Power to Preach (Part B)

The word of God, along with the servant of God equals salvation – the formula and hear the Scripture. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God.

Here is the word of God. But Jesus didn't go to the cross drag is a victim engineer the whole thing. The author and finisher of our faith.

He went in submission and he was eager, how I wish it was here, he said to his disciples before he was arrested. Goals without protest.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick as he continues teaching through acts chapter 8 and his message call placed to preach.

Philip was in the great great movement. There Samaria and is redirected elsewhere. What a flexible spirit that is so the desert. The desert where life is both scarce and struggling. He is to go to this Gentile caravan and be ready for instructions.

Human reason would've bought it would've so wait, what was happening in Samaria people getting safety of the Samaritans must be go to the desert to leave the 99 for the one that principle is employed here. Not always, but it is here, God will send us to places where we would otherwise not go but he can only do that if he finds a willing heart. Verse 27 so he arose and went and there's that willing heart and behold a man of Ethiopia, a unit great authority under Candace queen of Ethiopians who had charge over her treasury and had come to Jerusalem to worship well remember earlier in this chapter in Samaria. Simon the sorcerer or magician really sought to have God work for him out of ignorance. Philip is here seeking to work for God so he arose and he went, and behold, a man of Ethiopia. Another Gentile is being bought the Christ not there were other Gentiles in Nicholas we read about him in chapter 6 proselyte of Antioch, likely from that region will from Antioch.

It's in Syria, but here this is an African this Ethiopian man that is being pursued by the servant of God at this time in history. Ethiopia's northern border touched the southern border of Egypt.

Today, the Sudan's variant got a go further south to get the Ethiopia.

The Candace is a title like Farrell or Caesar. It's not her name probably are coming from the region of cartoon which is not cartoon with the kind that would be all folks. But the this is this is in the Sudan today about 300 miles away in a hard ride to this is not legal resident of rest stops on the way things like that. This is a large caravan, soldiers and servants, those who are hitchhiking along could be 100 people in the skin.

This chariot is in is large enough for have seats. Not all chariots just you know to real some of them were four wheelers, some of them are large tubulars but anyway it's a sizable chariot and this Ethiopian is a convert to Judaism Place looking for God. That's why he was in Jerusalem like like Nicholas, although as a unit of great authority that he's a big shot is not a literal position as a Gentile and he's a unit that's really not going to go well for him is going to look down upon when he gets to Jerusalem, that nice, returning but UNIX would denied full access to the Jewish Temple but they were never denied full access into the kingdom of heaven and Isaiah makes that clear. And he seems to accepted his position in life without bitterness.

Romans chapter 8 for the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin, condemned sin in the flesh. So there we we have with the law could not do the law could not really bring this eunuch into the temple, the grace of God brings them all away into a relationship with Christ. This one preacher said when very good preacher said, not me. I know when I say very good preacher, you immediately think of me because of my humility. But anyway God does not love populations, but people not masses, but men I agree with that. I mean, he loves the individuals not the groups. Although groups are made of individuals he can love a good group of them at one time but got singles us out this Ethiopian is singled out. So when you are leading someone to Christ you know that God singled them out long before you got there, even from the foundations of the earth. Romans 323 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This was a trustworthy man. His position in a pagan government did not stop God from reaching him.

God knew he was ready, because the spirit was working in him and that's the only way people come to Christ.

Verse 28.

He was returning and sitting in his chariot he was reading Isaiah the prophet verse 29 then the Spirit said to Philip, go near and overtake his chariot. While no one stumbles in the salvation even if they think they do, they do not. God is the author and the finisher of our faith. He not only designs it buddy. He follows it through to the to the kingdom of heaven to when we are in heaven. Philip is told to share Jesus and Christ is already at work in the man's heart. Jesus said this, my father has been working on till now and I have been working that is true to this day.

God wants all people say, but they're not all going to get say.

And yet this is what the Lord wants all can get saved want to first Timothy who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. First Timothy 24. Here in verse 29 then the Spirit said to Philip, go near and overtake in verse 26. Remember it was the angel now it's the Holy Spirit that's how this is unfolding for us. Go near and overtake his chariot mentioned that this is a sizable chariot, probably a four wheeler is specific and clear instructions catch up and join up with this person in the chariot.

I think Philip knew when he saw the caravan who these folks were.

I think he knew that these were Ethiopians headed to Ethiopia.

The nonfactor for him. Verse 30 so Philip ran to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said do you understand what you are reading, you got a look at that seal these excited exacting authority orders. He knows where he belongs like Elisha knew he belonged with Elijah is excited so Philip ran to him when those things are in the Scripture like this in your eye catches them. It's intentional. The author and finisher of your faith is working in your life saying something to you to get you to be better to get me to be better at what we do as Christians. And so here Philip not only had he made a Pledge of Allegiance to God, he is acting on his pledge and you know that's a big thing later.

Paul to write to the Corinthians.

You know you pledge to help.

Don't embarrass me. Don't do this. This is your opportunity to act upon what you said you would do and they did well this saw Bible of hours ago. As we read here in verse 30, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah all the Bible is the road of knowledge to God.

Of course, that road is loaded with robbers yet to be careful of that you know you you you go to send out Christian children off to universities in the here the professors begin to coin phrases as though they created light, and if the child was not ready for this going to get sucked in. If this is just going along with the story of you got of an nonbelieving, a professor and he's saying will this is called so-and-so when people do this and the child was like wow that's interesting is a name for this job.

So what is a name for this allusion for it and so we were just one of these phrases. Look this one up if you like seal goofy it is that they've come up with micro-aggression. What is that this is so teeny. The aggression that is you can't see it so that is not aggression.

Visit is like you can win. :-) You agree with me but you really don't. So they come up with this phrase, a coin these things and and and people supposedly impressed. While there pretty deep put a name on a behavior, I should listen to everything aspersions and they forget all about their Christianity and they start drinking the Kool-Aid and the next thing you know their atheists or doubting the faith. So, standing up and saying things like, what would you get that which is made you and you place just made this up. I know you can't do that, we 1780 like that but at my age, you certainly can.

Anyway, I feel myself getting in the flesh at our office shows, but inside anyway. Coming back to these things Jesus said you search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me all about Christ as the Old Testament and the new. The Bible is about Jesus Christ and those robbers on the road have been sent by Satan to try to you.

John Wesley said, beware of the reasonable doubt. We tries to act like he's real smart is figure things out and get his name thing so therefore he must know what he's talking about.

Watch out for those guys not a better Old Testament verse about Jesus Christ and this one in all the Old Testament, not a better one. This passage is about the suffering savior. One of the greatest messianic tradition predictions in the Scripture Isaiah 53.

This is the only person in history. This could fit is Jesus Christ of Nazareth and again the New Testament is being developed a few apostolic writings in circulation at this point the Old Testament was it and it was read sort of a un-updated version of using the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. This Ethiopian is serious in his search for God when he needs help as important to understand he God says needs help. So Philip was called help when you are called to help on a serious thing, you get stronger. It it makes you strong is it that you needed that there's a need here and you can be part of that solution. I don't mean the sum is calling you to do things they should be doing that that can be annoying. But when you know that you are a critical factor in what's going on. Makes a strong incentive. You understand what you're reading. I don't take this as being impolite or intrusive matted if you're sitting in a coffee shop somewhere reading the Bible. So I said you have any idea what you read, you might be a little offended but Philip knew that's what he was called to do. Verse 31 and he said how can I Ethiopian speaking, unless someone guides me and he asked Philip to come up and sit with him, you love this guy admitted in his position and said here's has great authority and he doesn't look down on this guy that comes running up to his his chariot is not arrogant, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled, overseeing that acted out here. He has a teachable spirit. You know who else had a teachable spirit. Esther, one of the adorable things about Esther. You know what stands out is usually her beauty. Now let's see after Nehemiah comes the book of Esther and there in chapter 2, she was teachable to two people, primarily Mordechai and Hague Haggai. He guy who was over the units, and so want to take two verses from the book of Esther chapter 2 verse 15. You don't have to be a know it all in life.

In fact, if you're open like this guy. You get filled up, and you begin to know things you otherwise would not have captured who likes a know it all. Show of hands, hopefully buys it doesn't like when everybody rigged to hands up verse 15 Esther chapter 2 that when the turn came for Esther, the daughter of about hell, the uncle of Mordechai who had taken her as his daughter to go into the King. She requested nothing but what he guy the Kings unit. The custodian of the women advised and Esther obtain favor in the sight of all who saw her here she is in the harem as she gets the advice from the unit in charge of the women there is a generation where this you will goodness don't wear that as tacky and and she is like okay whatever you say and then we come to verse 20. Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordechai had charged her for Esther obeyed the command of Mordechai as when she was brought up by him so she's a young woman now and she doesn't think I'm all I got it I don't need you anymore Mordechai and these things stand out about her character is her beauty was more than skin deep. It was in her personality. No one else on earth is caught this but me and that's because I am humble and when you humble like me. God gives you special things know it's stupid and it's meant to be to draw attention to anyone who just thinks that there is safety and arrogance. There's not. I don't know why arrogant people are arrogant, except to say that sin is doing its thing on them. We don't have to be that way. So here this Ethiopian man. He has some willing spirit of teachable spirit. Psalm 69 verse two the humble shall see this and be glad in you who seek God your hearts shall live. So the Ethiopian doesn't say to Philip, have you been to seminary I just want to know. Have you been in the word of God that's good enough for him is make this complicated as we tend to do there in August.

Nothing wrong with digging deep and going deeper is something wrong when when you begin to make that the normal for everybody else and you go so deep that you've lost your your way. Verse 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 it. Shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

This the word of God, along with the servant of God equals salvation. That's the formula and hear the Scripture. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God. Here is the word of God.

But Jesus didn't go to the cross drag is a victim. He engineered the whole thing. The author and finisher of our faith. He went in submission and he was eager, how I wish it was here, he said to his disciples before he was arrested the goals without protest. What if he opened his mouth and protest.

Revelation 1921.

Speaking of Jesus and the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

That's what could've happened. This is to Antichrist and his armies. As with this is speaking about the forces of antichrist. Yeah IPE could have called 12 legions of angels like adjusted himself. Verse 33 in his humiliation still reading from Isaiah's justice was taken away. And who will declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth will in his humiliation and the son of God if he can get give us useful. Christ says I want you to do what I'm doing on washing the feet your feet. I want you to do this to each other. We have no problem washing the feet of Jesus to Peter though. I don't know if I want to wash his feet. The person in the pew next to me. Don't look I don't know that I don't know if I'm ready to do this will. This is the thing that Christ calls us to do and when you start disobeying those kind of commandment you start disobeying other kind of commandments a lot faster than what you should and should not disobey any but the new becomes easier's Mike. My point so here the Lord Jesus in his humiliation. There was no justice says his justice was taken away. Meaning there was no justice at his trial. It was a kangaroo court. His life was taken away because he was the substitutionary sacrifice. He died in my place as me on my cross, that is the substitution like the lamb in and out of Egypt.

The blood of the Lamb put on the doorpost of the house and is is who will declare his generation.

We had no children. He was cut off and is as we would not because he was his ministry was not in that direction, but this is clearly a reference that there was no generation. If they killed him. So Isaiah adds in this section, which is not here, for he was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgressions of my people he was stricken and we are his people.

Incidentally, verse 34. In other words, the Jews yes and then beyond is were seeing in the book of acts, verse 34 so eunuch answered Philip and said I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this of himself or of some other man, I get no attempt to cover his ignorance like oh I knew that I should know that know he's learning. I don't know what was this guy talking about now.

The Ethiopian more than likely heard the rabbis divert debate this verse because it was a verse that they did debate. Some believe that the slaughtered sheep hear the Lamb represented Israel but that really is a stretch. It does not fit this too much personification belongs to the character in Isaiah 53.

Others thought. Isaiah spoke of himself. And that certainly he couldn't come close to what Isaiah 53 talks about others knew this to be Messiah that Isaiah was talking about the Messiah, the Christ, the Hebrew word Messiah in the Greek is Christ, and this is of course what Philip is going to tell when I'm getting everything Philip told him we know that just by the events that take place verse 35 and Philip open his mouth the Lord did not open his mouth and the weight of the Segway been filled and opened his mouth.

The breach of the door is open and beginning at this Scripture preached Jesus to him. Member Christ on the road to Emmaus. He opened the Scriptures that all about himself.

He he he gave them the Scripture and where he was and here we see Philip beginning at this verse, Ephesians, chapter 3, Paul said that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, you struggling in life all the time.

You don't see those riches of Christ is so wonderful. You just want relief in God is saying. I need you to do both at the same time, I need you to suffer and serve at the same time. That's what it takes. If you're not suffering good serve if you are suffering serve in season and out of season all the time. Colossians 120 we just read this one, but I like it a lot and we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ. How many churches they are not preaching Christ. But call themselves churches still were prohibited from slapping them things like that is the flesh. The flesh is who I know to do in the spirit says no you don't read it. We don't do that, we focus on the feet you know a liberating thing for an individual Christian is to focus on the field you've been given to plow the field you have, to take the lot that you have been assigned.

Remember the tribes of Israel. Each stride was assigned a lot and not a bunch, but a lot so you got a renal some signs you've heard me say this before you see signs of save a lot for sale and is nothing there and they're lying to you is another one that's kinda irritating to see who wants to hear something you tell me something I don't know fireworks. I know that every July to go around saying this right, that's all. After moment back to work included in what Peter about what Philip told us Ethiopian is water baptism which is unique to Christianity the Jews had their that may cause the bands but they were for cleansing.

They didn't bear the symbolism of the water baptism go into all the world. Jesus said to make disciples make students of the word is more than just you don't just convert them to view they need more of all nations. Philip is engaged in this in Jesus and baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit. While they were commanded to do this and therefore we are commanded to have this done to us. And since the next verse tells us that the eunuch sought baptism verse 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. What he didn't just pick that out of a rabbits had Philip had to tell him about this, obviously. Philip made it clear that a public confession was was part of Christianity. Remember this is a large caravan could be 100 people in this caravan and he says what hinders me from being baptized will all tell you in penitence. You've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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