“THE CALL!” Acts 8:26-40 （ Matthew 28:18-20 ； Acts 1:8 ）

Acts 8: Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

Acts 8: And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 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 its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

Acts 8: Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

The Ethiopian Eunuch and Philip The Evangelist Philip – The young and faithful evangelist of God who goes about preaching the Gospel. He was one of the seven chosen to care for the poor, of the Christian community in Jerusalem – Acts 6. In last week sermon, Philip was in Samaria preaching, where many accepted Christ Jesus. Acts 8. Today, he continues his evangelism with this outstanding character, the Ethiopian Eunuch. Acts 8.

The Ethiopian Eunuch and Philip The Evangelist Eunuch- Ethiopian Eunuch represents a world that ought to be reached! A world full of danger; A world hungry for relationship with God; A world alienated from the commonwealth of God’s children; and A world obsessed with power, yet God has a plan to reach out to them! This was made possible when Philip heard the CALL and obeyed!

THE CHALLNGES FACED BY PHILIP! Location:- Gaza! “…Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.” – Acts 8:26. Nationality:- An Ethiopian! “So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,” - Acts 8:27. Eunuch:- A man who has been castrated – cannot marry! “… a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch …” - Acts 8:27. Treasurer:- Powerful and Rich! “…, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,” - Acts 8:27.

OUR CHALLNGES! Holy Spirit Led Life! - “ 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” The Bible says in John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Self-Denial Life! – “ 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” In Galatians 2:20, Apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Preach The Word! – “ 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” In 2 Timothy 4:2, Apostle Paul admonished Timothy “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

IN CONCLUSION! We are to repent of our ways before we are cut off as stated in: Matthew 3:8-11 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”