Embracing the Next Step in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Attentive Obedience to Divine Guidance

In the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, we see a powerful example of obedience to God's call. Philip was directed by an angel to go to a specific place, and he followed without hesitation. This act of obedience led to a transformative encounter where Philip was able to share the gospel with the Ethiopian official. The narrative emphasizes the importance of being attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and being ready to act when called upon. Our willingness to listen and respond to God's direction can open doors for meaningful interactions and spiritual growth. [39:48]

Acts 8:26-27 (ESV): "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. 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."

Reflection: Is there a specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to act? How can you take a step of obedience today, trusting in His guidance?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Simple Questions

Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch demonstrates the profound impact of asking simple, yet meaningful questions. By inquiring, "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip opened the door to a deeper conversation about Jesus and the gospel. This interaction highlights the importance of engaging others with curiosity and compassion, inviting them to explore their faith and seek truth. Simple questions can lead to significant spiritual revelations and connections. [43:22]

Proverbs 20:5 (ESV): "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may be seeking or questioning their faith. What simple question can you ask them today to encourage a deeper conversation about their spiritual journey?

Day 3: Embracing Grace and Redemption

The contrast between Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience in Romans 5 underscores the transformative power of grace. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are justified and called to live righteously. This journey of transformation is not instantaneous but a continuous process where God walks with us, deepening our understanding of His love and grace. Embracing this grace allows us to live in the freedom and righteousness that Christ offers. [45:00]

Romans 5:18-19 (ESV): "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's grace in your life recently? How can you extend that grace to others around you today?

Day 4: Extending Grace and Mercy to Others

As followers of Christ, we are called to extend grace and mercy to those who are lost or seeking. Our role is not to fix others but to guide them towards the light of Christ through our words and actions. By living authentically and sharing our testimonies, we can inspire others to explore their faith and respond to the gospel. This requires a heart of compassion and a willingness to walk alongside others on their spiritual journey. [46:57]

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Who in your life is in need of grace and mercy today? How can you intentionally show them the love and compassion of Christ?

Day 5: Creating Space for Spiritual Response

Philip's interaction with the Ethiopian eunuch culminated in the eunuch's declaration of faith and baptism. This story illustrates the importance of creating environments where others can express their belief and begin their walk with Christ. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting and allowing space for response is crucial in leading others to faith. We must be attentive to the opportunities God provides for us to facilitate these moments of spiritual awakening. [01:02:50]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: How can you create a welcoming environment for someone to explore their faith today? What steps can you take to be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading in these moments?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "Next" in our spiritual journey, focusing on the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8. This narrative illustrates the importance of being prepared to share the gospel and respond to the Holy Spirit's guidance. We began by reflecting on the tools and opportunities God provides us to spread His word, such as the Easter evangelism bags. These tools are not just physical items but represent our readiness to engage with others and share the message of Christ.

We delved into the story of Philip, who was directed by an angel to meet the Ethiopian official. This encounter highlights the significance of obedience to God's call and the power of simple questions in opening doors for deeper spiritual conversations. Philip's question, "Do you understand what you are reading?" led to a profound discussion about Jesus, ultimately resulting in the Ethiopian's baptism. This story reminds us that God often places us in situations where we can be His instruments, guiding others to Him through our words and actions.

We also discussed the broader implications of sin and redemption, drawing from Romans 5. The contrast between Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience underscores the transformative power of grace. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are justified and called to live righteously. This transformation is not instantaneous but a journey where God walks with us, deepening our understanding of His love.

As we engage with those who are lost or seeking, we must extend grace and mercy, recognizing that everyone is on their own journey. Our role is not to fix others but to guide them towards the light of Christ. By living authentically and sharing our testimonies, we can inspire others to explore their faith and respond to the gospel.

Finally, we emphasized the importance of allowing space for response. Just as Philip gave the Ethiopian the opportunity to declare his faith, we must be attentive to the Holy Spirit's prompting and create environments where others can express their belief and begin their walk with Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience to God's Call: Philip's story teaches us the importance of being attentive and obedient to God's direction. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, we can be led to opportunities where our words and actions can profoundly impact others. Our readiness to follow God's call can lead to transformative encounters. [39:48]
2. Power of Simple Questions: Simple questions can open the door to meaningful spiritual conversations. By asking, "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip was able to guide the Ethiopian to a deeper understanding of Jesus. We should strive to ask questions that invite others to explore their faith and seek truth. [43:22]
3. Grace and Redemption: The contrast between Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience highlights the power of grace. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are justified and called to live righteously. This journey of transformation is one where God walks with us, deepening our appreciation of His love. [45:00]
4. Extending Grace to Others: As we encounter those who are lost or seeking, we must extend grace and mercy. Our role is not to fix others but to guide them towards the light of Christ. By living authentically and sharing our testimonies, we can inspire others to explore their faith. [46:57]
5. Creating Space for Response: Just as Philip allowed the Ethiopian to declare his faith, we must create environments where others can express their belief and begin their walk with Christ. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting and giving space for response is crucial in leading others to faith. [01:02:50]
** [62:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:04] - Evangelism Tools
[38:09] - Series Overview
[39:12] - The Story of Philip and the Ethiopian
[40:24] - Philip's Obedience
[41:11] - The Ethiopian's Question
[42:34] - The Power of Simple Questions
[44:09] - Understanding Sin and Redemption
[46:37] - Extending Grace and Mercy
[48:46] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[50:49] - Engaging in Spiritual Conversations
[53:03] - Relating the Gospel
[55:32] - The Suffering Servant
[58:15] - Capturing Imagination with the Gospel
[62:50] - Creating Space for Response

Sermon Clips

"But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philillip saying get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza and this is a desert road." So he got up and went And there was an Ethiopian unic a court official of Candace Queen of the Ethiopians who was in charge of all her treasure And he had come to Jerusalem to worship And as he was returning and sitting in his chariot and was reading the prophet Isaiah then the spirit said to Philillip "Go up and join this chariot." [00:40:24]

"Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said "Well how could I unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philillip to come up and sit with him Now the passage of scripture which he was reading was this He was led as a sheep to slaughter and as a lamb before a cheerer is silent So he does not open his mouth In humiliation his judgment was taken away Who will relate his generation for his life is removed from the earth. [00:41:11]

"So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners even so through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous The law came in so that the transgression would increase But where sin increased grace abounded all the more." [00:44:09]

"And because we were made righteous we get to have an eternity in the presence of Almighty God We don't get the condemnation of eternal separation away from God because we've been justified through the obedience of Christ and in our obedience to following Christ Does that mean God is going to make us boom perfect like that not in my experience And my experience is a lot less than some of yours But I know that God is a God who enjoys walking with people through their hardship because it gives them a deeper appreciation of who he is." [00:46:37]

"And so when we're encountering people who don't have a relationship with the Lord our grace towards them must be an abundance because they've lived a life completely in sin or if they've gone to the church or they grew up in the church and then they stepped away just to figure out what the world was offering them and then they got lost They still have a lifestyle that is bent towards sin And the Lord didn't die for us to condemn them of it The Lord died for us to extend his grace and mercy to them." [00:48:46]

"But when we ask a simple question sometimes the purpose is just to reveal light to a a dark area in their life For us to show them love when they feel unloved To give them a warm hug when they're feeling lonely To walk beside them when again when they feel lonely we can do these things You know they there's a saying that says you know preach the gospel and sometimes use words I'm sure we've all heard that Well I think you can preach the gospel without using words." [00:51:32]

"And so sometimes we have to give them an indepth answer And so we have to take where they are and inject Christ into the conversation and bring them from the point of where they understand now to a point of at some point there's going to be a response And so Philip was able to speak about Jesus from the point that the Ethiopian was reading which is the passage in Isaiah And he brought it all the way up to the point of everything that happened in Jerusalem and probably including you know Pentecost when they received the Holy Spirit because all those things had just happened." [00:53:03]

"But Philip being able to relate the gospel and enthral that imagination he shows us what it looks like to just have an honest and open conversation with people He one he began by listening to the Holy Spirit Then he related the gospel to one who was seeking it And the story of Christ should capture the imagination of the hearer You mean this holy man went around doing miracles opening blind eyes healing lepers making dead people come back to life Wait he died oh man I missed him Wait no he's alive again Are you crazy." [00:58:15]

"And so after you give them some of the gospel maybe ask them "So how what does this mean to you how are you feeling concerning this?" give them a chance to have a conversation because it should be a conversation It shouldn't be just you preaching at them for 45 minutes and saying "Oh are you ready now let's go." Because then you're like they're like "Okay like I've just downloaded all this information Like I'm confused still I have some questions." So we have to be available for questions We have to be sensitive to those moments because to the non-believing world this is crazy stuff." [01:02:50]

"But when we leave opportunities to be available for their questions it's only going to pull them in deeper into an understanding of who Jesus is And that will pull them into a response moment at some point But this response must be with their whole heart The foundation that the church is built on And I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God That's that's what the church is founded upon Peter confesses it first And the Lord says you know your name's going to be Peter On this rock I'm going to build my church." [01:04:41]

"Allow the spirit to fill you in a new exciting way So when we leave these four walls there's an impact in our community This church is going to leave an impact But it all starts with each one of us casting away things that are holding us back Pray with me please Heavenly Father as we come into this time of prayer Lord you know the hearts of each person in this room Lord you know exactly what they're struggling with." [01:12:30]

"Lord you know the hearts of each person in this room Lord you know exactly what they're struggling with Lord you know the things that are holding them back from being able to go and boldly proclaim the altars will be open If you can't make it the Lord knows your heart and you can pray in your seat If there's something blocking your relationship with the Lord this is an opportunity to lay it down at God's feet palms down because if you try to hand it palms up you can just close your fists and he can't take it anymore." [01:13:04]

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