11/16/08
What are the Odds? (Seeker, Servant, Savior)
Ac 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Ac 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Ac 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Ac 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Ac 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Ac 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Ac 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Ac 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Ac 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Ac 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Ac 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Ac 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Ac 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
(prayer)
I’ve entitle this message, “What are the Odds?”
The odds of you winning the lottery are 18 million to one.
Odds of being wrongly declared dead by a Social Security data entry mistake: 1 in 23,483
Odds of becoming president: 1 in 10,000,000
Odds of dying from parts falling off an airplane: 1 in 10,000,000
Odds of finding a four-leaf clover on the first try: 1 in 10,000
Odds you will be injured by a toilet this year: 1 in 10,000
Odds of winning an Academy Award: 1 in 11,500
Odds of bowling a 300 game: 1 in 11,500
Odds of writing a New York Times best seller: 1 in 220
Odds of dating a millionaire: 1 in 215
-www.stephendaniel.com/stephen_daniel/2008/07/what-are-the-od.html
Seeker…
I want us to look at three people this morning. Three different views as to how this thing played out. Three different ways this thing against all odds came unbelievably together.
Let’s start with the Ethiopian eunuch. We don’t know a lot about him, but we do know some things.
We know he was a person of great responsibility.
He was the treasurer to the Queen of the Ethiopians, Queen Candace.
We know that he had traveled a great distance, over 1,000 miles.
The Bible tells us that he had traveled that far to worship in Jerusalem.
We know that he had questions…questions that he wanted answered.
The Bible tells us that he was actually reading some verses from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 53…and he had questions about it. (We will get to those questions later.)
We are going to call him a “seeker” this morning, because he was seeking to know the Truth.
There he is this morning…heading home…along this desert road…what are the odds?
He had traveled a long way to get some answers, but he was heading home still looking for the Truth…still looking for those answers he was seeking.
There are a lot of people out there in this world, like this Ethiopian Eunuch looking for answers to questions they have.
Servant…
This passage of scripture talks a lot about Philip.
Other scripture tells us that this Philip had been chosen by the apostles in the early church to distribute food, and help the needy.
This day, we do not know what Philip was doing…it may be that with the wording in verses 26 -27, that he was in bed…maybe he was laying there thinking…planning his day (my wife wants me to do this and that…I’ve got to drop the kids off at school…I’ve got to go to the hardware store…take out the trash…go to work…etc.)
Somewhere in all the mundane, routine stuff of life…the Lord spoke to Philip…
Ac 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Ac 8:27 And he arose and went:
We are going to call Philip, the “servant” this morning because whatever he was doing, or planning to do…he dropped everything and did what His Lord asked him to do.
“Arise, and go”… “And he arose and went”
The interesting thing is that Philip doesn’t know exactly where he is going, or why he’s going…The Lord instructed him to take the south road from Jerusalem to Gaza.
And, like any true servant, he doesn’t ask questions…he just goes, he just obeys.
Philip may not have known exactly what was going on. He may not have seen the big picture yet. But, I can tell you that Philip had served the Lord enough to know that when the Lord speaks, not only is He up to something…but, He’s going to do something…and anytime the Lord works…it’s exciting!
And, Philip…this willing, obedient servant had to be excited in anticipation as to what the Lord was about to do!
And, excited that the Lord wanted him involved in it.
Philip heads out…and somewhere along the way…he comes across this Ethiopian in this chariot…what are the odds?!
Ac 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Ac 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
I love those words, “And Philip ran”…that’s how I know Philip was excited to be used by God!
Philip ran up to that chariot and the Bible says that he heard him read the book of Isaiah, and our servant asked our seeker…
“Understandest thou what thou readest?”
“Is what you’re reading making any sense?”
And, our seeker said…
Ac 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
What are the odds that these two had been brought together?
Two completely different people, different backgrounds, different cultures…traveling on the same road…what are the odds?!
What are the odds that this man had questions about what he was reading, and Philip just happened to be there to explain what it was talking about?!
God was at work, and he moved Philip to join Him in what He was doing, and Philip got to be part of something awesome!
Our Bible says that Philip preached Christ to him.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Christ is our third person…He just happens to be the Son of God…He’s our Savior…what are the odds of that?!
The Ethiopian man was reading Isa. 53…which was a passage of scripture that foretold of Christ.
And, so Philip explained the passage, he preached Christ.
He explained that the lamb that was led to the slaughter which the passage in Isaiah speaks of was talking about Christ who was crucified for his sins, our sins.
Ac 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Ac 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
That one last statement made by the Ethiopian Eunuch shows that he got all of his questions answered…what are the odds?!
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
What are the odds that a seeker, a servant, and a Savior all came together…in one place…at one time…to see one person proclaim the Truth, and another one receive the Truth…
Those odds are 100%,..1 to 1…it’s a sure thing, because God does that everyday!
Whenever someone is willing to be used…whenever someone is willing to accept and believe…the Lord is there ready to save!
There was no coincidence or chance here…the Lord guided this whole thing.
It was no accident the Ethiopian was where he was. He had questions…and the Lord brought him to a place and a person that would guide him to the answer to those questions.
It was no accident that Philip was where he needed to be. He was there because he listened to the Lord…he was obedient to what the Lord wanted him to do…
It was no accident that the Lord got involved, because that’s what the Lord came to do…
Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
It is no accident that the Lord became our Savior…
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It is no accident that you are here today…you are either here as a seeker, or a servant…
You are either here seeking answers to questions you have…
Or, you are here in need to willingly submit to what the Lord wants you to do…how He wants to use you!
And, what are the odds…the Savior’s here too!
