The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed Near And Far! Series

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!