March 17, 2024, (Live, No Music)

[Preparation by God.]
Acts 9, Saul's road to Damascus and his conversion. He would later become Paul the apostle. Saul used to persecute the Church, but God was already preparing Paul (who was once called Saul) for His kingdom work as one of the greatest evangelists. After God overcame Saul, blinded him, and instructed him to go to Damascus to meet an appointed disciple (Ananias), God also instructed Ananias in Damascus to lay hands on Saul, so that Saul would receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:13-16, Ananias had to trust that God would indeed turn someone, who was previously a murderer (a Pharisee, having the knowledge of the law, and zealously persecuting the Church), into an obedient servant of God.

Acts 9:18, Saul received the Holy Spirit of God, regained his sight, as God commanded, and Saul repented of all of his sins and was baptized into the ministry of God.

Acts 8:35, from the book of Isaiah all the to Philip's present time, Philip explained Jesus Christ to the eunuch.

Acts 8:26-34, 36-40, the kingdom of Ethiopia (during Philip's time) used to span the majority of the continent of Africa, therefore this eunuch of the Ethiopian queen Candace possessed a very high station (he had charge over the queen's massive treasury). Nonetheless the eunuch welcomed Philip, a stranger to the eunuch, to climb into the chariot, and help understand who God was and how someone could be saved by God.

Acts 8:4-8, after the scattering of the Church, Philip went to Samaria. The people in the area reported of the great works of God that were done: many received spiritual and physical healing. In faith, Philip continued on his journey with God (despite the heavy persecution), growing spiritually, and going were God directed him. Spiritual growth is also preparation: Philip would not have been able to approach the Ethiopian eunuch, unless God had adequately prepared him.

Acts 8:27-28, hundreds of miles between Ethiopia and Jerusalem, the eunuch was studying the scroll, at the perfect place in the book of Isaiah, describing the sacrifice of the Messiah. God prepared the heart of the eunuch to receive Christ.

Acts 8:29-30, Philip would need to have been prepared for this very moment, to participate in revealing Christ.

[Humility and obedience.]
Acts 8:26-27, God commanded Philip to get up from Samaria and walk all the way through the desert unto Gaza, where he would meet the eunuch traveling all the way from Ethiopia to Jerusalem. Philip had to remember that God had already gone before him, God had been faithfully taken care of Philip, and the way into the future was already prepared.

Acts 8:28-30, God told Philip to boldly approach the eunuch's chariot.

Acts 8:31, this noble humbly asked Philip to help him understand the book of Isaiah, and invited Philip to stop running on foot and come into the chariot.

Acts 8:32-35, Jesus Christ explained

Acts 8:36-39, ultimately, the eunuch received Jesus Christ and was baptized

Acts 8:39-40, and then God immediately teleported Philip to Azotus

Acts 8:35-39, 'what prevents me from being baptized' ... 'if you believe with all your heart, you may' ... 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God' ... 'he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.'

Acts 8:39, and the eunuch continued on his way to Jerusalem, rejoicing

Deuteronomy 31:8, 'And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee: he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.'

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