Acts 8 1-6, 26-40 If not me who?

Acts 81-6, 26-40 If not me who?

Who will share Christ with those around me?

Google watching.

Alexa is listening

The government watching.

The eyes of Sibiu

What would they see?

You can tell a lot about people by watching what they do. If you could follow them around and record all their actions, it would reveal what was really important to them. If you followed the people of the early church around you would see a number of important activities in their lives. However, as God watched them and Luke recorded His record of the early church, a major activity is recorded again and again. People in the early church were constantly telling people about Jesus.

Imagine if they hadn’t.

The message of salvation would never have gone forth.

The world would remain lost even though the redemption has been accomplished.

The Lord accomplished redemption.

However, the means by which people are to be saved is tied directly to people sharing the message.

Story of a man the Lord desire to come to Him.

And another man who the Lord would use to make it happen.

I. If not me who? Everyone has excuses not to witness

A. Possible persecution Acts 8:1-4

(ESV) Acts 8 1 … And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. … 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and womenand committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

B. Busyness Acts 8:5-6

(ESV) Acts 8 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.

C. Unlikely places Acts 8:26

(ESV) Acts 8 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.

D. Unlikely persons / situations Acts 8:27-28a

(ESV) Acts 8 27 … 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 …

1. Different culture - Ethiopia

2. Different social class – great authority

3. Different financial status – treasurer

4. An eunuch – forbidden to enter the nonGentile portion of the temple – excluded from being a convert

5. In a hurry

II. If not me who? God’s already at work in people

Ex. Person in Garland – door to door – abrupt / come back later – driving could not get him out of my mind – turn around – knocked on door – “I have been waiting on you” – Would you like me to share with you how to go to heaven “yes”

A. Divine appointments Acts 8:27b

(ESV) Acts 8 27 … And there was (behold a man) an Ethiopian, …

B. May have an historical understanding Acts 8:27c

(ESV) Acts 8 27 … And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure.

C. May be seeking God Acts 8:27d-31a

(ESV) Acts 8 27 … He had come to Jerusalem to worship

28 and was returning (from Jerusalem), seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

D. May recognized something is missing Acts 8:29-31a

(ESV) Acts 8 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?” …

E. May be open to allow someone to help them Acts 8:31b

(ESV) Acts 8 31 … And he invited Philip to come upand sit with him.

III. If not me who? The key is listening and responding

A. Obeyed the Lord Acts 8:26a, 27a

(ESV) Acts 8 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go … 27 And he rose and went. …

1. Unknown situations

2. Unconditional response

B. Sensitive to speak as God led Acts 8:29-30

(ESV) Acts 8 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?”

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said

1. Sensitive to condition of others

2. Bold to engage with the truth

C. Shared Christ Acts 8:30, 32-35

1. Began where he was

(ESV) Acts 8 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

2. Communicated the gospel

a) Knew that interest does not equal salvation

(ESV) Acts 8 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?”

(ESV) Acts 8 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

IV. If not me who? Taking them all the way

A. Brought him to a place of decision Acts 8:36

(ESV) Acts 8 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?”

B. Made it clear how to be saved Acts 8:37a

(ESV) Acts 8 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” …

C. Led Him to trust Christ Acts 8:37b

(ESV) Acts 8 37 … And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

D. Baptized him to identify with Christ Acts 8:38

(ESV) Acts 8 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

E. Impacted lives Acts 8:39-40

(ESV) Acts 8 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.

1. On others

a) Connection to Jesus in his life

(1) Note: Goal is to connect people to Christ Himself

b) Changed lives

(1) Joy – sins forgiven – purpose – security

2. On self

a) Made sharing Christ a part of his life

b) Impacted countless people