Blue Beach

March 27, 2011

Spiritual Gifts Series

The Spiritual Gift of Evangelism:

Philip

(Part IV)

Acts 8:29

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

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       The Holy Spirit had directed Philip to take a desert road.  On that road, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:27).  In Acts 8:29,  we see that God brings together seekers and evangelists.

       Evangelists Often Meet People Prepared for Salvation by the Holy Spirit.  The eunuch apparently had a strong spiritual interest because he come to Jerusalem to worship (Acts 8:27), and he was reading the prophet Isaiah in his chariot (Acts 8:30).  God often sends evangelists to people ready to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

        Evangelists Often Join Other People.  God brings people together all the time, and He often brings evangelists to a particular place at a particular time to meet a particular person.  In this case, we clearly see how the Holy Spirit moved Philip to meet the eunuch, and then gave him very specific direction to join the eunuch in his chariot.

         Evangelists Know that They Share the Gospel under the Direction of God.  I often tell my friends that I cannot save anybody, and never will: only the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to save people from their sins.  In fact, some of my unbelieving friends accuse me of trying to save them.  I frequently remind them that I am only the messenger.  Jesus saves people, and I only speak of Him.  In this case, we see how the Holy Spirit sent Philip to speak to one man, and through that one court official, opened up a ministry to Ethiopia.

       So we learn more about the gift of evangelism today from the life of Philip.

        ●  We learn that The Spiritual Gift of Evangelism means that the evangelist understands that God will lead him to particular people, at particular times, to speak His word of salvation.

       ●  We learn that evangelists get up and join themselves to a particular person, prepared by God to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

       ●  We hinder The Spiritual Gift of Evangelism when we do not have faith that God will bring many people, from many walks of live, to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We need to encourage the work of evangelism on all levels and at all times.

Application for Today

        Today, I want to be careful to see God leading me to interact with particular people.  I will not meet anyone by chance today.  God will control all the “chance” meetings I have with people.  I want to share the gospel with people He sends my way.  Will you have your heart and mouth ready to share God’s love and message of salvation with the unsaved today?

 

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