Phillip Leaves Samaria

Acts 8:26–40 NKJV

26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Introduction

Many People Leave Church Services Unchanged

A man who refused to do that

He had been to “church”, but continued to search the scripture - seeking understanding

His example should challenge us all

The Setting of the Text

An Ethiopian official travels to Jerusalem

had great authority

apparently was a Jew - came to Jerusalem to worship

He attends the Passover and leaves empty

Crossing the desert, he reads the Bible

Philip joins him and leads him to Christ

Body

God Sends Servants to seek the Hungry hearts

God Sends Philip to Find a Hungry Heart (vv. 26–27)

Philip having success in Samaria (vv. 5–8)

multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Phillip

Goes to the desert to reach one man

God reaches one at a time

Even true in large meetings

The worth of one soul

He leaves the 99 to find the one

James 5:20 NKJV

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Your hungry heart is important to God

if you seek Him, you will find Him, when you seek with all your heart

Like a man searches for silver and gold

Jesus died for individual sinners

Salvation of the thief on the cross

There’s room at the cross for you

God has a plan, answers, provisions for you

God Meets a Man Who Searches for Him with All His Heart (vv. 28–29)

Here is a man who is searching

He was reading the scripture - even though he did not understand -

The Passover has not ended his search

Most people, as soon as the are driving away from the church they are already thinking of everything else they have to do, or want to do

Here, this man, even though he had great authority, and therefore responsibility, is driving away from the church still thinking about the sermon, and the Lord

He takes his search to the Bible

Every Christian should read the bible for themselves- continuously

Don’t be satisfied with religion

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Come to faith in Christ

God’s Servant Gets to the Heart of the Matter (vv. 30–35)

Do you understand what you are reading?

A question that met the man where he was

A question that offered help

its ok to admit that we don’t know everything

no one knows everything

we should study together and alone

we need teachers, prophets, and preachers - they are ordained of God

Philip was one of the first deacons (Acts. 6)

He did not limit his work to church business

He gave himself to winning souls

Philip helped the searching man find Christ

Jesus Is the Answer for Every Troubled Heart (vv. 35–40)

Jesus fulfills Bible prophecies of Christ

He is the Lamb slain for sinners

He humbled Himself for you and me

He fills the need in every troubled heart

The new Christian wants to be baptized

Wants to demonstrate his faith to others

Declares his faith by word and baptism

He now knows what real joy can be (v. 39)

Conclusion

God Knows the Need in Your Heart

Christ Is Your Answer

Trust in Him and Find in Him All You Need