To the Ends of the Earth, Part 11
The Gospel must be proclaimed near AND far!
Acts 8:26-40
Show the video for Ecclesiastes before the message
Wed night studies will resume this Wednesday at 6:30pm! (Ecclesiastes)
Dismiss children for nursery (under 4) and children’s church (ages 4-7)
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)
-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)
-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)
- Last week we discussed Philip’s preaching in Samaria
-- Also saw the effects of a selfish ministry (Simon) and how it’s results were false
-- Explored: How do we express the joy of the Lord – or comfort that He brings?
-- Truth: It starts with one simple action … and it’s what Simon didn’t do
-- He didn’t have repentance for his sin, he made the message about his ability
-- He chose to lead people to himself and even offered money to get power!
- Today, we’ll follow Philip and see a believer’s response to God’s opportunities
-- When God puts in our path a chance to share – all we need to do is be willing!
- Read Acts 8:26-40 / Pray
- TR: Following evangelism in Samaria, Philip was called to continue preaching
-- The application here is straight forward for us, don’t miss these points …
Point 1 – We must listen for God’s prompting
a. Philip was led by an angel to minister along the road (v26):
- Now, don’t miss the obvious … God knew who this Ethiopian was
-- And, he had a willing and able servant (Philip) who could share the message
-- APP: For us, there can be no simpler recipe to evangelism
SHOW MAP
- God calls Philip to go south along the road from Jerusalem to Gaza
-- This is a desert road; it is not an 8-lane interstate with lots of traffic
-- It was in a remote location (still looks like this today but with pavement)
- APP: Philip is simply a willing man, listening for God’s prompting
-- God’s message is needed; and we get to be the messengers; now listen and go
-- We could probably end the message right here, eh? … b/c this is our mission!
- Know this: God does whatever is necessary to instruct and use believers
-- He is not bound to what we think, what we want, or what we plan to do
-- What He is needing is folks like Philip who are listening to act; to follow
-- BIG: This is not a “have to” thing …. It is a “get to” opportunity for us!
- APP: Our calling is exactly the same … be available, listen, and then go!
-- When you go, the results will always be left up to God …
b. Let’s talk about what Philip found along this road (v27-28):
- He saw a man, riding on a chariot, coming back from Jerusalem
-- This man is hundreds of miles from home, was there to attend a religious feast
-- Right off, this tells us something: He is a foreigner, but a Jewish convert
- Question: Do we shy away from people that don’t look like us?
-- This is an underlining observation: Philip and this man would be very different
-- Not only in appearance, but this man was a high-ranking government official
-- He served under the Queen of Ethiopia, riding on a carriage (he has money)
- Just the attire of this man would show he was committed to his way of life
-- By his employment we can see that truth (royalty doesn’t hire slackers)
-- So much so, that he wouldn’t be tempted by the flesh-driven things of this world
-- But he was also a man who would be seeking out the truth (went to Jerusalem)
-- He would be someone that had a hunger for faith – had a desire to know God
c. What Philip sensed:
- Philip, coming close to this man, sensed something different about him (v29)
-- He found this man reading from OT prophet, he’s someone seeking after God
-- He would be, in effect, someone who was worshiping through the Word
-- Not in song or prayer – but in study – in action – in resolve to learn more
- TR: As the Holy Spirit prompted him, he was led to be close to the carriage
-- I want you to consider this: hearing God’s word read aloud, something happens
-- Philip knows the word, he knows what he hears, and so he leans in!
-- And he asks a key question that opens up every spiritual conversation door!
Point 2 – Willingness to share is critical for all believers
- What Philip did is summarized in 4 things:
-- The first thing he did was obey the Spirit of God
-- He ran up to the man’s chariot, and found him reading the prophet Isaiah
- Second, he initiated a conversation with him
-- Philip asks a simple question: “Do you know what you are reading?” (v30)
-- He took the lead on this and began the dialogue with him
-- APP: You and I should be willing to do the same – to take the lead (“be bold”)
- Third, then he joined the man – walked along / rode along and talked with him
-- He recognized that he was a seeker, (how?) reading OT aloud and studying it
-- APP: Turning the conversation to spiritual matters is the obvious step here
- Because fourth, he sensed this man was looking for something greater
-- He had traveled hundreds of miles to Jerusalem – he was obviously devout
-- Knowing this, Philip was able to engage and the man in turn asked for help
- Response: “How can I (understand), unless someone instructs me?” (v31)
-- He was looking for a deeper (fresh) application of what he was reading
-- Philip was a man who knew the truth, and all he wanted to do was share
-- It is a perfect recipe to have an honest conversation about God’s truth
- So, Philip takes time to explain it to him in the simplest terms possible! (v32-33)
-- Here is what he was reading, written by the prophet Isaiah in 700 B.C:
-- Isaiah 53:7-8, “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.”
- Philip has seen the ministry/sacrifice of Christ, it WAS just a few months ago!
-- How? Not only because Isaiah wrote about it, but because He knew the truth
-- Look … Easter is coming, and you and I have the very same knowledge today!
- GET: All Philip had to do was open his mouth, and say, “It’s about Jesus!!”
-- “Isaiah was wise beyond his years, a prophet, he’s writing about the Messiah!”
-- “The Messiah who fulfilled all these things IS will be our Christ! He is Jesus!”
- TR: Why is this important for you and me to see and respond with? Because …
Point 3 – The results of faithfulness are AWESOME!
- What comes from this is the most incredible thing a believer can experience!
-- It is the moment when a life is given to Christ for salvation
-- Look: This should be what you want to see – others coming to Jesus
-- Try: “I don’t care where you go to church, I just want to see you in Heaven!”
- The man’s response to being introduced to Jesus is clear: I want to follow!
-- He desired to be baptized, to follow Jesus completely in this life
-- He believed that Jesus was the son of God, who had come to save even him
-- He knew that this was what he was seeking – he knew it’s what he needed
- Why? Because God was calling him, and Philip was there to teach 2 things:
-- John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
-- John 6:35, “Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
-- So the eunuch says, “Hey, here’s some water …. Let’s do this thing!”
- Following this incredible moment, Philip is taken away to continue working
-- Greek: harpazó; to seize, catch up, snatch away
-- APP: He is no longer needed here, and so God moved him away (v39)
-- FREE: This is the same word used to describe the rapture of the church
-- It is a physical taking from one place to another, miraculously
- No, Philip was not raptured, but it is the same hope we look forward to
-- Promise: 1 Thess 4:17, “Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”
-- BIG: God gives us a small glimpse as to what is possible for Him to do!
BIG IDEA
- Get this: Philip kept on working, kept on telling about Jesus (v40)
-- Which is exactly the command / or example / or charge we have right now
-- RE: Our direction is to go and make disciples … it means we continue forward
-- Philip is removed from this place to continue preaching, continue sharing
- (pause) SO, what is God calling you to do today?
-- What is He charging you with sharing to those around you?
-- Who in your life is hungry for more and just needs to hear the truth?
- FACT: You’ll never know the answer if you aren’t willing to respond!
- Pray
