Exposition of Acts: Faith of Two Men
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. FAITH TAKES THE SAVING MESSAGE
A. FAITH OBEYS WITHOUT QUESTION
>>1. SUBMIT TO GOD’S PLAN
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road descending from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is in the desert.
>>2. SOUL WINNING
Acts 8:27a And he rose and went.
B. FAITH OVERCOMES OBSTACLES
>>1. SERVANT OF THE QUEEN
Acts 8:27b And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure.
>>2. STUDENT OF THE WORD
Acts 8:28 He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. (Deut 23:1; Is 56:3-5a)
C. FAITH OPERATES AT GOD’S LEADING
>>1. SENT BY GOD
Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
>>2. SPRINT
Acts 8:30a Philip ran to him . . .
II. FAITH SHARES THE SAVING MESSAGE
A. FAITH OBSERVES OTHERS’ NEEDS
>>1. SKEPTICISM
Acts 8:30b and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
>>2. SYMPATHY
Acts 8:31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
B. FAITH OFFERS UNDERSTANDING
>>1. SEARCH
Acts 8:32 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. (Isaiah 53:7-8; 4-6)
>>2. STORY
Acts 8:33 In His humiliation justice was denied for Him. Who can describe His generation? For His life is taken away from the earth.”
C. FAITH OBTAINS OCCASIONS FOR EVANGELISM
>>1. SCRUTINY
Acts 8:34 And the eunuch asked Philip, “About whom does the prophet say this – about himself or about someone else?” (Rom 3:10-12; 5:8; 10:13)
>>2. SOLUTION
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus.
III. FAITH OBEYS THE SAVING MESSAGE
A. FAITH OUTLINES STEPS OF ACTION
>>1. SURVEY
Acts 8:36 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?”
>>2. STIPULATION
Acts 8:37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered, “I believe Jesus the Messiah is the Son of God!”
B. FAITH OKAYS GROWTH
>>1. SOLICIT
Acts 8:38a And he commanded the chariot to stop,
>>2. SIGN
Acts 8:38b and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (II Kings 5)
C. FAITH OPENS LIFE TO NEW CHALLENGES
>>1. SEPARATION
Acts 8:39 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 continued his on his way rejoicing. (Jn 6:15-21; I Thes 4:15-18)
>>2. SCENE
Acts 8:40 But Philip found himself at Ashdod [Azotus], and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (Acts 1:8; 21:8)