Teleportation Is Real!
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· 1 viewWe have all dreamed the the sci-fi experience of teleportation. But did you know that teleportation is real. In this story, God opens up a cosmic wormhole and teleports one of his disciples from one location to another. Better yet, it teaches about baptism.
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We have all dreamed the the sci-fi experience of teleportation. But did you know that teleportation is real. In this story, God opens up a cosmic wormhole and teleports one of his disciples from one location to another. Buckle your seat belt as we learn about this will ride.
The Charge
The Charge
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.
Teleportation - at the end.
this, still pretty good.
Angel speaks to him.
DIVINE APPOINTMENT
Marcel Sternberger was a methodical man of nearly 50, with bushy white hair, guileless brown eyes, and the bouncing enthusiasm of a czardas dancer of his native Hungary. He always took the 9:09 Long Island Railroad train from his suburban home to Woodside, N.Y.., where he caught a subway into the city.
On the morning of January 10, 1948, Sternberger boarded the 9:09 as usual. En route, he suddenly decided to visit Laszlo Victor, a Hungarian friend who lived in Brooklyn and was ill.
Accordingly, at Ozone Park, Sternberger changed to the subway for Brooklyn, went to his friend’s house, and stayed until mid-afternoon. He then boarded a Manhattan-bound subway for his Fifth Avenue office.
Here is Marcel’s divine appointment:
The car was crowded, and there seemed to be no chance of a seat. But just as I entered, a man sitting by the door suddenly jumped up to leave, and I slipped into the empty place. I’ve been living in New York long enough not to start conversations with strangers. But being a photographer, I have the peculiar habit of analyzing people’s faces, and I was struck by the features of the passenger on my left. He was probably in his late 30s, and when he glanced up, his eyes seemed to have a hurt expression in them. He was reading a Hungarian-language newspaper, and something prompted me to say in Hungarian, “I hope you don’t mind if I glance at your paper.”
The man seemed surprised to be addressed in his native language. But he answered politely, “You may read it now. I’ll have time later on.”
During the half-hour ride to town, we had quite a conversation. He said his name was Bela Paskin. A law student when World War II started, he had been put into a German labor battalion and sent to the Ukraine. Later he was captured by the Russians and put to work burying the German dead. After the war, he covered hundreds of miles on foot until he reached his home in Debrecen, a large city in eastern Hungary.
I myself knew Debrecen quite well, and we talked about it for a while. Then he told me the rest of his story. When he went to the apartment once occupied by his father, mother, brothers and sisters, he found strangers living there. Then he went upstairs to the apartment that he and his wife once had. It also was occupied by strangers. None of them had ever heard of his family.
As he was leaving, full of sadness, a boy ran after him, calling “Paskin bacsi! Paskin bacsi!” That means “Uncle Paskin.” The child was the son of some old neighbors of his. He went to the boy’s home and talked to his parents. “Your whole family is dead,” they told him. “The Nazis took them and your wife to Auschwitz.”
Auschwitz was one of the worst Nazi concentration camps. Paskin gave up all hope. A few days later, too heartsick to remain any longer in Hungary, he set out again on foot, stealing across border after border until he reached Paris. He managed to immigrate to the United States in October 1947, just three months before I met him.
Clearly his heart was hurting. What do I say to a man with such a pain???
Finish Story at end.
Phillip asked to leave
and experience
new divine appointment.
But... not sure
Phillip ready to leave.
Doing great job.
The Success
The Success
And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.
further down
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Pretty exciting stuff.
The Obedience
The Obedience
Not sure but,
wonder if Phillip
questions call.
I’m doing amazing work here.
Go where?
English Standard Version Chapter 8
a desert place
Did Phillip ask?
Why?
Not sure.
Bible doesn’t say so...
Trusted God.
Acts 8:27 (ESV)
And he rose and went...
Learned the lesson of
trusting God’s word.
He knew God sent him
there for reason.
looking left
looking right.
desert!
The Divine Appointment
The Divine Appointment
Wait,
someone coming
lots of dust.
must be my divine appointment.
Acts 8:27–28 (ESV)
… 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 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
Sees Ethiopian,
what is job?
Treasurer of Ethiopia.
Use your imagination with me.
Treasurer...
what do they
normally travel with???
MONEY!
Now if they
travel with lots of money
rural roads.
What else does he
normally travel with?
GUARDS!
Can’t be sure,
because bible says
purpose of this trip
worship in Jerusalem.
Maybe not with
full entourage.
At very least,
it was clear,
wealthy man
powerful man.
Most people
scared to say anything.
Phillip knew
God sent him here.
for a reason.
Notices,
Man is reading Bible.
Here is his chance.
I’m sure you have
Experience it yourself.
Divine appointment
Drunk Driver...
Pray for divine appointments.
we are not here
just to go through life.
We are here.
to win souls
to the kingdom.
Running with Horses
Running with Horses
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
Lets be honest,
he has to be
slightly intimidated.
He is human,
But God said go
so he runs.
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The Invitation
The Invitation
Phillip was offering something.
offering understanding.
Frequently,
but best way to
pursue divine appointment.
offer something.
More often,
you don’t know
what to say until
the moment you
are supposed to talk.
Why don’t we
take the chance to
share
connect
witness
more often.
Simple:
Fear of rejection.
Fear of seeming weird.
Fear of offending.
Out of my office window I looked up and saw a squirrel jump from one high tree to another. On the ground several dogs were milling around. He appeared to be aiming for a limb so far out of reach that the leap looked like suicide. He missed--but landed, safe and unconcerned, on a branch several feet lower. Then he climbed to his goal, and all was well. An old man said once... I’ve seen hundreds of ’em jump like that, especially when there are dogs around and they can’t come down to the ground. A lot of ’em miss, but I’ve never seen any hurt in trying." Then he chuckled. "I guess they’ve got to risk it if they don’t want to spend their lives in one tree."
Fear keeps us from
doing God’s work.
Question,
do you think Phillip
was intimidated
by the situation?
I think so,
but he had practiced
listening to Spirit.
Spirit spoke
he listened.
The Open Door
The Open Door
Back to story
He asked him
You understand?
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
We should give,
lots of offers,
lots of hints
invitations.
Not all pan out,
many don’t respond.
Some open the door
invite you up
into chariot.
The Bible Study
The Bible Study
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.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
Passage of study,
messianic prophecy.
Its about messiah.
but because most
did not understand
come as suffering servant
would not apply
this passage to
the messiah.
Phillip explains it all...
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Long ride back to Ethiopia.
hours of Bible discussion.
Explains misconception
about messiah.
Explains who Jesus is.
The Ethiopian Treasurer is
convicted and converted.
The Baptism
The Baptism
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Many people
confused by this story.
Don’t understand
evangelism
baptism
process.
Bible stories,
everything moves fast
skip details to fit in story.
With cursory reading,
give wrong impression
about evangelism
baptism
teaching
timeline.
Some errors
not paying attention
to details.
Cursory reading
brand new convert
Christian faith.
From Ethiopia,
foreigner
knows nothing.
WRONG!!
This man,
devout Jew.
Came for Jewish festival.
worshiping in Jerusalem
studying Bible
Good Jew.
Not noob.
Not new to faith.
What is he missing?
Jesus as Messiah.
that is it...
Bible study,
most advance teaching
complex bible prophecy
of their day.
In their context,
advanced
complex
Bible prophecy.
Hours of study,
explained by Phillip.
Convicted of truth.
Standards for Baptism
Standards for Baptism
Understanding of Basic Bible truths.
Living life pursuing God.
Go through Bible studies.
Belief, Conviction and Conversion.
Person Bible Study Habits.
Many say,
don’t need that.
Many say,
in bible.
they didn’t do that.
they just believed.
Quote this verse:
Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Believe and be baptized.
not Biblical model.
Biblical model
Understanding of Basic Bible truths.
Living life pursuing God.
Go through Bible studies.
Belief, Conviction and Conversion.
Person Bible Study Habits.
He took all those steps.
he emphasized
first part
of step 4.
(belief)
In our church.
we seem to emphasize
step 3.
(Go through Bible studies)
But they are all important.
if you ask me,
most important
second part of step 4
(conviction / conversion)
and step 5
(personal study habits)
These show more clearly,
where a person is spiritually,
and if they are ready
to publicly tell other
they are giving their life.
Many believe.
Few are converted.
Conversion is when
your belief
changes your life
and your actions.
Most want to believe.
Everyone wants Savior.
Everyone wants heaven.
Everyone wants better life.
Few actually experience it.
Why?
sin is a jealous master.
People often love sin.
More than Christ.
When someone is baptized,
they become Christian
they are part of church.
Acts 2:47 (NKJV)
… And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
What happens
as a result of
them being baptized?
“added to the church.”
We need to guard
who is added to church.
Why???
They bring influence.
Satan wants to bring
nominal Christians.
Believers in word
not in action.
Two of these steps
show readiness
for baptism:
Understanding of Basic Bible truths.
Living life pursuing God.
Go through Bible studies.
Belief, Conviction and Conversion.
Person Bible Study Habits.
4 . Conversion
5 . Personal Study Habits.
As a pastor
I inspect fruit
before baptism.
The Ethiopian Treasurer
showed those evidences too.
so Phillip baptized him.
The Teleportation
The Teleportation
I told you,
teleportation is real.
This is how it happened.
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Did you see that?
Phillip just disappears
and reappears in
different location!!!
If that is not teleportation
I don’t know what is.
Phillip didn’t have any
control over it.
If you want to be
teleported.
throw yourself into
God’s work
wholeheartedly.
Maybe you will
experience supernatural thing.
Begin to pray
this prayer to God:
“Lord, I want to do your work today. Please direct me to a divine appointment. Make my heart ready, to listen to the Holy Spirit’s direction.”
I promise you.
You will be used
by God in great ways.
Back to story from beginning.
Special Divine Appointment.
Listening to
man’s sad story...
All the time he had been talking, I kept thinking that somehow his story seemed familiar. A young woman whom I had met recently at the home of friends had also been from Debrecen; she had been sent to Auschwitz; from there she had been transferred to work in a German munitions factory. Her relatives had been killed in the gas chambers.
Later, she was liberated by the Americans and was brought here in the first boatload of displaced persons in 1946.
Her story had moved me so much that I had written down her address and phone number, intending to invite her to meet my family and thus help relieve the terrible emptiness in her life.
It seemed impossible that there could be any connection between these two people, but as I neared my station, I fumbled anxiously in my address book. I asked in what I hoped was a casual voice, “Was your wife’s name Marya?”
He turned pale. “Yes!” he answered. “How did you know?”
He looked as if he were about to faint.
I said, “Let’s get off the train.” I took him by the arm at the next station and led him to a phone booth. He stood there like a man in a trance while I dialed her phone number.
It seemed hours before Marya Paskin answered. (Later I learned her room was alongside the telephone, but she was in the habit of never answering it because she had so few friends and the calls were always for someone else. This time, however, there was no one else at home and, after letting it ring for a while, she responded.)
When I heard her voice at last, I told her who I was and asked her to describe her husband. She seemed surprised at the question, but gave me a description. Then I asked her where she had lived in Debrecen, and she told me the address.
Asking her to hold the line, I turned to Paskin and said, “Did you and your wife live on such-and-such a street?”
“Yes!” Bela exclaimed. He was white as a sheet and trembling.
“Try to be calm,” I urged him. “Something miraculous is about to happen to you. Here, take this telephone and talk to your wife!”
He nodded his head in mute bewilderment, his eyes bright with tears. He took the receiver, listened a moment to his wife’s voice, then suddenly cried, “This is Bela! This is Bela!” and he began to mumble hysterically. Seeing that the poor fellow was so excited he couldn’t talk coherently, I took the receiver from his shaking hands.
“Stay where you are,” I told Marya, who also sounded hysterical. “I am sending your husband to you. We will be there in a few minutes.”
Bela was crying like a baby and saying over and over again. “It is my wife. I go to my wife!”
At first I thought I had better accompany Paskin, lest the man should faint from excitement, but I decided that this was a moment in which no strangers should intrude. Putting Paskin into a taxicab, I directed the driver to take him to Marya’s address, paid the fare, and said goodbye.
Bela Paskin’s reunion with his wife was a moment so poignant, so electric with suddenly released emotion, that afterward neither he nor Marya could recall much about it.
“I remember only that when I left the phone, I walked to the mirror like in a dream to see if maybe my hair had turned gray,” she said later. “The next thing I know, a taxi stops in front of the house, and it is my husband who comes toward me. Details I cannot remember; only this I know—that I was happy for the first time in many years...
Appeal
Appeal
Do you want this?
Do you want to experience:
Meeting Ethiopian Treasurer?
Meeting lost boy in ditch?
Leading husband and wife together?
Begin to pray this prayer
“Lord, I want to do your work today. Please direct me to a divine appointment. Make my heart ready, to listen to the Holy Spirit’s direction.”
Here’s catch.
you must mean it.
must be willing.
change schedule.
change plans.
do radical things.
Listen to God’s voice.
He will guide you.