SERMON OUTLINE:
The Characters
• An evangelist called Philip (vs 26)
• A eunuch from Ethiopia (vs 27)
The Situation.
• The servant of the Lord (vs 27)
• A seeker of the Lord (vs 27-28)
The Conversation.
• The helpful evangelist (vs 30 and 36)
• The questioning enquirer (vs 31-34)
The Conclusion
• The convert was baptised (vs 36-39a)
• The Christian was redirected (vs 39b-40)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Penny and I watched a TV detective show this week,
• And one of the useless bits of information that came out of it,
• Is that we learnt that there are six different types of bridges.
• Question: I wonder if you can name them?
• Answer: Me neither! So let me help…
• 1 Girder (Beam)
• 2 Truss
• 3 Arch
• 4 Cantilever
• 5 Suspension
• 6 Cable Stayed
• Now that was worth coming for this morning!
• I always say it’s an education listening to one of my sermons!
• TRANSITION: Every Christian is in the business of,
• Building bridges and breaking down barriers in order to reach people with the gospel.
• In todays Bible passage we see that principle in action,
• A Jewish man will build a bridge to reach an Ethiopian man,
• and he share the gospel with him,
• Connections were made, language barriers were overcome,
• Relationships of friendship and trust were created,
• And most importantly, the Holy Spirit moved, and this Ethiopian came to faith in Christ.
Quote:
• St. John Chrysostom (347 – 407),
• (Was an important Early Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople.):
“Do not say you are unable to influence others. For as long as you are a Christian, you are able to influence others, because this is the essence of Christianity.”
• TRANSITION:
• In life God gives us opportunities to influence others.
• Let’s make sure we do not miss those opportunities!
(A). The Two Characters
(1). An evangelist called Philip (vs 26)
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza”.
I mentioned last week that Philip was first introduced to us in Acts chapter 6.
• He was one of the seven deacons who served in the Church at Jerusalem,
• That description ‘deacon’.
• Means his service in the Church was at first practical rather than spiritual.
• i.e., You would have probably asked him to fix a broken table,
• Than to preach a sermon.
• But by the time you read chapter 8:
• We discover Philip also had spiritual gifts,
• i.e., He could preach (vs 5).
• i.e., And in this story, he was also a very good personal worker (vs 35).
Application:
• As a Christian whether you consider your gifts practical or spiritual:
• Every Christian is called to be a personal worker.
• To share Christ with those we come into contact with.
Ill:
• Mercedes Benz was the company who first produced a car body design,
• That absorbed the force of a collision on impact.
• One Mercedes Benz TV commercial,
• Shows their car colliding with a cement wall during a safety test.
• Since then, of course many other car companies have followed its design.
• Someone then asks the company spokesman,
• "Why do they not enforce their patent on the Mercedes Benz energy-absorbing car body?"
• He simply replied,
• "Because some things in life are too important not to share."
• TRANSITION: The gospel of Jesus Christ,
• "Is too important not to share."
• My challenge to you this week is find someone new to share it with!
• Pray, ask the Lord to give you the opportunity and then take it!
(2). A eunuch from Ethiopia (vs 27)
“So, he started out, and on his way, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians”.
Note: We are told two things about this man:
FIRST: He was a significant political leader,
• He is called ‘an important official’,
• And described as the chancellor of the exchequer of Candace.
• Candace is a title not a place name,
• All the queens of Ethiopia bore it.
SECOND: He was a eunuch:
• A eunuch is a castrated man,
• In ancient times they were used to guard the women's living areas at an oriental court.
• And the logic goes, if a man has no genitalia.
• He is unlikely to make advances against the kings’ concubines.
Note: this court official did not come from Ethiopia, as we know it today:
• But rather his home was ancient Nubia,
• Nubia is a region along the Nile river,
• Which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.
• If you are keen you can ‘Google’ and see a map of this region.
• It was the seat of one of the earliest civilizations of ancient Africa, the Kerma culture,
• It was the area that the Queen of Sheba came from in the days of Solomon.
• In other words, there had already been a strong link between that area and Judaism.
• Which is probably why he is reading Jewish scriptures.
• And why he has travelled hundreds of miles seeking after reality in the Jewish faith.
Ill:
• When the famous missionary, Dr David Livingstone,
• Started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds.
• After the party had gone 300 miles,
• Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books.
• Because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage.
• As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less,
• Until he had but one book left—his Bible.
• Well, like Livingstone this eunuch realised.
• The answer lay in the holy-scriptures – the Bible!
• And he was reading the scroll of Isaiah when Philip encountered him.
(B). The Situation.
• The servant of the Lord (vs 27)
• A seeker of the Lord (vs 27-28)
(1). The servant of the Lord (vs 27).
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip”,
• Verses 4-8 tells that Philip was leading a successful mission in Samaria:
• Amongst those who had been scattered by persecution to that area.
• Philip preached and people were being converted,
• In one sense things couldn't have been going better,
We noted last week:
• That the apostle Peter and John came for a short time to this area (vs 14-24),
• But then they returned back to Jerusalem.
• Philip was now the main man, he would appear to be indispensable,
• Yet God suddenly steps in with some unexpected new directions.
• “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
• In contrast to Samaria, which was full of people,
• Philip was sent to a desert road that was almost empty!
• This road goes down about 60 miles from Jerusalem to Gaza,
• And beyond Gaza was the entrance to Egypt, and the African continent.
Note: Three times in this passage God speaks to him:
• Verse 26: “An angel of the Lord said”.
• Verse 29: “The Spirit told Philip”.
• Verse 39b: “The Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away”.
Question:
• How about us?
• Are we sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit?
Ill:
• Preacher and author Charles Swindoll tells the story.
• Of how his young daughter Colleen.
• Was trying to tell him something important that had happened to her at school that day.
• Charles the dad was preoccupied with other things.
• And his daughter was getting really frustrated trying to get his attention.
• When it seemed at last to her that her dad was listening, she said:
• “Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.”
• Realizing his daughter’s frustration, he answered:
• “Honey, you can tell me -- and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly."
• Charles Swindoll said: "I'll never forget her answer”:
• She simply said; “Then listen slowly"
• TRANSITION:
• As Christians we believe the Spirit of God speaks to us (he does not need to shout!),
• We may not hear an audible voice like Philip,
• But God speaks to us through his Word, though his people, through circumstances.
• Are we sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice?
• Or do we let the busyness of life and other things crowd it out!
• May each of us like Philip – need to make the effort this week to hear his voice.
• And as we hear it – we need to obey it!
(2). A seeker of the Lord (vs 27-28)
“Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet”.
This Ethiopian was seeking after the true God:
• He was not a Jew,
• But somehow, he had become aware of and attracted to the Jewish religion.
• Worshippers or seekers of God,
• Were referred to by the Jews by one of two names:
• First: If they accepted the Jewish religion and were circumcised.
• They were called proselytes.
• Because he was a eunuch, he was disqualified from being a proselyte.
• According to Old Testament Jewish Law (Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse 1).
• He would have been barred from worshipping at the Temple.
• Second: If like this man.
• They did not go that far but attended a synagogue and read the Jewish scriptures.
• They were called God-fearers.
This Ethiopian was serious about discovering the one true God.
• He made a very expensive trip to Jerusalem,
• Knowing that he would not be to worship at the Temple.
• But he went anyway!
• He made great efforts to seek after the truth.
• Yet, he was still lacking an answer.
• He appears to be no nearer to God now on his way home, than when he had first arrived.
Ill:
• I went to the football yesterday to see my team win!
• I was sent an email a few days before the match, by the club saying,
• They were doing random checks,
• “If you cannot prove you have had the Covid vaccinations you will not be allowed in!
• Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine,
• To help the immune system develop protection from a disease.
• Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state,
• So that your body can build up resistance to the disease.
• TRANSITION: Vaccinations are a bit like religion,
• A little stop you are getting the real thing.
• For many religions and religious rituals stops them getting the real Jesus!
• This Ethiopian had witnessed in Jerusalem some of the empty rituals and formulas,
• But those traditions and religion did nothing to bring him into contact with God.
Notice:
• Although the Ethiopian did not find God:
• He did find something!
• Someone had given him the scriptures to read.
• And that is what we find him doing,
• He is making his way home and as he travels along this desert road,
• And he is reading out loud a scroll of Isaiah the prophet.
Ill:
• I am a great believer in the Word of God.
• In many of our school projects and missions we give out copies of the gospels.
• (e.g., It is good to pray for and support the work of groups like the Gideon’s).
Note: the hand of God in all of this:
• No one but God could have known where the Ethiopian was,
• Or even how receptive this man was to the good news.
• Philip had no idea that this man was the reason for his unexpected journey south.
• But because Philip obeyed the nudging of the Holy Spirit,
• He was available for the Lord to bring these two men together.
• Often God uses us not just because of our abilities,
• But because of our availability.
• If we are willing to be used of God, if we are serious about it,
• Then he will use us, but often in a way we are not expecting.
Quote:
“There are no accidents in the life of God’s people”.
(C). The Conversation.
• The helpful evangelist (vs 30 & 36)
• The questioning enquirer (vs 31-34)
(1). The helpful evangelist (vs 30 and 36):
• Notice that Philip took the initiative.
• It was Philip who made the first move (vs 29 to 30).
• I would suggest that it is most unusual for people to come to us seeking God,
• The norm is that we go to them!
• We take the initiative; we start the conversation.
Ill:
• A few years ago, the BBC had a series of programmes on the TV called:
• ‘Man’s search for God’.
• But actually, that title is flawed.
• Most human beings do not search for God.
• If they did then our Churches would be packed to overflowing every week.
• The programme would have been better called ‘God’s search for man’.
• And that of course is the message of the Bible.
• And the Great Commission Jesus gave to his Church; “Go….and preach…”
• Most of the time it’s up to us (Christians) to be pro-active in sharing the faith.
• Because if we don’t - then people will not be saved.
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
• Prompted by the Holy Spirit.
• Philip approaches this high ranking official.
Philip took the initiative, and he took it humbly:
• He wasn't out to impress him with his knowledge,
• He was not out to win an argument.
• He didn't even charge up to the chariot wielding answers,
• Or declaring he had the truth and the Ethiopian had better listen.
Quote: Margaret Millar who said:
“Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of a witness”.
• May God keep us from that sort of evangelism!
• Philip knew how to communicate.
• How to have a conversation with someone.
• Philip graciously asks a simple question,
• "Do you understand what you are reading?"
• He starts by asking a simple inoffensive question - and he shut up!
• He waited for an invitation, to come and share what he knew about the scriptures,
(2). The questioning enquirer (vs 31-34)
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?”
So, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Now notice how Philip responds:
• He doesn’t give him a list of does and don’ts,
• He does not dump a load of religious theology on him.
• Verse 35:
• Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture & told him the good news about Jesus.
Ill:
• Two drunks who were sitting against a wall slowly getting drunk.
• Sadly, one of the drunks died and his friend had not realised this.
• When it was time to move on.
• He picked up the dead man and tried to make him stand and sit upright.
• Finding his effort without avail, he said to himself,
• "He needs something inside him."
• TRANSITION:
• Philip did not try to prop this Ethiopian eunuch up with religious scaffolding,
• i.e., Do good deeds, just go to Church etc.
• The man was spiritually dead (dead in his trespasses and sins),
• So, Philip gave him LIFE!
• He did that by introducing him to Jesus the life giver.
The Conclusion
• The convert was baptised (36-39a)
• The Christian was redirected (39b-40)
(1). The convert was baptised (vs 36-39a):
“As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”
Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The official answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”.
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.”
The message of the New Testament is ‘Believe and be baptised’.
• Jesus instituted it in the great commission.
• The apostles and first Christians practiced it.
• e.g., You will see this again and again and again in the book of Acts.
Listen:
• Now you can become a Christian and not be baptised.
• Because becoming a Christian is inward, it is a commitment you make with the Lord.
• And baptism is outward, a sign to others.
• So, you can be a Christian and not be baptised,
• But surely the fact that you are a Christian means you want to please Jesus,
• Afterall we all want to please the ones that we love!
• This book makes it very clear that we please Jesus Christ our Lord by obeying him,
• And he has asked EVERY Christian to be baptised!
• Becoming a Christian is personal (between you and God),
• But it is never private (we witness publicly through baptism that we follow the Lord).
Remember that this important official would have been part of a caravan train:
• As an official he would have had his slaves and attendants and bodyguards with him,
• You always travelled in large numbers, in convey for protection.
• So, his request for baptism,
• Was a very public demonstration before many people of his newfound faith.
Notice:
• When the eunuch mentions baptism,
• Philip wisely puts first things first:
• "If you believe in your heart, you may".
• First there is a private acceptance of the message.
• Second there is baptism,
• An outward demonstration of an inward faith.
• ill: Wearing the wrong football shirt (does not make you a fan of that club etc.)
Challenge this morning is this one:
• Are you a Christian, do you have a living faith in Jesus Christ?
• Are you baptised? If not, why not?
• There is only one qualification for baptism.
• That is to be saved, converted, to be a Christian!
(2). The Christian was redirected (vs 39b-40):
“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea”.
• Notice this story ends how it started:
• With Philip sensitive to the voice, the leading and guiding of God’s Spirit.
• 3 times Philip gets a divine nudge in this story,
• Verses 26, 29, 39 and each time he obeys.
These verses are a good illustration of how the Christian life should be:
• First: We get saved (that is we become a Christian – LIFE!)
• Second: We get baptised (show to others that we mean business with God)
• Third: Like Philip we serve God,
• We let God lead us from one adventure to another!
• I use the word adventure deliberately.
• Christian service is more than singing hymns and going to meetings!
• It is about allowing the living God to work in you and through you for his glory,
• As we serve him in his Church and in the world where he has placed us.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=G4tcsX3HmSAocg6x7b5XWVJqWyDaVFpD
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/aN-Z4OWcJxE
