Does God Have Your Attention?

Two Chosen Men - “Does God Have Your Attention?” - Acts 8:25-9:19

1. God Wants the Leader’s Attention

The Ethiopian

Acts 8:27 NASB95

So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

The Pharisee

Acts 9:3–5 NASB95

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Those with great influence have great impact.

Where has God given you influence? How are you using it for Him?

(25m)

2. God Wants the Learner’s Attention

Curiosity Creates Questions

Acts 8:30 (NASB95)

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

Acts 8:35 (NASB95)

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Questions Create Clarity

Acts 9:11–16 (NASB95)

And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

When is the last time you were curious about something in the Bible?

When is the last time your study of the Bible brought clarity to your understanding?

What questions do you have at this point in your life?

(15m)

3. God Wants the Lowly’s Attention

James 4:6–10 NASB95

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

The Humble Honored

Acts 8:30–31 NASB95

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:36–39 NASB95

As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And 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.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

He went to Jerusalem to worship even though he couldn’t enter the Temple.

He listened to Philip, a nobody.

He was baptized in dirty water on the side of the road.

The Honored Humbled

Acts 9:13–19 NASB95

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

He was an elite Jew, a Pharisee, and a natural-born Roman citizen.

He had authority from the High Priest to persecute the Church.

He humbled himself to be baptized, even before he ate.

(5m)

CONCLUSION

Where are you leading in life, and how are you using that for God?

Are you studying the Bible?

Are you too proud to follow Jesus?

Both Saul and the Ethiopian Eunuch had no control over God’s choice or their encounter with the truth about Jesus. Their responsibility was to humble themselves before God as He drew them. Will you come to Christ humbly as the Ethiopian did, or humiliated as Saul did?

Philippians 2:5–11 (NASB95)

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.