INTRO
Many Christians struggle with being timid or even outright fear. However, personal evangelism is intended to be a “fear-less” encounter not a fear-filled one.
Many times, the challenges to sharing our faith are rooted in thinking we are all alone or even lacking the knowledge or skills to adequately share Jesus. We are not alone in sharing our faith; the Holy Spirit is right there with us, directing and even equipping us with what to say or do.
Main Focus: The Holy Spirit helps us share our faith.
1) LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS EASY TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD – v. 26
Philip was central to this revival in Samaria, but he still kept his spiritual hearing tuned to God’s directions. He left the shout of the city for the silence of the desert.
We can all relate to a busy and noisy life. However, we are still to be listening for God’s leading in sharing Christ with others. Ask God to make you aware of people who are searching or open.
It takes spiritual discipline to be actively listening for the voice of God.
When the angel of the Lord said “arise and go” it was not without its challenges. Because Luke goes on to describe his destination as a “desert” place.
In a sense, God was saying, “Leave this city-wide revival, complete with miracles of many kinds, and go out to the desert. Oh, by the way, no further directions given, just simply ‘arise and go.’”
2) FOLLOW THE LORD’S LEADING – v. 27
T 8:39 – The willingness of Philip to go anywhere and do anything God asked of him, even with limited instructions, brought about salvation and rejoicing to a man who did not know Jesus Christ.
God saw the spiritual hunger of the eunuch to understand and know Him. So, the Spirit of God orchestrated a timely encounter. One that facilitated an opportunity for Philip to obey God and the Ethiopian to know God.
3) TRUST THAT GOD IS WORKING WHERE YOU CANNOT SEE – v. 28
He is convicting the wicked one of their sin!
He is loving the one who feels abandoned!
He is giving hope to the suicidal and comfort to the broken!
He is revealing Himself to the seeker and chasing down the backslider!
He is working miracles that you are not yet aware of!
He is working where you cannot see!
4) BE AVAILABLE FOR THE UNEXPECTED – v. 29
The Bible is full of encounters where God showed up in quite unexpected ways.
He showed up to Abraham & Sarah at 99 & 89 and promised them a child!
He showed up to a teenage shepherd boy and promised him a kingdom and a throne!
He showed up to Shad, Mesh, & Abednego and walked with them through the flames!
He showed up outside of Lazarus’ tomb and called him back to life!
And in Acts 3 He showed up dressed like Peter & John and healed a man lame from birth!
He is the God of the unexpected—be ready for it! Be available for it!
5) IMMEDIATELY OBEY – v. 30
This is where it will get more difficult – obeying God with only a command to rise up and go, with only an assumption that more instructions will follow.
What makes this story so inspiring is Philip’s eager obedience to the voice of the Angel (“arise and go” … “so he arose and went”) and the Spirit (“So Philip ran to him,” 8:30a)
The Bible is filled with great men and women of God who heard the voice of God and quickly obeyed.
Prac. application – We must take the initiative to start the conversation. Over the course of your life so few non-Christians will ever approach you and say, “Would you please tell me about Jesus?”
