Obedience and Impact: The Story of Philip
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. It's wonderful to see you all here today. I want to start by sharing a passage from Psalm 34, which has been on my heart. It says, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed." This passage reminds us to seek the Lord and to praise Him continually.
Today, I want to talk about the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts chapter 8. This story is a powerful example of obedience, divine guidance, and the importance of sharing the gospel. Philip was in the middle of a revival in Samaria, where thousands were being saved. Yet, an angel of the Lord told him to leave and go to a desert road to meet one man, an Ethiopian eunuch. This eunuch was a high official in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. He had traveled 200 miles to Jerusalem to worship but left empty and still searching for the one true God.
Philip's obedience to God's call is remarkable. He left a thriving ministry to go to a seemingly insignificant task. This teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and His plans often defy human logic. Philip was accessible, available, and ready to obey God's call. He didn't let race, religion, or riches get in the way of sharing the gospel. He was a prompt soul winner, willing to go wherever God sent him.
When Philip met the eunuch, he found him reading from the book of Isaiah. The eunuch was reading a passage that spoke of a lamb being led to the slaughter, which is a prophecy about Jesus. Philip explained the scripture to him and shared the good news of Jesus Christ. The eunuch believed and was baptized right there on the side of the road. This story shows us the power of the Word of God and the importance of being ready to share it at any moment.
The eunuch's conversion had a significant impact. According to Christian tradition, the eunuch's first convert was Queen Candace, and when the first Christian missionaries arrived in Ethiopia years later, they found a thriving Christian community that traced its roots back to this eunuch. This reminds us that we never know the far-reaching impact of our obedience to God's call.
In conclusion, we need to be like Philip, ready to chase the chariots around us. There are people all around us who need to hear about Jesus. We must be willing to share the gospel, no matter the cost or inconvenience. If there's something in your heart today that feels empty, I urge you to seek Jesus. He is the only one who can fill that void and bring true satisfaction.
### Key Takeaways
1. Obedience to God's Call: Philip's willingness to leave a successful ministry in Samaria to go to a desert road to meet one man shows the importance of obedience to God's call. God's plans often defy human logic, and we must be ready to follow His lead, even when it doesn't make sense to us. This teaches us that true success in ministry is measured by our obedience to God, not by numbers or visible results. [39:33]
2. Accessibility and Availability: Philip was accessible and available to God. He didn't let his busy schedule or the success of his current ministry prevent him from hearing and obeying God's voice. This challenges us to examine our own lives and ask if we are too busy with our own plans to hear from God. We must make ourselves available to be used by Him at any moment. [38:18]
3. Breaking Barriers: Philip didn't let race, religion, or riches get in the way of sharing the gospel. He was willing to reach out to the Ethiopian eunuch, a man of a different race and social status. This teaches us that the gospel is for everyone, and we must be willing to break down barriers and reach out to those who are different from us. [37:20]
4. The Power of Scripture: The eunuch was reading from the book of Isaiah, and Philip used that scripture to share the good news of Jesus Christ. This shows the power of the Word of God and the importance of being ready to share it at any moment. We must be familiar with the scriptures and ready to explain them to others. [45:18]
5. Far-Reaching Impact: The eunuch's conversion had a significant impact, leading to the spread of Christianity in Ethiopia. This reminds us that we never know the far-reaching impact of our obedience to God's call. One act of obedience can lead to the salvation of many. We must be faithful in sharing the gospel, trusting that God will use our efforts for His glory. [50:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:14] - Opening Prayer and Psalm 34
[03:24] - Invitation to Pray
[24:52] - Personal Testimony and Prayer
[25:47] - Introduction to Acts Chapter 8
[26:15] - Story of the Young Man and the Milk
[30:30] - Four Ingredients for Soul Winning
[32:19] - The Ethiopian Eunuch's Search for God
[34:57] - True Satisfaction in Jesus
[37:20] - Breaking Barriers in Ministry
[38:18] - Being Accessible to God
[39:33] - Philip's Obedience to God's Call
[41:00] - Leaving the Revival for One Man
[43:02] - Overcoming Excuses to Share the Gospel
[44:38] - Chasing the Chariot
[45:18] - The Power of Scripture
[46:44] - Personal Salvation
[49:01] - The Eunuch's Baptism
[50:26] - Far-Reaching Impact of Obedience
[52:57] - Invitation to Seek Jesus
[55:28] - Final Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Psalm 34:1-5
- Acts 8:26-40
### Observation Questions
1. What was Philip doing before the angel of the Lord told him to go to the desert road? ([30:30])
2. How did Philip respond when he saw the Ethiopian eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah? ([44:21])
3. What was the Ethiopian eunuch's reaction after Philip explained the scripture to him? ([49:23])
4. According to the sermon, what was the significance of the eunuch's conversion for the spread of Christianity in Ethiopia? ([50:26])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God asked Philip to leave a successful ministry in Samaria to meet one man on a desert road? ([39:33])
2. How does Philip's willingness to break barriers of race, religion, and social status challenge our own approach to sharing the gospel? ([37:20])
3. What does the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch teach us about the importance of being familiar with scripture and ready to share it? ([45:18])
4. How can the far-reaching impact of the eunuch's conversion encourage us in our own efforts to share the gospel? ([50:26])
### Application Questions
1. Philip was accessible and available to God, even in the midst of a busy ministry. Are there areas in your life where you might be too busy to hear from God? How can you create more space to listen to His voice? ([38:18])
2. Philip didn't let race, religion, or riches get in the way of sharing the gospel. Are there any barriers in your life that prevent you from reaching out to others? How can you overcome these barriers? ([37:20])
3. The eunuch was reading scripture when Philip approached him. How familiar are you with the Bible, and how ready are you to explain it to others? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of scripture? ([45:18])
4. The eunuch's conversion had a significant impact on the spread of Christianity in Ethiopia. Think of a time when your obedience to God had a positive impact on others. How can this encourage you to continue being obedient to God's call? ([50:26])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of being ready to share the gospel at any moment. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus. What specific action can you take this week to share the gospel with them? ([49:23])
6. If there's something in your heart that feels empty, the sermon urges you to seek Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you feel a void? How can you seek Jesus to fill that void and bring true satisfaction? ([52:57])
7. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch shows the power of scripture in leading someone to Christ. How can you incorporate more scripture into your daily life to be better prepared for opportunities to share the gospel? ([45:18])
Devotional
Day 1: Obedience to God's Call
Philip's willingness to leave a successful ministry in Samaria to go to a desert road to meet one man shows the importance of obedience to God's call. God's plans often defy human logic, and we must be ready to follow His lead, even when it doesn't make sense to us. This teaches us that true success in ministry is measured by our obedience to God, not by numbers or visible results. Philip's story reminds us that God values our willingness to follow His direction over our personal achievements or the size of our ministry.
Philip's obedience led to a significant encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch, a high official in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace of Ethiopia. Despite the thriving ministry he left behind, Philip trusted God's guidance and went to a seemingly insignificant task. This act of faith resulted in the eunuch's conversion and subsequent baptism, demonstrating that God's plans are always purposeful and impactful, even if they don't align with our understanding. [39:33]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where God is calling you to step out in faith, even if it doesn't make sense to you? How can you take a step of obedience today?
Day 2: Accessibility and Availability
Philip was accessible and available to God. He didn't let his busy schedule or the success of his current ministry prevent him from hearing and obeying God's voice. This challenges us to examine our own lives and ask if we are too busy with our own plans to hear from God. We must make ourselves available to be used by Him at any moment. Philip's readiness to leave everything behind and follow God's direction is a powerful example of prioritizing divine guidance over personal agendas.
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to become consumed with our own plans and responsibilities. However, being accessible to God means creating space in our lives to listen to His voice and respond to His call. This might require us to reevaluate our priorities and make intentional changes to ensure we are available for God's purposes. Philip's story encourages us to remain open and flexible, ready to be used by God whenever and wherever He leads. [38:18]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Are you too busy with your own plans to hear from God? What changes can you make in your daily routine to ensure you are accessible and available to God's call?
Day 3: Breaking Barriers
Philip didn't let race, religion, or riches get in the way of sharing the gospel. He was willing to reach out to the Ethiopian eunuch, a man of a different race and social status. This teaches us that the gospel is for everyone, and we must be willing to break down barriers and reach out to those who are different from us. Philip's willingness to engage with someone outside his cultural and social circle demonstrates the inclusive nature of the gospel and the importance of overcoming prejudices.
In a world often divided by race, religion, and social status, Philip's example challenges us to look beyond these barriers and see every person as a valuable soul in need of the gospel. The love of Christ transcends all human distinctions, and we are called to share this love with everyone, regardless of their background. By breaking down these barriers, we can build bridges of understanding and bring the message of salvation to those who might otherwise be overlooked. [37:20]
Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Are there any barriers in your heart that prevent you from sharing the gospel with certain people? How can you actively work to break down these barriers and reach out to those who are different from you?
Day 4: The Power of Scripture
The eunuch was reading from the book of Isaiah, and Philip used that scripture to share the good news of Jesus Christ. This shows the power of the Word of God and the importance of being ready to share it at any moment. We must be familiar with the scriptures and ready to explain them to others. The Word of God is a powerful tool for evangelism, and being well-versed in it allows us to effectively communicate the message of salvation.
Philip's encounter with the eunuch highlights the significance of scripture in leading people to Christ. The eunuch's curiosity about the passage he was reading provided an opportunity for Philip to explain its meaning and share the gospel. This underscores the importance of being prepared to use scripture in our conversations with others. By immersing ourselves in the Word of God, we can be ready to provide answers and guide others towards a deeper understanding of Jesus. [45:18]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Reflection: How familiar are you with the scriptures? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the Bible so that you are ready to share it with others?
Day 5: Far-Reaching Impact
The eunuch's conversion had a significant impact, leading to the spread of Christianity in Ethiopia. This reminds us that we never know the far-reaching impact of our obedience to God's call. One act of obedience can lead to the salvation of many. We must be faithful in sharing the gospel, trusting that God will use our efforts for His glory. Philip's encounter with the eunuch demonstrates how a single act of faithfulness can have a ripple effect, influencing countless lives for the kingdom of God.
The story of the Ethiopian eunuch serves as a powerful reminder that our obedience to God can have far-reaching consequences. According to Christian tradition, the eunuch's first convert was Queen Candace, and when the first Christian missionaries arrived in Ethiopia years later, they found a thriving Christian community that traced its roots back to this eunuch. This encourages us to remain faithful in our witness, knowing that God can use our efforts in ways we may never fully understand. [50:26]
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Reflection: Can you think of a time when your obedience to God had a positive impact on someone else? How can you remain faithful in sharing the gospel, trusting that God will use your efforts for His glory?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Sometimes you don't know Who you're talking to Sometimes you don't know That little kid That you might share Jesus with Or that guy you might talk to About Jesus may have a child at home That now grows up in a Christian home And he becomes some great evangelist Man we don't know what God has in store But if Christians today Would quit being afraid Of what someone else Is going to think about them And share the truth Of what Jesus has done For you Nobody's called you to be an expert They've called you to be a witness And so when you would just witness What Christ has done for you You don't know How someone's life might be changed And how hundreds of lives Might be changed from that" [50:51]
2. "You know, if I had to guess I would think There are probably a lot of people who can't say that today Because we've probably all thought about that And experienced that And you see, the thing I want you to see today Is that Jesus is the only thing that can fill that void And maybe today you're sitting here and you say Well, you know, here's the problem I am a follower of Christ I love Jesus I'm saved I'm a part of this church I would just say to you If you're a follower of Christ Then you are not sitting here Sitting here empty today And if you're sitting here and you say There is something in my heart That is not like it ought to be That there's just an empty place Something not just right in my heart today Can I tell you a little truth here? That tells me that you've not truly found Jesus Because if you'd found Jesus You'd be satisfied" [34:57]
3. "That you learn Yeah they love to have your Jesus They just want to add him to the rest of their gods And some of you in this place today Accepted Christ But you just wanted to add him To your gods of your career Your money Your savings account Your retirement that you're working toward Your good name All the things that you have been working for That were your God before Jesus And you think somehow you've added him to the mix And you're saved Friend I want to tell you something Hell's going to be hot for people like that And I would just beg of you today If something's not right Clear it up" [55:28]
4. "But here's the thing He asked the question Is there anything to keep me From being baptized He said because I know He's like us when something Seems too good to be true Alright what's the catch And that's what he's really asking here What's the catch Philip Can I really do this And Philip said no my friend You just come as you are Philip said it's no problem Pull over here we'll baptize you And there's no one Who will ever come to Christ Who will ever be turned away You see Jesus will save you You say well preacher You know I've done this It doesn't matter It doesn't matter what it is You don't know what I've done You don't know what the person Sitting next to you have done Let me tell you something We are all messed up by sin But we can be saved Through Jesus Christ" [49:01]
5. "You know have a nice time Air conditioning No it wasn't like that It was a difficult journey But he went for this reason And here's what I want you to hear He was searching for the one true God And I believe today That there are a lot of people Who are searching for the one true God And I think he had probably This is just my guess But I would think that he most likely Had checked out all the gods of Egypt All the gods of Ethiopia All the gods of the area of Africa Where he lived Surely he had looked into all of that I mean every village almost in those days Had their own God Their own so called deity But he had heard about Judaism And so he goes to Jerusalem And he thought this has got to be it Because this is the one true God He believes it But he gets there and what he found Was just a shell of some religion A bunch of rules A bunch of things that they wanted him to do And what fascinates me about this Is that he left Jerusalem Empty And still hungry for the bread of life Still thirsting For the living water That comes through Jesus" [32:19]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Very strongly is this I want you to see four ingredients For soul winning and salvation Because listen if there's anything This world needs today without a question It's always been salvation right But if there's anything the church Needs to get more serious about It is absolutely going out And sharing the gospel and winning Those around us So I want to show you four ingredients That I see in this passage And the first one is this We see a prepared sinner Look with me beginning In verse 25 So when they had solemnly testified And spoken the word of the Lord They started back to Jerusalem And were preaching the gospel To many villages of the Samaritans But an angel of the Lord Spoke to Phillips saying Get up and go south to the road That descends from Jerusalem to Gaza This is a desert road So he got up and went And there was an Ethiopian eunuch A court official of Candace Queen of the Ethiopians Who was in charge of all her Who was in charge of all her treasure And he had come to Jerusalem to worship And he was returning And sitting in his chariot And reading the prophet Isaiah Now in verse 27 We meet the first person That I want you to see in this story today And he is a prepared sinner You see he's a eunuch And he is from Ethiopia And he has all the authority Of Candace who is the queen mother Of the nation of Ethiopia She's trusted this guy With all of her finances And no doubt he would have been One of her biggest advisors He would have been a confidant For Queen Candace Her personal manager And we see in this story As we look at it And if you just think about What he's doing for just a minute You can see he's kind of a religious guy Because think about it He has traveled 200 miles From his home in Ethiopia To Jerusalem So this is a 200 mile trek That he has made in a chariot Guys it's not like today Not like you could just get in a car And take the nice drive Maybe a Bucky's between here and there You know and just make the drive And go check everything" [30:30]
2. "But the Lord has placed on him The iniquity of us all You see this human sacrifice Had died to take away sin And that's what the eunuch Is looking for He's traveled 200 miles Looking for this very thing And so here's what it is So we see a prepared sinner And a prompt soul winner We see a pertinent scripture Finally we see personal salvation You see when Philip began At that scripture And he sits down with this eunuch And he starts flipping through And he explains this scripture In view of the sacrifice of Jesus And he begins to show Him who Jesus was And how Jesus fulfilled All that was written about him In the Old Testament This eunuch believes And was saved Now there are two things That I see in that And here's the first one There is belief and testimony You see the eunuch found The simple end to his lifelong search He's been looking for the one true God Looking to have that place That was void inside of him filled And he found it When he placed his hand on it His faith in Jesus And he was so indebted for salvation That he'd do anything to obey God Jesus said that Jesus said if you love me You'll keep my commandments And so he was ready for that And they came to an oasis Now this is the part You've got to understand this situation To grasp this They came to an oasis And the eunuch asked Philip He said what would prevent me From being baptized Because you see here is where All these other religions Had failed him Because here's the deal Nobody told him before He went all the way to Jerusalem That he could not have become a Jew Not even a proselyte Jew If he wanted to Because you have to be a Gentile Without deformity And he couldn't He's a eunuch And so he would not have been able To even become a Jew And so there's all these rules To keep people away from God And all of these false religions" [46:44]
3. "But he sent his son for you And so understand He loves us And I just think about this Would I have been that obedient Because you know I've preached a few revivals Man I've preached some good revivals You know when man People are getting saved Things are going good And I'm just imagining Philip there Angel comes He says You need to go to this one person One guy out here On this desert road Oh I bound to misunderstood that Right I mean because There's thousands of people Getting saved right here Man my name's been in the newspaper I'm eating free down to the Waffle House I mean these people Are just loving what's going on And so everybody's just responded Man I can't leave this right here But God sent the messenger And told him to go And he did Because you see God's reasons are different than ours Because God needed then And still needs today Amen And women and young people Who will obey without questioning So he was accessible Second he was available You know you read this passage And one of the things that stands out to me Is it did not matter who this was Certainly we know Philip was no racist in this Because he had been living among the Samaritans Whom the Jews hated Thought of them as a lesser race And so he had been living there So maybe he is the one best suited To go witness to this man from Ethiopia I don't know Maybe that's what God had in mind for him But he was available Third the R He was ready for the call He was ready to go anywhere I'm thinking if I am Philip No way I mean I'm sitting there I'm saying Lord you got to be kidding me Plus I can't go regardless of what's going on here This guy is a high official Man I'm a nobody I'm not even an official preacher I'm just a servant I'm just going to Trying to preach a little bit And you expect me to run up there And you know he got some big old bodyguards" [41:00]
4. "Right And you know he's going to be traveling And he's already How am I going to catch up with this guy I don't know about this And have you ever thought about How many excuses we make When God calls us to share with others Always funny to me I see a bunch of good old boys Because that's my crowd That's who I hang out with all the time And we'll be talking hunting or something And people will tell me I can't witness to people You know I just can't talk in front of folks You let them kill a big deer And watch how eloquent they get You ever watch those hunting shows Man they use ten dollar words this long I never heard anybody in real life Talk like that And you know so We just make excuses man We just come up with every reason in the world But Philip didn't do that But then the P he was prompt Philip obeyed the Lord immediately And remember that it's not like Philip's sitting here and he sees the eunuch Coming toward him The eunuch passed him Because he was going south On the road to Gaza He's going south on this desert road And the eunuch's going to Gaza So he passes him And this is amazing to me Because I can just see Here's Philip He's just a dude right Walking down this desert road And he hears And looks and there's probably a dust cloud And here comes the horses and the chariot With the eunuch on it And it's coming by How do you hear him reading Isaiah? I don't know I'm just asking y'all Because that always amazed me I think it's probably a God thing But he comes by And he hears him reading Isaiah 53 As he comes by And it's like I just hear an angel of the Lord Probably saying to him Where's your cue boy go? You know And so he comes by And here comes Philip Hey dude what's up? And he's running alongside of him Because he had to catch him I mean you know that's exactly What happens in this story It reminds me of brother Fred Luter I always remember Hearing Fred Luter one time say" [43:02]
5. "The Lord just kept putting this on my heart yesterday And something in your spirit Is not what it ought to be And you just do inventory In your heart this morning I don't know who I'm talking to I know God put this on me to say But maybe in your heart You say there's an empty spot Something's not like it's supposed to be And I just can't figure Can I tell you something What if I told you it was Jesus And you said no no no I've already accepted Jesus Okay Well then explain the empty spot Let me say that again Because this isn't just one of those things I say everywhere Listen to me If there's something empty in your heart today Something not as it should be Why is it there if you're a follower of Christ You see here's the thing That I really just think The Lord wants somebody to grasp today If you look at your I don't care how much you do in the church How long you've been a member of the church I don't care how many times You've been dumped in here Your skin can still be wrinkled from the last time I'm telling you today That If you are looking in your life And you're saying something's not right in my spiritual life Then I want to tell you today You need to give it to Christ today Because if there's something missing Then Jesus hasn't filled you I'm just telling you how I think it is Now can you have a moment Things don't seem just right Sure sure yeah that happens But if you're struggling with something today Man maybe Jesus is it Maybe you need to come Because I see a lot of people Who Man they are so focused on the world Let me tell you what you cannot do and be saved You cannot decide I want to be just like everybody else But I want Jesus so I know I'm going to heaven And then decide I'm going to come up here I'm going to walk down the aisle Because that's what they do at the Baptist church I'm going to walk down the aisle I'm going to pray whatever the preacher says I'm going to follow up in a week or two And be baptized But I'm going to just keep doing what I do I'm going to keep chasing the things I'm chasing Living the life I'm living I'm going to tell you something The problem with that is We become just like those indigenous peoples That so many missionaries have to deal with" [52:57]
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