One Person Matters

Good morning, everyone! Whether you're here with us in the room or joining online—listening live or later—I am truly glad you're here. Leaf River Baptist church exist to Know Christ, Grow in faith, and to Go make Him known.

Hey, if you’ve got kids with you this morning—now’s a great time for them to head to class. We’ve got an amazing team ready to welcome them and help them know Jesus in a way that makes sense to them.

Today we’re continuing our series called, Who’s Your ONE. Over the summer we have been walking through key passages in the book of Acts together. Acts is the story of what Jesus continued to do through His church after His resurrection and ascension. It is the story of ordinary believers—people like you and me—empowered by the Holy Spirit to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Now we started this series with everyone taking a card and placing the name of one person who doesn’t know Jesus on it. Then you commited to praying for that one person 3 times a day…that’s all, just pray for them and that God would open their eyes to the hope of the gospel. For some of you that was easy because maybe it was a child, or a parent…for others it was a coworker, or a friend. Whoever is on your card, I hope you are still praying for them.

Then a couple of weeks ago I challanged you to move a step deeper with them and ask if you could pray for them about anything. That’s an important connection to have with someone. Then we’ve been continuing to go deeper into a spiritual connection with our one so that we can move to a gospel encounter. Last week I showed you the cross with the words, “Pray. Speak. Trust.” Then I told you about the ping pong balls that we will be filling that cross up with so that we can encourage each other with our faithfulness. The goal that we have is obedience as we seek to share the gospel.

Now I want you to think about the story that Brian shared with you earlier. Remember Brian was walking and he felt the Holy Spirit nudge him to go back and speak to the person he had encountered as he was out for his walk. He changed his plans and he listened to the Holy Spirit and he went back and talked to that man. Now, we don’t know what that encounter may or may not lead to…but what we do know is that Brian was faithful to listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading and then he was obedient.

You see, when we listen to the Holy Spirit we don’t always know what the outcome will be. We don’t know where we will end up, or what will happen. What we do know is that we are being obedient.

Last week we talked about how Philip was obedient and how he went to Samaria and preached the gospel. Well, this week we are going to see how Philip had his entire day rerouted by God.

God is going to send him away from a successful ministry revival to the wilderness to have one conversation. The thing is that sometimes God interrupts our plans because he is pursuing someone, and he is going to use you to connect with that one.

So last week we saw how after persecution rose up in Jerusalem many Christians scattered and one Christian named Phillip left Jerusalem and when to Samaria where he began preaching the gospel and performing miraculous healings and removing demonic forces from their presence. Essentially there was a revival that was beginning in Samaria. Crowds of people were responding to the gospel, and ministry was thriving there. If Philip was smart…he would stay right there and just really pour into the people who are actively receiving the gospel.

But…God sends Philip away from the crowds to go into the desert.

Why? Why would God take Philip away from a thriving ministry to go to the middle of nowhere?

Because God cares about one person.

Let’s go ahead and read about this encounter this morning.

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.

This encounter teaches us how God reaches people and how ordinary believers are able to participate in His work.

Actually, that takes us to the first point today…

God Works Before You (v.26-29)

Most of you, just like most Christians feel pressure because you think that evangelism begins and depends on you. However, this story teaches us the exact opposite. God was already working on the Ethiopian eunuch long before Philip ever showed up.

There are three ways God is working without you every speaking a word.

God works in the circumstances.

This Ethiopian had already been traveling for hundreds of miles. He specifically traveled to Jerusalem because he was searching and worshiping. God was already drawing him to himself.

You’re coworker…your neighbor…your friend, your one…God may already be stirring questions within them that will allow them to encounter God through your conversations.

That’s not all though.

God works through His Word.

Acts 8:28 ESV

28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

This man was already reading from the scroll of Isaiah.

Before Philip ever says a word, Scripture is already speaking to this man.

Listen, never underestimate the power of God’s Word. Scripture tells us that it will never return void…it will never be empty of saving power.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith comes from hearing God’s Word…all of it and any of it.

God works through His Spirit

It was the Spirit of God, in other words, the Holy Spirit that directed this entire encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian. God was orchestrating everything here.

Do you know what that means folks…The pressure is off…it’s not up to you. You do not create opportunities to share the gospel, you simply respond to those opportunities.

Do you realize how freeing that is? Listen, it’s not up to you at all…there is nothing you can do to create an opportunity, it is not up to you charisma or wit…it is entirely up to God working through you, and you being willing to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Before Philip ever opened his mouth, God had already been working.

That’s should be so encouraging becuase the salvation of your one doesn’t depend on you. God loves them even more than you do.

Listen, here’s the deal….God doesn’t need you to share the gospel. He is bigger than you and he can use anyone or any thing…However, God welcomes you into the story of your one coming to faith. Why would you reject that gift.

God is already working, but he still chooses to use his people…Do you know who God uses?

God Uses Available People (v.29-35)

Philip’s greatest qualification wasn’t the way he spoke…it was his availability…his faithfulness…his obedience.

What do we know about Philip from this encounter? Well…

Philip listened.

Do you realize how important this very act of obedience actually is? We read how the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

The next thing we read is that Philip simply obeyed.

Every single evangelistic opportunity that you will ever have begins with your willingness to just obey.

A phone call…A conversation…A question…An invitation…

All of that starts with obedience, not training, or studying, or anything else…just obedience.

The next thing we know about Philip is that

Philip engaged.

You will notice that Philip did not begin with some outline, or special tool…he just started with a question.

“Do you understand what you are reading?”

There is no sermon here.

There is no debate.

There is only a simple question.

Do you know why?

You see, questions open doors….questions invite conversations…questions show you care.

That’s why I’ve given you some questions such as “Can I pray for you?” or “Do you go to church?”

This past week Beth and I were at a conference and on our way out one day there was a guy that we struck up a conversation with. It started with a simply, “How are you this morning?” and it ended with us praying with a man named Byron, whose wife wants to start going to church, but he isn’t quite sure yet. The entire encounter took less than 5 minutes.

Questions open doors, invite conversations, and show you care.

After Philip asked a question

Philip shared Jesus

This right here is the key to this entire encounter.

Philip began exactly where this man was and then pointed him to Christ.

The thing is, you don’t need all the answers…you just need to know Jesus.

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The same Savior that Isiah was described is the same Savior that Philip was proclaiming.

Philip didn’t save the Ethiopian.

Philip simply introduced him to the man called Jesus.

That’s all you and I are being called to do.

So when ordinary believers are available and Jesus is proclaimed, God often does extraordinary things.

You see,

One Conversation Has Eternal Impact (v. 36-40)

To Philip this is an ordinary conversation…one he had likely had before.

God had a different purpose for this conversation. This conversation was used in massive ways.

The first thing that happened as a result is that

The Ethiopian believed.

Something we’ve talked about before…the gospel demands a responds. Either someone rejects the gospel and is condemned, or a person accepts the gospel and is saved…Either way, there is a response.

This man…this encounter…resulted in salvation.

Then…

The Ethiopian was baptized

This man’s faith became public

Now, that’s a scary thought for some of us here today…To consider that my faith would be made public…I’m not talking Facebook public where everyone believes their “Christian”…I’m mean truly public to your peers face to face.

There was immediate obedience

This man was not alone. Remember who he is. This man was the treasurer to Candace the queen of Ethiopia.

He had a chariot…he would have also had servants, and soldiers with him. However, he stoped the chariot at the first body of water to publically align himself with this Jesus of Nazareth who died for his sins.

You see, a changed heart produced a public obedience…not quiet and personal…public.

Listen, I know the culture tells us to keep your faith quiet…it’s between you and you’re God.

Where do you think that idea comes from? — Satan is where that lie comes from.

Your faith was never meant to be private between you and God…Your faith, if in the God of the Bible, was meant to be shouted from the rooftops so that everyone sees and knows where salvation comes from.

Actually if you are keeping your faith quiet, maybe it’s time to question what your faith is in...

This isn’t all that happened when Philip spoke to this man. From this conversation we can see that

God used one encounter

This is an amazing story here, so I want you to pay attention to the result of this encounter.

From church history we know that Christianity spread to Ethiopia very early.

Now, listen to what I read about this week.

This Ethiopian was a court official of Candace, queen of Ethiopia…he was in charge of the treasure.

Well, I wanted to know who Candace was…here’s what I found out.

Candace was likely not an actual name. It was a title used, much like Pharaoh in Egypt.

This specific Candace was likely a person named Amanitere who ruled over Nubia from Ad 25-41. This would be modern day Sudan.

This area called Nubia was the center of commercial trade between Africa and Southern Asia, and was very well known for its wealth.

There is a tradition that Candace was herself converted to Christianity by her treasurer on his return.

That’s not all…this treasurer became the apostle of Christianity in that whole region, carrying the gospel further through the world.

Now, that story is not 100% verified, but it does speak to all traditions and historical understanding of how the gospel spread southward into Africa through this man’s testimony.

God used one encounter…to save a continent folks…what can he do with your obedience.

Let me tell you another story.

back in the early 1900’s there was a man named Mordecai Ham who preached a series of revival messages over approximately 11 weeks. These messages were a result of much prayer and the people of Charlotte prayed that someone would be raised up to take the gospel to the world.

On one of the last nights of revival, unaware what was happening and how people had been praying, a young Billy Graham walked up and prayed to receive Christ and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The prayer of those in Charlotte included an elder Mr. William Franklin Graham, a dairy farmer and church member.

Think of the impact of that Ethiopian because of the faithfulness of Philip.

Think of the impact of Billy because of the faithfulness of his father.

God uses single encounters to cause miraculous salvation.

One conversation matters…

One invitation matters…

One gospel witness matters…

Never underestimate what God can do through one faithful conversation.

Now, over the last few weeks we’ve talked about how to start conversations.

Iv’e given you a few questions and statements to help you.

How to have conversations:

1. How can I pray for you?

2. Do you go to church anywhere?

3. Can I tell you something that’s helped me?

4. Tell me more about that.

Today I want to share something a little bit different. Today I want to give you a framework to help you share your specific story.

You see, someone may ask you what your experiences have been with God and with faith…so you need to be able to answer at least that question.

So…you don’t need to preach a sermon…you just need to learn

Three Sentences.

1. What my life was like before Jesus

(one sentence)

2. How I came to trust Jesus?

(one sentence)

3. What Jesus has done in my life?

(one sentence)

Let me give you an example for me.

“I used to live my life according to my own desires, not caring about how I impacted others; objectively, I was a horrible person.

One day I came face to face with the living Jesus and I asked him to fix the life that I had destroyed by my own desires.

Since then…it’s crazy, the hatred, and anger has emptied from my heart and I’ve found not only forgiveness, but an entirely new life that I don’t deserve based on my own actions.”

Folks…you don’t need a seminary degree to tell your story…literally no one else is qualified to talk about what Jesus has done for you…

Of course if you don’t know if Jesus has done anything for you…then you need to turn to him this morning — keep focused here for a couple more minutes.

Every week I’ve been asking you to do something specific…this is a really important week for you all, ok.

First of all you are going to PRAY for your one three times a day, ok.

Next, I want to ask you to ask God every morning,

“Lord, help me notice opportunities to share”

Finally, I want you to practice sharing your story with your spouse, or friend, or sibling so that you are ready when God opens that door and supernaturally gives you one encounter

You’re not preaching here…

You’re not persuading anyone here…

You are simply sharing your story.

Now, for just a second let me talk to those of you here who don’t have a story to share.

Maybe you’ve been feeling like the Ethiopian. You’ve been searching…you’ve got questions.

Maybe you’ve been religious for a long time…maybe you’re a bit skeptical, maybe you’ve even been carrying burdens that no one knows about.

That day the Ethiopian was reading Isaiah, but he didn’t understand what he was reading.

In that one encounter Philip showed him Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us that we are all sinners…we have rebelled against God and we deserve his judgement. We cannot save ourselves, no matter how much we try or how much we know.

But then…

God sent his Son.

Jesus lived the life you and I couldn’t live…he died the death you and I deserve.

Three days later he walked out of that grave proving he is the only one who can defeat sin — death — hell — and the grave.

This moment opened up for you and me the opportunity to be reconciled to an infinitely Holy God.

Today, you’re greatest need is not self-improvement…I’ve tried that.

You’re biggest need is Jesus Christ.

The good news — Jesus receives sinners just like you and me.

Today…will you turn from your sin and trust in Jesus alone for your salvation? He will forgive you…save you…and give you eternal life.

Come to Jesus

Trust in Jesus

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…

I’ll close with this…

Church, you’re one matters because people matter to God. This week, ask the Lord to help you see people the way he does. Because sometimes the most important person in the world is the one God places directly in front of you…to have an encounter with…

Let’s Pray