2. Seize the Day.......with your God given Opportunities Acts 8:25-40

3. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

4. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 27 And he rose 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 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

5. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

6. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 32 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 silent, so he opens not his mouth.

7. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

8. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

9. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 36 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?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

10. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 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

11. Acts 8:25-40 (ESV) 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

12. 5 Actions we can take to make the most of our God given opportunities

13. 1) We can surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit 25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

14. 1) We can surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

15. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 1) We can surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit

16. How to Surrender... A) Stop fighting B) Yield yourself

17. 2) We can be sensitive to God's ongoing work around us 27 And he rose 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

18. 2) We can be sensitive to God's ongoing work around us 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

19. 2) We can be sensitive to God's ongoing work around us Helpful hints in aiding others A) Ask questions B) Love unconditionally

20. 3) We can engage others outside of our comfort zone 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

21. 3) We can engage others outside of our comfort zone 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

22. 3) We can engage others outside of our comfort zone 32 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 silent, so he opens not his mouth.

23. 3) We can engage others outside of our comfort zone 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

24. 3) We can engage others outside of our comfort zone 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”

25. 3) We can engage others outside of our comfort zone Truths about comfort zones A) They are usually “Self-centered zones” B) They are usually “Difficult to do God's will zones”

26. 4) We can set Jesus as the destination of our meeting 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

27. 4) We can set Jesus as the destination of our meeting Realities about others meeting Jesus A) Jesus is the One that people are Really looking for B) Jesus is the only destination that Eternally matters

28. 5) We can allow God to handle the outcome of each opportunity Acts 8:36-40

29. 36 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?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

30. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 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 Acts 8:36-40

31. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

32. 5) We can allow God to handle the outcome of each opportunity Things only God can do A) Save someones' soul B) Make someone a new creation in Christ

33. 5) We can allow God to handle the outcome of each opportunity Things we can do A) Be Available to be used by God B) Be Obedient to God C) Show Christ's Love to others D) Deliver the Gospel message