3.6.26 5.24.2020 Acts 8.26-40 When The Spirit comes to Town He Makes you the Hero of Somebody's Story
When The Spirit Comes to Town • Sermon • Submitted
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Somebody's Waiting on You.
Somebody's Waiting on You.
Entice:
You are supposed to be someone's Hero.
You are supposed to be someone's Hero.
Not their Savior...but their Storyteller.
Not their Savior...but their Storyteller.
Not their Messiah...but their messenger.
Not their Messiah...but their messenger.
Not their forgiver, just a friend.
Not their forgiver, just a friend.
I know It can be difficult. It can be daunting. It can be disheartening. It can be discouraging. But it can also be invigorating, rewarding, gratifying. Some of you are missing out. More importantly those you are called to reach; are missing out. 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:
Can't do it talent is often the product of won't do it will.
Can't do it talent is often the product of won't do it will.
It is amazing how able you become when you are responsive to the Holy Spirit, rather than resistant-available rather than absent, motivated rather than missing.
26 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.
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 a multi-tool team player. One of the first deacons, when driven from Jerusalem he became a powerful preacher and an engaging public evangelist. And now he engages in one-on-one personal evangelism. What made Philip so able?
Excite: He was saved by Jesus. So are you. He was biblically sound. What about You? (read the Bible, Study, listen to it preached, taught…then live it) 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 someones 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.
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.
1. Compliant.
1.1 Flexible.
1.1 Flexible.
(This is Philip’s third (of four) distinctive ministry situations.)
1.2 Available.
1.2 Available.
1.3 Observant.
1.3 Observant.
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.
1.4 Responsive.
You will need to develop the habit of...
2. Connection.
2. Connection.
2.1 Observation
2.1 Observation
2.2 Conversation.
2.2 Conversation.
2.3 Interrogation.
2.3 Interrogation.
You will need to cultivate habits which make you...
3 Capable.
3 Capable.
...an able, capable evangelist
3.1 Integrates the whole Bible.
3.1 Integrates the whole Bible.
3.2 Instructs about Jesus.
3.2 Instructs about Jesus.
3.3 Invests in an outcome.
3.3 Invests in an 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:
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 tell someone the story of Jesus and their whole life will change and their eternal destiny will be reversed. Because you where there. You were curious. 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. The past several weeks have reminded us that the most essential work of ministry takes place in hearts...not buildings. On the way, in the world, in relationships. The Spirit comes to town to bring glory to God by preparing and dispersing God's people with words of hope and salvation. Let the Spirit lead you to become somebody's hero this week.