Ready and Willing: Embracing God's Call
Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme of readiness and willingness in our spiritual journey, drawing parallels from a personal experience of overcoming fear and the biblical account of Philip the Evangelist. The story began with a humorous yet profound illustration of a ziplining adventure, highlighting the difference between being ready and being willing. This set the stage for examining the life of Philip, who was ready and willing to follow God's call, even when it meant leaving a successful ministry in Samaria to meet a single Ethiopian eunuch on a desert road.
Philip's story in Acts 8 serves as a powerful reminder that God often calls us out of our comfort zones to fulfill His greater purpose. Despite the thriving evangelistic work in Samaria, Philip was obedient to the Spirit's prompting to go to a seemingly insignificant place. This obedience led to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great influence, demonstrating that God's plans are often beyond our understanding but always perfect in timing.
The narrative also emphasized the importance of being willing to share the gospel, regardless of our personal fears or the circumstances we face. Just as Philip seized the opportunity to explain the scriptures to the eunuch, we are encouraged to be bold in our witness, trusting that God will use our efforts to reach those who are seeking Him.
Furthermore, the message challenged us to examine our own readiness and willingness to serve God. Are we merely comfortable in our spiritual routines, or are we prepared to step out in faith and obedience? The call to action is clear: to be both ready and willing to go where God leads, to share His love with those around us, and to light up the world with the fire of the Holy Spirit within us.
Key Takeaways:
- Readiness vs. Willingness: Being ready involves preparation and training, but willingness requires action. Like the ziplining experience, we can be ready but still hesitate to take the leap. In our spiritual lives, readiness without willingness is of no value. We must be willing to act on God's call. [05:09]
- Philip's Obedience: Philip's willingness to leave a successful ministry in Samaria to meet one man on a desert road illustrates the importance of obedience to God's specific call. God's plans often defy human logic, but they are always perfect in timing and purpose. [09:39]
- God's Perfect Timing: The encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch shows that God's timing is impeccable. The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, a passage about Jesus, just as Philip approached. This divine appointment led to the eunuch's conversion, highlighting God's orchestration in our lives. [20:57]
- The Power of Witnessing: We are called to share the gospel boldly, regardless of our fears or the circumstances. Philip's example encourages us to seize opportunities to witness, trusting that God will use our efforts to reach those who are seeking Him. [22:45]
- Comfort vs. Calling: It's easy to become comfortable in our spiritual routines, but God calls us to step out in faith and obedience. We must be willing to leave our comfort zones to fulfill His greater purpose, lighting up the world with the fire of the Holy Spirit within us. [32:42]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:09] - Overcoming Fear
[02:46] - The Ziplining Experience
[04:08] - Ready, Set, Go
[05:09] - The Call to Action
[06:20] - Philip's Journey
[07:04] - Comfort in Jerusalem
[08:55] - Evangelism in Samaria
[09:39] - Philip's Obedience
[11:19] - A Personal Story of Witnessing
[14:13] - The Power of God's Word
[16:50] - Divine Appointments
[18:19] - The Ethiopian Eunuch
[20:57] - God's Perfect Timing
[22:45] - Boldness in Witnessing
[26:08] - The Call to Trust Jesus
[30:00] - Joy in Salvation
[32:42] - Lighting Up the World
[35:53] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Acts 8:26-40
- Isaiah 53:1-12
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Philip doing before he was called to meet the Ethiopian eunuch, and how did he respond to the call? [09:39]
2. Describe the Ethiopian eunuch's position and his actions when Philip encountered him. [18:19]
3. What specific passage from Isaiah was the Ethiopian eunuch reading when Philip approached him? [20:57]
4. How did the Ethiopian eunuch respond after Philip explained the scriptures to him? [29:00]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Philip's willingness to leave a successful ministry in Samaria to meet one man on a desert road tell us about obedience to God's call? [09:39]
2. How does the story of the Ethiopian eunuch illustrate the concept of divine appointments and God's perfect timing? [20:57]
3. In what ways does the interaction between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch demonstrate the power of witnessing and sharing the gospel? [22:45]
4. How does the Ethiopian eunuch's request for baptism reflect his understanding and acceptance of the gospel message? [29:00]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt ready but not willing to take a step of faith. What held you back, and how can you overcome similar hesitations in the future? [05:09]
2. Are there areas in your life where you feel comfortable but sense God calling you to step out in faith? How can you prepare yourself to respond to His call? [07:04]
3. How can you be more attentive to the "divine appointments" in your life, where God might be calling you to share your faith with someone? [20:57]
4. Think of a person in your life who is seeking truth or has questions about faith. How can you be like Philip and help guide them in their spiritual journey? [16:50]
5. What steps can you take to ensure that you are both ready and willing to act on God's call in your life, even when it seems inconvenient or illogical? [09:39]
6. How can you cultivate a boldness in witnessing, similar to Philip's, in your everyday interactions? [22:45]
7. Consider the Ethiopian eunuch's eagerness to be baptized. How can you publicly demonstrate your faith in a way that encourages others to seek God? [29:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Readiness and Willingness in Action
In our spiritual journey, readiness involves preparation and training, but willingness requires action. The story of a ziplining adventure illustrates this concept, where one can be ready but still hesitate to take the leap. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, readiness without willingness is of no value. We must be willing to act on God's call, stepping out in faith and obedience. This involves moving beyond our comfort zones and embracing the opportunities God places before us. The call to action is clear: to be both ready and willing to go where God leads, sharing His love with those around us. [05:09]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel prepared but are hesitating to take action? How can you take a step of faith today to act on God's call?
Day 2: Obedience Beyond Comfort
Philip's willingness to leave a successful ministry in Samaria to meet one man on a desert road illustrates the importance of obedience to God's specific call. Despite the thriving evangelistic work in Samaria, Philip was obedient to the Spirit's prompting to go to a seemingly insignificant place. This obedience led to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great influence, demonstrating that God's plans often defy human logic but are always perfect in timing and purpose. Philip's story reminds us that God often calls us out of our comfort zones to fulfill His greater purpose. [09:39]
"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a specific area where God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? How can you practice obedience in this area today?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
The encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch shows that God's timing is impeccable. The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, a passage about Jesus, just as Philip approached. This divine appointment led to the eunuch's conversion, highlighting God's orchestration in our lives. Often, we may not understand why God calls us to certain places or people, but His timing and purpose are always perfect. Trusting in God's timing requires faith and patience, knowing that He is working all things together for His glory and our good. [20:57]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God's timing was evident in your life? How can you cultivate trust in His timing in your current circumstances?
Day 4: Boldness in Witnessing
We are called to share the gospel boldly, regardless of our fears or the circumstances. Philip's example encourages us to seize opportunities to witness, trusting that God will use our efforts to reach those who are seeking Him. Just as Philip seized the opportunity to explain the scriptures to the eunuch, we are encouraged to be bold in our witness. This involves overcoming personal fears and trusting that God will use our efforts to reach those who are seeking Him. Boldness in witnessing is not about having all the answers but about being willing to share the hope we have in Christ. [22:45]
"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31, ESV)
Reflection: Who is one person you can share your faith with this week? What steps can you take to overcome any fears and be bold in your witness?
Day 5: Stepping Out of Comfort into Calling
It's easy to become comfortable in our spiritual routines, but God calls us to step out in faith and obedience. We must be willing to leave our comfort zones to fulfill His greater purpose, lighting up the world with the fire of the Holy Spirit within us. This involves examining our own readiness and willingness to serve God, asking ourselves if we are merely comfortable in our spiritual routines or prepared to step out in faith. The call to action is clear: to be both ready and willing to go where God leads, sharing His love with those around us. [32:42]
"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.'" (Genesis 12:1, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel too comfortable? How can you step out in faith and obedience to pursue God's calling today?
Quotes
1) "God then allows a great persecution to come in. God needed to give them a shove. He needed to give them a shove. What was the last thing that Jesus said to them before he ascended? Go in. Go into all the world. Go into all the world. And yet they all were sitting comfortably in Jerusalem. When he talked about all the world, he used Jerusalem, my family, Judea, my neighbors, Samaria, my enemies, outermost parts of the world, every single person that's out there. Now, I want to tell you something. Grace Bible Church has made this place very comfortable for you. Do you like your cushy chair over there? Oh, you do, don't you? You love it. You wish you could take it home, put it in your living room." [06:20] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "But Jesus said, going to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the outermost parts of the earth. It's not comfortable out there. This is to strengthen for out there. So I'll read to you what was happening there in Acts chapter 8, verses 1 through 5. It says, now Saul was consenting unto his death, speaking about Stephen. At that time, a great persecution arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem. And they all were scattered throughout the region. Listen to this. The region of Judea, Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc. He was the king of the church, entering every house, dragging men and women off, committing them to prison." [07:49] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "The spirit of God led Philip from a great revival to an old desert road in Gaza. He didn't ask any questions. He just went. This was an opportunity. And he's like, I don't care what, why, who, where. It's an opportunity and I'm going. I'm being sent there. Of all the hundreds that were being saved. Do you know what? God was seeing that one person on that dirt road to Gaza. God's eyes were fixed on him. Now we're going to see something that's so hard for people to get. We're going to see a very religious lost man willing to listen." [16:50] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "The man traveled 200 miles. to Jerusalem, even though he could not be a Jewish proselyte. He traveled 200 miles to try to get as connected as he could to the law of the Jews. He was seeking God. And there was no way that he could ever get that fullness of that. He was very religious. He was very sincere, extremely sincere. Here's the hardest thing for people to understand. A lot of sincere people will be in hell because you can be sincerely wrong, sincerely wrong. He was sincere in his heart. He was traveling 200 miles to try to just sit outside the gate." [18:19] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "You know what's wild i told both groups this so i told the first server that that i thought they were the smartest but they're not i think you guys are i've repented of lying to them do you know what's not smart is for anybody to hear this and to walk out those doors lost that's the dumbest thing a person could ever do walk out those doors still a religious person trusting in whatever do my best sincere sincerely wrong man you might need to trust jesus christ right this minute sitting where you're sitting crying out from your heart to lord you're sitting here in silent crying out and he's hearing it like a trumpet in heaven Saying, Lord Jesus, I'm now trusting in your shed blood, your death, burial, and resurrection. I'm trusting in that for the forgiveness of my sins and the salvation of my soul." [28:08] (82 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "You know, it'd be great in spite of all that's going on in your life right now. Maybe some horrific things in your marriage, in your family, in your whatever. That you would be able to get up and walk out of here with joy in your heart. Because you know that Jesus Christ supersedes it all. When he saves your soul. He gives you joy in the midst of the storm. Man, don't leave here lost. Don't leave here lost. So I ask you, if you are a believer, are you ready? If you've trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, you know that you're ready? Because you have a testimony. If you're a true believer, you know what you were, you know what happened." [30:00] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "I voted. Did you know I already voted? Ask me who I voted for. It's none of your business. I voted. And when I walked into the polls, there's a big sign that says, please do not talk about your political persuasions or whatever. There's a big sign that says that. There's no sign that says, please don't talk about Jesus. Jesus. Isn't that wonderful? I'm hoping after you vote that they'll have to change that. Please don't talk about Jesus. All these people coming in here talking about, yeah, please don't talk about your man. What an opportunity in a week or two when you're standing in line for three hours to vote opportunities to share Jesus." [31:03] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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