Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Introduction
- The song is especially for those going overseas
- [We have heard a Joyful Sound]
- The Church is always to be an outward looking missionary church
- Looking at 1:1 evangelism
- Consider two rivers - two different beginnings but converge to become one mighty flowing river
- This evening tracing the paths of two men
- Map - explanation
- Jerusalem to Samaria
- v26 - to travel South to Gaza
- The Ethiopian Eunuch traveling from Jerusalem back home
- God had planned a great meeting in the desert
- Considering
- God's love for the individual
- The Good Shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep
- Psalm 68:31
- This was to be the first convert from Ethiopia
- Surely he would be a great influence on others
- Overview:
- Philip - the Evangelist
- Eunuch - the Ethiopian
- The Encounter
The Evangelist (Philip)
- He had been instrumental in a great awakening
- They needed a pastor, someone to look after and train them
- God had purposes to move him on
- God sent an angel
- God speaks through providence
- God speaks through an angel
- God speaks via the Holy Spirit
- Each time the servant of God was ready to move
- He was a married man
- He had four daughters who were prophetesses
- Yet he was always willing to move on as God led him
- God instructs Philip to go without explaining why
- Philip arose and went
- Similar to Abraham who rose early in the morning
- Faith - is obedience to the word of God, even when we don't understand everything
- We ought to be planning and thinking - but we ought to be ready for our plans to be changed by God
- God's word speaking to Philip through an angel
- We ought to always obey the word of God - what is written in the Bible
- To look after widowers
- Be concerned for the prisoner
- Pray for those in authority and government
- There are other areas where there is no particular instruction
- God may place a particular burden on your heart
- Always we should say - 'Lord, Your will'
- Example of lady missionary
- Philip was ready to do what God wanted him to do
- Are we willing to do what God wants us to do
- "Behold" (v27)
- God has a purpose
- Sometimes there are many unknowns but God fills in the details
- Example of the Norwegian Ffords
- We are often led step by step
- Do we get stuck at the beginning because we want everything mapped out for us?
- Many Christians don't get past the first step
- Philip runs
- He runs in the hot desert
- He seizes the opportunity
- A 'chariot'
- He had an entourage
- He was an important person
- He had a scroll
- Philip could have been intimidated but he seized the opportunity
- In Tabor we have seized the opportunity
- Do we seize opportunity?
- Example from Warren Weirsbe
- May it be that we obey the Spirit's prompting
- Not audible voices but constraints upon our hearts
- Philip is very wise
- He simply asks a question
- He is very respectful
- He sees the scroll and asks if he understands
- He was a wise evangelist
- He loved, respected and helped
- Philip preaches about Jesus Christ
- Not about other matters
- Application:
- A good witness and evangelist is someone who understands God's word
- A person who will listen, answer questions and be patient
- A wise evangelist
- Not quoting our own thoughts but quoting Scripture
The Ethiopian Eunuch
- He was an important official
- A black Jewish Man
- Probably not a gentile, probably a Jew
- He worshiped the God of the Jews
- He was zealous - he had come to Jerusalem to worship
- God had put eternity in his heart
- He wants to understand the Bible
- He wants someone to teach it to him
- He is reading the scroll before he gets home
- Perhaps he had heard something of Jesus
- The apostles had filled all of Jerusalem with their doctrines
- Maybe he had heard of Jesus
- Maybe he had seen baptisms
- Maybe he was prejudiced or suspicious of Christians
- Through 1:1 evangelism he was to be saved
- This can be more powerful than preaching
- The apostles preached publicly and from house to house
- Philip allowed this sole convert to return to Ethiopia
- Example of the Demoniac
- God can work mightily through one person
- Isa 56:3-5
The Encounter
- Not just Philip and the Ethiopian - the Lord Jesus Christ was there
- This man is so persuaded he asks what hinders him from baptism
- Something divine has happened
- He has had an encounter with Jesus Christ
- He has believed
- He wants to be baptised (and is)
- He goes on his way rejoicing
- A divine appointment - an instantaneous conversion
- May the Lord use us in the work of evangelism
- Example of John Eglan & Charles Spurgeon