The Good News About Jesus

Introduction: In John 4:21-24 Jesus tells a woman from Samaria that…

John 4:21–24 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Last week, we discovered from Acts 8:9-25 that the church in Jerusalem had scattered to the city of Samaria. The very city to which Jesus had ministered to this woman at the well. At that time, many of the Samaritans believed Jesus was the Savior of the world, because of her testimony and finally because of Jesus’ teaching. Now, after Jesus’ ascension back to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God, His apostles have been witnessing the gospel. Starting in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, the gospel was now expanding to those who would “worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” The church is born in Samaria, among those who are not quite Jewish… and not quite gentiles.

Among those helping with gospel work in Samaria was a guy named Phillip. He was one of the 7 chosen by the church in Jerusalem to help navigate the distribution of goods to widows. Now, he is proclaiming the gospel to the Samaritans. After an encounter with a false believer, Simon the magician, we now pick up on Philip’s ministry as the Holy Spirit leads him to encounter yet another person that is beyond the borders of the Jews.

Follow with me as we read Acts 8:26-40

See Map of Phillips journey as we read...

The account of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch is an amazing narrative full of wonder. The overarching point that is being made is that, Jesus is advancing His church throughout the world. He had promised to do so, and through the work of His followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that mission is being accomplished. Now, there is a new follower of Jesus among the royal court in Ethiopia.

Transition: As we work through this passage today I want to make 2 applications that will help us as we continue to obey Jesus commands to make disciples among the nations. Even as we interact with our friends, family members, team mates, neighbors, and beyond our borders.… we often need reminders of how to go about witnessing for Jesus. How do we share the good news about Jesus?

Two truths that help us in our evangelism.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

An angel told Phillip, who only had a copy of the Old Testament. We have the whole Scriptures, and do not need an angel to tell us to do what God has already told us in he word. Do not wait around for a special revelation when it’s already been given. Stay in step with the Spirit through prayer, Scripture study, and one another.

The Holy Spirit is active in our lives, as well as those whom He is awakening. The Ethiopian was being prepared by the Holy Spirit just as much as Phillip was. And God put these two together so that Phillip could engage.

Consider the Ethiopian Eunuch. He was a court official of the Candace, Queen of Ethiopia. He was in charge of the treasury. Upper class. God fearing but only able to observed from outside the temple (Deut. 23:1). God had drawn him to Himself, one who was only permitted to worship from the outside, is now being indwelled by the Spirit on the inside. We can all relate to the Ethiopian.. I remind you of Ephesians 2:11-16

Ephesians 2:11–16 ESV

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Transition: Be filled with the Spirit and He will lead us to the right people at the right time. Don’t be surprised when the Holy Spirit directs us to “desert” places. You might think your the one in a desert place this morning looking for guidance. Or like Phillip, the Holy Spirit may be calling you to a desert place, and you simply need to obey.

Be filled with the Word.

How was Phillip able to “begin with Isiah 53:7-8 and then tell the Ethiopian the good news about Jesus? Because he, along with the rest of the church in Jerusalem had devoted themselves daily to the apostles teaching. Even though Phillip had grown up hearing the Scriptures read aloud, he did not have a scrolls in his back pocket with the Old Testament. the fact that the Ethiopian had a copy of Isiah 53 shows that he was certainly a man of means. he had his own private jet, and could afford a scroll. All of this though was God’s soverigen hand preparing him to have an encounter with Phillip. And Phillip’s heart and mind were filled with the word because he had devoted himself to the teaching. Where did the apostles get their teaching? Luke, the same human author of book of Acts, tells us in chapter 24 of his gospel, that Jesus Himself took this same approach with a couple disciples on the road to Emmaus. He stared with he writings of Moses, and went through the prophets and psalms and explained how the whole Old Testament was God making promises to provide a messiah who would suffer. And Jesus explained how He was the promise being fulfilled. Now, his apostles were teaching in the same manner. And Phillip, was explaining the gospel in the same way he had been taught.

Notice, being filled with the Spirit and the word… Phillip simply Asked a question. Phillip saw the man, and intentionally asked a question that broke the ice. Takes time to sit and talk with people. The Eunuch is a unique story in the early development of the church. He wanted “guidance”. I’m not sure how often we will see people pondering over the book of Isiah. However, with a few questions we can assess where people are and start there. The Ethiopian was obviously open for conversation because he invited Phillip to sit and chat. By the power of the Spirit we need to be ready to sit and chat with folks. Maybe we give them a Bible and ask if they would like to study through the gospel of Mark together. Maybe other ideas as your lead by the Holy Spirit to enagage people.

Being filled with the Word, we speak good news about Jesus with the authority of Scripture. It was no happen stance that the Ethiopian was reading from Isiah 53; which you will remember from Easter Sunday is one of the greatest chapters of prophesy in the Old Testament about the Messiah. Phillip started with Isaiah, but he also referenced other Scriptures. In the same way that Phillip had heard the apostles preaching Jesus, he used Scripture to tell the good news about Jesus. We all should be saturated enough and mindful enough of Scripture to be able to guide someone to Jesus with the text.

After being baptized the Eunuch went away rejoicing. In the same way that the Samaritans had rejoiced after Philip had shared the gospel with the city, so too now this individual is now rejoicing. His confusion has been turned to joy because of the clarity of the gospel being shared through Phillip. We should be reminded again, when we speak truth to those who need Jesus, we are speaking for their joy!

Finally, Phillip continued being filled with the Spirit and the word. He was taken away to city of Azotus, which in the Old testament was the Philistien city north of Gaza, where they took the Ark of the Covenant after capturing it in battle. Then, Phillip continued all the way home to Caesarea. In Acts 21:8 we will hear the last mention of Phillip, where he is recognized as “Phillip the Evangelist” who has daughters and is receiving Paul and his companions as visitors. I wonder, if there is a history written about Hillcrest… could “evangelist” be given to our names?

Closing: The Spirit and the Word motivated Phillip’s evangelism. The implication is that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. What steps are you taking to make this the case?

How am I currently seeking to be filled with the Spirit and Word?