider this evangelist who never identifies himself as a preacher; the bible says of him only that he was filled with the Holy Ghost and today that he is just passing through! From the moment he was chosen in chapter 6, he immediately began to evangelize in Samaria and now the God sends him from Jerusalem to preach in Gaza. On the road to Gaza he finds an African eunuch from Queen Candace’s court, sitting in his chariot, reading the scriptures and he fellowships with him and beginning right where he was reading in Isaiah, he preached Jesus.
The Word – v.35 beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Let me take you to the exact scriptures that the eunuch was reading: Isaiah 53:7 – He was lead as sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not his mouth. He was reading where the prophet spoke of Messiah being accused by the false witnesses and questioned by the High Priest, his chief priests and the elders - Jesus did not say a word in His defense (Matthew 26:63; 27:12). Philip did not get caught up in the fact the man was in a chariot, he did not get caught up in his fancy attire or his fancy title he just started right where he was and began to preach Jesus! That Christ suffered, that Christ died, that Christ was buried, and that Christ rose again! Sometimes we get caught up in the situation or the environment and we get distracted from preaching Jesus!
• We can’t get caught up in the fancy titles of those we meet, for this was a royal Eunuch (a unique male servant of a royal household).
• We can’t get caught up in the prestigious accolades of those we meet, for this African man had Great Authority!
• We can’t get caught up in the powerful positions of those we meet, for this African man was in charge of all the Queen’s Treasure!
• We can’t get caught up in the expensive vehicles of those we meet, for this African man was in HIS own Royal Chariot!
We are simply passing through! And though we may enjoy some of the amenities of this world for a season, none of this is coming with us! Don’t get caught up with the beauty of that which is temporary. I’m not preaching that you can’t enjoy your stuff but don’t let your stuff and the stuff around you distract you from your calling! We must preach Jesus!
The Water – v.36 “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection: Colossians 2:11-12 "When you came to Christ, you were 'circumcised,' but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead."
Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer. It should be preceded by repentance, which simply means “change.” That change is the turning from our sin and selfishness to serve the Lord. It means placing our pride, our past, and all of our possessions before the Lord. It means giving the control of our lives over to Him: Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”
Water Baptism is a public testimony or the outward confession of the experience that has occurred inwardly in a believer’s life. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism doesn't save a person. Instead, it symbolizes the salvation that has already happened. It is a picture representing the profound spiritual truths of death, resurrection, and cleansing. 1 Peter 3:21 "And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
The Way – v.39 “when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away” Deacon Philip was not sent to the Ethiopian to rest in the success of his teaching ministry! As soon as his job was done God caught him away to another ministry task! It is no time to waste! It’s time to do it again! Yes you taught one good lesson, it’s time to do it again! Yes, you preached one good sermon, it’s time to do it again! Yes, you feed the homeless, it’s time to do it again! Yes, you sang a good song, Its time to do it again! Yes, we prayed at the school, it’s time to do it again! We must stop building monuments to ourselves on yesterday’s success, because we are just passing through and the only thing that should be in our rearview mirror are some baptized believers rejoicing on their way. Paul said in Philippians 3:13, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This Eunuch was headed on his way back to his Queen, but now as he is on his way, he is rejoicing in the God of his Salvation! Everybody we speak to is not going to join Gaza Baptist Church! But, as they are on their way to wherever they are going, they should be rejoicing!
• They need to be on their way back to their jobs rejoicing in Jesus!
• They need to be on their way back to their families rejoicing in Jesus!
• They need to be on their way back to their schools rejoicing in Jesus!
• They need to be on their way back to their communities rejoicing in Jesus!
• They need to be on their way back to their governments rejoicing in Jesus!
