Norm Wells

9-19-04

Ac 8:26-39

 

I know it seems like a strange title for a sermon, but hopefully, as we progress thru the lesson, it will begin to make sense.

Some questions for us to consider as we begin this lesson:

In the scripture reading in Ac 8:26-39, we saw the account of a N T conversion.

Let’s examine that account a little closer.

The eunuch was a Jew, who was chief treasurer for Queen Candace of Ethiopia. He had been to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning to Ethiopia.

As he rode along, he was reading from the prophet Esaias—the book of Isaiah. He was reading from ch. 53, where it said, HE IS BROUGHT AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER—and he was puzzled by this. He didn’t know who this was referring to—Isaiah, or who?

Without a knowledge of the 4 gospels, we know that this would indeed be a difficult question.

I’m sure that God loved to see this man reading and trying to broaden his knowledge of the Word;--so---He said—BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT CALLETH ON THE NAME OF THE LORD---and the eunuch was saved, and went on his way rejoicing, ready to testify of his experience.

Is that what he said? I don’t hardly think so!!

Is that right? -----WRONG.

Instead, we see the Lord sending Phillip to help the eunuch understand what he was reading.

If we back up to vs. 26, we see that Phillip was told by an angel, to go down to the road that leads to Gaza—not only before the eunuch got there, but probably even before the eunuch even started studying.

Phillip was in Samaria at the time, as we see in vs. 25, and had 2-3 days journey to reach that location, while the eunuch had been on the road only a few hours.

This means that the angel gave Phillip his instructions at least 2 days before the eunuch even left Jerusalem.

The angel made no mistake in calculation—just as Phillip got there, the eunuch went by.

And evidently, Phillip had no idea of his mission.

Why do we say that? Because in vs. 29, he was told to go near and join himself to the chariot.

And then in vs. 30, we read—AND PHILLIP SAID—I’LL BE THERE JUST AS SOON AS I CAN, BUT RIGHT NOW, I’VE GOT RESERVATIONS AT THE BEEF HOUSE FOR LUNCH, AND I DON’T WANT TO BE LATE.

And the H S said—OH, WELL, UH, O K, BUT SEE IF YOU CAN GET TO IT MONDAY.

And Phillip said—WELL, I CAN’T MONDAY—WE HAVE A BOWLING TOURNAMENT, MON EVE., AND THE KIDS HAVE SWIMMING LESSONS TUES.

WED. IS FOOTBALL PRACTICE, AND THURS. WE GO TO WALMART, AND FRIDAY, WE GO OUT FOR PIZZA AND A MOVIE...

I TELL YOU WHAT---CAN’T YOU JUST HAVE HIM COME TO SERVICES SUN AM, AND IF HE ACCEPTS IT—FINE—AND IF HE DOESN’T—WELL----HEY---WE DID WHAT WE COULD!!

And the H S said---HEY, NO PROBLEM---YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO—AFTER ALL--YOU NEED TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.

It’s like a friend of mine said—WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO DO SOMETHING—JUST SAY—I’M HAVING SOUP FOR SUPPER.

I looked at him a little strange and asked him what he meant.

He said—WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO DO SOMETHING, ONE EXCUSE IS JUST AS GOOD AS ANOTHER.

Look at vs 29-30a.—THEN THE SPIRIT SAID UNTO PHILIP, GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT. AND PHILIP RAN THITHER TO HIM…….

What did Phillip do? He ran to him.

30b. –UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST?

　

Phillip knew that if he understood what he was reading, he was probably what? He was probably a christian.

On the other hand—if he didn’t understand—then he needed teaching, and,

Phillip knew that the H S would guide him in that teaching.

How did he know that? Jn 16:13 WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH…

So, the question is—who converted the eunuch? The H S or Phillip?

Ac 7:51 YE STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EARS, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST; AS YOUR FATHERS DID, SO DO YE.

I think it’s very obvious, that the H S has a hand in turning men from darkness to light—from Satan to God.

But, just how much of a hand does the H S have, in the conversion of sinners?

Did not the H S open the hearts of Cornelius and his household in Ac 10, where the angel told him to send for Peter?

Did not the H S open the hearts of the Phillipian jailor and his household in Ac 16?

How often does sickness or death in a family tend to make people more susceptible to the gospel?

Won’t you agree that the H S definitely has a hand in this?

We must remember however, that the H S does not control whether or not someone accepts the teaching of the gospel.

The eunuch would not have been saved if :

Almost 2000 years have gone by since the gospel was first proclaimed to the world—as the salvation to everyone that believeth—or obeys.

Christ has just as much love for us today—as He did almost 2000 years ago when He died for our sins---so that desire for man to be saved is just as strong now as it was in the first century. God’s plan of salvation is just as important and just as effective as it was in the first century.

But what about man’s part in man’s salvation? I Cor 3:1-7

Rom 14:12 SO THEN EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD.

II Cor 5:9,10

In His death, the blood of Christ was shed---and in that blood, there is remission of sins.

The blood of Christ is the hope of the world—but it is up to each one of us, whether or not we take advantage of that blood.

Salvation is a gift, but it is a conditional gift and there are things that we must do in order to receive that gift.

It is also up to us as christians, to accept the responsibility of preaching and teaching the Word to those who are lost—those who have never accepted Christ, as well as those who have not remained faithful to the church.

And that means, that first of all, we must realize and accept the fact that they are lost----not by our standards---or with our own condemnation, or justification----but by the scriptures. SPEAK WHERE THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK AND BE SILENT WHERE THE SCRIPTURES ARE SILENT.

And 2^nd—we must realize and accept the fact that it will not be easy, and it may not be accepted very well. Heb. 12:9-11

Every christian is bound, by Christ—to make the salvation of the world—the supreme object of his life.

To make the focus of our life—the concern for the welfare of those around us—physical and spiritual.

Matt 28:18-20 Note the difference in the word teach in vs 19 & vs 20

VS 19—teach—"matheteuo”—that means to make disciples.

Vs 20—teach—"didasko”—that means to instruct in the christian faith.

I think we forget sometimes, exactly what it means when we talk about THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Many times, we want to look at the great commission, as sending missionaries to Africa or Russia, or supporting a preacher in upstate N Y.

But there are 2 parts to the great commission:

This is the great commission.

Everyone who is a christian, MUST communicate the glad tidings of salvation to others—in one way or another—by word, or by actions.

The invitation is from Christ, but it is our responsibility to extend that invitation to the lost, and the weak, in order that the lost will be saved, and christians will be faithful and productive.

If we are truly convinced that what we have, is able to save men’s souls, and that we can not find that anywhere else—we will not let anything stop us from telling others. Rom 8:37-39—nothing can separate us from the love of God…

If we really believe this, absolutely nothing could stop us from telling others.

Matt 12:34 FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART, THE MOUTH SPEAKETH.

I don’t know where I found this but I remember reading the following statement: Love is a greater teacher than sense of duty. We may realize our duty in telling the lost about Jesus, but it will not get done until we reach down inside ourselves—reach down into our heart and pull out a strong love for the souls of our fellow man—until we really believe and accept the fact that men will be lost and will spend an eternity in Hell without Jesus. That is the crux of the matter. That is the undeniable truth. That is not only the rest of the story; that is the entire story.

We can teach, not only in word, but also in deed—

Not only by precept, but also by example.

We won’t be saved by just staying home and keeping our nose clean.

We won’t be saved by just coming to Sun am services.

We won’t be saved by just attending all the services.

We won’t be saved by just attending all the services, and visiting the sick.

But, we can be saved by consistent and faithful attendance—by obeying the commands of Jesus—by serving the church in whatever way we are able, and in whatever needs to be done—physically and spiritually----

And by teaching and baptizing those who are lost, and-- by teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever Jesus has commanded—Matt 28:20.

We must take the gospel to those outside of Christ.

We must teach christians to be productive christians.

We must teach christians of the hope that we have because of Christ.

We must teach christians of the comfort we have in the fellowship of God and fellow christians, knowing that that comfort and that joy will be multiplied on the day of judgment, realizing what is ahead of us.

　

　

Why is the church so small?

I’m afraid that it is because many times, we set back and say—AREN’T WE DOING A FINE JOB?

And in the meantime, we let our children and our grandchildren grow up w/out giving them a reason to be christians.

We let christians fall thru the cracks—we let them lose interest in the church, and either become sporadic in attendance or stop coming at all.

Or, they leave the church, and start attending some denomination, because we failed to teach scripture, or because we failed to draw a line in the sand on issues of the day, and they never understood exactly what is acceptable and what is not.

We let souls out there in the world, go on w/ their life, assuming that they are saved, because we are to busy w/ our life, or just don’t have the interest to tell them about Jesus, and the church, or---just because we are having soup for supper.

The H S will open the hearts of man--- The blood of Christ will cleanse the hearts of man.

In between those two, and afterward, is where you and I come in.

This am., if you are a christian, but have failed to live a life of teaching the lost about Christ—you need to make that right.

If you have fallen away from the church—if others have seen the example of your inconsistent attendance, you need to make that right, and assume your responsibility of teaching the lost, and fellow christians as well.

There are steps one must make in order to have his sins forgiven, and be added to the church:

We must HEAR, BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS, AND BE BAPTIZED.

HEAR—Hear what Jesus can do for us—how He died for our sins.

BELIEVE---Believe in our heart that we are lost, and that Jesus can save us from our sins.

REPENT---We must have a change of heart—a new direction in life.

CONFESS---We must confess before men—confess that we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This confession, on which the church is built—Matt 16:18.

BE BAPTIZED---We must be baptized—have our sins washed away—to begin a new life.

If you understand this and believe it, then you need to act upon that today, and make your life right w/ God today.

If you have a need—no matter what that need is—now is the time to make it known.

I have a phrase that I have used for years—SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS.

And that means that if you have a need, that is a special need for you.

And if you have that need, Christ and the church has a special treatment for that need—whatever that need might be—physically or spiritually.

We need to put ourselves into the story of Phillip and the eunuch.

Are you like Phillip—accepting the call of God, to take the Word to the lost, or you waiting for the church to do that for you?

Are you like the eunuch—saying—HOW CAN I UNDERSTAND, UNLESS SOMEONE TEACH ME?, or have you hardened your heart, refusing to admit that you are lost?

Or, are you just having soup for supper?

Rev 22:17 AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY COME. AND LET HIM THAT IS ATHIRST COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.

If you have a need, Christ and the church has a treatment for that need.