3.5.23 5.5.2024 Certain of the Call Acts 8.26-40

The Church has used ordinary people like you and me to lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Each of us has a role because we each move in slightly different circles.

It can be difficult.

It can be daunting.

It can be disheartening.

It can be discouraging.

Not everyone responds positively to the story of Jesus. Some give it lip-service, others are amused, and still others see it as an invitation to take advantage of someone they think naive.

But sharing the story of Jesus can also be invigorating,

Sharing the story of Jesus can be rewarding,

Sharing the story of Jesus is gratifying.

Some of you are missing out. And those you are called to reach; are missing out.

There are lots of people that will only listen to someone who is as close to them as you are.

You might say “I can't. I can't tell someone about Jesus. I am not smart enough, I don't know enough Bible, I am not persuasive...I'm just not able.”

Engage:

This will sound blunt, I have found that

Can't do it talent is often the product of won't do it will.

God equips us when we are

responsive rather than resistant

to the Holy Spirit,

God uses us when we are

available rather than absent,

for the lost around us

God galvanizes our energy when we are

motivated rather than missing.

from our mutual work of telling the story.

Acts 8:26–40 (ESV)

26Once upon a time, 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?”

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.

Expand: Philip was clearly capable. More important he was available. What made Philip so able? And how do we compare?

Excite:

He was saved by Jesus.

So are you.

He was biblically sound.

What about You? You can and should be.

He was responsive to the Spirit…

What about you?

Let me repeat maybe you are not able, because you are not willing. Maybe you have allowed won't to define your can't. God's Holy Spirit indwells believers to surface gifts, provide guidance, and transform our will. You are supposed to be someone’s hero! They are waiting for you to allow the Spirit to make you in reality, what God has called you to be.

Explore:

The Holy Spirit can empower you to be the messenger in someone’s story of salvation.

Explain: The Holy Spirit needs you to cultivate good habits of responding to His prompting….

You have to be...

1. Compliant.

Obedience should make us

1.1 Flexible.

(This is Philip’s third (of four) distinctive ministry situations.)

It was not what he was “called to do”

We don’t know how it fit into his “gifts” profile.

He did what was needed, when it was needed.

To be compliant is to be

1.2 Available.

1.3 Present.

Philip paid attention. He was able respond when he saw a need.

Wherever we are we must be wholly “there.” Even if it’s stopping at a connivence store along the interstate.

God gets us to the “where” when we are available.

We get ourselves to the “who” and the “what” when we pay attention.

1.4 Responsive.

Which leads to the next habit, we need to develop the habit of...

2. Connection.

2.1 Observation.

You can observe a lot just by watching. —Yogi Berra, attributed

Yogi Berra

And, if you look with the heart of Christ you can see seekers, you can observe the hurting, you can comfort the grieving.

I think it would do us some good if every Christian, at least once in their life, was..

In a bar

Bars are filled with lonely, lost people.

In a casino

Casinos are filled with desperate, discouraged people.

In an airport

Airports are filled with wandering, working, and wondering people.

When we see someone in difficult circumstances our observation can lead to

2.2 Conversation.

Begin with the basics. Earn people’s trust. Be interested—and try to be interesting.

Conversation leads to

2.3 Interrogation.

Not like you’re from the FBI or CIA—like you’re a friend with a solution to their problem(s).

If someone is clearly having a bad day find out why. If someone is in distress help them name the problem. If someone needs to know Jesus, you will need to talk to them to find out.

Finally, you will need to cultivate habits which make you...

3 Capable.

...an able, capable evangelist

3.1 Integrates the whole Bible.

Read it, listen to it preached and taught, apply it.

A capable evangelist

3.2 Instructs about Jesus.

It’s not about you, it’s about HIM. The Gospels are public information. It takes basic training to tell the story of Jesus.

Phillip was able to begin with a text from Isaiah and use it as a springboard to the Gospel.

Jesus is the lens through which we read the entire scripture.

At times we get to begin with a New Testament text. Other times a psalm, a story of David, a historical remembrance, or like here, with a text from one of the prophets.

Wherever we start our goal is to get to Jesus.

A capable evangelist

3.3 Invests in the outcome.

We invest in the outcome of faith in Jesus. We are not in a position to insist. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit brings saving faith. It is rude, insensitive, and impersonal to try and insist someone have faith in Jesus.

You are recommending a relationship not selling a vacuum cleaner!

Somebody's Hero:

For someone, you will be essential. Not because of your own strengths and abilities but because of your submission, because of your compassion, because of your reliance upon Jesus and His word. You will show and tell someone the story of Jesus and their whole life will change and their eternal destiny will be reversed.

Because you where there.

Because you were curious.

Because you were ready.

That's what the Church does. The heart of worship is preparing the body to do what God calls us to do in our world.

On the way,

in the world,

at Work,

in relationships.

The Holy Spirit indwells us to point others to Jesus through us. The Biblical method of Church growth is to tell the story of Jesus leading people to Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to become somebody's hero this week.

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