Enter your e-mail address below to get Musing Upchurch sent directly to your in-box!

Past Ponderings

Sunday, December 30, 2018

What Should We Remember When Sharing The Gospel? (Acts 8:26-40)

What Should We Remember When Sharing The Gospel? (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: Seize every opportunity to meet people where they are and take them to Jesus.
SCRIPTURE: Acts 8:26-40
Today we’re following up with where we left Philip last Sunday. In our non-traditional Christmas message, we looked at what happened when Philip witnessed to the Samaritans. We saw many being saved and specifically zeroed in on the impact the Gospel had on a man named Simon who wanted power and praise more than Jesus’ redemption. Today, we’re going to see Philip witnessing to a very different individual in a very different setting with a very different effect. Let’s look at chapter eight verses 26-40.
“26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37  38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.”
As we walk through the passage this morning, I want us to consider what this reminds us about sharing the gospel. These aren’t new truths, especially if you’ve spent any time with me in youth group, but they’re vital reminders. I know them, but need to live them far better than I do. The gist? Seize every opportunity to meet people where they are and take them to Jesus.

I. Seize Every Opportunity (26-29)
Be Available and Willing. Let’s start by looking at the significance of what is happening as this passage opens. Philip has been in the midst of a great spiritual revival and a cultural revolution. The Samaritans were being saved and years of animosity between them on their Jewish neighbors were being healed. Undoubtedly, this would have been an exciting time...and it happened because Philip made himself available and was willing to serve wherever God needed him. Remember, this would not have made sense to many of his peers. Sure, the Jewish Christians were having to flee for their lives, but why go to Samaria? What good could possibly come from that? Yet, he went, and it was amazing! Then, in the midst of this excitement, this happened: “26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.”
One commentary I read, made this excellent observation:  “God’s guidance is always most evident where there is a willingness to obey” (David Williams). It wouldn’t have made sense to go to the Samaritans in the first place, but God moved there. Now, it wouldn’t have made much sense to leave the excitement of God’s movement for a desert place, but he’d seen God move in improbable places before, so he left. In fact, when told to go to the chariot, he ran! He was excited to serve.
As we look at where he went, I want to just make this quick observation, be available and willing to go wherever God sends you→
No Matter The Apparent Scope. We have to be careful not to try and distinguish between big and small or significant and insignificant ministry opportunities for at least two reasons.
1. Every soul is valuable. This man was an Ethiopian official, but he appears to have been a convert to Judaism because he had come to Jerusalem to worship. In this context, Ethiopia refers to the area that is modern day Sudan. He served the Candance, which was the title given to the Ethiopian queens, not a progressive sounding name ☺️(which I just learned while studying this passage), so I doubt she ever when by “Queen Candy”. According to the commentaries I studied this week, being a eunuch could just be a way of referring to him as a court official. However, it typically meant that the servant had been emasculated, so they could be trusted around women. Eitherway, his life was defined by his service to this kingdom. He was not his own. Yet, he was clearly looking for something more. However, being a gentile, and even more so as a eunuch, he would not have been allowed to worship in the temple.
He was just one man, but he was a man in need of salvation and a man in whom God was working. We do not know if anyone else was saved as a result of this Ethiopian’s conversion, but even if not, he was worth Philip’s time. Remember what Jesus said in Luke 15:10, “10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” If someone, anyone, is saved as a result of us sharing the Gospel, we should rejoice! Not as a notch on our belts, but because someone who was heading to Hell because of their love of self is now heading to Jesus! If you have a chance to witness to the masses, do it. God can work there. Yet, if you’re called to witness in desolate places, do it. They need Jesus, too, and God can work there!
2. A single soul can have immeasurable impacts. You never know what God might use that “small opportunity” to accomplish. Jesus had commissioned them to go to Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria...and the end of the earth. In this chapter, we’ve seen this happening, as Christians fled Jerusalem with the Gospel on their tongues, and Philip entered Samaria proclaiming Jesus. Now, this man represented the “end of the earth” to the Jewish people. He was from way, way out of town. And where he was from, he had connections. Like I said, we do not know for certain that anyone else was saved as a result of his conversion, but we can be fairly certain that he went home rejoicing and proclaiming Jesus. People Philip would never see would now hear the Gospel! The same is true in our lives.
So, we should seize every opportunity to share the Gospel and→

II. Meet People Where They Are (30-34)
Let’s look back at verses 30-34 to get back into the context here, “30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
I know I went a little long on that first point, so I’m going to try not to stretch these next few points out unnecessarily. First, we see that Philip, directed by God, ran up to the chariot and started talking to the Ethiopian. Clearly, God had ordained this meeting because the man was already reading Scripture! However, we can assume had the man been musing about the weather, Philip would have started there. Then, when the man asked him a question, Philip answered it.
I think there are at least two principles for us here. First→  
Talk to People. Philip approached the eunuch and took time to see what was on his heart. We have to remember this. We cannot share the saving truth of Jesus with people with whom we do not engage! I’m not saying there is not a time and a place for Gospel tracks and helpful handouts. However, those can never be substitutions for us opening our mouths and actually communicating with the people around us...because we care about them. This is a convicting truth to me and an area in my life where I need growth. I’m not as compassionate as I should be, otherwise, this would come far more naturally. We should go out sharing the Gospel everywhere we go, not because people are objects for our conquest, but because we are filled with the love of God for them and can’t stand to see them go to Hell locked in their disbelief!
So, talk to people, and→
Answer Their Questions As Best You Can. We must take everyone seriously. Yes, some people will be asking questions they don’t really want to have answered. Nonetheless, our responsibility is to point them to Jesus. If we’re really serious about sharing Him, then we have to be serious about the concerns that are preventing people from seeing His truth. No, you will never reason anyone into Heaven. Yet, we should still be reasonable! I know this can be terrifying because it leaves you vulnerable. What if you don’t know the answer? That’s ok. You know the one who knows all the answers. Don’t worry about sounding smart. If our concerns are locked up in a fear of embarrassment or rejection (and this goes for me just as much as for everyone else), that’s our sinful pride, not the compassionate life-changing love of Jesus speaking to our hearts. I know we’ve said this before, but it bears constant repetition. If you don’t know an answer, say that! Then, be sure to try and find one. Keep those doors of communication open, because you love them and care about their souls.
So, we should seize every opportunity to share the Gospel, meet people where they are and→

III. Take Them To Jesus (35-39)
This really feeds into the previous point, but let’s look at the context again to see where I’m coming from here. “35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37  38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.
Remember Sunday School: Jesus Saves and He Is The Answer! I know “Sunday School Answers” catch a lot of flack in both church circles and the general population for being cliche and overly simplistic. And we all understand where this comes from. If your Sunday School teacher pauses to ask you a question, and you’re not sure what the answer is, your safest bet is to go with something like “praying”, “reading the Bible”, or “Jesus”. 9 times out of 10, one of these will work! ☺️And as much as we laugh about this, there is a reason why these answers come to our minds so readily, because Sunday School has ingrained in us their importance. We would do well not to forget this truth: No matter what people might voice as their concern or express as their need, we can rest assured that salvation is their deepest need and only Jesus is sufficient to provide it. Jesus is the answer, and only He saves. No matter where we start, this must be where we end!
So, we should seize every opportunity to share the Gospel, meet people where they are, point them to Jesus...and→

IV. Repeat (40)
Look at what happens to Philip after the eunuch is baptized, “40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” He’s directed by the Spirit...to keep sharing the Gospel! This is not a one hit wonder situation, this is The Mission Of Our Lives!

TAKEAWAYS
Our takeaways this morning are more of a review.
1. Seize every opportunity…
Be available and willing, no matter the apparent “scope”.
2. To meet people where they are…
Talk to people and answer their questions as best you can...because you care about them!
3. And take them to Jesus.
Jesus saves and He is the answer!

No comments:

Post a Comment