The Spirit is Always, Already at Work

Within Reach The Spirit is Always, Already at Work

What stops us from sharing our faith?

Acts 8:26–40 NIV

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 37 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Turn to your neighbor, what makes it challenging to talk about faith? (whether you’re a christian or not (there will be a bhudist in the room))

I think sometimes what stops us from sharing our faith is we don’t believe they’ll be receptive or that God is at work

Acts 8:26 NIV

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

The Spirit of God is already at work in others. We then, need to let the Spirit work in us.

Acts 8:29 NIV

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Have you heard the Spirit talk to you? How do you know?

Three ways God speaks to us:

God’s Word

Prayer

God’s people.

Does it align with God’s Word?

Drinking/lust

Does it align with God’s Character?

lying/giving

Does it align with Biblical counsel?

Margin - saying no

Does it lead you to obedience (not comfort)?

leaving med school

reconciling relationships

We can all hear the voice of God. If God is at work in the lives of others, we need to allow the spirit to work in us.

Think of someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus.

How do we share our faith with them?

Acts 8:30 NIV

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

We need to come alongside - “philip ran up to the chariot”

We share our faith not by first telling but by asking.

we need to learn to listen, and to ask good questions.

Seb - you’re always sharing your faith, I love it!

WHEN the person is ready to open God’s Word, we open the Bible - the Bible is the Word of God and it reveals to us who God is

Acts 8:30–32 NIV

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

EXPLAIN IT TO ME.

Isaiah 53:7–8 NIV

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.

Acts 8:34–35 NIV

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Jesus

3. We share the gospel

EXPLAIN IT TO ME

Do you know how to explain the gospel?

Facts of the gospel vs interpretation of the gospel.

Death - penalty of sin & substitutionary payment

Burial - evidence of death

Resurrection - Victory over sin, death, devil

Result: access to God/relationship

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? FAMILY

4. When we recieve the gospel, we obey: Baptism

Acts 8:36–39 NIV

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 37  Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

v37: Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

God’s spirit is always at work: story of sharing my faith with Taylor

Application:

faith in jesus

baptism

share your faith