TEXT: Acts 8:26-40
TIME & PLACE: 06/04/08 ELBC
SUBJ: SALVATION
THEME: SALVATION FROM RELIGION
P/S: E.P. CAN
T/S: BY
UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS THAT
WERE PRESENT FOR THE EUNUCH THAT MADE IT A UNIQUE AS SET FORTH IN THE
TEXT.
INTRO: I
want to this morning look at a story found in the book of Acts that most
everyone should be aware of. As common as the story is I believe it still to be
a very “unique experience” found in the Scriptures. I say unique,
because you just don’t see what took place that day happen much anymore. Listen
we have seen several salvations since starting this work, however many have not
followed the pattern that this Eunuch establishes here in this text or anywhere
else in Scriptures. Nor do they necessarily do it as quickly. Let me explain;
the Eunuch reads the Scriptures, doesn’t understand them and then God
provides, through a willing servant, someone to help him. Then after hearing a
clear explanation the Eunuch gets saved. After traveling down the road, then
the Eunuch wants to be baptized....I may be missing something but I
didn’t hear Phillip talk about Baptism. Maybe he did and it isn’t
recorded. I would like to think that the acceptance of Christ was real
therefore the Spirit spoke to the Eunuch to get the rest right as Acts 2 tells
us... Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls. I want to this morning take a closer look at this
account of the saving of a soul and understand some factors that were present
that day that made it unique. Before I get into the message I want to by way of
introduction look at some things concerning this Eunuch before we go further.
The Eunuch was very much like the average person today in many ways; however
there are a several areas where he wasn’t let’s look at him closer
to get into the thought. 1st I notice that.....
1.
HE WAS RESPECTED vs27a “an
eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,”
2.
HE WAS RESPONSIBLE vs27b “who had
the charge of all her treasure,
3.
HE WAS RELIGIOUS vs27b
“and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,” vs27a “an eunuch
of great authority...”
4.
HE WAS RETURNING vs28 “Was returning,
and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Note: Going back to the same ol rut of what he did unchanged.
5.
HE WAS RECEPTIVE vs31 “And
he said, How can I, except some man should
guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
Note: As a side note, we see in this
short account of the story of the Eunuch 4 important things concerning the
believer.
ü
The Going - Submitting
to the Spirit
- vs29 “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near,
and join thyself to this chariot.”
ü
The Guiding - Steering
in the Scriptures - vs30-31 “And
Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How
can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would
come up and sit with him.
vs35 “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the
same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus”
ü
The Grounding
– Specific in the Specifics - vs36-37 “And
as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
ü
The Gaining – Satisfied
in the Spirit
- vs39b
“the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more: and he (the Eunuch) went on his way rejoicing.”
Now
with all that being said to lay a foundation for the topic this morning I want
to Preach on this thought “A UNIQUE EUNUCH EXPERIENCE” Having laid
that foundation and explained a little concerning let’s look at what made
this Unique for the Eunuch.....
I.
BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION
A.
IT WAS SACRIFICIAL vs25-27
And they, when they had testified and preached the
word of the Lord, returned to
B.
IT WAS SPIRITUAL vs29
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself
to this chariot.
C.
IT WAS SCRIPTURAL vs35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached
unto him Jesus.
Note: Listen...this situation was
Unique because there was a Sacrifice on Phillips part, The Spirit was involved
and the Scriptures were used. I am absolutely amazed anymore what all I see in
the “religious world” ex: 1,2,3 repeat
after me; join the Church, sign a card, get confirmed, get sealed and all of it
is not creating Saints it is Condemning Sinners to a make believe possession!
Appl:
Listen, that I hope is not you today. We have
everything you need right here for you and anyone else that may come or we go
near and join ourselves to!
II.
BECAUSE OF THE SCRIPTURES vs32-39
A.
THEY WERE EXAMINED – by the Enquirer vs30b-32 ....and
heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest
thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I,
except some man should guide me? 32
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep
to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his
mouth:
B.
THEY WERE EXPOUNDED – by the Evangelist vs35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached
unto him Jesus.
C.
THEY WERE EXPRESSED – by the Eager (To be Baptized
& To Baptize) vs36-39
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:
and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he
commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the
water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when
they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away
Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way
rejoicing.
Note: It was also Unique because of the
Scriptures.....no wonder people are so confused today as to what
“they” must do to be saved. Ask the average “church”
person how to be saved let alone someone in the world. Here it was Unique
because the Enquirer Examined them, the Evangelist
Expounded them and the Eager Expressed them! Praise the Lord!
Appl:
Concerning the Scriptures this Church and you as members should be eager and
able to expound them and if you are in here and are not sure I am eager and
able to expound them to you!
III.
BECAUSE OF THE SURRENDER vs26-36b
A.
OF THE SAINT vs26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise,
and go toward the south unto the way that goeth
down from
vs29 Then
the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot
B.
OF THE SINNER vs30b ....Understandest
thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How
can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he
would come up and sit with him.
vs34 And
the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this?
vs36b....and the eunuch said, See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Note: It was definitely Unique because
not many wanting or willing to surrender today, Saint and Sinner alike.
Appl:
Just think of how many you have witnessed to that were not willing to
Surrender. How many have you seen in here. We can’t make them surrender,
but we CAN Surrender so we can be ready if they ever
do.
IV.
BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLY
A.
OF THE WITNESS vs30-31 And Philip
ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should
guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
B.
OF THE WORD vs35 Then
Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto
him Jesus.
C.
OF THE WATER vs36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth
hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Note: Now what does all that have to do
with me......Well the answer to that is that if you know the Lord as your
personal Saviour then let’s be ready willing and able to provide a Unique
Experience for someone we may be led to meet along the way. If you don’t
know Christ as your personally Saviour today all 4
have been providentially provided to you and for you today. The Situation
(Church) The Scriptures (Preaching) The Surrender (I came from afar) and The
Supply....so today as well could be a Unique Experience for you!
Inv: Hymn 407 Is Your All On The Alter