Telling The Good News About Jesus

40. We're singing verses 1 to 9.

At all times I will bless the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice.

Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice.

Together let us praise the Lord, exalt his name with me.

I sought the Lord, his answer came, from fears he set me free.

They look to him and shine with joy, they are not put to shame.

This suffering man cried to the Lord, from him deliverance came.

The angel of the Lord surrounds and guards continually all those who fear and honor him.

He sets his people free.

Come, taste and see, the Lord is good, who trusts in him is blessed.

O fear the Lord, you saints, with need you will not be oppressed.

Psalm 34, these verses will stand to sing.

At all times I will praise and bless the Lord.

At all times I will bless the Lord.

I'll praise him with my voice.

Because I glory in the Lord.

Let troubled souls rejoice.

Together let us praise the Lord.

Lord, exalt his name with me.

I sought the Lord, his answer came.

From fear she set me free.

The Lord, his name is blessed.

They look to him and shine with joy.

They are not put to shame.

The suffering man cried to the Lord.

From whom the deliverance came.

The angel of the Lord surrounds and guards continually.

He sets his people free.

All those who fear and honor him.

He sets his people free.

He's a land of tego фильма.

He wants to hang.

The Lord roles are blessed.

From her heart, he desires, will not obst gaz.

The Lord resistant hablades, will not społec.

rays must of87s face with yesterday,

O fear the Lord violad in his flesh.

and heaven is blessed.

O dear the Lord,

you sins with me,

you will not be oppressed.

Once again, let's join together in prayer.

Let's call upon the Lord in prayer.

Our gracious and ever-blessed God,

help us to draw near to you,

believing that you are,

that you are the one who rewards

those who diligently seek you.

We thank you, O Lord, for this renewed opportunity,

for every time we come,

we pray that you would fill us

with a sense of privilege,

that you would enable us, Lord,

to see how unworthy we are,

that we should come into your presence,

that we should have admission

into your holy presence.

And as we also seek, Lord,

that you would impress

our unworthiness upon us,

help us also to realize

your worthiness to be praised.

And give us once again, Lord,

tonight to see the ground

upon which we approach you

in the person and in the work

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks, O Lord,

that all the blessings we receive

come to us through him.

Because they come to us through him,

we give thanks that they are secure for us,

that they are guaranteed forevermore

to be blessings

that will be enjoyed by your people.

And we thank you that as you join us to him,

as we come in faith,

as we come giving ourselves

trustingly to him,

we thank you, Lord,

for the way in which you have promised us

that all the good things

that he has procured for his people

are made over to us.

We give thanks even in providence

that all things work together for good

to those who love the Lord,

to those who are the called

according to your purpose.

We bless you for the spiritual gifts,

especially,

that accrue to us

and are dispensed to us

even on a daily basis.

We give thanks for those, O Lord,

that you have given to your people

that are given once and for all.

The gift of forgiveness of sin,

of justification of the righteousness

that comes to us,

the righteousness of Christ

that is imputed to us

and received by faith alone.

And we bless you, Lord,

once that this has been accomplished

and applied to us.

It is something that remains in place

and will be so forevermore.

We thank you for the gift

and the privilege and the benefit

of your sanctifying work

through your Spirit,

the grace of adoption

by which we are received

into the number of God's children.

We thank you, Lord,

for all the practical gifts

and all the things that follow on

from those great spiritual realities.

We thank you for your fatherly care,

for the way that you look after

your people so well,

even in times of your providence

being mysterious to them.

Lord, we thank you that in your wisdom

you are directing all things

towards that glorious end for them

that will bring them into

your everlasting kingdom,

that will make them princes

in your presence,

that will truly give them

to reflect forever

and be always in the image of Christ,

glorifying the Lord God.

Lord, bless us, Lord,

we pray as we gather here

in your presence once again

under your word.

Bless your word to us

and help us to be thankful for it.

Lord, you have called us

by your word already to praise you.

You have given us in your word

so much that we can use in your praise.

You have given us matters to sing.

You have given us prayers

that are recorded for us,

the prayers of your people

in different circumstances,

not only in the book of Psalms,

but in other places

throughout your word.

We find those who addressed you

having their prayers recorded

for our benefit.

We pray, Lord,

that you would help us

to follow their example,

to enter into that engagement

with you that they engaged in,

and to experience the benefits

that they experienced,

not only during their time of prayer,

but also in response to it

as you answered their cry

and brought to them

the blessings that you had for them.

And we thank you

that we have in our congregational life

so much that we give thanks for

as we come towards the end

of this current year.

We give thanks, Lord,

for all that you have been to us,

for everything that we have known

of your goodness

stretching out before us.

We think of the words of the psalmist

who also could refer to your goodness,

and an exclamation say,

how great is your goodness

to those who fear you,

laid up for those who fear you,

going ahead of those who fear you.

And we give thanks, Lord,

for the prospect

of more of your goodness

being experienced by us,

and the ways in which

your goodness is extended to us.

Lord, we pray your blessing

upon our gathering this evening.

Grace us, we pray,

with your presence.

Help us to know

that you are here for our good,

that you are here because

you take delight

in meeting with your people,

that your favor is upon them,

that you are committed

to their welfare,

to their advancement

in righteousness

and in eternal life.

And we thank you, O Lord,

that as we come to you

in the name of Christ,

all of these great blessings

are assured in him

for all the promises of God

are yea and amen in him.

And we thank you tonight, Lord,

that we come on the basis

of all that he is,

all that he has done,

all that he will yet do.

We pray, Lord,

your blessing for

all our families tonight

as we think of them.

Wherever they are in the world,

we commit them to you.

We ask, Lord,

that you would bless them

in all the different

family circles

that we represent here,

and all those who belong to us

and are near and dear to us.

We think of them, Lord,

at this time,

as we look towards

the end of this year

and the beginning of a new one,

we pray that you would

fill our lives with hope,

with the hope of the gospel,

with the hope that you bring

to your own saved people.

And we ask, Lord,

that as we pray for them,

we ask that you would do for them

more than we can ask or think,

for this is how you term yourself

in the Scriptures

as our God,

the God who is able

to do exceeding abundantly

above all that we are able

to ask or think.

Oh, God, we thank you

that there is no limit

to your ability

and that you are the God

who has surprised

your people so often

and even at times

when they were despondent

and beginning to doubt

and to fail,

you entered into

their circumstances

and you brought them

such an experience

as lifted them up

and revived and quickened

their souls.

We pray in our day, Lord,

too, that you would do this

for us.

We confess, O Lord,

that at times we feel despondent,

that we find as we look out

over the world

and as we see the state

of the world,

as we find so much rebellion

against you,

as we find so many alternatives

to trusting in you,

and even as we look in

in ourselves, O Lord,

and find that there is so much

there in our own hearts

and minds

that we would rather

it were not there at all,

doubts and fears

and failings.

Lord, we pray that

in your mercy

that you would lift us up,

that you would enable us

even tonight

for these few moments

to have a heavenly experience

through your blessing

of what it is

to come to know you,

to follow you,

to be blessed by you.

Lord, remember,

we pray all those tonight

who do not have

the capacity

to be here,

we think especially

of those who are ill,

those who belong to us

as a congregation,

in hospital

or in care homes

or elsewhere.

Remember them,

Lord, at this time,

we pray.

Graciously bless those

who are bereaved,

those who sorrow

over the loss

of loved ones,

and reflect in times

gone by

of loved ones

who are with them

and are now no more here,

whether it be

in recent bereavement

or even back in time.

Grant, Lord,

your comfort

and your direction

for them.

Remember again

our children,

our young people,

our young adults,

those who are here,

O Lord,

and are going through school

at this time

and facing challenges

in school

as regarding

their belief

in the Bible,

their belief in Christ

as the Savior.

Sanctify your word

to them,

we pray.

Sanctify their young lives.

Give them to be rooted

and grounded in you

as their Savior.

Hear the prayers

of those who pray

for them

in their own families

and in their relatives.

Grant the teaching

that they receive

at home or in church

will continue

to be blessed by them.

Bless our leaders,

we pray,

at this time

in the congregation,

those who give

so willingly

of their time

to teach

our young children

to enable them also

to engage

in different activities.

Lord,

we commit them to you

and ask that

you would continue

to bless these activities

and these groups

and gatherings

from time to time.

Lord,

we pray that

there may be

a lasting fruit

of harvest

of righteousness

in these young lives.

We know they face

so many challenges,

Lord,

in these days.

We know that

the world out there

holds out so much

sinful attraction

for them

and that seeks

to draw them away

from the things

of Christ.

We pray that

you would sanctify them,

that you would

protect them

and shield them

by your own power

and that you would

prove to be

for them,

Lord,

a God

who is so

worthy of our trust

and we pray

that you would

give them

in their young days

to trust in you.

We ask that you

bless now

as we gather together

all other gatherings

of your people

in this town

and throughout

our nation.

Bless us,

we pray,

throughout

our own presbytery

and our own denomination.

Remember us,

Lord,

we pray as a church.

We give thanks

for all the upholding

and the strengthening

and the encouragements

that you have given us

over these past years

when we have faced

this COVID pandemic

and had so many challenges,

Lord,

in your providence.

We give thanks

for your guidance of us,

for the wisdom

that you imparted,

for the way

in which you upheld us

and strengthened us

and enabled us,

Lord,

to be encouraged

by knowing of others

who had turned

to the gospel

and turned to yourself

and gave evidence

that they had come

to trust in the living God.

Oh,

remember us,

Lord,

we pray in these days

to come

and grant that you

would remove

this virus,

this pandemic

so that we may see

your own intervention,

that we may find,

Lord,

that we are released

from the restrictions

we presently

are observing

and especially

we pray this,

Lord,

for our church gatherings

that we give thanks

for being able

to gather in this way

and for the technology

that enables others

to join us,

Lord,

online.

We do pray

that we may

in days to come

be pleased

to be able

to have

the final restrictions

removed

so that we may sing

with gusto once again

so that we may come

to observe

and partake

of the Lord's Supper.

And in all of these things,

Lord,

hear us as we cry out

to you

for we acknowledge

that you alone

are God,

that you preside

over all the events

of life

and that it is

your prerogative

to bring

or to remove

whatever you have

seen fit to impose

in your own providence

and government

at this time.

And so remember,

again,

our leaders in the nation

as we continue

to pray for them,

we do pray again

that you would

bless them

by giving them

to acknowledge you,

to be turned

into your ways

and to show forth

in their lives

evidence

that they indeed

are turned

into wisdom

and in the ways

of your peace.

Receive us now,

we pray and hear

our prayer

and forgive our sin

for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

We're going to read

from God's Word

now in the book of Acts.

The book of Acts

in chapter 8,

we're reading

from verse 26

and we'll read

to the end

of the chapters.

That's the book of Acts

Acts 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

and at verse 26.

Now an angel

of the Lord

said to Philip,

Rise and go

towards the south,

to the road

that goes down

from Jerusalem

to Gaza.

This is a desert place

and he arose

and went.

And there was

an Ethiopian,

a eunuch,

a court official

of Candace,

queen of the Ethiopians,

who was in charge

of all her treasure.

He had come

to Jerusalem

to worship

and was returning

seated in his chariot

and he was reading

the prophet Isaiah.

And the spirit

said to Philip,

Go over

and join this chariot.

So Philip ran

to meet him

and heard him

reading Isaiah

the prophet

and asked,

Do you understand

what you are reading?

And he said,

How can I

unless someone

guides me?

And he invited

Philip to come up

and sit with him.

Now the passage

of the scripture

that he was reading

was this,

Like a sheep

he was led

to the slaughter

and like a lamb

before its shearer

is dumb,

so he opens

not his mouth.

In his humiliation

justice was denied him.

Who can describe

his generation?

For his life

is taken away

from the earth.

And the eunuch

said to Philip,

About whom,

I ask you,

does the prophet

say this?

About himself

or about someone else?

Then Philip

opened his mouth

and beginning

with the scripture

he told them

the good news

about Jesus.

And as they were

going along the road

they came to some water

and the eunuch said,

See, here is water.

What prevents me

from being baptized?

They commanded

the chariot to stop

and they both

went down

into the water,

Philip and the eunuch

and he baptized him.

And when they came

up out of the water

the Spirit of the Lord

carried Philip away

and the eunuch

saw him no more

and went on his way

rejoicing.

But Philip found himself

at Azotus

and as he passed through

he preached the gospel

to all the towns

until he came

to Caesarea.

Once again we pray

that God

will bless to us

this reading of his word

to his own praise.

Let's again sing his praise

this time in Psalm 36.

Again it's in Psalm 36

at verse 5.

That's on page 44.

Verses 5 to 10.

Your steadfast love

is great, O Lord.

It reaches heaven high.

Your faithfulness

is wonderful

extending to the sky.

Your righteousness

is very great

like mountains

high and steep.

Your justice

is like ocean depths

both man and beast

you keep.

How precious

is your steadfast love

what confidence

it brings

both high and low

find shelter

in the shadow

of your wings.

They feast within

your house

and drink from streams

of your delight

for with you

is the source of life

in your light

we see light.

To those who know you

as their God

your steadfast love

impart

maintain your righteousness

to those

of pure

and upright heart.

these verses 5 to 10.

Your steadfast love

is great, O Lord.

Your steadfast love

is great, O Lord.

It reaches heaven high.

Your faithfulness

is wonderful

extending to the sky.

Your righteousness

is any big

like mountains

like mountains

high and steep.

Your justice

is like ocean depths

of love and beast

you keep.

how precious

is your steadfast love

what confidence

it brings

for thy and love

find shelter in

the shadow of your wings.

the feast

the feast

within

your house

and drink

from streams

of your

delight

or with you

is the source

of life

of life

in your light

we see

light

in your light

we see

light

to those

who know you

you

do not serve

your steadfast love

in heart

you stand fast

love

and heart

maintain your righteousness

to those

of good

and a bright heart

of good

and a bright heart

if you turn with me please now to the passage we read in Acts chapter 8

Acts 8 · chapter mention

and we can consider this together this evening from verse 26 through to the end of the chapter

chapter 8 of the book of Acts

let me just read verse 35 which we are going to take as the focal point of our study this evening

then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with the scripture he told him the good news about Jesus

he told him the good news the gospel about Jesus

very interesting the way that the book of Acts brings together in these chapters

an account of the conversion of three specific people three specific individuals

and these three representatives these three individuals are representatives of the way in which humanity was divided into three great groupings all the way from the Old Testament onwards from the time when the

from the time of the sons of Noah onwards you remember the sons of Noah Ham and Shem and Japheth

and how you find described in Genesis chapter 10 what's usually referred to as the table of the nations

Genesis 10 · chapter mention

you find there a description of their descendants

those that were descended from these three sons of Noah Ham and Shem and Japheth

and as you find here a description of the Ethiopian eunuch followed by the conversion of Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the apostle

and then in chapter 10 the conversion of Cornelius a centurion

so you find these three groupings of humanity represented in these three individuals

you recall after chapter 10 of Genesis

in chapter 11 you have the story the account of the Tower of Babel

the Tower of Babel is the way in which it describes the way in which

fallen humanity trying to look after itself themselves

without God

came to have a plan that he tried to put into action

and began to put into action

which was to build a great tower

right up to the heavens

and to preserve for themselves a name

to keep themselves without any reference to God

and God looked down and came down as you know

and interrupted their plans

and humanity came to be scattered

from there over the face of the earth

and he confounded their languages

he actually brought about the difference of languages

by which you find from then onwards in different parts of the world

that his language developed so people could not understand one another

unless they learned each other's languages of course

in the New Testament

that process is reversed in Christ

because you find in the second chapter of the book of Acts

that wonderful account of all of these people

that come from different parts of the world

to actually stand there in the presence of God

and the day of Pentecost

and the spirit of the Lord came

and you remember the wonderful description there

of people hearing the apostles in their own language

as if they were indeed at home

and then you find here these three representatives

as you find them there described

the descendants of Ham and Shem and Japheth

the Ethiopian eunuch representing Africa

where Ham, the descendants of Ham, settled

and then you find Shem who is of the Jewish

Jewish descent from Shem

covenant people, the people that became Israel

and then you find Japheth who is you might say

the other parts of Europe especially

in contrast with those two others

well in this very context in these chapters in Acts

you find these three groupings are actually brought together

as it were in these three individuals that represent them

and what you find in that is this wonderful emphasis

that's elsewhere of course in the New Testament

especially that divided humanity is reunited in Christ's people

because Christ's people draw people from all these parts of the world

into the one family of God

when we come to have our trust in Christ

and come to be Christ's people

when we are adopted into the family of God

we join people from all the different parts

especially from these three sections of humanity

that are brought together so that the division is no longer there

they are spiritually one in Christ Jesus

and that itself is a great emphasis that you can follow out

in the teaching of the New Testament

in some of the epistles especially

so here is what you find in these chapters

but we are focusing in on the Ethiopian eunuch

this descendant of Ham as he is described for us in these passages

now first of all I want to just deal with the situation

the situation that led to the meeting between this eunuch

he is not named

and this man Philip

who is an evangelist

and he went about here preaching the gospel

circumstances

the situation that led to them coming together

and meeting together

to the Ethiopian's advantage

the second thing we can see in the passage

is the explanation which led to the Ethiopian's conversion

the way that Philip explained to him

the meaning of this scripture that he was reading in Isaiah 53

and then beginning at that scripture

he told them the good news about Jesus

so the two things briefly tonight

we are looking at the situation

which brought them together

and the explanation

that brought conversion to the Ethiopian

here is the situation first of all

as you find it described in the chapter here

and throughout the book of Acts

it is an interesting study in itself

to actually follow out the way that the book of Acts sets out

God's plan as something that has always been set

whether it is for individuals

or for nations

or for different groups of people

but you will find that God's plan

as it is set

and brings people together

and means people also sometimes parting from each other

whatever the plan is

whether it is for individuals

for families

for nations

for empires

God has already planned

God has purposed

that the purpose of God is there

and everything that happens

falls within that purpose of God

and that is a very important thing for us to remember

that everything comes about

by the will of God

by the purpose of God

that has set things in place from all eternity

that does not mean we do not have to exercise our own minds

that we do not have liberty to actually consider

consider the gospel call

and respond to the call of Jesus in the gospel

it is not a predetermined state

where you do not find people being able to exercise their own minds

the gospel addresses our minds

addresses our thought processes

and addresses our hearts

addresses our conscience

that is by the way

that is by the way

but he is bringing together

this man

who is seeking the meaning of this scripture

and also

this Philip

this evangelist

who is specifically set by God

set apart

to be a gospel preacher

to be one who explains the gospel

and the meaning of Christ especially

remember in the shorter catechism

as you learnt

most of you will have learnt

the shorter catechism at some point

and question 11

what are God's works of providence

God's works of providence

are his most holy

wise and powerful

preserving and governing

all his creatures

and all their actions

and although there is a liberty

and contingency within God's plan

nevertheless God's plan is God's plan

God's providence

is his most holy

wise and powerful

preserving and governing

all his creatures

and all their actions

and there is many a day

you are thankful for that

as a Christian

that is not left

you are not left to your own devices

that you are not left to make up

your own plan

as to what your life is

that you are not left to look out

in the world and think

well who is actually in control

of this world

who is in charge of these proceedings

this God is

and that is all the way through

the book of Acts

as it is in scripture as well

of course in Jerusalem at this time

this man was returning from Jerusalem

we were told that he was

an important official

in the court of Kandasi

who was queen of the Ethiopians

he was in charge in fact

of her treasury

he had come up to Jerusalem to worship

and he was returning to Ethiopia

to his own place

he was returning to his own country

sitting in a chariot

it wouldn't have been

a grand stately chariot

but nevertheless

he was being

he was being driven along

in a chariot

and that was him making his way

from Jerusalem back home

and Jerusalem at the time of course

was in a state of high excitement

he had been to Jerusalem

he had obviously heard of things

he had perhaps witnessed things

in Jerusalem as well

during these very heady days

leading up to the crucifixion

the trial

the crucifixion of Christ

the death of Christ

the resurrection of Christ

following three days afterwards

an intense time in Jerusalem

an intense time for the people

just to consider what was going on

what was the reason for all of these things

and people of course like the apostles

preaching the gospel

and themselves struggling to understand

until the spirit came at Pentecost

what all of these things meant

at least meant in detail

so remarkable events

of Jesus' death

and his resurrection

and all these things

surrounding that

would have been very much

in the mind of this man

and I think he would probably

have been very much influenced

by the things that he saw

and heard in Jerusalem

at that time

and was on his way home

but reading the scroll of Isaiah

he was reading this book

that we know as the book of Isaiah

and as he was reading

he was making his way home

he had obviously been

in some way or other

struck by this passage

and as he was looking at this passage

he was wondering

what does this passage mean?

Who is this prophet Isaiah

speaking about?

What does it mean that he's saying

he has believed our report?

What does it mean that

here's someone who was bruised

for our iniquities?

Who was put to death for our sins?

Who is he speaking of?

He was wrestling with this passage

in his mind

as he made his way back home

he was searching

for the meaning of this passage of Isaiah

there's the Ethiopian

that's his set of circumstances

that's how things have worked for him

and into the picture comes Philip

this man who's been set apart by God

now previously you read about him

we didn't read from the beginning of the chapter

but you go back to verse 4

you can see those who were scattered abroad

that was in the persecution that broke out there

scattered throughout Judea and Samaria

except the apostles

Saul of course at that time

Saul who became Paul the apostle

was still ravaging the church

as you see there

so the scattering took place

and Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed to them the Christ

and the crowds with one accord

paid attention to what was being said by Philip

when they heard him and saw the signs that he did

many unclean spirits came out of many

who were possessed crying with a loud voice

and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed

so there was much joy in that city

there you see Philip already working as an evangelist

as someone who's preaching the gospel

explaining the gospel

and it's that Philip that now comes

in verse 26

to be instructed by God through an angel

to go up from where he is

to go towards the south

to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza

he's now given specific instructions

and what do you next read?

you read that he arose and went

and he ran down that road

down that road

and he was actually responding to the instruction of God

and as the instruction went ahead

to tell him to go over and join this chariot

in verse 30

Philip ran to him

and then he heard him

he would have been speaking out loud

reading the scroll of Isaiah

reading this passage

he heard him

as he was reading this out loud

but you see the emphasis there

and just

don't just pass over it too quickly

you see it saying

the spirit said

go over and join this chariot

so Philip ran to him

yes I'm sure there was an amount of catching up to do

but Philip ran to him

he didn't take his time

he didn't walk

he didn't amble over

he didn't say

I'll just take it easy

and I'll catch up with him sometime

he ran to him

and that itself is making a point for us

I think tonight

that for all of us

is very important

especially for all of us

who seek to make Jesus known

to explain the meaning of the gospel

to people around us

or even in our own families

because here is this man Peter

he is running for this work

this is an important work

this is so important that he runs

to the accomplishment of it

as we come to the end of this

very challenging year as it's in sight

and as we hope for

much more liberty

to be engaged in the gospel

for God

in this year to come

as we pray for

and as we hope

and as we trust

will be the case

let's make it a year of running

let's make it a year of being eager

to actually bring the gospel

to that world out there

let's make it a year of running

with a message

such as Philip has here

the message of the gospel

the message of the gospel

because that world

in its epidemic

in this pandemic

and its post pandemic state

as at all times

is going to be very needy

of that message

not only very needy

but perhaps

actually more ready

than it's been before

because people undoubtedly

will have been

and are asking questions

maybe not to the extent

that you'd like

maybe not to the extent

that those in high government

are asking these serious questions

but people undoubtedly

are asking the question

well where is there a meaning

to this pandemic

what is there to this pandemic

more than just an actual

physical phenomenon

what is there more to it

than an illness

what is there to it

more than just something

that's come upon us

as out of nowhere

and people are asking

certain questions

to do with spiritual matters

is there any connection

with God

is God speaking to us

through this

is this something

that I can use

in order to try and find out

more about God

is this something

that will help me

towards closing in with God

all of these

and other questions

are being asked

and as they're being asked

so you and I

as those who know the gospel

are being tasked

by the same providence

that brought these two people together

as it will bring us together

God willing

over the next few months

over the next year

so God is tasking us

as he tasked Philip

go near to that person

go near to these people

tell them why Jesus

is important to you

tell them what the gospel

is about

tell them that there is an answer

to our human dilemma

and our human problem

and our human failures

and our human weakness

and tell them

that the answer is not

in our own human strength

in human ingenuity

in technology

in any of these things

important or they may be

the answer is in Jesus

the answer is in Christ

and that's the providence

that led to them meeting

and we need to catch up

as this man Philip did

to catch up with this chariot

we need to catch up

with those who are lost

because they are perishing

they don't know much

of the gospel

many of them

and most of them

that do know something

of the gospel

have chosen just to ignore it

chosen that it is not for them

and we can't just leave things

as if to say

well that is their choice

let's just move on

that is not what God has placed

in our hearts

he has placed in our hearts

he has placed in our hearts

the burden of making Jesus known

the burden of explaining

as this Philip did to this eunuch

telling the good news about Jesus

amongst all the bad news

amongst everything that

fills people's hearts

with sadness

with sorrow

with pain

with anxiety

with issues of health

whether mental or physical

all of the things that cause distress

distress to people

God has an answer to that

it may not take everything away

from the lives that people experience

and have

but it will certainly bring

solid basis

and meaning

and above all righteousness

into their lives

remember

providence in this year

in my life

and in your life

is going to bring people together

in different circumstances

ask in those circumstances

of yourself

what is this for me

in terms of making Jesus known

how do I use this

to the gospel's advantage

if God has brought about

this providence

that's brought me to meet

with such and such a person

there must be something in here

that has to do with Jesus

and making Jesus known

and telling the good news

about Jesus

about Jesus

and is that not why

we're here this evening

because God

in his providence

has made a way for you

to come to be under the gospel

tonight

and God in his providence

has brought a way

for me to stand in this pulpit

and declare to you

the good news about Jesus

there's the same thing

that happened here

in the book of Acts

between this Ethiopian

and Philip

as providence brought them together

as the circumstances

the situation brought them together

these two men

out of all that was happening

in the world

but you can see

every single thing

that happened

in the lead up to this

was for this specific purpose

that Philip would actually tell this man

the good news about Jesus

all the things that had gone before

and all the things that came after

all fitted towards this specific moment

this important moment

this crucial moment

of Philip telling this man

the good news about Jesus

so that's the situation

that led to their meeting

God in charge

God arranging it

and these two people

who had never met each other before

and here they are

in a critical meeting

a crucial moment

for both of them

especially for the Ethiopian

but for Philip too

because he is serving the Lord

and as he is

brought by God

to meet with this man

so they come to meet

in this extraordinary meeting

which has always been planned

by God

and which is going to lead

to this Ethiopian conversion

and not only that

but who knows

because you read afterwards

he went away to his own land

he went on his way rejoicing

who knows what the outcome of this was

in Ethiopia

in the place in Ethiopia

wherever he belonged to

who knows how many people came

to have the good news

about Jesus

spoken to them

from this Ethiopian

who had come himself

to have it spoken to him

in this extraordinary meeting

between himself

and Philip

well it's extraordinary in many ways

in many other ways

it's just ordinary

it's just the events of

another day

in Philip's life

and so it will be

God willing for you and for me

as each day passes

and gives way to another day

there's another time

in God's providence

when something comes our way

and something to do with Jesus

is brought before us

to disseminate

to speak out

others about

in the circumstances

of God's wise providence

but secondly

let's look at the explanation

which led to his conversion

because as Philip responded

and ran to this chariot

he heard this man reading

Isaiah the prophet

and he asked

the passage he was reading

was chapter 53

as we know it

in the prophecy of Isaiah

and

well isn't that a remarkable providence

itself

because

here is Philip

a man used by God

to teach people about Jesus

to present the good news

and here is someone

who has already given him an opening

because he's reading

in the Old Testament

probably the passage

that's most clearly to do

and most detailed

with regard to the death

and the circumstances

of the death of Christ

no preacher could ask

for a better

or more advantageous

situation than that

it's as if you had all

come tonight

and were just crowding

around this pulpit

saying tell me the meaning

of this passage

please explain to me

this passage

well I hope you've come

of course

seeking to have scripture

explained to you

and seeking that the Lord

will actually direct

your heart to the

to the knowledge of Christ

through this very scripture

through this very scripture itself

as he led this Ethiopian

through Philip

to come to understand it

but what an amazing

and wonderful opportunity

for Philip

here's just a text

as it were

dropped into his lap

as he heard this man

reading the prophecy of Isaiah

who could ask for more

what greater advantage

could he have than that

a preacher of the gospel

a man seeking the meaning

of scripture

and reading this passage

that's all to do

with a prophecy

of the coming Messiah

and the sufferings

and the death of Jesus

and so

Philip

proceeds to guide him

to Jesus

and there are three

brief points

I want to mention

in Philip's guiding

of this man to Jesus

because they're important

too in regard to

the opportunities

we have ourselves

to come to know

Jesus for ourselves

or else to try and guide

by God's help

others to Jesus as well

the first thing you notice

is that Philip began

by addressing his understanding

Philip ran to him

and heard him reading

and he said

do you understand

what you are reading

how you see

the first point

that Philip wanted to make

the thing that he wanted

this Ethiopian's mind

to focus upon

was his understanding

of the passage

do you understand

he was hearing him

reading it

do you understand

what you are reading

what an important emphasis

what a key point

that is

because it's crucial

that we understand

the scriptures

I don't mean by that

that you understand

everything that's in

the Bible

completely

and totally

but understand it

in the sense

in which Philip

meant it

understand it

for your saving benefit

understand it

savingly

understand it

so that

it brings to you

the knowledge of Christ

and brings you

into that living union

with Christ

that's the question

that God

is addressing to you

through the gospel

tonight

and he's addressing me

as well

just because

I happen to preach

the gospel

doesn't mean that

I don't need

this passage

or this question

addressed to myself

let's just all

think of ourselves

in the place

of this eunuch

and God addressing us

through the speaker

of the gospel

and God saying to us

do you understand

what you are reading

have you found Christ

in the gospel

you understand it

in terms of its outward meaning

you understand

the account it gives

of various events

you understand

that these actually

took place

as the gospel record

actually brings before you

but then the understanding

that Philip is talking of

is an understanding

of your mind

an understanding

of your will

an understanding

of your heart

do you understand

what you are reading

is your heart in it

is Jesus real to you

in it

you could put it that way

is Jesus real to you

is God real to you

in your reading of scripture

in your reading of

this book

this word

that God

has so freely given to you

what an important question

that is

because there are many people

maybe some even here tonight

who are very familiar

with the Bible

many familiar with

the terms of the gospel

with the teaching of the gospel

but still don't know Christ personally

still aren't united to Christ

savingly

still haven't put their trust

in him

still haven't received him

as he is offered

in the gospel

still haven't

willingly

surrendered their heart

to him

to be ruled by him

if that is you tonight

then here is God

asking you

do you understand

what you are reading

and here is God

saying to you

listen to what this passage

is saying

about this man

and about how

this Philip

Philip dealt with him

and how he brought him

to the understanding

that he needed to have

and it is crucial

we understand these things

if you cast your mind back

to the other book

that Luke wrote

he wrote the book of Acts

and he also wrote

the gospel of Luke

as we know it

you remember in the last chapter

of Luke's gospel

Luke 24

at verse 27

that Jesus drew near

to these two disciples

disciples who were

about seven miles

from Jerusalem

walking to

the village called Emmaus

and verse 28

they drew near

to the village

to which they were going

Jesus acted as if

he were going further

but they urged him

strongly saying

stay with us

for it is towards evening

and the day is now

far spent

so he went in

to stay with them

while he was at the table

with them

he took bread

and blessed it

and broke them

and their eyes were opened

and they recognized him

and he said

did not our hearts

burn within us

while he talked to us

on the road

and opened to us

the scriptures

Jesus had opened

to opened the scriptures

to them

because he had spoken to them

on the way

as he had drawn them

into the conversation

as to what had happened

in Jerusalem

in these days

something like we've said

in our introduction

to our study

this evening

well he's

they said

this is what happened

some of those

who went to the tomb

they found it

just as the women

had said

but they didn't see

and then he

began to speak to them

of the scriptures

and the prophets

beginning with Moses

and all the prophets

he interpreted to them

in all the scriptures

the things

concerning himself

what a commentary

what a sermon

the son of God himself

the savior

explaining to these men

leading these men

through the scriptures

beginning with Moses

and then through the prophets

he interpreted to them

in all the scriptures

the things concerning himself

he opened their mind

he set before them

the truth of the things

that they had just said

they had heard

and were witnesses of

but now he's opening their minds

to understand the scriptures

do you understand

said Philip

the things

that you're reading

and have we prayed today

before we came to church

we prayed to God

to give us an understanding

to give us more than a mental understanding

to give us that spiritual recognition

and understanding

of Jesus himself

to find him

in the scriptures

that's the first point

he began

with the understanding

and then he moved on

to respond to the interest

that this man had

because the man said

verse 31

how can I understand

unless someone guides me

and he invited Philip

to come up and sit with him

and we're told the passage

that he was reading in Isaiah

and then verse 34

the eunuch said to Philip

about whom I ask you

does the prophet say this

about himself

or about someone else

he began with focusing

on the understanding

and then as this man responded

and as he said

something more

about his search for the truth

and the meaning of this passage

Philip responded

with the truth about Jesus

he explained to him

he told him in the scripture

the good news about Jesus

well of course

that's what we want to see

isn't it

in this coming year

we want to see people

taking up an interest in Jesus

this is not conversion for this man

he's not yet changed

but he has that interest

and Philip responds

to that question

to that interest

to that desire of this man

and this is what he then does

he explains to him

he tells him

the good news about Jesus

and obviously that

was blessed

to the man

now you notice what he's saying

beginning

with this scripture

that's what

the key really was

as far as Philip was concerned

God had actually

placed this in his lap

and he took the scripture

and he worked out

from there

to explain the things of Christ

to present the good news

of Christ

and that's such an important point

that world out there

is filled with bad news

that world out there

is filled with bad thoughts

about this gospel

about this Jesus

about your worship

about the church of God

about the emphases

that you find in the Bible

that contradicts

and is very antagonistic

to the ways of the world

especially

in those

in those ways of the world

that are in direct contrast

to the ways of God

and that's what Philip did

he began with the scripture

and that's where we begin

you don't begin

with any kind of philosophy

you don't begin

with something

that you think yourself

is maybe adequate

for the moment

he began with this scripture

you always come to work

from scripture

into your situation

not from the situation

into the scriptures

he began with the scripture

and of course it means

a certain knowledge

of scripture is necessary

but that's what he did

he began with this scripture

and it really reminds us

doesn't it

that here is in Isaiah 53

a scripture about Jesus

it doesn't matter

where you begin

in the Bible

but somewhere or other

there's a road

that leads to Jesus

Jesus is really

the centerpiece

Jesus is really

the very center

of God's truth

he is the way

the truth

and the life

and even if you begin

with a historical passage

in the Old Testament

there may be no specific

reference to Jesus

in the passage

but somewhere

as you study it

and as you relate it

to other passages

God will actually

lead you to Jesus

he'll lead you

to the Savior himself

because that's what

it's all about

that's what the gospel

is about

that's where the gospel

is in Christ himself

so he began

with that scripture

and he told him

the good news

about Jesus

the other point

to make there

before we finish

is this

the gospel

is a positive

emphasis

it is

the good news

about Jesus

you might say

there's some bad news

in the Bible as well

of course there is

it's bad news

in the way that it tells me

I'm a lost sinner

it's bad news

to be able to

to reckon with the fact

that I'm not able

to save myself

by my own efforts

that my own righteousness

that my own

as Paul found out

for himself

my own attempts

at pleasing God

will never go anywhere

near far enough

I don't need

any way to have that

because Christ

has already done that

so you see

the bad news

that tells you

you can call it

bad news

it's in a sense

it's all good news

because it's telling us

truth

but what feels like

bad news

and appears to be

bad news

in emphasizing

our sinfulness

and our need

is something

that you bring

under the light

of the good news

because however

you feel about yourself

and it's not all

about feelings anyway

I'm sure

but whatever

conclusions we come

to about ourselves

the good news

always has something

that actually

counteracts that

and the gospel

is good news

friends

as we reach

towards the end

of this year

and anticipate

God willing

a year to come

with more gospel

freedoms

as we said

we pray for

remember