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Acts 8:26-40, "God Works...." · Clifford Baptist

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  Speaker A: Welcome to Truth for the Journey from Clifford Baptist Church, 635 Flecheslobel Road in Amherst. Today's scripture is Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 through 40. And the sermon is entitled God Works, delivered today by pastor Jeffrey Campbell.
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  Speaker B: I'm preaching on Sunday morning through Luke. I'm preaching on Wednesday night in the book of Matthew, and I'm going in school through the book of Acts. So if I say Acts or Luke or Matthew out of, just forgive me. But tonight, part of that work in school is that I have to develop and present and teach a lesson from the book that is meaningful. So tonight you walked in number one. There are prayer sheets back there on that little table there. But there's also a sheet of questions. And I don't care, really, what you do with these questions. I'm the teacher. I can do what I want. Right. But if you want to work through those questions, maybe as we're going through this lesson tonight, you want to work through those questions. Don't put your name on it. Slip it back to me at the end of the end of the night. That would be great. It'll go towards my final summation of everything. But maybe those questions will cause you just to think about where you are in your own life and how God's working in your life and how God can move you and place you, and why God uses persecution and the uprising within the church to move people where he needs them to be. And so tonight, that's kind of where we are. We're in the book of Acts, and so that's why we're studying tonight. So I've already submitted this that I'm teaching it tonight. I hope it's approved because we're going to go ahead with it. And Acts, chapter number eight, some very familiar scripture. I want to start out with a little story about Gladys Allward. She was a poor housemaid in the 1930s. She desired to do mission work in China, but she was rejected by one of the mission companies because she had a hard time learning the language of Chinese and she had limited education. So for those two reasons, the mission organization turned her down and said that she was not able to go do missions in China. But she did not accept no for an answer, and I'm grateful for that. What she decided to do is she decided to raise her own money. She went to work, she raised her own money. She traveled alone to reach the country of China, and she began her work there in an Orphanage. In 1938, as Japan was invading China, Gladys took 90 orphan children by foot across the mountains in order to reach safety. Very true story. You can read about it. But as we think about that, one of the things that she did, she said, I asked for God's help every step of the way, from how to get to China to as the war descended upon the nation, leading those children across the mountains to get out of dangers. And through rejection and fear and lack of comfort and war, God worked as she made a lasting impact on the children that the Lord had sent her to. And so we think sometimes when one door closes, you get a no or you get a not yet. That's the end of the road. And through this story, and through the story we're going to see tonight, it's amazing how God works, how he opens and how he closes those doors. So tonight I want to start with a question, and that is this. Can you put your finger on how God is working in your life right now? I don't want you to go back 20 years and say, God used to. No, that's not what I'm asking. I don't want you to look ahead and say, I desire. But tonight, can every one of us put a finger on how God is working, how God is using you in his big kingdom, work. My prayer is that we can. But honestly, tonight there's probably some people, somebody in this room that says, pastor, I can't put a finger on how God's using me right now. My prayer is that tonight that this lesson will challenge us in three different ways of how God works in our life. So acts, chapter number eight. We're going to start with verses 26 through 28. Acts 8, 26. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, arise and go toward the go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning and sitting in his chariot reading Esaias or Isaiah, the prophet. Point number one. Tonight, God works in divine appointments. God works in divine appointments. How many of you know that there's no accidents in God's realm of things? I believe that with my whole heart there are no accidents when it comes to God. But when we look at God and how he works and how he moves, especially the early church in Acts in it is amazing. I don't know if you read Acts like I read Acts, but I read Acts like, hey, Lord, I want to see 3,000 people saved in one day. And sometimes pridefully, I say, if you use my sermon, that'd be all right, too. We want growth. We want people to know the Lord. We want our churches to grow. But it's amazing what these lessons in Acts teach us. It's the life that they lived out day by day, and it was a part of the church. And it's amazing to see how that gospel spread. One of the ways the gospel spread and the message of Jesus spread in the early years in the early church was that through Philip, who is listed as an evangelist. He's also a deacon. But what we see in his life is God uses him in the beginning as one of the seven that are selected in Acts chapter six. You can go back and read that to minister to those that were upset, the widows that were upset, that were not getting the attention. The church set apart seven to go and minister to these women. Those are the first deacons that we see. And Philip was one of the seven. So that's where we first pick him up on Scripture. And then we see him moving out and he is working and God is using him. If you also want to read, you can read how the persecution of the church in the beginning of Acts 8 moves Philip to Samaria. You can read that in the beginning of chapter eight of Acts. And so Philip is just being obedient. The pressure is coming. The people are moving out to try to get away from some of that persecution. But God is using the persecution to push the people further out with the Gospel message. And so Philip goes to Samaria. And in the beginning of chapter number eight, we can see that. You see in verse number five, it says, philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. That's all he did. He went and shared the truth of Christ in Samaria. And that city is overjoyed with what is going on. They were very receptive. And we see the Lord working there in Samaria in the beginning of chapter eight. And then as we move to verses 26 through 28, here's what happens. We see that an angel of God directs Philip to leave Samaria, go to the desert of Gaza and work. Now, if you read it like I read it, you got something good going on in Samaria. God, you're going to move me, and of all places, you're going to send me to the desert. Yeah, just what I want to do, God. But sometimes when things are going good like they were in Samaria, we think that that's what God's will is forever. And what we see is, it's not. Things were going good in Samaria. People were coming to know the Lord. Philip was preaching, things were going good. And then the Lord says, okay, Philip, I need you to move. I need you to go down toward Gaza. Got a special assignment for you. And he uses the angel of the Lord to direct him to do that. And verse number 27 says simply this. He arose and went. There's a lot that I could stay right there, but I'm not about being obedient, simply just listening to what God wants you to do and do it. You don't have all the answers. You don't know what's going on. You're just faithfully being obedient to where God leads you. And you're going to do it. You're going to be obedient. You're going to go, go, and you're going to see what the Lord does. And that's exactly what Philip does. In verse number 27, as Philip is going there, he runs into or he meets an Ethiopian man, a eunuch that held great responsibility. And one of the things that I noticed that kind of jumps off the pages is that he is going to Jerusalem to worship. But listen, this man is not a believer. He thinks he is, but he's going to Jerusalem. And what we see later on, he's really not a believer. But how does Philip find him? What's he doing when Philip finds him? He's reading the book of Isaiah. We see that in verse number 28. And so maybe tonight you think that as we read this, yes, God's moving him from a good thing to the desert place. And on his way there, he encounters this eunuch. Maybe you say that's coincidence or luck or an accident, but I want you to see tonight, this is a providential meeting. This is God orchestrated. And this eunuch needs the Lord, but he needs Philip to explain what the scriptures mean to him. I'm grateful tonight that God works through divine appointments. And as you go about your days, God wants to use you in a similar way that he uses Philip. By the people that you encounter and the people that you run into. God uses us through those direct appointments. I'm grateful that as Paul writes to the Corinthians, he says this, a great effective door is open unto me. That's how I began to look at each day. There's opportunity to witness for the Lord every single day. And God will open those moments for effective ministry to happen. And that responsibility falls on our shoulders. So it's the work of God, but there's human responsibility involved. We must be obedient. So the next time that the gas man comes to your house to fill up your tank, or you walk into Walmart and you bump into somebody, or you ride the elevator with somebody, I love those elevators. I got them trapped. Divine appointments. Maybe tonight, as you are putting your finger on how God's working in your life, you know there's someone in your life that you need to share the hope of the gospel with. They're close to you. It's going to be a hard conversation. It's awkward. But you know, deep down inside, this is what you need to do, and you've been putting it off. Divine appointments. God works through them. Look at verse number 29, 29 through 35. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, go near and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the prophet Esaias and said, understandest thou what thou readest? 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. 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. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. And who shall declare his generation for for his life is taken from the earth? And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him, Jesus. Point number two. Tonight God works in declaring his word. God works in declaring his word. This eunuch is sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah. And in verse number 29, it doesn't tell us that Philip is being nosy, that he's checking out what's going on. He's interested in his chariot. He just says this in verse number 29, that the Spirit said to Philip, go and get in a chariot. It's amazing to me how connected Philip is with God, that the Holy Spirit is navigating his every move, telling him where to go and telling him when to go, and telling him how he needs to do this. Go get in that chariot. And so we see that connection with God, that the Holy Spirit is directing him very regularly. And as Philip is obedient to God's leading the eunuch, remember who is wealthy and has power as the overseer of the finances of the queen. Of Ethiopia. He walks up to that eunuch, and that eunuch, remember, is studying from the book of Isaiah. And he just says this, that. Do you understand what you're reading now? I don't know how many of you have ever read through the book of Isaiah. I don't always understand what I'm reading, right? But at this particular section, Philip overhears. Philip knows where he is. But more importantly, Philip knows who the scripture is about. And as he asked that question, do you need help to understand what you are reading? In verse number 31, that eunuch says this. How can I except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. Come on up in the chariot and explain this scripture to me. I'm grateful tonight that as we think about the word of God and the power that it holds, as they began to read it, God ordained not only the meeting and the sending, but God ordained the place in which the eunuch was studying. And as he tries to comprehend from where we know of Isaiah 53, 7, 8, there was somebody that was led as a sheep to the slaughter. The eunuch is desiring to know, who is this man who's being led to be slaughtered like a lamb? Is it Isaiah or is it some other man? As Philip opens his mouth, he uses scripture to begin. I love that. But then we simply see this. He points to Jesus. He preaches Jesus. The man that is led to be slaughtered is Jesus. God works when his Word is declared. And so tonight, if you don't get any other point, any other thing from this lesson, here's what I hope you understand. When you get in the Word of God, and the Word of God gets in you, it's amazing what God will do through his Word. Philip knew the Word. Philip knew who it was speaking of. And Philip was allowed to help this eunuch understand the meaning of Scripture. I'm grateful for God's orchestration of this meeting. But also, as we understand Isaiah, there are many situations where I don't know what I want to say, or I don't know what I'm going to say, or I don't know what I'm getting myself into. And you've just got to trust the Lord. I don't know that Philip held a PhD of any sorts. But Philip was a willing vessel and he allowed God and the Word of God to work through his life. And so tonight you may sit there and say, I don't know the answers to questions. I'm nervous about what I may get into or I don't know what I'm going to say if somebody were to ask me a question. Join the club. But it's amazing when we carry the Bible not only around in our hands, but our hearts, that God will give us the answer. So that's the challenge when we as believers declare the truth of God's word. God works. I love Isaiah 55:11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return to me. Say it again. It shall not return to me void. You know that scripture. It will accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing where I sent it. God's word has a purpose. I love Hebrews 4:12. The word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and joints and marrow. And a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God's word is powerful. And so tonight I think we can see the importance not necessarily of Philip preaching, but Philip knowing the word of God and knowing the God of the word. And my prayer is, you do as well. There's one more point in how God works. And it comes from verse 36 through 40. 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 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. 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. And when they were come up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord called away Philip. And the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Astos a passing through. He preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Point number three. God works when we defer to his will. God works when we defer to his will. Philip has finished his preaching and so they move along. He's riding in a chariot now and I'm sure there's conversation going on between the two. And as they come upon this body of water, we see that the spirit is still working in the eunuch's heart and in his mind. And he just asks a question. What's stopping me from being baptized? There's water. I believe this gives a beautiful picture of how we respond to the work of God in our life. The eunuch wants to be baptized and wonders what's stopping that. Philip responds, do you believe in Jesus? Listen to these words with all your heart. The eunuch responds, I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God. I don't know that scripture tells this. This is just my sanctified imagination. The chariot locks up and they jump off and they immediately go baptizing. They couldn't stop the chariot fast enough. Because before Philip, this eunuch is saying, yes, I believe Jesus is the son of God. And so with that, he's baptized. Do you believe Jesus with all your heart? We can go round and round. We could spend the rest of the night talking about what that really means deep down at the center core of who you are. Do you believe Jesus is the son of God? And here's what that eunuch says. Absolutely I do. For the third time in this little bit of section that we read, we see that the spirit moves again. God worked through an angel. God's spirit moved Philip toward that eunuch. And then the spirit of God works in a miraculous way as it just takes Philip and moves him on down the road as he was supernaturally moved on to the city of Ashdod. That's halfway between Joppa and Gaza, the place where God intended him to go anyway. That's where Philip went. And the Bible tells us the eunuch was on his way, rejoicing. Where was the eunuch going? Home. That's exactly right. Maybe just reading your Bible, you don't realize what's happening. Here's what's happening. God is taking Philip and moving him along somewhere else that needs the gospel. But God's taken this new believer that is rejoicing in what he has found the truth of the gospel, that Jesus is the son of God and he's taken and he's letting him go back to his home country of Africa. The gospel is on the move. How many times have we felt the Lord leading us to do something, and we tell him, not yet, or I can't, or I don't know. As Philip defers to the Lord's leading throughout this section of scripture, throughout this trip, it's amazing to see how God is still using this evangelist to proclaim the truth of the gospel, The Ethiopian eunuch. He has been changed. He has been saved, and now he carries the good news back to his homeland. We can see that God works through his people by his spirit, by divine appointments, by his word being declared, and by people saying, okay, God, I will follow your will. I will defer to you instead of what I want. And so tonight, this little simple school assignment has challenged me in more ways than I could ever imagine. And I pray that it has challenged you. Number one. Is God working? If so, how? And how does God want to use you to move the truth of the gospel to other folks, other people, even other countries? Will we be those willing vessels open, praying that, yes, God is working in our lives? Let's pray, Father. Thank you, Lord, for tonight. Lord, thank you just for opening my eyes to the wondrous truth that your word beholds. In many ways. We may feel inadequate, unprepared, unworthy of the greatest news in all the world. My prayer tonight, God, is that you will just take this little church, fill us with your spirit and guide us, O Lord, in such a way that the gospel not only transforms our lives, but it moves to other places in a powerful way. God, I'm not praying for 3,000 to be saved in one day. I'm praying, Lord, that you will change just one. Just one. Fill them with the hope and the truth of Jesus. Lord, as we end tonight, Lord, you will use your church, your people, to spread the gospel. That is your plan. So I pray, Lord, that you will give your people boldness and surrender as we look to you for those divine appointments. As we look to you, as you fill us with your word and we declare the truth of it, oh God, as we defer to your will, our prayer tonight is thy will be done through the life of your people here at Clifford Baptist Church. We surrender that to you tonight. And we pray that you use us now. In Jesus name. Amen.
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  Speaker A: Clifford Baptist Church invites you to join us for worship every Sunday morning at 11am for more information about our church, please call our church office at 434-946-0555.