Week 13, Acts 8:26 40 Hook

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1 Week 13, Acts 8:26 40 Hook Main point: Joining God s mission requires a willingness to follow His voice and study His Word. Historic Event: The Empire State Building was constructed in It stood 1,250 feet high, making it the tallest building in the world, a title it held for more than 40 years. That record has since been bestowed and held by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 2,717 feet. These gigantic skyscrapers face an interesting set of problems such as the issue of wind. Even on a normal day, wind forces can reach upward of 100 mph at the top of these tall buildings. So how do these high winds not cause massive structural issues? The answer: the buildings flex. According to Kate Ascher, author of the book The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper: If a building weren't able to move at the top, then various structural elements might be damaged because of the wind pressure. And some, in earthquake zones, will be designed to move a little bit on their foundations as well so they don't take as much pressure as they would if they were absolutely static

2 Have you ever been to the top of a skyscraper? What was the experience like? Would you describe yourself as flexible person in your daily routines, thoughts and preferences? What is the danger in being an inflexible Christian? What are the benefits of being a flexible Christian? 2

3 Week 13, Acts 8:26 40 Book Main point: Joining God s mission requires a willingness to follow His voice and study His Word. Text Summary: Acts 8:26 40 After experiencing an intense time of ministry with the people of Samaria, Philip is called by God to leave the action and his team of fellow missionaries. Instead of staying in the city where God was clearly at work stirring the hearts of those in attendance, Philip sets out heading south on the main desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. He could have allowed the surprise change in course to foster discouragement or doubt, but Philip s willingness to follow God s direction brings him straight into the path of yet another heart that needed to hear the Gospel. Philip s faithfulness to know and meditate on God s Word allows him to witness to an Ethiopian official in what can only be described as a divinely orchestrated meeting. God uses the Scripture stored up in Philip s heart to flow directly into a presentation of the Gospel in the way the Ethiopian needed to hear it. We see that, through our obedience, God s plan for salvation is accomplished, no matter how surprising the mission field may look. Acts 8:26 29 [Read] Sub-Point: Those on mission with God follow His leading, however unexpected it might seem. Verses 26 27a The passage starts out by highlighting Philip s surprising change in course. In the previous verse, Luke records the continued missionary activity of the other disciples as they remain among the Samaritans, preaching to them as they make their way back to Jerusalem. Rather than allowing Philip to stay where the fruitful action is, God gives Philip a direct message to get up and go on a desert road that leads to Gaza. At this time of day, in a hot and dusty region, it was rare to encounter another traveler, but Philip is obedient to God s direction. In verse 27a, the writer emphasizes Philip s obedience by recording that his actions are exactly what God commanded: So he got up and went. As Marshall notes, this change in plans took him away from the scene of the successful evangelism and led him to a place which must have seemed wholly inappropriate for further Christian work. 2 Philip could have rejected God s plans for what seemed to be a more worthwhile use of his time. But instead, he followed and obeyed. It is interesting to note the similarities between Luke s record of God s leading Philip and the Old Testament narratives of God s leading His prophets. Like Elijah, Philip is filled with the Spirit, working signs and wonders, [and] proclaiming the word of God. Like the men of God 2 Marshall,

4 who came before him, Philip is willing to follow the surprising voice of the Lord. 3 Q: When have you trusted and obeyed God s guidance, only to find yourself in a surprising, difficult, or disappointing situation? Q: Who in your life models obedience to God, regardless of the circumstances or outcome? Verses 27b 29 Philip unexpectedly comes across an Ethiopian official from the court of a queen. The eunuch is reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah after spending time in Jerusalem to worship God. The details provided about this man s life in verses make it clear that although he was a faithful student of the Hebrew Scriptures and faithfully adhered to patterns of Jewish worship, he was not a Jew but an African, from the land of Cush, and he was not welcomed as a convert to the Jewish faith (Deuteronomy 23:1). Apparently, God s instructions led Philip directly to a man who was very different in all ways from the townspeople he had just been ministering to hours earlier. Whether or not one sees this as a turning point in the spreading of the Gospel, extending an invitation of salvation to the Gentiles, it is still evident from the text that this man was at the very fringe of those most likely to join the early church. 4 The Spirit is still very active in guiding Philip s actions and sends him over to remain near the chariot (v. 29). Q: Whom do you naturally prefer witnessing to and why? Q: Whom has God placed in your life as an unexpected Ethiopian eunuch, someone you would least expect to receive the Gospel? Q: How have you seen God prepare a heart for His salvation before you even arrived to speak into that person s life? Acts 2:30 40 [Read] Sub-Point: Those on mission with God know His Word and are equipped to share the Gospel. Verse Philip draws near to the chariot and hears the Hebrew Scriptures being read aloud (v. 30). He doesn t hesitate to offer more information about the prophecies the eunuch is studying. Having been willing thus far to follow the Lord s leading, Philip is now ready to step into the perfect opportunity God has given him to share the Gospel. In verse 31, the eunuch asks for help understanding whom the passage in Isaiah speaks of (vv. 3 Peterson, Peterson,

5 32 33). As Christians, it can be easy to look backward and claim that the obvious answer is Jesus, but to a spiritually blind man being awakened to new sight by the Holy Spirit, the answer is less clear. As Marshall explains, The Old Testament cannot be fully understood without interpretation. Jesus had provided such a key for the disciples, and now Philip was being called upon to help the eunuch in the same way. 5 The Spirit has prepared his heart and now he seeks to know the truth (v. 34). Through all his sermons and time with the disciples, Jesus lifted the veil that obscured the Messianic message God had woven throughout hundreds of years of Scripture. In the end, not everyone could see the truth of who Jesus was, but those who did were blessed (Matthew 8:10, 1:33, 16:17, 27:54). In John 14:26, Jesus promises His disciples the Spirit s presence to bring greater clarity, understanding and wisdom about all that He taught. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that lifts the veil so that people can truly see Jesus in God s Word (1 Corinthians 1:6 16). In verse 35, we see Philip ministering to the eunuch by that same power. We see that Philip is very familiar with the Old Testament because he immediately uses it as a jumping-off point for further Biblical teaching. He also knows the truth of who Jesus is because of what has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. His mind and heart are already prepared to share with the eunuch even though the encounter was unplanned. Q: When you share the Gospel, how do you rely on the Holy Spirit rather than yourself? Q: How has the Holy Spirit given you the words to talk about Jesus with others? Q: What verses have you hidden in your heart that you can use to share the Gospel? Verses The Ethiopian is clearly ready to accept Jesus as his Savior. Philip s teaching about the Bible and the Holy Spirit s work have prepared his heart to respond to the Gospel. Peterson finds the Ethiopian s statement about baptism remarkable, noting that He takes the initiative at this point, signifying a real work of God in his heart (v. 36). 6 Philip would have shared with him much more than is written, for Luke only records the beginning and end of their conversation. The eunuch s mention of baptism shows that Philip was faithful to speak of everything Jesus had commanded His disciples to do when He commissioned them as missionaries to the world (Matthew 28:19 20). Philip then baptizes the Ethiopian (v. 38). Q: What Scriptures do you include when you have a conversation with someone about 5 Marshall, Peterson,

6 following Jesus? Q: How have you seen the Holy Spirit prompt another person s acceptance of the Gospel? Verses The account ends with Philip s being directed again by the Holy Spirit to his next location, bookending the account of the Ethiopian eunuch with a clear statement that the direction and authority of God frames all Gospel encounters. Although God employs Philip s time and abilities, He is ultimately over all the events and lives in these verses. This is a comfort and a conviction to us. God is taking care of all the details, large and small; all we need to do is be faithful and willing. The work of salvation is His to accomplish and He has already prepared the way. We are simply invited to be the mouthpieces through which His message is spoken. 6

7 Week 13, Acts 8:26 40 Took Main point: Joining God s mission requires a willingness to follow His voice and study His Word. Historic Event: Sometimes when things don t go according to plan, the outcome is even better than anticipated. One day Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn, was attempting to bake chocolate cookies. When she realized that she was out of baker s chocolate, she reached for a sweetened chocolate, broke it apart and placed it in the dough. However, instead of melting and creating chocolate cookies, the morsels held the shape and so became the first batch of chocolate chip cookies ever baked. 7 Describe a time that God led you to a different course of action than you had originally set out on. Describe a time when being flexible to God s leading resulted in an outcome that was better than you could have anticipated. Lesson Conclusion: We ve seen in Acts that God moves through His Church in a variety of ways. Sometimes He does what is expected, gathering large crowds to hear inspired preaching or answering prayers for healing in instantaneous and dramatic ways. Sometimes, however, His leading is more of a surprise, teaching the leaders of the early church to trust in His faithfulness, no matter the plan. Philip moves from public preaching to a quiet chariot ride but still experiences the power of the Gospel to redeem a lost heart. It was his faithfulness to obey God s voice and be filled with God s Word that set him up for a successful mission. As we learn to see our everyday lives as the mission field, may we be faithful in speaking to the hearts God has prepared to hear the Gospel message. Challenges Be ready for change God often moves when we least expect it. At first, His leading can seem contrary to common sense. But God is a wise gardener who knows how to prune the actions and directions of our lives so that His will can be accomplished. Reconsider your mission field Pray that God would give you His eyes to see and respond to the people around you. He is doing a greater work than you might initially realize, but He is also faithful to guide you when the time comes for you to join His work in that person s life. Don t forget that the mission of sowing the Gospel begins long before you meet someone who 7 7

8 is lost. God is preparing both of you for that encounter, even now, before you ve ever met. Store up the Word of God When someone asks you a question about life, where do you draw inspiration to respond? The Bible speaks of storing up God s Word in our hearts, that we might be prepared for our daily mission of loving God and serving others. Reading the Bible is not just for our own benefit; it fills us with the power and wisdom of God so that we can be effective as we enter into the lives of others. Consider how you can fill your heart more with Scripture so that it overflows naturally into your conversations. 8