Listening with Your Heart - Acts 8:6-40

“Listening With Your Heart”

Acts 8:26-40

Copyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, June 8, 2003

In 1980 The Minnesota Twins' world series game program (I wanted to use an illustration from a Cubs World Series program. . . ) there is this explanation of the game of baseball: You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's on the side that's in goes out and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When three men are out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out nine times including the not outs, that's the end of the game.

Do you ever feel like walking with God is as confusing as this explanation of baseball? I suspect you do. This morning we are going to reflect on the account of Philip and his conversation with the Ethiopian Eunuch. The thing that makes the account so fascinating is how clearly Philip seemed to know God’s will. We want to learn from his example.

If you recall, Philip was one of the seven deacons who were selected to minister to the widows and orphans in Jerusalem. After the martyr of Stephan, a wide-ranging persecution broke out. Philip and many other Christians left Jerusalem and went to surrounding areas. Philip went to Samaria, a place usually avoided by all good Jews. He began to preach the gospel and performed a number of miracles. As a result, people turned to Christ. A revival broke out in Samaria.

This is where we pick up our story. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” [Acts 8:26]

PHILIP LISTENED TO GOD

We are told an angel spoke to Philip. That seems odd to our ears but it happened many times in the Bible.

What he heard might have seemed strange

The angel told Philip to head out toward the desert. Think about what a strange command this must have been to Philip. There was a revival going on in Samaria and Philip was right in the middle of it. This sure didn’t seem to be the right time to be moving on to some new location. The work was just beginning in Samaria! What an odd request this seemed.

I don’t think I have ever heard from an angel. However, I do feel I have heard God’s Word to me from other messengers such as a timely word from a friend, the “still small voice of God’s Spirit”, and even from a teacher on television, radio or on tape. In most of these times I felt it was a word from the Lord because it changed my focus, moved me in a different direction, or showed me something I had not seen before.

Philip Obeyed What He Heard

A key thing to note is that no matter how different this word was from what Philip expected, he obeyed. He did what he was told. Philip trusted God’s wisdom more than his judgment.

As we read the Bible we see the Bible is filled with those who obeyed even when what they were told to do seemed to defy conventional wisdom.

· Noah built a boat in the desert

· Abraham left his home, business and extended family to go to a place God would show him

· Gideon went to war with 300 men

· Moses took on Pharaoh

· Ezekiel did all kinds of crazy things

· Peter walked on Water

· Ananias went to visit the persecutor Saul (more on that next week)

Each of these people heard what seemed like rather strange commands from God but they obeyed. God doesn’t waste His time talking to someone who isn’t willing to obey.

How do we “hear from God”?

The real question each of us wrestles with is: How can we hear from God? The great theologian Lily Tomlin once asked, “Why is it that when we talk to God we’re said to be praying, but when God talks to us we’re schizophrenic?

I share as a fellow pilgrim but let me share some thoughts. First, we have to want to hear God’s voice. We will not hear God’s voice unless we want a relationship, a real relationship, with Him. We must be serious about our faith. Teachers don’t waste a lot of time with students who don’t really want to learn. They will make attempts to motivate these kids but they will give most of their attention to the kids who are receptive. I think the same is true for the Lord. You aren’t going to hear from God unless you hunger to hear from God.

Second, we have to learn to recognize God’s voice. We do this by reading the Bible and building a relationship with Him through prayer. As we become familiar with God’s word we will be able to recognize those “voices” that are not from the Lord.

There are a couple of principles to help us. First, if the voice or impression contradicts the Word of God it is not from God. God is consistent. He would not ask us to murder, steal, lie, commit adultery, manipulate another person or desert our family. Second, if what you are considering doing will not bring glory to God, it is not a message from God.

Third, we must stop focusing on our will and begin seeking His will. This is what Philip was doing. If he had pursued his will he would have argued and stayed in Samaria. Philip was willing to go where God wanted him to go and to do what he wanted him to do.

In the movie Bruce Almighty, the main character is given the responsibility of being God for a few days. The purpose of the assignment was to help Bruce see beyond his own little world and his particular needs. He was challenged to see the bigger picture. At the end of the movie you know the man’s heart has changed when he asks the Almighty for something that is not about Him but others.

Granted, this is just a movie but I think it illustrates the truth that “You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” [James 4:2] If we are going to receive God’s direction for our lives we have to stop being so absorbed with ourselves and seek the Lord.

HE LISTENED FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Back to our story. Philip was sent to the desert.

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian Eunuch an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, 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.

We are told the man was an Ethiopian Eunuch. In other words, he was from Africa. The phrase Eunuch was either a title or he was a man who had been rendered impotent. (Sometimes a man would become a Eunuch so he could be entrusted with the oversight of the King’s harem or other “trusted” responsibilities) The man was an important official and appears to have been a man who was seeking God.

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

He stayed Near the Chariot. The Spirit told Philip to go stay near the chariot. Philip’s job was to hang around the chariot. Why? Philip was to listen for an opening to share the words of truth.

There’s a lesson here. If you and I want to be effective witnesses for the Lord we have to spend time near chariot. That suggests two things to me. First, we must be around non-Christians. We can’t simply gather in our “holy huddles” and hope to fulfill the Lord’s command to preach the gospel. Obviously, we are not to follow the ways of non-Christian people but we must not hide from them either. We still need our fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ but we also need contact with those outside of the church. We have to plan for these kinds of encounters.

Second, when we are with people we need to be attentive for an opportunities to share our faith. Let me give you some ideas,

· You’re at the water cooler and someone tells you about a crisis in their life and confess they are “scared of dying” or that they “don’t know where to turn for guidance”. This is the moment you have been waiting for. This is your opportunity to tell the person about the hope that you have found in Christ.

· You may be at school and you hear someone say, “no one could love me”, or “do you think there is a God?”. God has opened a door for you to talk about the incredible love of God.

· You may be out at a ballgame and hear someone say, “Life is so hectic right now that nothing makes any sense” or “My wife is leaving me” or “my cancer is back”. You have been standing by the chariot and your opportunity is at hand. You have an opportunity to talk about investing in eternity or the God who gives hope and strength in the time of crisis.

We will not be able to share the gospel with others unless we stay close and pay attention. If you pray for opportunities and stay close to those in need, doors will open. You will have a chance to share the Words of hope with another.

I wonder, what did it take for Philip to “stay near the chariot”? Was the chariot moving along at a walking pace or was it moving more quickly? Did Philip have to run to keep up? I wonder, how much effort are you willing to put into remaining near the chariot?

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 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the 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?”

He started where the Eunuch was. Instead of assuming he knew the heart of the Eunuch, Philip asked a simple question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” Can you imagine the scene? Instead of charging up to the chariot and saying, “Hey, did you know that you might be going to Hell?” Philip travels alongside the chariot and says, “Whatcha reading?” “I’m reading from the prophet Isaiah” “Do you understand what the prophet is saying?”

Philip understood that a good witness takes the time to find out where a person is and then meets them and that point and walks with them to Jesus.

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. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

He knew the gospel message. We are told that Philip started with the passage in Isaiah and explained the message of salvation to the Eunuch. This simple presentation of the gospel led the man to believe. He confessed Christ as Savior and Lord and requested baptism. Philip had done his job.

Many of you may resist sharing the gospel with another because you don’t know how to do so. Let me give you a simple tool that has been used by Christians for centuries. It is called the Romans Road. These are five verses from the book of Romans that will cover the basic points of the gospel.

· Romans 3:23- “All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory” We all have a problem and that problem is our rebellion against God.

· Romans 6:23- “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life”. We deserve punishment but we are offered eternal life.

· Romans 5:8 “But God showed his love for us in this: Christ laid down his life for us.” God’s remedy for our sin is for Christ to serve as our substitute and pay the price for our sin.

· Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” What’s necessary for salvation is to believe who Jesus is and what he has done. He is Lord (not just another man) and has risen literally from the dead.” We must believe the facts but also trust in these facts.

· Romans 10:13 “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Anyone who sincerely comes to Christ will be saved.

This simple presentation of the gospel is a great beginning. Armed with these verses you can lead anyone to salvation. Remember, it is not our technique, but God’s grace that makes people new.

CONCLUSIONS

We’ve covered a great deal of ground this morning. Our focus has been Philip. It’s a great story. God sends Philip out of Samaria to an Ethiopian official. Don’t miss the fact that this is another reminder that God cares about individuals. God took Philip out of a successful situation so that one man could find new life.

When Philip’s work was done, we are told “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again . . . Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns.”

Did Philip just disappear and then reappear in another place? That’s certainly what it sounds like. But either way, what we see is Philip’s faithfulness. He was willing to serve God wherever it pleased the Lord to use him.

I hope that is the way you would like to be. In order to serve God in this way we must learn to be sensitive to the Lord’s leadings. We must listen to the people around us. And we must take advantage of the opportunities we are given.

Let me close with some questions:

1. Are you making it a point to cultivate a relationship with God? Are you becoming acquainted with His character and will so that you can recognize His voice in the world?

2. Are you listening for His voice? Are you listening in the times of quiet, in the words of a child, a teacher, a friend or an author? Are you waiting for something spectacular to happen or are you listening for God even in the ordinary things of life?

3. Is there someone who needs you to stand by his or her chariot? Is there someone you can tell about Jesus?

4. Are you equipped to share the gospel with someone who asks you?

They are important questions. Let me close with this piece by Max Lucado,

Once there was a man who dared God to speak.

Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God.

And I will follow.

Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God.

And I will fight.

Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God.

And I will listen.

And so the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea

and waited for God to speak.

And God heard the man, so God answered.

He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church.

He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin.

He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul.

And God waited for the man to respond.

And he waited …

And he waited …

And waited.

But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts;

bricks and not lives, seas and not souls,

he decided that God had done nothing.

Finally he looked to God and asked, Have you lost your power?

And God looked at him and said , Have you lost your hearing?[1]

ÓCopyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, June 8, 2003

[1]Lucado, M. (1995). A gentle thunder : Hearing God through the storm (Page 9). Dallas, TX: Word Pub.