God’s Gracious Pursuit (Part 3): Illumination
Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsGod sends that He might find. He lovingly draws people to Himself. He also uses ordinary means to supernaturally reveal (illuminate) the truth to their hearts.
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Darkness is the absence of light. Studies show that a lack of natural light can be harmful:
less productivity, energy
sleep issues - melatonin
vitamin D deficiency leading to problems with eye-sight, heart function and even bone strength
depression and mood disorders - seratonin
We need light. It show us the way, keeps us going and reveals what we otherwise would not see.
God sends that He might find. He lovingly draws people to Himself. He also uses ordinary means to supernaturally reveal (illuminate) the truth to their hearts.
Problem of Darkness
Problem of Darkness
We need light
God’s Word shows us that mankind is actually in a place and state of darkness, lost and blinded and without hope apart from Him.
John uses this theme extensively
“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
Paul was sent to the gentiles that God might bring sight and light through the gospel
rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Sin’s domain is the domain of darkness. It is around us, and is in us. We are both surrounded and infected by it.
The effects? Dulling of the mind. Delusion, rejecting the truth. Adapted and content to remain in ignorance.
We are in darkness because of our lineage (Adam) and because of our enemy (Satan)
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Further, and most importantly - we remain in darkness because we like it, for we do not want to be exposed.
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
This is true of all
as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;
There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
Read Romans 1:18-20 (suppressing truth that is evident around us, and inside of us)
v.18 - not ignorance of truth, but willful suppression of it
evident, manifest, shown within them - conscience
v.19 - God revealed His authority, power and nature through creation itself
Man, according to our culture is basically good but slightly flawed and just needs a little help. If this is true, we would jump at the opportunity to know God and to please Him according to what He has revealed to us. That’s not what happens.
v.21 - they refuse and suppress the light given, and instead give in to willful warped thinking and practice as they make up God’s to suit themselves and give themselves to all sorts of impurity and evil.
Man isn’t guilty just because they are blind victims, desperately seeking light in the darkness, they are guilty because they love darkness rather than light! And in running after their sin, and rejecting the knowledge of God, they, and we - if we are not washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ - are left in that state of darkness, and are left to sins consequences - both it’s temporary, natural effects as well as the eventual, eternal judgment of God.
The only hope for sinful man is that God, in His mercy would shine the light of truth in our hearts and minds that we might turn to Him. We need light!
God’s Gracious Light
God’s Gracious Light
What’s this have to do with the Eunuch?
He, too, needed light. God had been working to draw him. He saw the reality of God, was acquainted with His Law and even went to great efforts to worship Him.
He’d gotten His Word - the scroll of Isaiah. But, He needed more light. (v.30).
You can be right in the middle of the truth and not see it. Not know it. Not understand it. That’s why it isn’t church attendance that saves, nor family association, or job or money or anything else we do - it is only through understanding and embracing what God has done for us in Christ that we are delivered from the darkness of sin!
“Do you understand?” - Need light! Need God to reveal!
God’s means of revealing: His Word and His people.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to His people and through His people. He is a God of truth and light and while He uses various means and methods to call people to Himself, His primary and fundamental tool is His Word.
God called the Eunuch, not by angelic visit, dreams and visions, a burning bush or other signs and wonders. Instead He sent a man to explain to Him the scriptures.
Our mission is the spread the Light of Christ through revealing the truth of God, which He has given us in His Word - the Holy Scriptures!
The Eunuch needed a guide, someone to show him the truth, and to point Him to the One who is the Way the Truth and the Life - Jesus Christ.
But the Bible is not all about Jesus is it? Yes! It’s the foundation for the message, the setup for the climax and throughout it’s pages there are scores of themes and pictures of the Son of God who came to die for our sins.
From proto-evangelion (Genesis 3)
the Ark of salvation (Genesis 6-9)
He’s the Promised Seed, and the Promised Blessing of Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3, 18:18)
He’s the Son who Delivers His people like Joseph (Genesis 37,39-46)
The Leader and Intercessor like Moses
He’s the Passover Lamb
Like the bronze serpent, who, after being lifted up will give life to those who look upon Him
the promised royal heir and offspring of David
He’s the Son of Man and the Ancient of Days in Daniel
and on and on
Luke 24:25-27, 31-32, John 5:39
It is the testimony of Christ! It is the story of redemption! It is a shining light of Revelation that all people must know and understand!
How will they hear? (v.35) We must open our mouths.
This is why we study the Bible. Why we preach and proclaim it’s truth. Why we sing songs about it’s message. It’s why we write books, hadve radio programs and Internet-based ministry. God’s light to the world is contained in a message that must be spoken! (Spoken and lived of course)
What, specifically did Philip say? We don’t know but that he “preached Jesus to him”
Isaiah 53:7-8 (v.32-33)
Jesus, the sinless Son of God stood before Pilate, refusing to defend Himself
Maybe He shared how Jesus was the Lamb of God, the full and final passover sacrifice who’s blood would deliver all who believe on Him from the judgement of God
Maybe he went back to verses 2, and talked about His humility and how he was raised in a carpenter's home instead of a royal palace, or of the birth in Bethlehem in a bed fashioned from a feed trough.
Certainly he spent time going through verses 3-6
(v.2) Son of God, Righteous One who was rejected by His own people, forsaken by His followers and ridiculed and shamed by the Roman soldiers
(v.4) How Jesus took upon Himself our sin-sickness and suffering. How He was Wrongly accused and seen as a Blasphemer, thought He’d done no wrong to God or man and had only spoken and walked in truth and righteousness.
(v.5) How He’d been beaten and hung on the cross as a criminal. How the Roman soldier pierced His side with a spear, having died for the sins of mankind. It was our law-breaking that killed Him, our sins that crushed him. In return, His punishment brings us peace with God, and His scourging brings the spiritual healing that we so desperately need.
(v.6, 10) Though we are the ones that turned away from our God, He provided a sacrifice to atone for our sin, taking on our iniquity so that we may not have to.
Most certainly he shared with the Ethiopian that it was in Jesus of Nazareth that the promise of Isaiah 56:3 - that in Christ are all the promises of grace and forgiveness and restoration.
The Eunuch, as much as he was beginning to see, needed more light, more truth revealed. Through His Word, His servant and His Spirit, God pointed the Eunuch to the Light of the World Himself - Jesus.
Conclusion
Can you see dear friend, that He is doing that for you today?
Illuminating the way
Showing you the path
Don’t look away, but respond!