Sermon 86
Sermon
by John Metcalfe April 20th 2007.
Philip the Ethiopian
As we sit, let’s pray… "Lord, we ask you to open our hearts to your Word, and your Word to our hearts. Amen"
Good morning… Do you greet strangers when you’re walking down the street? Or do you prefer to keep to yourself and not bother anyone? Sue and I used to play a naughty game when out walking, we would greet everyone we met with an exceedingly cheery “Hello” to see how many we could get to respond. Isn’t it amazing how many people stare at their feet and walk past without even acknowledging your presence, probably thinking you’re some kind of nutcase! Mind you, if you were confronted by us in the depths of Winkworth Arboretum, maybe you’d stare at your boots as well. But God, the creator of everyone and everything, wants us to reach out to everyone, not just with a breezy “Hello”, but to share his love and peace.
That's what we heard in our reading from Acts. The Spirit of God prompted Philip to go out and search for someone to greet and to share God's love with. God didn't want Philip to stay indoors, content in his knowledge of Jesus Christ. He wanted Philip to go out and share that knowledge with others. This talk is part of our series on Seekers in the Bible, so its theme should probably be more about the Ethiopian rather than Philip. But I chose this story because the Ethiopian is typical of so many people around us, and also because Philip provides us with a good example of how we should respond to the Holy Spirit.
Let’s start with Philip – what a dramatic change the Holy Spirit brought about in him. He was one of Jesus’ followers who had locked themselves away in that upper room following Jesus' crucifixion. They were afraid to show their faces, let alone say anything about Jesus' ministry as the Son of God. They feared for their lives, so they stayed together in that room waiting for things to blow over. Perhaps we too can we be criticised for staying locked away in our safe Christian world, afraid to go out and spread the Good News. But then the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost and everything changed – so be prepared for big changes next Sunday!
Because here is Philip a few months later,
and he can’t stop talking about Jesus – about who he is and how his ministry
made God's love real to everyone whom Jesus met. In our first reading we heard those familiar
words to the disciples, telling them to get out there and spread the Word
through all the world.
We heard how Philip responded to those words and to the Holy Spirit in
the first verses of Acts 8. After
Stephen’s death, many of Jesus’ followers, including Philip, scattered
throughout Judea and
Philip was changed by his interaction with the living Jesus. His experience of learning from Jesus and witnessing the miracles that Jesus performed for the multitudes that came to him altered his perspective on who God is and how God wants us all to live. And so as soon as Philip hears that he’s needed elsewhere, off he goes without qualm or question. It clearly required a lot of faith – Philip was told where to go but not who to look for, which raises the whole question of guidance – how God guides us – and trust. God has told us what he expects of us: “Go into all the world making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you, and I will be with you.” And that applies as much to us as it did to Philip and the other disciples. So, are you prepared to act on God’s word and pitch off into the unknown or take up his challenge?
Because sure enough, on a lonely road in the southern desert, Philip comes across a chap traveling along reading a book. As soon as Philip hears the words from Isaiah that the Ethiopian man is reading, he knows what the words refer to – to Jesus and the death that Isaiah had foreseen. This must be the person that he’s been sent to see. This is where holy-boldness comes in – something we all need if we’re going to waltz up to a stranger, or even a friend, at God’s prompting. We can see that Philip can't wait to explain the Good News to this guy. He wants to give this man the opportunity to be changed, just as he’s been changed. And even though the Ethiopian was a gentile – that didn’t matter. Philip took the initiative. He asked a question. He asked a very simple question – an innocent, open question – an inviting question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” And the Ethiopian responds with humility: “how can I, unless someone explains it to me?” We all need help to understand God’s Word – that why it’s so important that we attend church and a home group, places where the Bible can be explained and discussed.
The Lord's timing is always perfect. Not only had Philip been guided to this stranger of another race, of a different social class, and colour, but Philip asked his question just as the Ethiopian was pondering the passage in Isaiah 53 where the prophet pictures not only the Messiah, but the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Philip was invited into this man's chariot to explain to him about the Cross of Christ. As we step out in faith and take opportunities to talk to people about Jesus, we find the Holy Spirit has been there before, preparing peoples hearts. Very often they’re longing to understand about Jesus if only someone will explain it to them. But we have to obey the Holy Spirit’s prompting to step out in faith and take the initiative.
And just like Philip, this man was changed. After hearing what Philip had to say, he wanted to acknowledge the change within by being baptised. So he commanded Philip to baptise him. They come across some water – isn’t it amazing how God provides, even in the middle of the desert, and Philip baptised the Ethiopian before being whisked off to his next assignment … like a biblical Superman. Perhaps Philip’s sudden disappearance would have spooked us, but the Ethiopian doesn’t seem to bat an eyelid – he just continues on his way rejoicing, totally absorbed in what he’s just learned. He’s a new person.
When I think of baptism, I can’t help but think of the story of Jesus’ offer to the Samaritan woman he met one day at the well. “If you knew who I am, you would ask me for a drink, and I would give you living water,” Jesus told her. Thanks to Philip, the Ethiopian eunuch came to know the living water that Jesus gives freely to those who ask.
So what is it that Philip says that affects the Ethiopian in such a way? All Acts tells us is that Philip “proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.” We can find out more about that good news in 1 John 4 – that’s on page 1227, if you want to look at it.
There we‘re told what the good news is – that God is love!
Perhaps many seekers expect a more profound message. Something more earth-shattering? We’ve been hearing this message ever since we
first stepped foot inside a church, but it still surprises us. And the importance of love was evident in the
Hebrew Scriptures as well. The
disciples, like all Hebrew people, learned from their earliest days that their
God is the God of steadfast love. This
God loved them so much that He wants justice for them – God's chosen
people. They knew that God loves them
because He chose their ancestors, watched over them on their long trek away
from
As soon as they met him, they knew there was something different about him. And through Jesus' teachings and the miracles he performed, they begin to understand what made him different. But it wasn't until that first Easter morning and the days following it that they truly understand who Jesus really is - the Saviour of the world.
Once they understood that, they realised that they’d been in the presence of God whenever they were with Jesus. They realised that Jesus had demonstrated God's steadfast love to them in a very practical way. And they knew that if they continued to be followers of Jesus, then God's love would continue to surround them.
This is the good news that Philip couldn’t help but share with
everyone he met. God's love, shown in
Jesus Christ, God's Son, changed them.
It changed Philip, it changed those folk in
And doesn’t God's love still do that for us today? God wants to fill us to overflowing with his love. God wants our lives to show that love to the world. God wants us to throw off the chains of fear and guilt that bind us. God wants us to jump up and run out to speak to everyone seeking Jesus.
So, are you ready for that? Are you ready to open yourself up to receive God's love fully into your heart, soul, and mind? Are you ready to be changed so that your life shines forth God's love to the world?
Our world could surely use it right now. Our world needs this message of hope - the message that we don’t have to be ruled by fear – the message that God desires all people to treat one another with love and respect. But there is a danger. Once we experience the fullness of God's love shown in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we may find ourselves acting like Philip – going from place to place full of joy and sharing the good news of God's love with those whom we meet. Are you ready for that? Do you even want to be like that?
If you do, then let’s open ourselves to God's love and let's go out and preach it! Preach it with our smiles. Preach it with a kind word. Preach it with a thoughtful act. Preach it through giving a testimony to one who wonders what Jesus is all about. And if you feel that your faith needs to be reinvigorated, that you need a bit of a shake, if you don’t feel as joyful as Philip, then do something about it. Pray that you will be refilled with the same Holy Spirit that changed Philip. Perhaps see Ian afterwards and sign up for next September’s Alpha course. Join a home group and let God’s written Word speak to you about His love. Do something!
Let’s close with a prayer: “Loving Lord, fill us with your Spirit, just as you did for Philip, inspire us with your Word as we seek to understand you better, and guide us as we seek to obey your command. Amen