Acts Chapter 8:26-34

Mary was this whole book points to Jesus. Jesus is in the above is in the whole book I could take you through here and in the beginning you lick it out of a name and they fell and God took animal and he slew him. He sacrificed them and made them coats of skins shedding the blood covering Merced picture of Jesus, you go to the next chapter.

Abel and Cain and Abel was a keeper of sheep, and he made an offering to the Lord, that the Lord received the offer him a lamb picture of the Lamb of God, which was Jesus going to Genesis chapter 22. Abraham and Isaac is the Isaac placing the wood for sacrifice almost back going up the hill just the way Jesus did. Many years later. Place the wood on his back for sacrifice.

We went up the hill and show you Scriptures the same piece in the book the lifeless near the Bible points us and everyone else did you welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

When we look at the Bible, the Old Testament was a new points us to one person and that person is Jesus today pastor David explains how this works. As he continues in the book of acts chapter 8 here's David McGee with his teaching rise and go with me to ask chapter 8 about the early church and that is really what is it that were supposed to be doing so doing we don't see it as the perfect church, but we see it as a model as a representative of what were supposed to be doing a lot of time. Sadly, we look at the early church, and what must've been nice to be in early church. You can be active in watching God work in your life through your life. Just the way the people in the book of acts that the Bible tells us that God doesn't change the same yesterday today and forever. So the same God is working in this book of acts is active in this fellowship as well.

Now really start teaching with verse 30 but for context sake, let's pick it up with verse 26 acts chapter 8 verse 26 is now an angel the Lord spoke to Phillips analyze and go towards himself along the road, which is now which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza for 27 so he arose and went, and behold, a man of Ethiopia, eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians charge of all or treasury and had come to Jerusalem to worship, he was returning and sitting in his chair. He was reading Isaiah the prophet, in the spirits of the fill go near and overtake the spirit. Verse 32 Philip land to him and heard him leaving the prophet Isaiah said, you understand what you are reading again context sake. Philip is in Samaria. There's this awesome awesome meetings taking place people get to say all sometime going on in Johnson's belt want to go out to the desert.

This is important understand this context because when Phillips in the desert and God says go speak to this person want you back in verse 30 so Philip moped all over their complaint in the hallway that he was in the right thinking that is what it says to know it says even doing like that because he was filled with enthusiasm filled with enthusiasm. He was in encourager filled with courage that EMS from the Greek. It is like our word in an in courage is being filled with courage and Susie asked Dick is from being filled with God in Theo in Theo you think of most believers is being enthusiastic. Well, if you church here. You do because you know we want to be enthusiastic about serving God. We want to be enthusiastic about walking with the me share with you one of my heroes is chair of their dear visitor you're going all know what have I gotten myself into saying that they are now and rinsing the figure so and and non-wise Tigger a hero to me because he so enthusiastic and see the thing is, I think far too many Christians are more like Igor Chi convicting here like Igor, you know, don't expect to be contagious when you invite people to church. Are you lying Tigger being very enthusiastic. Are you like Igor will do well talks too long you will you're saying that not expected to be contained, but in your filled with enthusiasm that is contagious and see this is the day that the Lord is my last rejoice in it and be glad. It's so cool.

So many of you share the stories of you know what you talking with a couple yesterday and they've been here for a few weeks us and we know where. Where did you go before him this week when going solid people and we got curious. We came in just for different now were here. So many of you share stories about how your excited once again to become a church. Such a blessing. And that's the way that it supposed to be. As we gather together we worship together in the world like as we look into God's word and God speaks to us is just awesome awesome things we should be filled with Theo filled with God filled with enthusiasm and encouragement so Philip says to unity understand what you read in verse 31. The eunuch said, and he said how can I unless someone guides me in the ass Philip to come up and sit with them in a neat how God works. God told Philip to leave the desert told him to leave Samaria to go to the desert. Rearrange the whole thing set the whole thing up and he goes in the desert.

Phillips joy when he looks over and he sees as God right now.

While the book of Isaiah is like this is why I'm here understand. That's the way God works. Think I will go before you life lesson here is before you when you're following God goes before you when you're following if you never saw that you're supposed to kick the door down for God. I'm sorry wrong, you should look for open doors too many times we act like God's mercenaries or something really kick the door down the what is I don't think that's the Lord God opens doors and and you know what if you asked God to open doors for you. He will open doors and when he does open doors walk through and is just that easy thing to love this. How can unless someone guides me.

The thing that we do here teaching verse by verse. You don't find out all that Saturday is to but that's what we did, meaning we teach verse by verse wherever I stop today. We pick it up next week and this is I think by far the best way to learn some of you may have been in churches where the unity commandment and they did all sorts who plotted four offerings and did this and that and got to the teaching and and is like 10 minutes all one verse, and you wonder why you don't have a deeper knowledge of your problem. You were talked about the sad fact is many everyone even encouraged to read it in the study will hear.

We do encourage you to read it.

We do encourage you to study and in no and at no other time during the week you that you're in the Bob will resume Sunday morning, Thursday night, I encourage you to be in it. Outside of that, but know that my heart is to be your guy if you will the Scriptures you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com is a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them. You need someone to present God's word to him every day were present in God's virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee.

We can play for them as well. Just by simply going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button.

All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love that needs know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost love ones awesome way to bring love once to Jesus, here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a minute to pray for some cities in our listening audience.

Specifically, Merlin Pendleton, Portland, Powell Butte Prairie city in Redmond Oregon. What we think, for the people living in the cities where we pray that you would draw them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Father we pray for their homes that there would be unity and love that they would follow you with all your heart and soul and strength.

As a family we pray for the pastors and churches in these areas God that you would anoint them to teacher word. Verse by verse. Even Lord that you give the pastors wisdom and discernment, how to serve and love the people that God brings Lord we love you.

We thank you for the cities. We pray that you do a mighty work in the name of Jesus. Amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, 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 sure is silent, so he opened not his mouth and his humiliation is justice was taken away. And who will declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth to the eunuch answered Philip and said I ask you whom does the prophet say this of himself or some other man. So again this passages in Isaiah. It's what's referred to as the suffering servant passage and an understanding is he's quoting from the Septuagint, which was the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Our Bible is based upon the original Hebrew. Most of our Bibles are based on the Texas receptive, complicated sharing this passage. In this passage this point Jesus near him was this whole book points to Jesus you know we talked on Thursday night were going to the Hebrew Scriptures. What people refer to as Old Testament we go to that in many Thursday nights people get saved that morning and they asked Jesus to forgive the mother says probably probably freak something you enjoy Old Testament Huggins my get saved I will desert Jesus is in the book is in the whole book I could take you through here and in the beginning you look at Adam, and even they fell in God's any slewing he sacrificed them and made them coats of skins shedding the blood covering percent picture of Jesus, you go to the next chapter. Abel and Cain and Abel was a keeper of sheep, and he made an offering to the Lord, that the Lord received the offered him a lamb picture of the Lamb of God, which was Jesus going to Genesis chapter 22.

Abraham and Isaac is the Isaac placing the wood for sacrifice almost back going up the hill just the way Jesus did. Many years later. Place the wood on his back for sacrifice, and he went up the hill. In fact, I can show you Scriptures the same. He's in the book the lifeless near the Bible points us and everyone else to Jesus.

The Bible points and everyone else to Jesus and you can just go on ME from Genesis to Revelation.

You look at the feast you look at the feast of Yom Kippur, the day of your speaks of Jesus, you look at the Passover speaks of Jesus throughout this book. This book is all about God created us.

God loves us turn our back on him and fell away. God won't rest until he wonders back. That's the whole thing summed up whole book points to Jesus, so this offering servant passage since what Jesus did mean we think of them as a teacher we think of him as a healer. We think of him as Savior we think of him as Lord. We think of him is resurrected when we think of him as creator is always thinking, and that's good. We think of him.

Those ways but he was also a servant servant who got down on his knees to wash the feet of the disciples pastor why are you mentioning that well because the book of acts refers to him several times as a servant give you this for other places. Acts 313 says the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and not in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined letting go acts 326 says to you first God, having raised up his servant Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your neck with acts 427 were truly against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed by parent Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together, acts 430 next chapter for research, stretching out her hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done in the name of your holy servant Jesus, what's my point of view. Been there for very long 23rd before I want to be like Jesus certainly may not want to look like a I want to be like from the inside out and look at this book and I see things about how I want my life to begin imitate him set up here this morning.

I'm just like Michael Jordan is a will okay well I'm thinking Michael Jordan will dollars and that their blood pressure? What colorful just like Michael Jordan. You write and if you sit here this morning.

You tell me that your follower Jesus which are not servant who or what are you follow Jesus was a servant himself looking anybody ever walked this earth who deserved to be worshiped and praised and should of had to serve it with him when he did he gave us a model.

Even in the fact that he was baptized by somebody who their very salvation was dependent upon him.

That's how much humility and yet we will Christianity's got a spectator sport does not were supposed to be servant. That's what were supposed to be new life lesson here.

Every person who is following Jesus should be serving others in a caring and committed way and is my job to encourage you in the service strongly may run through. Just a few verses Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24 says, think of ways to encourage one another outburst of love and good deeds as part of what I do when I teach. I would encourage it outburst of love and good deeds.

Titus 27 is in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works and Dr. show integrity, reverence and credibility.

A pattern of good work.

Titus 214, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from every policy to purify for himself his own special people.

Zalman S for good works, looking for something to do no balance looking for a way to express your gratitude and your thankfulness to Jesus to others. The Bible says that God gave us the fivefold ministry in the book of Ephesians 1. The equipping of the saints to do the work of ministry really cool things in their face for 12 for the 430 chemical think number one you guys are called saints.

How cool is that you have Jesus to forgive you of your sins.

He dies it. And even though you may stumble and even though you may still fall occasionally conflict announces your site. I've been called a lot of things in my life.

I met many men called me a saint, but he did and it says for the work of the ministry all know this is this is I'm going go from preaching the meddling now through the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry. You may have been brought up thinking what happens is I go to church and there's a staff that works there that serves me that that's unscriptural what the Bible says is to teach you guys to equip you to do the work of the ministry. So next time remember that even I did get upset that I maybe a friend of yours or maybe family member, you know, some might. They were sick and nobody prayed for did you pray for sensors to be equipping you guys to do the work of the ministry and and when this happens, it's a beautiful thing. Titus 38.

This is a true saying I want you to give special emphasis to these matters so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone Scriptures talk about this guys say this is what were supposed to be know this is me just get on a tirade that this is this is the suffering servant of Jesus. This is the sermon that is listed in the book of acts and following him were to be serving.

Will servant were what server were, but I think actually the concept is that we serve in the local body and we serve one another so that we can reach as many people as we can.

Titus 314, Susan P will also learn to maintain good works to meet urgent needs that they may not be unfruitful. See when you do good things. When you do good works, you are being fruitful now.

Talk about works and good deeds. But let me be clear is that the way you gain entrance into heaven. Absolutely not.

You can't do.

You can't be good enough. You can't do enough to earn your entrance and that your given entrance by grace when you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins. He doesn't look at you and go out to know you worthy to be forgiven. Nine doesn't do that… You said you know what anybody that comes in to me. I will no wise cast out your asking me forgive you and God begins to change us from the inside out. And then because were grateful that should lead us to good works, but were saved by grace, but it's interesting in the passage that some of you are probably familiar with Ephesians 289 the passage it speaks about being saved by grace leads us right into the fact they were supposed to be doing things for the Lord.

Ephesians 28 through 10th is for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast grace. Salvation verse 10 for we are his workmanship, workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in once were saying which was to be doing good works versus be serving one another active in the local body and here's the thing to understand this your entrance into heaven is by grace very clear by grace alone and when you get up there that I was able to do servant sparklers you get in. But what happens in when you get and what will you hear well done good and faithful spectator so it is as well done, thou good and faithful servant be sent to people who are servant and if you get up there you go yeah you know I was getting ready to start servant and you know now that I'm dead. I'm ready to live for you, Lord, and I don't want you going up to heaven going on here will worry serving swimming serving will reserve me where you serving the children ministry doing some like that never like that is where you go to church and this and if I didn't tell you may be looking for me and I'm in trouble me in trouble you will you be in a way that is what this book said about servant here. The thing about rewards don't sit there and go. I don't know.

I've never heard that before, and some of you may be thinking that at Matthew 16 is the words of Jesus. Is this for the Son of Man will come in the glory of his father was with his angels. Then he were we ward each according to his works. James has even stronger language to 26 is just as the body is that without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds. James 217. So you see it isn't enough just to have faith faith that doesn't show itself a good deed there's no faith at all. It is dead and useless semi question is you have a dead faith. You have a living for you have a living faith you can think back on this week and you know I came in the church and clean the school I had pain in that investment was doing Joan's ministry and I share my faith in God's abiding courage Summit emailed somebody I you can point to think that's a living vibrantly. That's what the world looking for far too long, the world is looked at the church and seen a dead inactive and sit on what you want to show shown the real faith faith that faith that works not that though they may have asked Jesus to forgive the mother sends are still not given their lives away. Occasionally I hear some I say what I would serve but I just don't have the no start is not a priority for because were all given seven days a week 24 hours a day. So what you're saying is that the people your time is more important than the people that do serve your and you're still trying to figure out how God can fit into your schedule is given you your life you will you this morning gave you the breath that you took when you open your eyes this morning is a very God is controlling your heart be right now and you tell me Servant Friend.

You Know for Sure That Your Sins Have Been Forgiven.

You Can Know Right Now Own Legion. A Short Simple Prayer Simply Telling God You're Sorry and Asking Him to Help You to Live for Him. Please Pray This Prayer with Me out Loud Right Now. Dear Jesus, I Believe You Died for Me That I Could Be Forgiven and I Believe You Were Raised from the Dead That I Could Have a New Life Not Done Wrong Things I Have Sent and I'm Sorry. Please Forgive Me of All Those Things.

Please Give Me the Power to Live for You. All of My Days in Jesus Name, Amen Friend of You Prayed That Prayer According to the Bible. You've Been Forgiven You've Been Born Again, so Congratulations for You Just Made the Greatest Decision That You Will Ever Make. God Bless You, If You Prayed That Prayer with David for the First Time We'd Love to Hear from You Visit, Cross the Bridge.com and Click on God's Plan for New Life to Receive Our First Steps Packaged with Helpful Resources to Help You Begin Your Walk with Christ. God Wants to Bless You and Encourage Your Relationships Today. Whether You Are Married, Considering Marriage or Engaged to Be Married. We Have a Resource for You Pastor David Wants to Send You His Four-Part Video Series Allies Stay Friends. Allow God to Minister to Your Marriage through His Word Today. This Was an Unforgettable Weekend That Encouraged Many Marriages and You and Your Spouse Can Be Encouraged to Allies Stay Friends Is Our Thanks for Your Generous Gift Today to Help More People Hear God's Truth on This Station and beyond, so They Can Cross the Bridge from Death to Life. Please Visit Cross the Bridge.com Today to Give a Gift of Any Amount and Get Your Copy of Allies Stay Friends ODA before We Go. What Are Some Ways That We Can Bless Our Listeners Some Days You Can Wake up with Encouragement for Pastor David to the Word of God with His Email Devotional Life Lessons to Consider Daily Reading and Thought to Meditate on throughout Your Day. From the Heart. The David McGee Those Are Terrific and It's Easy and It's Free so Folks Sign up Today Crossed the Bridge.com. Thanks Again for Listening and Join Us Next Time. As David McGee Continues to Verse by Verse through the Book of Acts