SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB
JANUARY 26, 2014
HOW CAN I, EXCEPT SOME MAN SHOULD GUIDE ME?
This man, in charge of the national treasury of Ethiopia, not only represents Africa, but also the rest of the non-Jewish world. He did not have the historical background and preparation of a relationship with God on which to build, so his conversion is an ideal guide for s to use when we are talking with others today who are also without that background. It is measured out step by step, We could liken him to the curious web surfer who searching the web stumbles upon a blog and reads it out of curiosity. This is a man, who being favorably impressed with scripture, bought the book of the prophet Isaiah, and as his driver drove toward Gaza, he was reading this newly purchased book. God provided what was lacking in his background. Philip a deacon in the church at Jerusalem, could help him to understand what he was reading.
Acts 8:26-39
It was no coincidence that brought Philip and this man from Ethiopia together. In fact Philip had been busy evangelizing the gospel in Samaria, apparently with great success, when God sent him south toward Gaza. No specific place, or time, juso go. The rest was left up to Philip. We can be certain that he must have wondered that he was sent at the height of his preaching where he was, and told to go to the south. If you ever feel an urge from the Lord to do something, don’t delay. Had he waited a while he would not have been there when the Ethiopian passed that road.
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
This meeting was with no ordinary man. He was the head of the Treasury Department of Ethiopia. God had noted that he had bought a scroll and knew where he would be reading just the right prophecy.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
He was pondering what this meant, at just the same time Philip, the man who could answer him asked “Do you understand what you are reading?”
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and
said, Understandest thou what thou readest? This was no coincidence! This was an arranged meeting, and Philip had the answer at the tip of his tongue. (This prophecy, familiar to Jews but totally known by other nations, was the perfect place to start. and he did, Philip explained:
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
82 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
This man had been in Jerusalem when Christ was crucified, and he probably wondered why Jesus had not defended himself.
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
When he opened the conversation Philip immediately explained the reason he did not. This was where Philip “preached unto him Jesus.”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
He told of the ministry and message of the man who had been crucified in Jerusalem, and what it means to all who believe and obey. We know he preached how to become a Christian, because as soon as they came to a stream across their road, he asked if there was any reason why he could not be baptized!
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And, Philip asked that only question we have to have the answer for. He said, “If you believe with your whole heart, you may!!”
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
If you believe with your whole heart that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, you not only should, but you must, be baptized in the same way as the Ethiopian was.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (The word baptize means immersed.)
The faithful evangelist today will ask that same question, then both you and he will go down into the water, and like him you can come up out of the water a newly born child of God. Your sins will be gone, not because you believe, but because you both believed and obeyed. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) Not just one, but both.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
That Ethiopian not only believed, but he was transformed into a new man, a man who let his light so shine that from this one conversion the church began and spread to Africa through him!
That is why Jesus commanded of every Christian, As ye go (A more accurately translated tense) unto all the world, preach the gospel to every creature.” (Simply put, Be a sower of the word.)
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. He didn’t just pass through. He preached as he passed through. This is what the Lord wants for us.
Last night, my mail included a huge post card showing a tree and it’s roots Across a the ground level were the words “What on earth AM I HERE FOR?”
What we are here for is to do just what Philip did.
“As you go teach.”
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