Night of New Beginnings: Baptisms (Philip and the Eunuch)

Acts 8:26-40

Let me show you how God meets us where we are and how salvation and baptism go hand in hand.

Acts 8:26–40 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. 27 And he rose and went. 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 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him 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. 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.” 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. 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?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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. 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.

Can you perceive what God is doing? When we read Isaiah it can again be easy to disconnect it from us today. I want to read a text now to show you a man who could perceive. where God met him..and how we can respond in obedience.

Wrong Place

Desert Road- God tells Philiip to go south down the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. A desert place and a desert road. You would think God would’ve sent him to the temple not away from it. And certainly that he wouldn’t send him into the middle of the desert. It would seem like the wrong place to follow God to, and expect Him to be. But yet Philiip goes.

And he meets a man, a Eunuch who was in a chariot, not going quickly, but traveling slowly down a desert road.

God speaks through Phillip to this man, on a desert road, while hes traveling, in a chariot, after he left the temple

All of these things would make you think, this is the wrong place to meet God. Not in the desert, not in a chariot, not after he left the temple. The temple would be where he should’ve heart and met God, not here.

God speaks to Him not in Jerusalem in the temple..but meets Him in the desert. In the middle of his questions, while hes traveling alone.

God shows up in what we call the wrong places..to show that God there is no wrong place to meet God. When we come with the right heart..the wrong place, can become the right place. And it doesn’t have to be at a church either, God can meet you in your car in the middle of your questions. God can speak in the midst of your desert season. God can meet you in a park, under a tent, in a small tent. Thats the wrong place…God can’t show up here. Thats the point…there are wrong places. If you will pause and look, you will find that God has been here the whole time. Calling, speaking to you.

Wrong Person

The Acts of the Apostles F. The Word Goes to Ethiopia (8:26–40)

He comes from the edge of the known world, of the black race, is a castrated male, and probably a Gentile

The Acts of the Apostles 1. A Divinely Arranged Encounter (8:26–31)

The Ethiopian is apparently a would-be proselyte, prevented by his condition as a eunuch from entering fully into Jewish life, but ready to receive the gospel proclaimed by Philip.

He apparently was someone who feared God but because of his condition can never really become one of the people.

The fact that He is alone struggling through scripture points to the fact that He is trying to understand God and find himself in God’s story. But up untill this point he is on the outskirts of the community. A loner, outsider. On a desert road with a confusing text..looking for God.

For all intensive purposes, it would seem like not only was this the wrong place to meet God, but He was the wrong person.

You may be feeling today that not only could God not meet us in a park, but you might be saying even if God did show up to this park..he wouldn’t ve looking for me. I’m the wrong person. Wrong type of person. I’ve made some mistakes, too far gone. An outsider.

There are no wrong people. God shows up in the wrong places to the people we see as the wrong people to remind us that when He shows up he can make even the wrong places right places. And when he shows up he can make even the wrong people, the right ones.

The rightness or wrongness of people isn’t about who you are, or where you come from. Its not even about where you are..its about your heart. If you will call on God, and trust in Him tonight…he will meet you!

Don’t let anyone tell you that God can’t meet you or save because of who you are. Don’t let anyone tell you that God isn’t still saving and moving..even in a park on a Thursday night!

The Right Questions

Acts 8:33–34 ESV

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

He reads Isaiah and he asks the right question..wait a minute. Is he talking about something else? I’m reading this..but theres something more here than I am missing. He says, help me to make sure I can perceive.

Hes reading the same prophet we just read…and the Eunuch, even though he seems to be the wrong place, and the wrong person..He asks the right question. Who is this someone else?

Who is this savior? Thats the right question. Forgetting the former things..and seeing the new thing! Who is this savior

There are no wrong people or wrong places for God to meet and deliver.

The question is rather, can you see and belive God can work in this place that feels wrong, and in you when you feel wrong yourself?

Can you perceive Jesus.

The Right Response

Recieves the gospel…recognzies and recieves who Jesus is.

And he sees a stream in the desert!

And he looks out and says, “What can keep me from being baptized?”

He accepts Christ and immediately looks for an opportunity to express his obeidence.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward confession and trust.

Baptism does not save you..but it is an act of obedience to proclaim before God that you have been buried with Him and and choose to identify with Him.

Notice something…Philip didn’t make him get baptized, but the eunuch was looking for a way to obey, and when he saw the stream in the desert…he said, now is the time.

He said what can keep me from being baptized? The only thing that keep me from being baptized is no water. But if God saved in a desert..and then provides a stream in the desert..let me obey!

He didn’t need a class, he didn’t have to go back to the temple..He said what can keep me from being baptized? If God has provided a stream…he wanted to be obedient.

Baptism is the next step following salvation. When you go under the water it is to say, I am buried with Christ and risen with Him again. And to do it openly is to proclaim that this isn’t just an inward reality, but an outward reality.

If you are here today, and know who Jesus is, and have not been baptized..there is nothing to keep you from being baptized. We have a pool for you right here, and if God is leading you..then we want to give yo the space to respond.

What is keeping you from being baptized? Have you recieved Christ? Do you believe that He is who He says He is? Are you willing to surrender to Him as King and Lord of your life?

Well God has provided the water. Like Philiip, I am here today to meet you in the midst of your wandering and questioning..and to point you to the streams of life found in Jesus. God led Gracie here, and I am reminded that there are no wrong places or people.

The question isn’t is God here, but can I percieve Him here?

The question isn’t, “Am I the right person or in the right place,”..the question is can you recognize God in this place.

The question is not, “what will people say about me”, but “What does God say about me?”

God is here..and he is provided a stream in a park. All I can ask, is do you percieve Him?

What is keeping you from being baptized? It isn’t God, or me, or even that there is no water…will we obey. Will we proclaim before God and others, that “I can percieve Him, and I am ready for Him to do a new thing in me!”