How Can I?

Acts 8:26-39
Introduction:
Napoleon’s army was camped on the hills above the border town of Feldkirch, Austria poised to attack. On Easter Sunday morning, the citizens met to decide whether to try to defend themselves or surrender. The pastor rose and addressed the frightened people and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. Since this is the day of our Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us." The people agreed and the church bells rang. Napoleon’s army heard the sudden peal of bells and mistook that for jubilation over the arrival of the Austrian army. Before the service ended, they retreated.
This morning, we read of a powerful man who came searching for answers. He has traveled a great distance to go to God’s Temple in Jerusalem, but he leaves without the solution to the emptiness of his soul. In the desert he is approached by Philip and finds that Jesus is the answer. By the end of their encounter, the Ethiopian man, like the citizens of Feldkirch, quit trusting his own strength and surrendered himself to Christ. Because of what Jesus did in his heart, he went on his way rejoicing. Are we willing this morning to come to terms with our inadequacy and trust the Savior? Are you willing today to quit doing your own thing and surrender yourself to the will of God?

I. SEARCHING SOUL-
God sent Philip to the desert to win the soul of a stranger and Philip obeyed
This Eunuch had traveled over 200 miles to Jerusalem from Northern Africa
It was not only the location of the Temple, but also where the apostles and church were
He had come for the express purpose of worship, which leads us to believe he was religious
Yet, this man leaves confused and without the peace of God that comes with salvation
To remove any confusion, God’s Spirit instructed Philip to approach this man and talk to him
God isn’t willing to leave you lost either. He is moving and working here to get your attention
Are you searching for answers this morning? Is there something missing in your life?
Have you been looking high and low for something that would make your life make sense?
The answers aren’t in a bottle or in a pill. You won’t find it in thrills or even in good works or religion
I’ve spoken to people who have told me they have studied the world’s religions to find what makes sense. You don’t have to look any further than Jesus
1 John 5:12 says, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Imagine as this Eunuch left the ritual of the temple with nothing but a souvenir scroll
Then he unexpectedly finds the satisfaction for his soul out in the middle of nowhere
God loves you. He loves You. He is going out of His way so that you know that today.

II. SCRIPTURAL STARTINGPOINT-
The eunuch had purchased a souvenir scroll of Isaiah and was reading it on the return journey
He didn’t understand what he was reading, but it was no coincidence
The passage from Isaiah 53 speaks about Jesus willing dying for our sins without a fight
God had appointed this passage and Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading
The man might have been offended