WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.859 The book of Acts was written to a recent convert friend of Luke's. 00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:15.939 ! It gives an account of the historical deeds of the apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven. 00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:20.820 ! And we know historians have to be selective. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:24.420 They have to choose certain things and leave certain things out. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:29.719 And so whatever Luke has included probably has a great intention behind it. 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:34.020 The book spans 30 years. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:35.719 30 years of the early church. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:41.799 And our passage in Acts 8 takes place in the first two or three of those years. 00:00:43.400 --> 00:00:46.039 The Holy Spirit has arrived as Jesus ascended. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:48.620 The gospel hits Jerusalem. 00:00:48.619 --> 00:00:50.519 And the Jewish people. 00:00:50.959 --> 00:00:53.259 And then pressure mounts against the church. 00:00:55.239 --> 00:00:57.099 And it all opens with a promise. 00:00:58.339 --> 00:01:00.979 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:05.359 You will be my witnesses in all Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. 00:01:06.259 --> 00:01:08.359 And to the end of the earth. 00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:12.920 God himself is saying he directs the gospel. 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:15.200 It goes north. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.560 In our passage it goes south. 00:01:18.460 --> 00:01:20.159 And afterward it erupts in Jerusalem. 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:21.960 Itself with Paul. 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:23.299 And expands everywhere. 00:01:24.320 --> 00:01:25.520 To the end of the earth. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.120 The story of Acts progresses like a wave. 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:32.820 And we see the church going through really hard times. 00:01:33.020 --> 00:01:36.359 And then times of sort of growth and prosperity. 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:40.060 It's like a wave. 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:40.299 Right? 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:42.140 So the pressure rises against the church. 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:42.760 And then calms. 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:44.400 And then it rises again against the church. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:45.400 And then it calms. 00:01:45.819 --> 00:01:49.780 For a time of smooth, relatively, church growth. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:52.280 And expansion of God's people. 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:56.939 But at this point, in chapter 8, things have gotten really difficult again. 00:01:57.939 --> 00:01:59.019 Stephen is killed for preaching. 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:01.519 Saul is on the hunt for Christians. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:03.859 And the church scatters. 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:09.259 So before we go any further, let's pray. 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:16.259 Father, we give thanks for this account of the early church. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:21.400 We pray that you would continue to work your spirit in us and spread your gospel. 00:02:21.579 --> 00:02:24.579 Give us wisdom, Lord, to know how to do that. 00:02:24.580 --> 00:02:31.820 Give us furthermore trust in you, Lord, that we would know that you direct the spread of your gospel. 00:02:32.660 --> 00:02:33.939 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:38.320 --> 00:02:41.140 I must go down to the seas again. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:45.100 To the lonely sea and the sky. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:50.960 And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:54.520 And the wheels kick and the winds song. 00:02:55.099 --> 00:02:57.400 And the white sails shaking. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:00.960 And a gray mist on the sea's face. 00:03:01.640 --> 00:03:03.400 And a gray dawn breaking. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.620 This is a bit of a poem by John Maysfield. 00:03:08.100 --> 00:03:09.500 It's called Sea Fever. 00:03:11.379 --> 00:03:13.520 I must go down to the seas again. 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:15.360 To the lonely sea and the sky. 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:19.020 And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:20.020 Lost. 00:03:21.540 --> 00:03:21.980 Lost. 00:03:22.980 --> 00:03:25.080 Or the threat of losing one's direction. 00:03:25.260 --> 00:03:27.800 This is the story of so many sailors. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:32.060 And it's the very feeling of so much Christian evangelism. 00:03:34.040 --> 00:03:36.820 If we think of evangelism as guiding someone to Christ. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.480 Through a presentation, particularly of the gospel. 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:41.860 Then why is it so difficult to do? 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:44.379 The lonely sea. 00:03:44.660 --> 00:03:45.180 No map. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:45.820 No direction. 00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:48.280 No star to steer her by. 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:52.120 That so often feels like evangelism to me. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:54.500 You ask teachers. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:55.320 Maybe parents. 00:03:55.920 --> 00:04:00.360 I was having a conversation with a house master at school last week. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:03.300 He has 50 teenage boys living in this house. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.939 And he's basically in loco parentis in charge of them. 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:11.560 And he says, my first few years I was always trying to figure out what's the right answer. 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:13.419 What's the right response to this problem? 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:15.419 And then what did he realize? 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:18.519 The right response is to make it up as you go. 00:04:18.660 --> 00:04:19.720 And draw a firm line. 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:20.480 Be decisive. 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:21.579 That was it. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:25.399 But until then, he had so little guidance. 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:26.300 So little direction. 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:28.819 And I think it's similar. 00:04:29.339 --> 00:04:32.740 Christians get into conversations with someone who wants to know about the gospel. 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:34.459 Yeah, there's some clear things. 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:35.180 But where do I go? 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:35.979 What do I do? 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:42.560 What I hope we see tonight is that we need God in order for the gospel to spread. 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:48.640 And Acts 8 demonstrates that only God actually directs evangelism. 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:50.779 It's not so much up to us. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:55.379 It's not up to us as much as we might think as Christians to spread the gospel. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.000 It's a great relief, actually, and a great inspiration. 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:05.579 The text here indicates that we must evangelize to whom. 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:07.560 We must evangelize how. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:10.139 And we must evangelize where God directs. 00:05:11.599 --> 00:05:18.159 So if God directs evangelism, the implication then is for us to follow his lead. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.260 And to whom, how, and where. 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:24.160 Let's look at the first few verses here. 00:05:25.780 --> 00:05:27.860 Now, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:33.020 Rise and go down south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. 00:05:33.820 --> 00:05:35.280 This is a desert place. 00:05:36.320 --> 00:05:38.980 So he arose and went, and there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:42.020 a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:44.600 He was in charge of all her treasure. 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:48.340 He had come to Jerusalem to worship. 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:54.020 Briefly, Philip is not one of the 12 apostles. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:56.740 He's introduced in the 6th chapter of Acts. 00:05:57.480 --> 00:05:59.040 So he's added on a little bit later. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.500 This is a new person in the story. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:03.500 Gaza is, as far as I'm aware, where it still is today. 00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:05.540 So in the southern part of Israel. 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:09.340 Philip walks 30 miles to get there. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:12.419 And he comes across a very peculiar site. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:16.500 An Ethiopian. 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:24.839 For Romans and Greeks at the time, an Ethiopian meant anyone, really, south and or west of Egypt. 00:06:25.099 --> 00:06:26.819 So anywhere on the continent of Africa. 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:35.899 And finally, one last contextual note is Candace could be a name. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:36.779 It's probably a role. 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:37.879 It's probably like Pharaoh. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:38.800 Okay? 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:40.800 So this is a particular role. 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:44.000 And this guy's in charge of all the money, obviously. 00:06:44.719 --> 00:06:46.860 So Philip comes up behind this man. 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:47.659 Right? 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:48.879 He's on the path. 00:06:48.939 --> 00:06:50.180 He probably slows down. 00:06:51.219 --> 00:06:51.480 Right? 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.060 Maybe he snoops up, hops off the path to get a better look. 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:56.579 And then he hears something. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:00.540 The Ethiopian is reading the Old Testament. 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:02.600 The only testament of the time. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:03.420 He's reading the scriptures. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:09.920 And it turns out that this guy is a worshipping, as a Jew, 1,200 miles from home. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:12.519 Unexpected. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:14.600 Unexpected, to say the least. 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:17.000 To whom does God direct Philip? 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:23.800 God directs Philip to a powerful, pious, for Philip, exotic traveler. 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:28.420 It was about ten years ago now. 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:31.920 And I had just boarded a 6 a.m. train from St. Louis to Chicago. 00:07:32.899 --> 00:07:35.139 Yes, Americans do ride trains sometimes. 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.819 I had a coffee, a little breakfast. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:40.959 And I was ready for my trip to the Windy City. 00:07:41.859 --> 00:07:42.680 I sit down. 00:07:42.739 --> 00:07:43.599 And I'm looking out the window. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:46.779 And I hear someone say, can I sit next to you? 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:47.879 I say, yeah, sure, that's fine. 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:48.239 That's fine. 00:07:48.299 --> 00:07:50.620 And I start looking back out the window. 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:55.000 So I don't have any idea who this is. 00:07:55.039 --> 00:07:58.139 And it's a little early to start really getting conversation going for me. 00:07:58.139 --> 00:08:02.979 But he starts talking to me. 00:08:03.539 --> 00:08:07.839 And he's telling me about his trip to St. Louis, having come from Chicago. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:12.259 And he says he was there for television trials. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:19.879 It turns out the guy next to me is a black American, gay man, born and bred in Kentucky. 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:24.879 He had made a living partly by doing Barry Manilow impressions. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:27.040 Barry Manilow covers. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:31.500 His name was Terrence. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:37.299 I think, you know, Barry Manilow is only evangelist. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:41.200 Terrence and I have a little in common at this point. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:48.240 But by the time he arrived in Chicago, I had heard about his teen years as a churchgoer. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.820 About his current life as a gay man. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:54.279 About his current search for God. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:09:00.940 As far as I know, Terrence had no Ethiopian roots that we knew of. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:03.279 And there was no train side baptism in this case. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.659 But I was able to evangelize to some degree, to some extent. 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:11.200 To share the good news of Christ with a man in need. 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:14.840 I don't know what happened to Terrence. 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:20.399 I did spend about 30 seconds this week looking up Barry Manilow covers on YouTube. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:24.240 But I know this. 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:24.860 I know this. 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:28.379 I may have directed the questions, but God directed Terrence to me and directed me to Terrence. 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:33.480 Was Philip like this Ethiopian? 00:09:33.680 --> 00:09:33.940 No. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.100 Ethiopian was from another part of the world. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:37.800 He was rich. 00:09:38.780 --> 00:09:39.800 With high status. 00:09:40.400 --> 00:09:41.139 And a pious Jew. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:44.440 Philip was a traveling evangelist. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:46.560 Probably poor. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.800 And he was part of a church. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.360 A new church movement. 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:53.060 But he evangelizes to whom God directed him. 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:56.460 Our gifts and backgrounds are important. 00:09:57.220 --> 00:09:58.259 And God often uses them. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.960 But ultimately, God himself directs evangelism. 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:10.420 So we must evangelize to whom God directs us. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:16.860 But we must evangelize also how or in the way that God directs. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:19.800 Let's go to verse 29. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.720 We left Philip eavesdropping on the Ethiopian. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:28.980 And the spirit said to Philip, go over and join this chariot. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.740 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet. 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.840 And he asked, do you understand what you are reading? 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:40.180 And he said, how can I unless someone guides me? 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:45.100 Philip is eager in this case. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:45.940 He runs over. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:46.740 Was he bold? 00:10:46.800 --> 00:10:48.480 Was he inspired by the scripture he heard? 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:49.560 Was he curious? 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:52.580 The text actually gives us the answer. 00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:53.639 It answers this question. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:56.039 The spirit is the explanation. 00:10:56.200 --> 00:11:00.899 So again, God is directing Philip in quite a direct supernatural way. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:06.579 And when he asked, do you understand what you're reading? 00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:11.439 The Ethiopian responds, how can I unless someone guides me? 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:15.299 I generally try to avoid saying this. 00:11:15.439 --> 00:11:17.340 But the Greek gives us some insight here. 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:26.299 In the Greek language, you can add a few words to indicate that someone asks a question and expects a negative response. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:31.240 It's like me saying, did you really clean the dishes? 00:11:31.859 --> 00:11:32.019 Right? 00:11:32.339 --> 00:11:35.159 I'm expecting you to say no, or at least I don't believe you. 00:11:35.959 --> 00:11:36.219 Okay? 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.620 And so you can do the same thing here. 00:11:37.699 --> 00:11:41.039 We can't see it in the Bible we have in front of us. 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:41.759 Right? 00:11:42.079 --> 00:11:44.539 Do you understand what you are reading? 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:47.740 And he's saying, do you really understand this? 00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:48.759 Do you get what's going on? 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:53.719 Now, Philip is invited in. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:57.600 And of all texts to be talking about, this text is the groundwork for the atonement. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:59.040 Like a sheep, he was led to the slaughter. 00:11:59.160 --> 00:12:01.759 Like a lamb before its shearer is silent, he opens not its mouth. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.200 Many of us will know this. 00:12:06.040 --> 00:12:07.120 It's a Christian's dream. 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:15.700 Can you just clarify for me who this guy is in the Bible that has to suffer on, or what this is about this person needing to suffer on the people's behalf? 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:20.040 It's like when I'm taking students through GCSE material. 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:27.419 Someone asks, sure, this atonement thing, can you explain how Jesus heals the rift between God and man? 00:12:29.079 --> 00:12:29.399 Sure. 00:12:29.719 --> 00:12:30.000 Sure. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:30.860 I can do that. 00:12:31.319 --> 00:12:31.899 Since you asked. 00:12:33.339 --> 00:12:33.539 Right? 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.539 Philip's thinking this is too easy. 00:12:35.839 --> 00:12:38.459 God puts the opportunity in Philip's lap, and how does Philip respond? 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.339 He shares the good news about Christ. 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:48.960 He opens his mouth, and beginning with this scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. 00:12:53.560 --> 00:12:56.879 We also see Christ directing evangelism in the Gospels. 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:05.300 In Luke 7, we don't necessarily need to turn there, but Luke 7, Jesus heals someone. 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:15.479 He works one of his miracles, and people witness this, and then they go around sort of spreading this announcement about Jesus. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.659 The news in that sense is spread by Christ. 00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:24.139 And this is just one example of how Jesus directs the good news about himself. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:29.120 If we looked at Jesus longer, we would realize that he is indeed the great evangelist. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.839 God is the great evangelist, and Jesus is particularly. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:31.960 Surely. 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:35.840 Other times he rebukes people. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:43.000 Sometimes he directs a question, or shows from the Old Testament how he is the Christ. 00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:46.259 But he always knows how to guide the process. 00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:47.700 He always knows. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:52.960 I think we're all over the board on how we get the Gospel out there. 00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:55.680 If I was to ask people around here. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:14:03.599 And Gethman kindly told us about the Catalyst Conference, and there was quite a bit on apologetics there. 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:09.399 We were hearing about theologians who thought at one time they didn't need apologetics. 00:14:10.359 --> 00:14:13.079 So there's a famous Reformed theologian who says, I don't need apologetics. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:16.500 That sort of discounts the power of the Spirit to work through the Word. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:22.779 And he comes to realize that God works through human means to spread his Gospel. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:30.120 He uses things like psychology, personal relationships, cultural studies of whatever sort. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.360 Spread his Word. 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:36.480 So there's all sorts of options. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:39.500 Option one, craft elaborate creative methods to direct the Gospel. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:45.600 Option two, don't worry about anything except for substitutionary atonement. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:46.980 What else could we need? 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:52.919 Option three, how I live is all that matters. 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.639 So we don't need evangelism. 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:59.039 It's life on life. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.219 I think all of these are good. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:07.419 I think they all indicate a desire to share Christ. 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:11.240 But this passage keeps a few essentials at the forefront. 00:15:12.839 --> 00:15:16.219 We need God to direct the how of evangelism. 00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:19.379 In this story, he uses a clear opportunity. 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:23.579 He uses the Scriptures and the person of Christ. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.219 Don't neglect the basics. 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.899 Jesus is central. 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:34.199 And secondly, start with wherever people happen to be on their journey. 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:35.720 I think that's key. 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:43.059 One of the Catalyst presentations had quite a bit of commentary and analysis on culture. 00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:44.840 I think a lot of it was correct. 00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:45.600 I think it's helpful. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.779 And I think the overarching aspect of what to do with that, 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:53.240 or the point that those sorts of presentations are making, 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.440 is often saying, 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:56.860 for people who don't know about Christ, 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.980 Christians need to find out where they are 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.740 and begin with where they are, 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:04.840 what's working in their minds and in their hearts, 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.740 and so on. 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.799 And then go from there. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:12.879 And this is where Philip meets the Ethiopian. 00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.399 Ethiopian is reading. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.399 He has a question. 00:16:16.099 --> 00:16:17.159 This is what he understands, 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:18.279 and Philip takes it from there. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.779 Philip needed the opportunity. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.459 He needed the Scriptures and the good news about Christ to evangelize. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:29.680 God directed the way in which the gospel would spread. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:34.200 And we too must obey accordingly. 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:42.840 Third, and finally, we must evangelize where God directs. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.700 Where God directs. 00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:46.560 Verse 36. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:50.279 And as they were going along the road, 00:16:50.339 --> 00:16:51.319 they came to some water, 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:52.039 and the eunuch said, 00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.419 See, here is water. 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.159 What prevents me from being baptized? 00:16:57.359 --> 00:16:58.939 And he commanded the chariot to stop, 00:16:58.979 --> 00:17:00.199 and they both went down into the water, 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:00.959 Philip and the eunuch, 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.339 and he baptized him there. 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:07.799 This passage confirms that no barriers hinder the gospel. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:11.179 Luke shows that no heritage, no background, 00:17:11.919 --> 00:17:14.720 no particular religious tradition is required. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:17.420 This baptism confirms that God saves anyone. 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.160 God saves anyone. 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:21.720 And then the friendship concludes. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.019 It concludes in a very strange way. 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.440 Verse 39. 00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:26.620 When they came up out of the water, 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.920 the spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.980 and the eunuch saw him no more. 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.559 And he went on his way rejoicing. 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.660 20 minutes. 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.700 An afternoon. 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:44.039 Who knows how long this encounter was. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.500 God directed Philip to this location. 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.039 God did his work, 00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:51.279 and then he drops Philip somewhere else. 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.100 The gospel came to Jerusalem. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.100 Pushed north. 00:17:57.420 --> 00:18:01.380 This is symbolic of the gospel going south. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.600 Potentially spreading to all of Africa. 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:08.259 The gospel goes where God directs it. 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:13.639 And note where God directs Philip. 00:18:14.219 --> 00:18:17.179 Philip has a prosperous ministry in Samaria and Jerusalem, 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.079 and then God says, 00:18:18.459 --> 00:18:18.799 leave. 00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:21.819 Philip evangelizes to this Ethiopian, 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.519 baptizes him, 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.639 and disappears. 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:30.519 Luke points out that Philip doesn't even see the Ethiopian rejoicing. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.900 The eunuch saw him no more, 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:35.359 and went on his way rejoicing. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.839 Sometimes God directs evangelism in frustrating ways. 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:44.619 Has anyone had to leave a familiar place? 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.339 A place you invested time, 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.259 effort, 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.440 money, 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:49.460 hardship? 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:53.660 Had some good friends who planted a church in New Zealand. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:58.360 This is a common story, really. 00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.980 They planted a church in New Zealand, 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.120 raised money for it, 00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:02.319 built a team, 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.720 and things just kind of 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.519 seemed to fizzle out 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:05.980 until they 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.600 came back to America 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:09.140 and sort of started afresh. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.579 You can feel like the mission is incomplete. 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:15.339 We can say, 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.699 did they do something wrong? 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.599 My other missionary, 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:18.339 for instance, 00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:18.960 done something wrong? 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:23.019 But we can trust that God directs his mission always. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.359 It may not make sense to us. 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:26.419 It may not seem like success in our eyes. 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:29.939 But God is well at work, 00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:32.519 even if it feels like the mission is incomplete. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.220 Right? 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.819 He didn't transport Philip and think, 00:19:36.939 --> 00:19:37.199 oh no, 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:40.439 this Ethiopian doesn't have any chance for follow-up questions. 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:43.620 Can't tell them about Isaiah's eschatology. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:46.680 Have a discussion about proper church government. 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.779 If this guy could have kids, 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.860 would he baptize them? 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.900 That's not an issue. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.220 That's not an issue. 00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:56.860 God directed the gospel to Jerusalem, 00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.820 to northern Israel, 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.620 to southern Israel, 00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.220 Africa, 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.720 and ultimately everywhere. 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:04.160 God has taken care of his church. 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:09.920 Did you hear about the Portobello preacher? 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:13.700 During lockdown, 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:16.240 a man decided to go out 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.400 and to sing a song 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.920 in the Notting Hill neighborhood. 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.580 His name is Pat Allerton. 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.360 He's an old Atonian, 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:24.740 actually, 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.799 and an Anglican priest, 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.140 so God has mercy on all. 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:32.100 He took a large speaker 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:33.680 and he took a mic to his street corner 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.279 and he sang Amazing Grace on Sunday. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.379 And he said to the news, 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:38.940 it's Sunday 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:41.539 and the people in my neighborhood 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.779 can't get to church. 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:45.559 So I'm bringing church to the people. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.259 He didn't have a simple message. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:52.399 He said that despite all the challenges 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.480 and the sorrows 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.940 of coronavirus, 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.639 that Jesus is greater than the virus 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:59.460 and he himself is our hope. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:02.759 So yes, 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:04.420 God uses this Anglican street preacher 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:07.000 to spread the truth about himself. 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.600 But even amidst 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.579 a devastating, 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.819 devastating virus, 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.620 the Lord can bring 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:16.200 people to himself 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:18.140 through that 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.039 and at this time. 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:22.220 God directs where his gospel goes 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.779 and we must share his gospel 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:25.220 wherever he places us. 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:29.759 In the book of Acts, 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.920 God directs evangelism. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.400 I hope that much is clear. 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.059 And we must evangelize 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:36.039 to whom he directs, 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.620 how he directs, 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:39.200 and where he directs us. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.279 Someone has rightly said, 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.079 as I mentioned before, 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:45.480 God is the great evangelist. 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:49.039 God is spreading the gospel. 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:52.019 Thanks be to God. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:53.940 Let us pray. 00:21:55.220 --> 00:22:25.200 God bless you.