THE BUSINESSMAN'S STATUS

A SALVATION WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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TEXT: ACTS 8:26-39

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. 29And 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.

What an insightful, instructive and intriguing story of salvation. We are reminded that God is interested in people being saved. That is a mighty good word because everyone you know and everyone I know all need to be saved. Saved from:

· The penalty of sin

· The power of sin

· The pain of sin

· The punishment of sin

· Ultimately the presence of sin

This word about the salvation experience of the Ethiopian Eunuch teaches us that God’s desire is that lost people be saved. I think I ought to say again that is mighty good news. Salvation is something to shout about. No wonder the record declares that when this African Nobleman found Jesus “he went on his way rejoicing.” Look at someone and remind them there is joy in finding Jesus. Yes there is, yes, oh yes, hallelujah yes! There is joy in finding Jesus.

Luke the beloved Physician and brilliant Church historian gives us a glimpse of the beginning and early rise and growth of the Church of Christ. Salvation had been brought down in that dramatic event that took place on Pentecost. Peter that once fallen but now faithful servant of the Lord stood up with the other apostles and declared the saving message of the risen Lord. We are told that 3000 souls responded in obedience to that message of salvation and were saved. The church of Christ was born.

Luke later informs us how another 5000 were added to the Church. Soon so many people were being saved that they stop adding and started multiplying. Acts 6:1

“Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying…,” NKJV

It was a time of persecution against the church at Jerusalem. Stephen was stoned. The saints were scattered abroad. Saul was making havoc of the church. Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. The Greek word for “scattered” is diasparentes. The verb means, “to sow in separated places.”

As the saints were forced to leave Jerusalem they continued to sow the seed of the Kingdom. They were rewarded with a great harvest of souls. Not everyone can be the preacher but all of us can be a “reacher.” We can take the saving message of our magnificent Savior to a lost and dying world.

Philip the Evangelist went down to Samaria and preached the word. Many responded to his preaching those things concerning the “kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.”

The scene shifts from his ministry to the masses to his study with a single soul. I’m so glad that God is not just interested about the many, He is concerned about me. He is concerned about all those who have ever been:

Burdened with battles Loaded with loathsomeness Overcome with obstacles Crushed with calamities Mutilated with miseries Frustrated with failures Drowning with difficulties Disgusted with depravity Disguised with defilement Chained with corruption Spoiled with sin Saturated with shame Worn with wretchedness Tormented with temptation Engulfed with emptiness Infirmed with iniquity

We are introduced to an African businessman from Ethiopia. This is an indicator that black folks were people of significance and status before they were people in slavery. I think it might be helpful to remember that our story does not begin in slavery. Our story like all such stories begin in the sovereignty of God.

In this series we want to spend time examining the salvation experience of this Ethiopian businessman. Today we want to examine his status. As we ponder the passage there are three truths threaded into the tapestry of the text. They form the substance of the sermon and offers the homiletical hinges on which this message swings. Notice; THE IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS CHRONICLED, THE IMPECCABLE CHARACTER CONSIDERED, and THE IMPORTANT CONCLUSION COMPREHENDED.

I. THE IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS CHRONICLED (VS 26-28)

Luke the physician turned historian informs us that this Ethiopian was a man of station, standing, and of status. Here was a man of respect, reputation and renown. He possessed some seriously impressive credentials.

A. HIS POSITION- We meet a man Luke declares had “great authority” (vs. 27). The Greek word is dunastes, from which our English word dynasty is derived. This word has to do with the royal and regal authority granted to one connected to a ruling monarch.

This man’s position wasn’t gripped, grasped or grabbed by his own self will. It was granted to him by the Queen. Candace was the royal title of Ethiopia’s Queens in the same way Pharaoh was the title of Egypt’s Kings.

This was a man of power, privilege, and prestige. He has risen from slavery to significance. He is a trusted, valued servant of the Queen. We are told he is actually the Queen’s treasurer. He is the queen’s minister of finance. Isn’t this a timely reminder that it is not where you are from but where you are going? Oh my brothers and sisters it is not where you start but where you stand that matters most. I think I ought to tell our young people with hard work, determination and faith in God you can rise above whatever conditions of life that try to confine you, limit you and restrict you.

What really impresses me about this man of position is his apparent recognition that life’s reality must be found in more than your professional position. So many make the mistake of thinking that because they are successful in business that don’t need Jesus and His church. Hear me when I tell you it is possible to be a professional success and a personal failure.

This tragic trend is all around us. The higher the person climbs on the corporate ladder the more he neglects his wife and family and even the God of heaven that blessed him with his position in the first place. Listen to me businessman, businesswoman go ahead and handle your business just don’t forget that one day you will have to do business with God. 2 Cor 5:10-11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” NKJV

The business man of our text seemed to recognize a hunger within each of us that cannot be satisfied with anything the world has to offer. This man seemed to know that our:

· Positions or prestige

· Status or station

· Recognition or renown

Cannot eliminate the spiritual realities of life.

Unfortunately some people the higher they climb professionally the lower they fall spiritually. Oh my brothers and sisters whatever is your status you need God. No matter your status, if you are:

· In who’s who or in who will probably never be who

· In the halls of justice or you just sweep the halls

· Where everybody knows your name or nobody pays you attention

· A big shot or somebody with no shot at all

You need God! When the storms of life are raging you need God. When death comes creeping into your room, you need God. When crossing that chilled stream to that distant land beyond the river you need God. When it comes to dying time your status in life will not matter only your standing before God will matter.

B. HIS POSSESSIONS- this business man was probably a person of great wealth. We know he is a person of position and his positions would come with a certain level of financial security

The journey from Ethiopia to Jerusalem and back would certainly have been an expensive undertaking. Notice also that he possessed a personal copy of the scroll of the book of Isaiah. Often a whole community of Jews would join in to buy a set of scrolls for their synagogue. This man had his own personal copy. Notice further that in verse 38 we are told that he commanded “the chariot” and not the horses to stand still. It is very likely that he is commanding the driver of the chariot to stop. It would be highly unusual for a man of his position to travel alone. I believe this man is in the back of the chariot reading the scroll of Isaiah, something that would be difficult to do while at the same time handling the horses.

My point is this man is very likely a man of means, a person with much possessions. Yet this man seemed to understand that you can’t allow what you possess to possess you. You can’t allow what you own to own you. Jesus declared “a man’s life does not consist of the abundance …” (Luke 12:15).

There are people who are convinced that since they have money they don’t need the master. No sir, that is crazy. Jesus declared “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his soul…” (Matt. 16:26).

There are some things money can’t do and some things money can’t buy. Money can buy:

· A bed, but not sleep

· Books, but not brains

· Finery, but not beauty

· Food, but not an appetite

· Medicine, but not heatlth

· Luxury, but not culture

· Amusement, but not happiness

· Physical gratification but not love

This man seems to have recognized that it is not enough to have something in your pockets but nothing in your person. It is ok to have a lot in your hands but what you really need is to have the Lord in your heart.

II. THE IMPECCABLE CHARACTER CONSIDERED

I tell you this man had a lot for which he should be admired. I declare he has a lot going for him.

A. HIS HONESTY- I believe when we meet this man we are being introduced to an honest man. I mean after all he is the treasurer of the Queen. You don’t think she would trust a dishonest person with her treasure do you?

I am very likely talking to some honest folks up in here this morning. If you will ever be saved, if you will ever know the joy of salvation and the peace of sanctification and the hope of glorification you will have to come with an open honest heart.

Hear me when I tell you that not everyone who claims they want to go to heaven are being honest about it. Some people come to Church in pretense.

In the 10th chapter of Mark’s good news about Jesus we meet a man who came to Jesus in pretense. He claimed he wanted eternal life but when he was confronted with the demands of discipleship the bible says he was grieved and left.

To all of our guest, visitors and friends this morning don’t make this same mistake. Don’t leave grieved.

When it is lovingly and biblically pointed out that the Lord promised to build one church (Matt. 16:18, Ephes. 1:22-23, 4:4)

· When we compassionately and correctly point out to be a part of any denomination is wrong because you are a part of that which Jesus prayed against (John 17:20-21)

The way to show you have an honest heart is to simply do what the bible says to do when you are confronted with the facts. It takes an honest heart if you want to be:

· Washed in the blood

· Dug up by the plow sheareres of the gospel

· Lifted by His love

· Touched by His goodness

· Transformed by His truth

· Strengthened by His might

· Comforted by His presence

· Born into His family

· Added to His church

· Sat down at a welcome table

· Called by His name

· Saved by His grace

B. HIS SINCERITY- In this African nobleman we are dealing with a man who is sincere. He is serious, he is not playing or pretending. He is trying to discover the will of God for his life.

I believe he is sincere because of the effort it took him to make this trip all the way from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship. I know people who want even cross the street. This was a trip by some estimates of about 1100 miles not in a comfortable plane or in an air conditioned car, he was riding in a chariot. I declare this man was serious and sincere about being saved.

There are so many people who are not really serious, they are not very sincere. They fail to realize how crucial, how critical it is to make your calling and election sure. Hear me when I tell you we don’t have time to waste time.

Time is a strange thing. We say it’s precious. We talk about making the most of it. We claim there is never enough of it, and we wish we had more of it. We personify it by saying, “It flies, it crawls, it’s on our side, or it’s against us.” We equate it with money. We experience the best of it and the worst of it, consume books, tapes, and seminars that teach us how to manage it. We buy expensive gadgets that promise to help us better organize it.

Around the world and throughout the ages, we have developed a million different ways to measure it. And then we turn around and use time to measure our lives. On just about every tombstone, you can determine the number of years a person lived by subtracting the birthday from the death date. But is that the best measurement of a life? The length of a life says little about the impact of that life or the legacy it leaves behind.

Time waits for no one. It doesn't care if you're having a bad hair day, and it doesn't have sympathy because you stayed up partying the night before. It cannot hold on, slow down, back up, or come back here. It won't obey your command to "wait a minute" or "let me catch my breath:" It is moving ahead without regard to your plans or priorities. It isn't against you or for you. And as the Bible says 457 times in the King James Version, time "came to pass"; it didn't come to stay.

If you are really serious and sincere about being saved you will respond to the call and claim of God on your life immediately while you still have the time. The truth is you may not always have time.

III. THE IMPORTANT CONCLUSION COMPREHENDED

With all this man had going for him there is an important conclusion that I don’t want you to miss. Listen to me when I tell you that in spite of this man’s impressive credentials and his impeccable character, at this point in the incident he was still lost.

A. HE HAD SINCERITY WITHOUT SALVATION- No one can question this man’s honesty and sincerity. The problem he faced is the same problem many face today. Just because you are sincere does not mean you are saved. You can be honest and honestly mistaken. You can be sincere and sincerely mislead.

Please hear me today when it comes to salvation you can’t trust what you feel in your soul. You can only trust what you find in the scriptures. Just because you honestly and sincerely believe something to be true does not mean it is true. Let me share with you a scriptural passage that makes this point. Gen 37:31-35

So they took Joseph's tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, "We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?" 33 And he recognized it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces." 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." Thus his father wept for him. NKJV

Jacob was absolutely convinced that his son Joseph was dead. His grief was deep, genuine and sincere. Jacob was totally sincere in the emotions he expressed because he honestly believed that Joseph was dead. He was sincere but he was wrong. Jacob had been misled.

It could be you have been misled. I do not question you sincerity, I simply remind you salvation is too important to trust your feelings. You have to know the facts. The fact is if you have not obeyed the gospel as it is presented in scripture sincere though you may be, you are not saved. The fact is if what you obeyed made you something religiously other than what they became in scripture which is a Christian, a member of the Church of Christ, you are not saved.

I know that may be hard to hear. Listen to me rather than being upset they you have been misled why not be thankful to God that He has led you hear today to hear and obey the truth.

B. HE HAD A RELIGION WITHOUT A RELATIONSHIP- When we meet this man we are meeting a religious man. The question today is not do you have religion. The question is do you have a relationship with the risen Lord. You can’t be saved by hearing:

· Denominational dogma

· Ecclesiastical edicts

· Traditional theories

· Scientific speculations

If you want to be saved you must hear the truth of the Gospel. You must hear the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You will never be saved by whims of men. You can only be saved by the word of God. John 8:30-32

30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV

If you want to be a follower of Jesus you must “abide” in His word. The word translated “abide” is the Greek word MENO. It means, “to remain or to continue”. There is no way to be a follower of Jesus and you not continue and remain in His word.

If you want to experience freedom, that only comes from knowing the truth. There is only one thing in the world that will set a person free. Only the truth will set you free. Someone may ponder with Pilate, “what is truth?” John 17: 17

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. NIV.

conclusion

The great news this African businessman is to discover is the same news I share with you. SALVATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT DOWN:

Jesus gave his life a ransom yonder on Calvary,

On Mount Calvary, cruel Calvary. Paved the way by sin that we might win a bright shining crown. Praise his holy name, Salvation has been bought down. Go and shout and tell the world around

Go preach it and tell it today To people in sorrow, Tell it today and tell it tomorrow, Preach the word of God that we might win a crown

Tell the lost, salvation is full and free, Spread the news all over the land and sea, Tell it afar, in every nation Tell it afar, all over creation, Praise the Lord, Salvation has been brought down! PRAISE THE LORD:

· THE DEBT IS CANCELED, THE BURDEN IS LIFTED

· THE PRICE IS PAID, THE WAY IS CLEAR

· THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED, THE TIME IS NOW

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