ACTS: Conversations about History

 Sue C.'s grandmother in front of the Egyptian pyramids.Read more about her spiritual influence in Faith on the Mountain.

Luke not only tells the story of Philip in the vicinity of Samaria but then tells us of the next adventure as Philip speaks to a high ranking official from Ethiopia who had come to Israel to visit Jerusalem and worship God at the temple. 
 
The actual history of Christianity in Ethiopia is not documented in detail before about 330 BC when the king at the time declared Christianity to be the official religion of the land. Evidence shows that Jews had moved to the area many years before this, possibly in the time of Solomon, and there is even some evidence that Christianity came to Ethiopia in the time following the movement away from the church in Jerusalem. The official in our story in Acts, clearly accepted Jesus as his Lord and probably took the message back to his homeland following his encounter with Philip. 
 

Acts 8:26 Philip received a visit from an angel of the LORD who said, "Go south to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 He obeyed. He arrived just at the right time to meet up with an Ethiopian who served Candace, their queen. His job was to care for all of her treasure, and he had come to Jerusalem to worship God. 28 Philip saw the man sitting in his chariot reading the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit told Philip to approach the chariot. 30 He obeyed again and ran up to the chariot and ask the man, "Does what you are reading make sense to you?" 31 "No, I think I need someone to help me." He quickly invited Philip up into the chariot with him. 32 This is the passage the Ethiopian was reading, "He suffered much at the hands of the people, they did not believe Him, they falsely accused Him, and yet He let his actions speak for Him, He did not verbally defend Himself. 33 "He went through all of this like a lamb coming before the shearers. He was forced to trial where He was judged and condemned and removed from the society. Even those of His generation thought that He was completely removed from existence." (Isaiah 53:7,8 EBV) 34 The man asked Philip, "Please help me, who is Isaiah speaking about? Himself or someone else?" 35 This became the starting point for Philip, and he went on to speak to this man all he knew about Jesus.

 
Sharing with others about Jesus often works best if we have three things that we see in the story of Philip and the Ethiopian; the presence of the Holy Spirit, a starting point for the conversation, and whatever knowledge we have. This might sound a bit simplistic, but I think other than these three elements there is nothing standing in our way of talking to others about our LORD Jesus. 
 
Since a person probably does not want to talk about Jesus if they are not a believer, then anyone wanting to bring up this subject must have the Holy Spirit to help them. I am a firm believer that when a person gives their life to Jesus, they receive the Holy Spirit. If any of us believes in Jesus but does not think we have the Holy Spirit in us, all we need to do is ask the Father in heaven. He will freely give the Spirit to us. Luke makes this clear in his gospel, “We, who are evil, know how to give good things to our children. God, the Father, even more, will give the Holy Spirit to any of us who ask from Him.” (Luke 11:13 EBV) At any moment we have the opportunity to talk with someone about Jesus, our first step would be to send a quick prayer and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit. He will bring us the opportunities and the words and even the boldness to share what needs to be shared. 
 
Sharing the gospel always needs a starting point. We can create this by our questions and our ability to listen to the other person, but it might be best for us to allow the Holy Spirit to open a door for us to walk through. The starting point for Philip was a question he asked the Ethiopian, "Does what you are reading make sense to you?" The man said, “no?” and invited Philip into the chariot to talk about the words. He was reading the book of Isaiah and ask Philip for help in understanding who the prophet was talking about. Philip had no trouble giving the man an answer. 
 
Our starting point with others might be as simple as a conversation about church or the Bible or their need for help in their live. Whatever it is, be sure of one thing, the Holy Spirit will find a place of common ground from which we can begin the conversation about Jesus. If nothing comes up, then today may not be the time to talk about Him. 
 
The content of what we have to say does not have to be some theological treatise of the gospel. Philip spoke to the Ethiopian about the things he knew. What Philip personally knew about Jesus, what he had heard from others, and the things he had experienced in his life, that is the essence of the good news. “Here is what I know about Jesus and the difference He has made in my life.” Nothing more. We do not need to be experts in the study of religious faith. We only have to share our experience with Jesus, as incomplete and unexciting as it might seem to us. Remember, it has been enough for us to change our entire life and choose to follow His ways. We might still have doubts, we might still question our effectiveness as a follower of Jesus, but in the hands of the Holy Spirit our simple story can speak volumes to another person and draw them closer to faith in our LORD Jesus. 
 

Acts 8:36 They passed by some water and the man said, "Look! Water! I would like to be baptized, can you do that for me?" 37 Philip said, "You may if you believe." And the man said, "I do believe, Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah." 38 He ordered the driver to stop the chariot so he and Philip could go down into the water where Philip baptized the man. 39 While they were coming out of the water the Spirit took Philip away and the man never saw him again. But he was overjoyed. 40 Philip found himself in Azotus; so, he kept preaching the good news to everyone he met until he returned to Caesarea.

 

 

Philip kept talking with the man until the man noticed there was water near the road, and he asked, “can I be baptized right now.” It does not always happen that “easily” but often it is the person we are talking with who asks, “what happens next?” What a joy in life when a person we have been talking with decides they want to be a follower of Jesus. 

 
Our job is not to convert people but to tell the story of what we know and believe. To re-tell the story in a life-like manner as if the people were watching the movie of this happening. He did not have to proclaim the sinfulness of the Ethiopian and how he needed salvation, just tell the story of how Jesus has made a difference in my life. Philip did not have to give a rational argument for Christianity, he just shared the good news of Jesus that he knew about.
 
The Holy Spirit is the One in the business of changing people’s lives, we are just the vehicles, the instrument, the life story, that helps others towards belief in others. We all know the basics of the story; Jesus lived, Jesus died, Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus did this to bring forgiveness to everyone and to offer to all people the joy of eternal life. The choice is available to all, follow Jesus or not. Let me tell you how He has changed my life. 
 
I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit often, “give me the opportunities and the boldness to share my faith with others.” Lead me to the right people, open in my life the right conversations, and speak through me, that I may sow the seed of faith in Jesus so that others might know Him as I do.”
 
May you be blessed in the name of Jesus, with trust in the Spirit, boldness to speak, and the joy of seeing others come to faith in Him.

Pastor Edd