WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.660 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:03.000 It's nice and echoey. 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:04.179 My name's David. 00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:06.040 It's great to be with you here this morning 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:08.339 as we look forward to an exciting week, 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:09.580 hopefully, that we've all got together, 00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:12.679 this week of college mission and St Paul's mission. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:13.519 It's going to be a lot of fun. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:16.740 I guess the question that that raises is, 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:20.240 what is it that actually causes a bunch of reclusive Bible 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:24.260 students to crawl out from behind the books for this brief week 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:25.500 and come out to Chatswood? 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:28.480 Or even more confusing, what is it 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:32.359 that causes a bunch of otherwise right-thinking individuals 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:34.719 such as yourselves to let us in the door, 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:36.899 never mind even inviting us? 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:40.340 Of course, the answer, as we've touched on, is mission, isn't it? 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:43.280 I'm sure you've heard a bit about it over the last few weeks. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:44.760 I know we have. 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:48.019 You see, at the college, we're convinced, 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:49.539 just as you are as a church, 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:52.219 that it's incredibly important that we get out and about 00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:55.460 and tell anyone who will listen this wonderful message of Jesus, 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:58.020 of his death, his resurrection, 00:00:58.620 --> 00:01:01.079 the wonderful message of forgiveness that that brings to us. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:05.099 But I guess I want to ask, why is that important? 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:07.920 Why are we going to the effort this week? 00:01:08.740 --> 00:01:11.640 And why is it that we'd love as many of you as possible to be involved? 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:15.340 Well, this morning, as we consider this meeting 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:17.420 between Philip and the Ethiopian there in Acts 8, 00:01:17.460 --> 00:01:19.379 we're going to find an answer to this question. 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:22.299 And I hope that as we go through this story, 00:01:22.399 --> 00:01:24.099 if you're not convinced of the importance of mission, 00:01:24.179 --> 00:01:25.219 you will be by the end of it. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:29.119 If you're convinced, I hope that you'll be reminded of why it's so important, 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:31.239 maybe reinvigorated for the coming week. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:33.879 So with that in mind, let's turn to that passage 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:35.539 as we wrestle with that question together. 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:38.000 You'll find it helpful to keep it open in front of you. 00:01:38.780 --> 00:01:41.179 And as we turn there, the first thing we can take from it 00:01:41.179 --> 00:01:45.659 is that God has a message which he wants people to understand. 00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:48.739 God has a message which he wants people to understand. 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:50.780 Now, to really see this, 00:01:51.119 --> 00:01:53.200 we've got to start all the way back at the beginning of the book, 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:55.379 back there in chapter 1, verse 8. 00:01:56.219 --> 00:01:57.620 By this point, Jesus has come. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:58.439 He's lived his life. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:01:58.939 He's died. 00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:00.659 He's been raised from the dead. 00:02:01.539 --> 00:02:05.519 But before he goes back to heaven to wait there until he comes again, 00:02:05.979 --> 00:02:08.359 he tells his disciples what's going to happen from there, 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:09.259 gives them the rundown. 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:12.539 And he says to them, there in 1.8, 00:02:12.539 --> 00:02:15.719 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, 00:02:16.179 --> 00:02:17.879 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.379 and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:02:22.359 --> 00:02:25.219 And so with those words ringing in our ears 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:27.079 as we go through this story, 00:02:27.519 --> 00:02:30.000 we need to understand God is intending on working through 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.039 these very ordinary men, his disciples, 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.519 to bring his message to the absolute ends of the earth. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:38.979 And so even in this story as we consider it, 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:40.780 we're expecting big things from God, aren't we? 00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:44.659 We're expecting to see that God himself will be at work 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:46.000 at making the opportunities happen, 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:47.879 at making this message spread, 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:49.659 and he doesn't disappoint us. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:53.819 And so in verse 26, we see him telling this man, 00:02:53.939 --> 00:02:56.180 Philip, head down to this road in the middle of nowhere 00:02:56.180 --> 00:02:58.860 in the desert that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza. 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:01.340 And Philip goes off, as he's told. 00:03:02.020 --> 00:03:04.039 And as he's travelling, he crosses paths 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:06.460 with this Ethiopian eunuch there in verse 27. 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:09.819 Now, there's a few things we're told about this eunuch. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:13.500 First of all, we're told he's a fairly important guy. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:17.079 I don't think being the high-ranking official 00:03:17.079 --> 00:03:18.919 for the Ethiopian Queen is that impressive now, 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:21.099 but I take it it must have been a bit more 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:22.379 of an impressive thing back then. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:25.739 However, more importantly for what we're saying, 00:03:25.959 --> 00:03:27.539 what we need to understand today, 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.079 is that we're told two other things. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:31.939 First of all, that he's involved in the Jewish faith 00:03:31.939 --> 00:03:35.159 and somehow he's just been up to Jerusalem 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:36.579 where he's worshipping, 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:39.219 and as he comes back, he's reading the book of Isaiah, 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:40.479 part of the Hebrew Scriptures, 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:43.060 something that we will find in our Old Testament there. 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:46.319 However, jarring with that is the fact 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:48.000 that he's also a eunuch. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:49.519 We're told he's a eunuch. 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:51.539 Now, I'll assume you know what that is 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:52.500 rather than going into it, 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:54.460 but suffice to say, gentlemen, 00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:55.319 you don't want to be one. 00:03:57.099 --> 00:03:58.719 Now, the reason that's significant, though, 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:01.599 is that if we go back to Deuteronomy 23, verse 1 there, 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:02.819 part of the Jewish law, 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:05.120 we see that eunuchs essentially 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:07.579 can never be full members of God's people. 00:04:09.740 --> 00:04:12.000 Added to this is the fact that he's an Ethiopian, 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:12.519 not a Jew. 00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:13.359 He's a Gentile. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:16.079 So there's a further barrier there, isn't there? 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:18.019 He will always be an outsider 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:21.399 simply by virtue of who he is among God's people. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:26.240 Well, as this man's travelling back from Jerusalem 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:29.259 and he and Philip cross paths, 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:30.259 God tells Philip, 00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:31.519 look, head over near the chariot. 00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:32.860 And so he does. 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:35.060 And he gets close enough to hear him reading. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:36.079 And what he's reading there 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:39.000 is from the book of Isaiah in verse 30. 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:41.039 Sorry, and in verse 30, he says, 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:41.819 Philip says, 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:43.939 do you understand what it is that you are reading? 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:47.339 Now, it's worth just pausing for a moment here 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:48.319 to ask ourselves 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.319 how it is that God has brought this situation about 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:52.839 because he's at work everywhere, isn't he? 00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:55.579 We've seen that's what he intends to do 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:56.860 back in chapter 1, verse 8. 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:57.819 That's what he's telling us. 00:04:57.819 --> 00:05:02.980 And here we see Philip sent down by God. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:06.060 He comes across this Ethiopian's path. 00:05:09.420 --> 00:05:09.779 Sorry. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:12.339 And it's God who has put this book 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:14.159 in the Ethiopian man's hands, isn't it? 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:16.000 This whole situation, 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:17.019 we're seeing God working 00:05:17.019 --> 00:05:19.079 to make his message known. 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:21.159 It's God who's acting here. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:24.280 And so Philip asks the question of him 00:05:24.280 --> 00:05:25.140 in verse 31. 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:26.460 Or in verse 30, 00:05:26.520 --> 00:05:27.820 do you understand what you're reading? 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:30.540 Which brings the response from the Ethiopian 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:31.540 there in verse 31. 00:05:31.880 --> 00:05:33.760 Which brings us really to the heart of the passage 00:05:33.760 --> 00:05:35.300 and then to our second point. 00:05:35.400 --> 00:05:37.580 That is that Jesus is the message 00:05:37.580 --> 00:05:39.400 that God wants people to understand. 00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:42.100 And we see there in verse 31, 00:05:42.200 --> 00:05:43.660 the Ethiopian replies and says, 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:44.800 how can I? 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:46.860 Unless someone explains it to me. 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:49.259 And so he invited Philip to come up 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:50.560 and sit with him. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:53.939 I wonder, how did you become a Christian? 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:57.220 If we went around this room right now 00:05:57.220 --> 00:05:58.240 and asked that question 00:05:58.240 --> 00:05:59.300 to everyone individually, 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:01.460 I'm sure we'd have as many stories 00:06:01.460 --> 00:06:02.759 as we have people in here. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:06.080 God uses an amazing array of circumstances 00:06:06.080 --> 00:06:06.920 and of experiences 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:08.160 to bring people to himself. 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:10.500 But for all these different experiences 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.379 that we might have, 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:13.000 there'd be at least one thing 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:14.120 that all of us have in common. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:16.720 And that is that someone 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:18.100 will have taken the time 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:19.579 to explain this message to you. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:20.920 To teach it to you. 00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:22.959 Just think about it for a minute. 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:24.759 It may be that you grew up 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:25.579 with Christian parents 00:06:25.579 --> 00:06:26.560 who have taught you the gospel 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.240 for longer than you can remember. 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:31.019 It may be that you had a friend 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:32.660 in school or somewhere else 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:33.500 that invited you along 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:34.220 to a youth group, 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:35.220 to a church service. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:36.959 And it was there 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:38.139 that you first heard the gospel. 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:41.399 It may be that someone 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:42.879 approached you completely out of the blue, 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:44.339 just walked up to you and said, 00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:45.500 let's talk. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:46.800 Or that you approached them. 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:49.420 At the very least, 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:51.480 you will have had to pick up a Bible 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:52.659 and start reading this message 00:06:52.659 --> 00:06:53.579 for yourself, wouldn't you? 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:55.779 Whatever your experience, 00:06:56.159 --> 00:06:56.860 whatever your story 00:06:56.860 --> 00:06:57.879 and the particulars of that, 00:06:58.360 --> 00:06:59.899 you needed to hear this message 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:01.159 and understand it 00:07:01.159 --> 00:07:02.680 in order to believe it. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:05.560 You needed to be told, didn't you? 00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:07.839 Now the Ethiopian man, 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:08.560 he gets this. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.300 He knows he doesn't understand 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:10.860 what he's reading, 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:12.180 but he wants to. 00:07:12.860 --> 00:07:13.720 And so he invites Philip 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.680 to come up into the chariot 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:17.960 and explain this passage 00:07:17.960 --> 00:07:19.000 from Isaiah for him. 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:21.240 And as we continue to read there 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:22.680 in verses 32 and 33, 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:24.520 we see the passage he's reading 00:07:24.520 --> 00:07:26.560 is from Isaiah 53. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.879 It's part of that wonderful, 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:29.199 long passage 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.660 that we just had read to us earlier. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:33.240 Now we can probably assume 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:34.460 that on a long journey like that, 00:07:34.520 --> 00:07:35.180 he's reading more than 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:35.939 the couple of lines 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:36.639 that are quoted there. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:38.759 and we'll have read at least 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:40.259 the stuff that comes before, 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.039 including these lines 00:07:42.039 --> 00:07:43.259 in verses 5 and 6, 00:07:44.159 --> 00:07:45.099 where Isaiah says, 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:46.419 but he was pierced 00:07:46.419 --> 00:07:47.500 for our transgressions. 00:07:48.039 --> 00:07:48.719 He was crushed 00:07:48.719 --> 00:07:49.599 for our iniquities. 00:07:50.339 --> 00:07:51.139 The punishment 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:52.099 that brought us peace 00:07:52.099 --> 00:07:52.879 was upon him 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:54.479 and by his wounds 00:07:54.479 --> 00:07:54.979 we are healed. 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:56.620 We all like sheep 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.399 have gone astray. 00:07:57.599 --> 00:07:58.459 Each of us has turned 00:07:58.459 --> 00:07:59.219 to his own way 00:07:59.219 --> 00:08:00.519 and the Lord 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:01.379 has laid on him 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:03.279 the iniquity of us all. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:05.779 Now for those of us 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:06.199 here today 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.339 that have been fortunate enough 00:08:07.339 --> 00:08:08.459 to have been taught 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:09.759 well over a long period of time, 00:08:10.299 --> 00:08:10.879 to have known 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.139 what Jesus did on the cross, 00:08:12.559 --> 00:08:13.259 we read that 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:14.159 and it just screams out 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:14.979 Jesus, doesn't it? 00:08:16.159 --> 00:08:17.459 Just think about it briefly. 00:08:17.979 --> 00:08:18.979 We have a man here 00:08:18.979 --> 00:08:19.479 who was, 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:20.379 he was pierced, 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:20.899 crushed, 00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:22.819 it was done 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:23.859 as a punishment, 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:25.719 it was a punishment 00:08:25.719 --> 00:08:26.439 for sins 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.019 and it buys us 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:29.659 peace with God. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:31.959 We have here words 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:32.379 that were written 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:33.699 700 odd years 00:08:33.699 --> 00:08:34.699 before Jesus came 00:08:34.699 --> 00:08:35.419 and walked this earth 00:08:35.419 --> 00:08:36.559 yet what we were reading 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:37.579 could well have been taken 00:08:37.579 --> 00:08:38.679 straight from the New Testament, 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:39.319 couldn't it? 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:41.240 Used to describe 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:42.319 exactly what Jesus did 00:08:42.319 --> 00:08:42.840 on the cross 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:44.419 and in fact 00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:45.079 these are words 00:08:45.079 --> 00:08:46.019 that we see springing up 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.000 throughout the New Testament 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.019 which the authors use 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:50.159 for exactly that purpose 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.679 and it's just for the testament 00:08:52.679 --> 00:08:53.299 to the fact 00:08:53.299 --> 00:08:54.179 that God is working 00:08:54.179 --> 00:08:55.259 his plan out here. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.139 He's directing the situation 00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:58.199 because it's hard to imagine 00:08:58.199 --> 00:08:59.039 that at this point 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.319 any other passage 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:01.900 of scripture 00:09:01.900 --> 00:09:03.140 that this man 00:09:03.140 --> 00:09:03.760 could be reading 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:04.780 would point so clearly 00:09:04.780 --> 00:09:05.920 towards Jesus 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:08.140 and yet right at that moment 00:09:08.140 --> 00:09:09.420 that's what he's reading 00:09:09.420 --> 00:09:12.180 but the Ethiopian man 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:12.860 doesn't yet know 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:13.440 what we know 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:14.300 sitting here today. 00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:15.860 He hasn't heard 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:16.740 about the cross, 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:18.040 he doesn't know 00:09:18.040 --> 00:09:18.480 the connection 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.000 between what he's reading 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:20.680 there in Isaiah 00:09:20.680 --> 00:09:21.920 and what Jesus 00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:22.940 has only just done 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:25.060 and so in verse 34 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:26.020 he asks Philip, 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:27.340 tell me please 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:28.799 who is the prophet 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.579 speaking about 00:09:29.579 --> 00:09:30.879 himself or someone else? 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:33.319 And we're told 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:34.120 in verse 35 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:35.319 that Philip starts there 00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:36.939 and answers him 00:09:36.939 --> 00:09:38.120 by explaining 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:39.000 the good news of Jesus 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:39.840 from that passage. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:42.899 That is who the prophet 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:43.419 is speaking of 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:43.679 isn't it? 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:43.919 Jesus. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.240 You see God 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:46.939 has this message 00:09:46.939 --> 00:09:48.039 that he wants people 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:48.939 to understand 00:09:48.939 --> 00:09:49.899 the message of Jesus 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:51.519 and it says Philip 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.340 takes that chance 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:52.879 to walk up 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.159 to the chariot there 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:55.860 and ask a very simple 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:56.960 question of this man 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:58.460 that that message 00:09:58.460 --> 00:09:59.439 is explained 00:09:59.439 --> 00:10:00.019 to a person 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:00.740 who would otherwise 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:01.679 not have grasped it 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:02.179 at this point. 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:03.799 God has used 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:05.000 a very ordinary man, 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:05.439 Philip, 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:07.740 to make this message known. 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:10.039 And we see 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:10.679 the message spreading 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.279 just as Jesus 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:11.899 says it would 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:12.659 in 1.8. 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:14.679 This Ethiopian man 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:16.100 can understand 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:16.980 because someone 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:17.740 has explained 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:18.740 the message to him. 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:21.519 Well as they travel 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:21.980 we see 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:22.920 I guess some time 00:10:22.920 --> 00:10:23.620 passes there 00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:24.840 between verses 35 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:25.480 and 36 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:26.440 as the two men talk. 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:27.659 Who knows 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:28.560 how that conversation 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:28.920 went? 00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:30.279 Who knows exactly 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:30.960 what questions 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.000 the Ethiopian's asking? 00:10:32.560 --> 00:10:33.279 Who knows what 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.480 responses Philip 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.259 is giving? 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:36.620 All we know 00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:37.300 is that Philip 00:10:37.300 --> 00:10:38.000 is explaining 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:38.940 the message of Jesus 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:39.759 at this time 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.159 and by the time 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:42.360 we get to verse 36 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.940 this man's life 00:10:43.940 --> 00:10:44.879 has been changed. 00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:46.800 They come across 00:10:46.800 --> 00:10:47.259 some water. 00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:48.779 Our Ethiopian friend 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:49.700 there is baptised. 00:10:50.300 --> 00:10:51.000 Philip's taken away 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:51.580 at that point. 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:53.299 Who knows how exactly. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:54.720 But he's able 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.179 to rejoice 00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:55.600 isn't he 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.139 the Ethiopian? 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:57.320 His life 00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.120 has been changed 00:10:58.120 --> 00:10:58.919 by this message. 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:00.919 Can you just imagine 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:01.720 the joy he felt? 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:03.639 Imagine the joy 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:04.080 he feels 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.559 as he comes 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:05.080 to realise 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:06.259 that the fact 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:07.000 that he's a Gentile 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:07.639 rather than a Jew 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:08.419 is not a barrier 00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:09.039 between him 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.419 and God. 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:11.379 The fact 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.259 that he's a eunuch 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.860 is not a barrier 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:15.059 between him 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:15.759 and God's people 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.399 doesn't make him 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:16.939 an outsider. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.240 Just imagine 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:20.199 the joy 00:11:20.199 --> 00:11:21.519 he feels 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.000 as he comes 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.399 to realise 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.399 Jesus has died 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.220 in his place. 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:25.559 That whatever 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:26.100 his life 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:26.720 has looked like 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.899 he can be forgiven 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.759 because of that. 00:11:30.819 --> 00:11:31.679 This is a life 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:32.340 changing message 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:32.799 isn't it? 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:34.500 If you've come 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:35.199 to understand 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:35.819 this message 00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:36.360 this gospel 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:36.819 of Jesus 00:11:36.819 --> 00:11:37.259 and all that 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:37.620 he has done 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:37.919 for you 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:38.620 you know that. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:39.980 You know 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:40.679 that it's Jesus 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:41.639 and what he has 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.259 done that changes 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:42.699 lives. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:46.379 Jesus is the message 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:46.920 that God wants 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:47.700 us to understand. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:49.740 But the question 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.440 we need to ask 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:51.040 is how does this 00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:51.840 help us for mission 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:52.379 this week? 00:11:53.280 --> 00:11:53.820 And I think 00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:54.640 the answer to that 00:11:54.640 --> 00:11:55.980 lies in that question 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:57.040 that the Ethiopian 00:11:57.040 --> 00:11:58.379 asks back in verse 31. 00:11:58.900 --> 00:11:59.620 How can I know 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.340 unless somebody 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:01.460 explains it to me? 00:12:02.900 --> 00:12:03.580 As I'm sure 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:04.120 you're all aware 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.820 every few years 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:05.500 the government 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.340 takes a census. 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.200 You've probably 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.720 all partaken 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.320 in many of them 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:10.460 and that involves 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:11.460 a huge questionnaire 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:11.980 of all sorts 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:12.379 of questions 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:12.759 to everyone 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.279 in the country. 00:12:13.659 --> 00:12:14.519 Very time consuming 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:14.939 and annoying 00:12:14.939 --> 00:12:15.980 but they do 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:16.279 what they've got 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:16.519 to do. 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:18.500 Now in Chatswood 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.360 in the last census 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.360 about 19 or 20% 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.120 of the people 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:23.039 surveyed said 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:24.080 they belong 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:24.799 to some form 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:25.939 of Bible believing 00:12:25.939 --> 00:12:26.919 Christian denomination. 00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:28.340 Someone that takes 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:29.139 this gospel message 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:29.960 of Jesus seriously. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.419 Now the reality 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.460 is that the number 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:33.419 is probably far 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.120 less than that 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.379 but even if we 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.059 assume it's right 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:36.379 for a minute 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.000 that's one in five 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.320 people. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.200 That's only one 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:40.879 in five people 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.440 at best. 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.159 Think about 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:43.580 what that means 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:44.120 just for a minute. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.659 It means as you 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:46.919 walk out this door 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.240 today, 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.779 as you drive home, 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.379 as you go about 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:49.799 your business 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:50.399 in Chatswood, 00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:52.039 you can safely 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.860 assume that as many 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.539 or at least 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:54.580 80% of the people 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:55.320 you come across 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:55.899 do not know 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.379 this message, 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.259 do not understand 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:57.899 this message. 00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.779 That's 80% 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:00.439 out of the people 00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:01.340 that you work with, 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:02.620 the people 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.320 that you chat with 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:04.259 when you're dropping 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.799 the kids off 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:05.720 at school every morning, 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.340 of the people 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:08.000 you play weekend 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.660 sports with, 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.060 the people 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:10.019 you socialise with, 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:11.800 80%, 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:13.340 a number that 00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.120 likely includes 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:14.779 large numbers 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.879 of your best friends, 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:17.420 maybe even members 00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:18.060 of your family, 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.120 those nearest 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.000 and dearest to you. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.320 Many of them 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.019 that simply just 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.519 do not know 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.440 this gospel message, 00:13:25.040 --> 00:13:25.920 do not know 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.420 the forgiveness 00:13:26.420 --> 00:13:27.120 that you know, 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.399 do not have 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.139 the hope of heaven 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:29.800 that you have. 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:32.379 This is exactly 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:32.899 why we need 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:33.620 to be doing mission, 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.079 isn't it? 00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.639 It's safe to assume 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.319 the vast majority 00:13:36.319 --> 00:13:36.859 of the people 00:13:36.859 --> 00:13:38.099 we come in contact 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:38.839 with day in, 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:39.240 day out, 00:13:39.719 --> 00:13:41.019 simply don't know 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.819 this message. 00:13:41.979 --> 00:13:42.459 They don't know 00:13:42.459 --> 00:13:42.859 the gospel. 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:44.779 But we do. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:46.519 If we're sitting 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.099 in this place 00:13:47.099 --> 00:13:47.639 for any length 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.059 of time, 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:48.919 then I can assume 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:50.659 you have heard 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.599 this gospel message 00:13:51.599 --> 00:13:52.639 taught faithfully. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.099 Even this morning 00:13:54.099 --> 00:13:55.199 in just the confessions, 00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:55.879 the songs, 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:56.879 the prayers, 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:57.919 it's been everywhere, 00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:58.419 hasn't it? 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:00.259 Now, if you haven't 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.360 heard of Jesus, 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.559 if you don't understand 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:03.759 all that he has done, 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.860 then can I please 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.299 encourage you 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.000 to talk to someone 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.779 before you go. 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:07.860 We would love 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.399 nothing more 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:08.819 than to help 00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:09.379 you understand. 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:12.699 But if you do 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.500 know this message, 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.079 and if your life 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:15.799 has been changed, 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.620 turned upside down 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.199 for the best 00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.219 by it, 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.679 well then we need 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.559 to ask ourselves, 00:14:21.459 --> 00:14:22.399 how will the people 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:22.719 out there 00:14:22.719 --> 00:14:23.539 that don't know it 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:24.740 come to understand 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.399 it if we won't 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.199 explain it to them? 00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:27.299 They're certainly 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:27.799 not looking, 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:28.479 most of them. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.059 How will they know 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:30.779 if we won't tell? 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.240 Now, a number 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.979 of years ago now, 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:35.259 my life was changed 00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:35.819 profoundly. 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:37.319 When I went to go 00:14:37.319 --> 00:14:37.859 and get married, 00:14:37.979 --> 00:14:38.819 and part of that 00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:39.679 was sitting down 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.579 at the local church 00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:41.599 with a group of people, 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.500 and we talked 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.219 about the gospel. 00:14:44.339 --> 00:14:45.159 And as we went, 00:14:46.079 --> 00:14:46.799 I'm someone who's 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.879 always thought 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.279 that I understood it, 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.919 but as we went, 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:51.779 I realised I'd 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.779 misunderstood the gospel 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.939 in profound ways. 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:56.200 My wife, 00:14:56.260 --> 00:14:56.900 on the other hand, 00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:57.700 came from a background 00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:58.240 where she knew 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.040 nothing of Jesus. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:00.180 It had never been 00:15:00.180 --> 00:15:01.040 part of her childhood, 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.240 and quite frankly, 00:15:02.400 --> 00:15:03.100 the last thing she 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:03.640 thought she wanted 00:15:03.640 --> 00:15:04.060 to be doing 00:15:04.060 --> 00:15:05.040 with her Thursday nights 00:15:05.040 --> 00:15:05.840 was sitting around 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.540 talking to a bunch 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.480 of people about Jesus. 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:08.880 That was not what 00:15:08.880 --> 00:15:09.600 she thought she wanted. 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:11.700 But see, 00:15:11.760 --> 00:15:12.320 as those people 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:13.480 explained it to us, 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.120 and we came to understand 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.140 this message of Jesus, 00:15:16.280 --> 00:15:17.340 it's changed our lives 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.720 immensely. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.120 Even if we didn't 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:20.820 think we would be, 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.779 we are now profoundly 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.800 grateful for the people 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.800 who took the time 00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:24.340 and the effort 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.040 to do that. 00:15:26.300 --> 00:15:27.240 We'd never have known 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.600 had they not explained it. 00:15:28.660 --> 00:15:29.600 We weren't trying to. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.600 This Ethiopian man 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.680 would never have known 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:34.440 this message 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:35.960 had someone not 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.899 explained it to him. 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:38.779 We've got to take 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.519 seriously the fact 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.060 that the majority 00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:40.580 of the people 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.420 that we're out there 00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:42.100 with in Chatswood 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.620 every day 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:44.980 will not come 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.879 to know this message 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.120 if people like us 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.200 are not prepared 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:49.299 to get out there 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.060 and tell them. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.220 That's why we're 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:53.620 on mission. 00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.600 We have the most 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.399 important message 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.100 that anyone could 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.879 ever need to hear, 00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.700 even if they don't 00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.620 realise they need it yet. 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.659 That is why this church 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.320 and many others 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.399 like it across our world 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.060 will continue 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.899 to tell people 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.740 about this message 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.759 until there's no world 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.379 to tell it to. 00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:10.720 That's why we're here 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.180 this week. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.180 That's why we'd love 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.120 as many of you 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.620 as possible 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.639 to come and join us 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.879 in that work. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:18.720 And to that end 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.419 will you pray with me? 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.360 Father, 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.100 we do thank you 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:26.779 for all that you 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:27.720 have done in Christ 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.759 that we might be forgiven. 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:30.779 We ask now 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.480 that as we head out 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.120 into Chatswood 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.820 this coming week 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:33.279 and beyond 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.799 that you would be acting 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.779 to make this wonderful 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.840 gospel message known. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.320 Please prepare people, 00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:40.360 soften their hearts 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.120 so that they might 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.539 respond 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:44.419 and give us courage 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:45.659 to take the opportunities 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.740 that are presented to us 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.839 to explain this gospel. 00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:49.659 And we ask this 00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:50.539 for your glory. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:51.579 Amen. 00:16:51.580 --> 00:17:06.079 and we ask this 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.660 talking about 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:09.019 there are 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.360 questions 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:11.460 that you 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:13.240 have we 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.539 have 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:13.799 and find this 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.400 wonderful 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.620 love