Be a Good Evangelist!
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Text: Acts 8:26-40
Date: 20 September, 2018 (rewritten from a message preached in 2012)
Title: Preaching Jesus
Theme: The salvation and Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Proposition: Be a good evangelist.
Rhetorical: Are you preaching Jesus?
Introduction:
1 ¶ And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
exp. This event is called the, "Dispersion." Persecution scattered the church.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
exp. The great yet unconverted Apostle who would be renamed Paul, was instrumental in this great evangelistic event. The last thing he wanted to do (spread the gospel of Jesus) is what God used him to do even before his conversion.
4 ¶ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
exp. How like His Lord, "Who must needs go through Samaria."
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
exp. A great spiritual awakening is taking place, BUT God takes Philip away from the multitude and leads him to a man who needed salvation.
We see in our story, God orchestrating events to bring people into contact with the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. But, He always uses a man to tell other men. The message this morning is, "Be a good evangelist for Jesus."
def: evangelist: One who tells the good news about Jesus death and resurrection for our salvation from the punishment of our sins.
(Are you a good evangelist?)
You must arise and go. vv.26-27a
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.
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,
A. Philip moved at God's direction. v.26 "Arise and go." "He arose and went."
ill. Like his Master, Jesus, there was nothing Philip wanted to do more than the will of God.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
ill. King David - Psalm 119:32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."
ill. I put my trainers on three times a week. I only put them on when I'm going to run. David had his running shoes on to do the will of God.
question: What authority motivates you? Who do you jump to obey?
If you are a child, you ought to be motivated by your parents.
If you are a studen, you ought to be motivated by your teacher.
If you are an employee, you ought to be motivated by your boss.
If you are a Christian, you ought to be motivated by our LORD.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
ill. My wife saw all the college students at the bus stop near Ikea and got burdened for them. She was convicted to do something about it. Handed them a care bag with a John and Romans with a church invitation.
app. Have you been convicted lately of the need to do something for the sake of the Gospel? Are you going to obey God's Spirit? GOOD EVANGELISTS ARISE AND GO.
B. Philip moved without all the answers. v.26.
exp. The angel didn't tell him that there was only one man out there. He didn't tell him there was any man out there. He only told him that it was a desert. He didn't know why he was going. He only knew that he was to go.
ill. Abraham so trusted God. Hebrews 11:8 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."
ill. Darlene Diabler Rose - prisoner of war - camp air raid - fleeing to the trenches - bombs falling and bursting into flame - petrolium jelly - God spoke to her about Mrs. Lees Bible which she had borrowed. She retrieved it and then fled out of the camp. When she got back another prisoner was crying about her mattress - a bomb had hit where she had been sheltering. HER OBEDIENCE TO GOD WAS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
app. You may not know why God has impressed something upon your heart (Or exactly how God will get it done - provide for it - call to missions, etc) with regard to the Gospel - but obedience is a matter of life and death. Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
C. Philip moved away from "God's blessing." vv.5-8
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
exp. Samaria was in times of spiritual awakening. Now away goes Philip to a desert.
ill. Taking Evangelist John Van Gelderen to St. Peter's church in Dundee. Robert Murray McCheynne had pastored this church. Revival happened as William Burns filled pulpit in McCheynne's absence. Burns had a significant ministry in Scotland - then God sent him as a missionary to China. (There was a picture of Burns in his chinese garb in the library at the church.)
exp. Burns could have argued with God and said - nobody knows me in China - became close friends and ministered with Hudson Taylor who started the China inland missions sending 1,000's of missionaries to China.
ill. Jesus must needs go through Samaria - the disciples marveled that he talked to the woman at the well - but she was the key to that community coming to Christ.
ill. Pastor Don Clough - Lossiemouth - door closed - Fochabers (small village) open door.
app. Are you willing to go even if it seems contrary to reason? Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
transition: Good evangelists arise and go.
II. You must draw near. vv.27-29
exp. How can we reach people with the truth about Jesus if we never go near them? Philip went into the desert looking for those to whom the Lord wanted him to minister.
A. Philip drew near to an individual. v.27-28
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,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
exp. Philip looks around his new surroundings and sees a man in a chariot.
He's been in Jersusalem.
He's heard about Jesus and the resurrection.
He's reading the Isaiah scroll.
He had come to Jerusalem to worship God.
This man has access to the treasures of Candice the queen of Ethiopia. (He is an individual with a tender heart towards God. He is seeking to know God.) Is it any wonder than that we find Philip supernaturally brought into contact with this man? HE WAS SEEKING AFTER GOD.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
ill. Dr. Thomas Chalmers - Church of Scotland minister - lost - trusting in his self righteousness and failing of God's righteousness - Read a book by William Wilberforce which showed him that God makes us righteous through faith and then gives us grace to walk in obedience to Him.
exp. He was seeking God - God brought him to Himself though the writing ministry of William Wilberforce. I wonder what other Christians passed by Him without speaking to him about the Gospel when he was sincerely seeking?
ill. Jesus was seeking out individuals who were lost in sin to bring them to Himself.
Nicodemus - Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
app. How can you be an evangelist if you never draw near to people?
B. Philip drew near in obedience to the Holy Spirit. v.29
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him,
exp. Clearly here was the reason for this trip into the desert.
exp: The Holy Spirit does not speak in an audible voice but He does speak to our heart.
example: Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
example: John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
exp. How do you reprove and bear witness without communication?
question: Have you passed by a Gospel opportunity and thought, I just passed by someone God wanted me to talk to.
ill. Stopping by estate agents office to invite her family to our HBC. Feeling led of the Lord to go through an area where it would take longer to get out the Gospel to each home. Not a nice day. One man outside. I prayed for an opportunity to share Christ with him and had a great opportunity. (Tell story about....)
exp. Seperately witnessed to her dad and brother. Witnessed to her husbands cousin as well.
ill. Mrs. Coffee - neighbor of Pastor Pero in Ireland.
app. There are times where you are going to get excited if you participate with God in this - because you will get to see God's hand leading you. But, you have to be ready to draw near.
III. You must give guidance. vv.30-34
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
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.
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:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
exp. Here is a man not just in a physical desert but a spiritual desert. He needed help and God brought him a spiritual guide.
question: That could be you today. You may feel like you don't really understand the Bible.
ill. David O'Gorman's testimony - Irish Catholic who is now a Baptist minister. "Before I got saved the Bible was like reading a phone book. Now it is like reading a love letter."
exp. You are going to struggle to understand God's Word without help before you are converted to Christ.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
ill. We enjoy touring castles. We enjoy touring them more with a guide. A worn stone is uninteresting until you know why it is worn. Someone who truly knows the history can make the castle come alive as they answer questions about its past.
app. Do you need a guide? God will supply if you will let him. Believers - we need to be that guide.
A. Philip engaged the Eunuch in spiritual conversation. "understandest thou what thou readest?"
Ill. Jonathan Farmer - missionary in Indonesia - latest prayer letter - He instructs the converts to engage their muslim friends with truth about Jesus.
Be open and verbal about your relationship with God
Bridge from common topics to spiritual conversation
Share the full message of the Gospel
InviteMuslims to study the Word of God together
exp. PHILIP DID THIS!
Philip heard him reading and immediately asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The eunuch could have reacted proudly, "Of course I understand. Who do you think I am?" In that case Philip would have gone away. But, the Eunuch's humility provided him with a fine teacher and the knowledge he desired.
ill. It is impossible to witness to a proud person. "We are nae religious!"
ill. Alec and Robin - Alec said, "I've been thinking more and more that their must be a God!" That was an open door because they were ready to listen and think about God.
app. Praise God - Philip engaged the Eunuch in spiritual conversation and had an open door to give guidance.
B. Philip enlightened the Eunuch. v.34 "Of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"
exp. The eunuch had a sincere questions. He had just read about the judgment of God upon this prophet for our sins and he wanted to know who that man was so that he could believe in Him.
ill. I love sincere questions?
If there is a God, why is the world like this?
How do you know what religion is the true religion?
If nobody is without sin, how can anybody go to Heaven?
app. You need to engage people with spiritual truths to give them opportunity to get guidance which they need.
IV. You must preach Jesus. vv.35.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
exp. He took up the story in Isaiah 53 where the Eunuch was reading and explained that it was all fulfilled in Jesus. Isaiah had been written 600 years earlier but the key to the prophecies in Isaiah had just taken place.
A. Jesus went to the slaughter. v.32 "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter."
exp. Our modern society would like to sanitize the death of Jesus. The reality is that it was a bloody slaughter of our Lord.
Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
exp. Is it any wonder that the Eunuch desire to know who had done this? Who would be willing to face such a death. Perhaps in Jerusalem he had heard about the crucifixion of Jesus and wondered if that story fulfilled this prophecy.
app. Jesus suffered brutality for us.
B. Jesus was silent in his own defence.
v.32"....and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth."
Matthew 27: 13-14 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
app. Jesus could have proven his innocence but He was silent.
C. Jesus humbled himself and was judged wrongly.
v.33 "In his humiliation his judgment was taken away."
John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
app. Jesus allowed injustice to himself to give mercy to us.
D. Jesus lives and went back to Heaven.
v.33 "...and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth."
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
app. Philips message was that Jesus lives. The Saviour was victorious.
transition: Good evangelists preach Jesus - we need to run to the cross in every opportunity to share JESUS.
V. You must encourage action. vv.36-39
exp. Philip hadn't come just to give information. He had come to encourage action.
song: Good news, good news, Christ died for me, Good news, good news, IF I BELIEVE. Good news, good news, I'm saved eternally, that's wonderful extra good news.
ill. Blondine - great tight rope walker - offered to carry a man on his back accross Niagra falls on a tight rope. Many said they believed he could do it, but only his manager really believed and experienced the thrill of crossing over.
app. If you have only believe in your head that Jesus died for you but do not believe in your heart upon Him - you haven't crossed over into God's forgiveness and received his gift of eternal life!
A. Philip asked him if He had believed upon Jesus. vv.36-37
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?
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.
exp. Faith proceeds Biblical baptism. The Eunuch saw water and knew that he was supposed to be baptized as a follower of Jesus Christ. So, he asked Philip if there was anything that would stand between him and being baptized. Philip told him the only requirement for baptism was faith in Jesus as Savior. "If thou believest thou mayest."
note: That is why Christening is not Biblical baptism. Nor is baptizing someone who has been confirmed - It is only for those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus!
exp. Baptism does not save. If it did, Philip would have skipped all of the preaching and just headed to the water. If it did, he would not have said, "If thou believest thou mayest."
app. But, baptism is the first step of obedience. When you put your trust in Jesus, you need to obey the Lord by following in believer's baptism.
B. Philip baptized him based on profession of faith. v.38
"And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ (Messiah) is the Son of God."
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.
exp. Based on that testimony the preacher and the new believer in Jesus walked down into the water.
note: It is clear in the story that the Eunuch was baptized by immersion in this body of water. vv.38-39 "They went down both into the water....and when they were come up out of the water."
exp. The Eunuch now has his answer, v.39 "He went on his way rejoicing" in his new found faith in Jesus.
app.
Do you know the joy of acting upon the finished work of Jesus and receiving God's gift of everlasting life?
Do you know the joy of obeying God in believers baptism as a public testimony that you have been saved?
Conclusion: Acts 8 is a great story of divine intervention. Friend are you seeing God do that in your life? Are you ready to put your trust in Jesus?
Are you obeying the Spirit of God as He instructs you? Believer are you a good evangelist?
Do you arise and go?
Do you draw near?
Do you give guidance?
Do you preach Jesus?
Do you encourage Action?
May God help us to be like Philip who after such a great opportunity, "preached in all the cities until he came to Caesarea" He was continuing as a good evangelist.