Acts 14 – Rise & Go - Acts 8:26-40
Let me share with you something I haven’t shared in a long time
but something forever ETCHED in my mind
The first major spiritual attack against this church
was especially hard on me & my family
In fact - the wounds of that attack are still very sensitive
& in the midst of a battle I found myself asking God
WHY did you send us here ??
I know it wasn’t just to get beat up & be taken out by the enemy
So . . . WHY God, WHY?
& during that time I had a dream,
& I don’t have many dreams like this
most of my dreams are pure crazy, like most of yours
but this one stuck with me as a message from God
I saw a living room in an older house, possibly a mobile
The carpet was multicolored long shag from the 70’s
in various shades - of burnt orange
& sitting in the middle of the floor in that living room was a young boy
playing with his toys, & oblivious to everything around him
& God spoke to my heart that night very clearly
& He said to me “you’re here for ONE PERSON”
& I wasn’t clear if it was THAT child, or even who that child was
but God’s encouragement to me that night was CLEAR
I had come expecting something different -
but God let me know - I brought you here for ONE PERSON!
So STOP worrying about the battles, the attacks, or the struggles
& remember you are here for one person,
& I’ve never Forgotten that
Our text today - is about God calling Philip to RISE & GO
for the Benefit of ONE PERSON
& so this text REALLY speaks a lot to me
Last week - Philip was leading a Revival that was off the hook
Simon the magician had been defeated
The entire town was being SAVED & HEALED & DELIVERED
The Spiritual Fruit is MASS PRODUCING - - -
& suddenly the Lord tells Philip - take a hike
Literally TAKE A HIKE
to barren place in the middle of the DESERT
So Philip begins a 60 MILE Walk - AWAY from a city-wide Revival
toward a lonely desert road - and ONE person
It would have been pretty easy to get discouraged right there
Put yourself in Philip’s place. You’re not even one of the Twelve,
but suddenly you’re leading the First Revival of the N.T.
& suddenly God says - RISE & GO - to the Desert ??
Maybe we would’ve said: “Lord, Have I done something wrong?
Is there some other way we can work this out?
You know - I’ve got an entire city being saved here,
are you sure there’s not someone else
we can send to handle that - Desert thing
Maybe That’s how WE would’ve responded
But that’s NOT how Philip responded
Philip was ready to serve anywhere anytime
& he’s a WONDERFUL example - for you & I to follow
So - Philip’s got a Revival exploding in Samaria,
& right in the midst of it - we read in
Acts 8:26 (esv)
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.
(LIT - that last sentence is “this is a barren or uninhabited place”)
Hey Philip - Nice job bringing the Gospel to Samaria
Now . . . LEAVE . . . Rise, & GO
& this was NO - “Take a Super Shuttle to the Airport & fly off to the Bible conference - & we’ll see you next Monday”
This was a 60 Mile WALK - It was Long, Hot, Difficult, & LONELY
Guys - THIS - was a COMPLETE SURRENDER - of the WILL
Oswald Chambers:
True surrender is not simply surrender of our external life but surrender of our will - and once that is done, surrender is complete.
Philip’s WILL was Surrendered to God - & so he was willing
to Do ANYTHING - Go ANYWHERE that God called him
& so - Acts 8:27 begins (esv)
27 And he rose and went . . .
Philip’s walking . . . walking . . . walking . . .
ALONE - to the Dry, Hot, Barren, Desert
& then - FINALLY - Imagine how Philip’s heart must’ve JUMPED
when - in the distance - on the horizon - he sees . . . PEOPLE
It’s a caravan - a BIG one
(Acts 8:27 cont.) . . . 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
This was the Secretary of the Treasury for the Kingdom of Ethiopia
Which at that time was just South of Egypt
where Northern Sudan is today - & North of Ethiopia today
Now - there is some Speculation from Chuck Misler & a few others -
that this Eunuch MIGHT HAVE actually had the Mercy Seat,
from the Ark of the Covenant - with him
& that he had come looking for the Messiah to give it to
There some scriptures that MAY support that idea
But it’s mostly Cool Speculation
What we do know is - this high ranking Gov’t Official from Ethiopia
an African Gentile - would’ve been travelling with a large Caravan
& he’s returning from what could have been close to
a THOUSAND MILE religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem
PLUS (we’ll see in a minute) he has a copy of the Isaiah Scroll
with him - so he was very serious about his pilgrimage
Which may give some credence to Chuck Misler’s theory
It’s also interesting that Deut 23 forbids a eunuch
from becoming a part of the Jewish community
because they were considered “Mutilated”
However, in Isaiah 56 (which we’ll see today)
this ban is prophetically removed
saying that Eunuchs will be BLESSED by the Lord
& it seems this Eunuch is the First to fulfill that Prophecy
& so as we continue the Narrative - We’re Really FOCUSED MORE
today On Phillip - & on HIS actions
Acts 8:28-29 (esv)
28 and [the eunuch] was returning [from Jerusalem], seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
So there’s a KEY Gov’t Official of Ethiopia
Who just HAPPENS to be in the middle of NO WHERE
READING the ISAIAH SCROLL
& Suddenly Phillip FINDS HIMSELF there
& the Spirit SAID to Phillip - “Go over and join this chariot.”
Let’s look at that a minute - And the Spirit SAID to Philip
The leading of the Holy Spirit can sometimes be a difficult thing
to learn - & there are definitely people who can take this too far
I guy told me once he was driving down the freeway
& he felt the Spirit tell him to get off the freeway, so he did,
then he felt like he should turn left, & he did, then right, and he did,
then left again, and so on & so on
& after a while he realized he was just LOST
& So - we’ve got to learn how to Truly Discern
the leading of the Lord in our lives
The Holy Spirit speaks differently to each Spirit-Filled Believer
& so we’ve got to learn HOW He speaks TO US personally
How do we LEARN how to be sensitive
to what the Holy Spirit wants us to DO or SAY ??
The same way I’ve learned to be sensitive to what my WIFE
would like me to DO or SAY . . .
By developing a Close, Intimate relationship with my Wife,
I’ve come to KNOW HER very well
& I can SENSE what she would have me DO or SAY
& we can do the Exact same thing with the Holy Spirit
If we will develop a close & intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit
then we will be sensitive to His leading,
& then we’ll know HOW & WHEN - to respond to Him
& So - because Philip HAD that relationship with the Holy Spirit
the Next Verse just came naturally
Acts 8:30 (esv)
30 So Philip ran to him . . .
I love the fact that - the Spirit said GO in V.29
& in response - Philip RAN to him
30 . . . 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.
This word for GUIDE - is the word used for TEACHING
it means - to GUIDE someone into knowledge or understanding
It’s ALSO the word used in Jn 16:13
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth . . .
So - Right now - Philip is going to GUIDE this Eunuch
But in a minute - Philip is going to be GONE
& the Holy Spirit is going to GUIDE this Eunuch from then on
& Now - I really want us to notice carefully what happens next
When Christians have an opportunity to GUIDE someone to Jesus
we very often make One of TWO HUGE MISTAKES
#1 HUGE Mistake - - We talk about OURSELVES
# 2 HUGE Mistake - - We talk about Our OWN OPINIONS
or ACCOMPLISHMENTS
& when we do Either one of these two things
ALL we end up really doing - is Getting in God’s WAY
Philip doesn’t jump in this guy’s ESCALADE
& start talking about himself
Hey - glad to meet you - I was just at the head of this huge Revival in Samaria - Man, you shoulda seen me, Yeah the Lord was using me in A BIG WAY
& Hey - did you hear about the Day of Pentecost? Yeah I was in the Tent with Pastor Chuck on the Day of Pentecost, Yep, I was there . . . Saw it all
PLEEEAAASE - Help God out a Bit - & ZIP IT !!
#1 rule in Spirit-Led Christianity - IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU !!
It’s about what GOD is doing
in the life of the person you’re talking to
& so - THAT is where we have to START
& THAT is where we have to STAY
& THAT is HOW God can USE us - in that person’s life
& so - watch closely - How the Holy Spirit Guides Philip here
1st - we read in Acts 8:32-33 (esv)
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.”
So - The Eunuch JUST HAPPENS to be reading from ISA 53
& there may be NO BETTER place in all the O.T.
from which to share Jesus with someone
But you & I both know people - who can take
a SPOON FED opportunity like that . . .
& still manage to talk about THEMSELVES, Their OPINIONS
& Their ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Guys - the Holy Spirit will SET US UP perfectly - to USE us
If we’ll just CRUCIFY our SELF Focus
If we will Simply be QUICK to Hear, & SLOW to Speak (Jas 1:19)
If we will develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit
where He can actually Lead & Guide us - - THEN He can use us
& we certainly see THAT in our text today
As Philip shows us - what we like to call - - - The RIGHT WAY
Acts 8:34-35 (esv)
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.
The phrase “Philip opened his mouth” implies
the Holy Spirit is guiding his thoughts & his words
& because Philip was “In Tune” with the Spirit
he opened his mouth - - & beginning with this Scripture
he told him the good news about Jesus
Man - that is Beautiful !!
No doubt Philip took the Eunuch thru the entire Ch of ISA 53
Guys - if we would just learn this ONE CH OF ISA
We would have the Entire Gospel Message DOWN - from the O.T.
& so, Philip begins explaining WHO Jesus is from ISA 53
& when he gets to the end of the CH - he reads in V.12
. . . yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
& Philip probably says: Would you LIKE Him to do that for YOU?
& this Eunuch - gets SAVED !!
How could he not? - God had lined it all up
& Philip was being obedient to the leading of the Spirit
If we will Let the Word of God do its job - Salvation will be
the natural outcome - for the people God leads us to
& So - the NEXT Natural Response for the Eunuch
who had just been saved is - - - Get Baptized !
Acts 8:36 (esv)
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?”
Maybe the Eunuch new about baptism as a convert to Judaism
or maybe Philip explained it to him during their Bible Study
But either way - this Eunuch KNEW
the RIGHT thing to do now - was get Baptized
Now - V.37 is NOT found in NINE of the top TEN manuscripts that exist today
& so it is not found in the ESV or the NLT
If you have a V.37 - that verse IS consistent with all scripture
regarding Faith & Baptism
it just isn’t in the majority of early manuscripts that exist
Acts 8:37 (NKJV)
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
So - The Eunuch sees water - - KNOWS he should be Baptized -
& we read in V.38 . . .
Acts 8:38 (esv)
38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
This is the Eunuch’s public profession of faith
& it must have been SO COOL to see
As this High Official HUMBLES himself
& is Baptized Literally - in the middle of no-where
With only his Entourage - to Witness it
& NOW - From THIS Point - The Holy Spirit is going to
Take Over the “GUIDING” of this Eunuch
Because for Reasons UNKNOWN to us
Philip’s job here is finished !!
& it’s Finished in True STAR-TREK Fashion
As Philip gets BEAMED UP - to God’s “Starship Enterprise”
Acts 8:39 (esv)
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.
I guess he went on his way REJOICING !!
This guy just showed up out of no where
Explained a Prophetic Scripture that he couldn’t understand
Tells him how he can have his Sins Forgiven
& Receive Eternal Life
& then he Literally Disappears
when he comes up out of the water !!
I guess that would’ve MADE this Eunuch’s DAY
& look at that word CARRIED Philip away
That’s one of our Favorite GREEK Words - HARPAZO
THAT’S the same word used for the RAPTURE in 1Thes 4:17
1Thes 4:17
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
THIS - is Early Rapture Training for Philip !! - - very cool
& so - the Eunuch goes on his way REJOICING
& probably continuing to read the ISAIAH Scroll
& just 3 Ch’s later this Eunuch would read - in Isa 56:3-5
3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
& now - this Eunuch has gotta just be goin balistic
As God’s Word is speaking to him - PERSONALLY
& as the Holy Spirit GUIDES him into the understanding
In fact - Irenaeus & other church fathers credit THIS Eunuch
with the SPREAD of the Gospel in Ethiopia
& he apparently did a Great Job
cause Ethiopia is the only African Nation that had Christian Roots
long before any missionaries were ever sent there
Alright - Let me Blow your Mind with One Other Thing
Do you remember last week - we said this was the BEGINNING
of the Gospel being spread to the End of the Earth (Acts 1:8)?
OK - After the FLOOD - WHO Populated the Entire Earth ??
Noah’s Sons HAM, SHEM, JAPETH - -(those are not the 3 stooges)
Alright - Watch this;
Everything I’m about to say is Traced Back to GEN CH 10
Here, in Acts 8, this Ethiopian was a descendant of Ham
In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus will be saved,
who is a Jew and therefore a descendant of Shem
In Acts 10, the Gentiles Receive Christ
& they are the descendants of Japheth
in 3 Ch’s - Descendants of EACH of the Three Sons of Noah -
who populated the entire earth - ALL get saved
As a Sign - that God wants the Entire World to hear the Gospel
Man - - THAT is an INCREDIBLE story !!
But WAIT a minute - Philip just got BEAMED UP
to the Lord’s STARSHIP ENTERPRISE
What happened to Philip ?
Acts 8:40 (esv)
40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
This might be the most incredible part of the entire story
Let’s just Follow Philip for a minute
1) He was chosen as a Deacon in Jerusalem
2) Persecution drove him to Samaria
3) He leads an incredible Revival, & coulda had a Mega-Church
4) He wakes up 1 morning & Leaves the Revival
to meet ONE GUY in the desert 60 miles away
5) He gets him Saved - & then is BEAMED UP to a small town
on the coast - about 20 miles from there
6) Then he walks over 50 miles back up the coast -
preaching the gospel as he goes
7) Finally settling in Caesarea - which is only 20 Miles
from where he originally started in Samaria
& the most amazing thing is - Philip NEVER returned to Samaria
He could have gone back as a HERO - a Spiritual Super-Star !!
But instead - He Continued to FOLLOW the LEADING of the LORD
The next time we see Philip - It’s 20 yrs later
& he’s still living in Caesarea
He’s still serving God as an Evangelist
& He’s got FOUR Daughters - Who are all Prophetesses
LUKE is writing in Acts 21:8 - & He’s Traveling with PAUL
Acts 21:8-9 (ESV)
8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
PAUL - who’s persecution drove Philip out of Jerusalem
& into his early ministry success
Is now STAYING at Philips House
& those days that PAUL spent at Philip’s house
were actually the LAST DAYS of Paul’s Freedom
He was about to be sent to Rome as a Prisoner
where he would eventually be Martyred
WOW! - How the World Turns
as we just continue Serving the Lord !!
So - In the FIRST YEAR of his ministry
Philip did Incredible, Note Worthy things for the Lord
& then - for the next 20 years he served quietly as an Evangelist
& raised Four Daughters who all became Prophetesses
Which to me - is more important - than FOUR Mega-Churches
But STILL - The question BEGS to be ASKED . . .
WHY did God use Philip in such LARGE PUBLIC ways
for the first year of his ministry
& THEN - send him up the coast to quietly tell people about Jesus
& raise four Spirit-Filled Daughters
WHY ?? - Philip was simply DOING what God LEAD HIM to Do !!
Whether it was:
Starting a Revival
Or Saving a Eunuch in the Desert
Or Raising Four daughters in a small town
Philip DID - What God LED Him to DO - by the Holy Spirit
& whether the results seemed Great or Small
It didn’t seem to matter to Philip
When God said RISE & GO - - - Philip WENT
& so - For Today - The REAL Lesson is;
NOT to Desire to IMITATE Philips Brilliant Beginnings
BUT to Desire to IMITATE Philip’s Consistent Life of Obedience
When God told Philip to RISE & GO - Philip - ROSE UP, & WENT !!
& the SAME GOD Who Spoke to Philip - Still speaks to us TODAY
Let’s Pray
Acts 8:26-40
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