Acts 8:26-35 Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
The prophet Isaiah said, “Oh, how beautiful are the feet of the one carrying the gospel.” So Philip, one of the seven called by the apostles to serve, continued his evangelistic journey. Sent by an angel, he left the city and traveled down a road south of Jerusalem where he encountered a man reading Isaiah. Approaching the man, he was offered a seat in the chariot and the evangelism began.
One of my prayers in the morning is that God would send someone across my path that I can help. I have encountered people in department stores, restaurants and doctors offices, all who allowed me to pray for them. But, these were all believers It has been years since I led someone to Jesus.
We are told in Matt 28 to go and make disciples—it is a clarion call to all Christ followers to share the gospel. When I preached, my benediction each week was, “Take the name of Jesus with you and share Him with all you meet.” But how often do we do that?
In our monthly life group, our leader announced that God is moving him to help transform our group into one that will actively seek out people who are lost, bringing them into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. And my answer is, “Here am I, Lord.”
May we exhibit the love of Jesus in all we do, and may we be empowered to reach out to those in pain or in darkness, and may the Holy Spirit shine the light of truth in all of our lives.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Posted in: Blogs
Seeking Holiness 