Dear LifeSpring Family,
In preparation for my upcoming mission trip to Thailand, I am preparing a sermon to preach at our friend Suwit’s church.
Fun fact: Several of our church members have been to Suwit’s church, Mahapawn Rangsit Church (MRC), and Pastor Alvin and our Chair of our Board, Leona, both have preached in this church.
A couple of months ago, I was at an event hosted by the Canadian Bible Society. At this event, Andrew Ollerton from the UK Bible Society shared the passage of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:25-40. I am planning to preach from this passage in Thailand.
The three main points that were highlighted from this passage are
1. Open to the Spirit
2. Open to the Scriptures
3. Open to the Stranger
To be fruitful in life and in service to our Lord Jesus Christ, I will need to be
1. Open to the Spirit.
Am I listening to the small still voice of the Holy Spirit? Am I asking and listening to the Holy Spirit in my prayers? Am I practising the habit of Listening Prayers?
“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. 27 And he rose and went.”
– Acts 8:26-27
Philip heard the voice of the angel and he rose and went, even to a desert place.
2. Open to the Scripture.
Am I reading God’s Word? Am I studying God’s Word? Am I memorizing God’s Word?
30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
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.
– Acts 8:30-35
Philip was able to explain the scriptures to the Ethiopian Eunuch because he had been reading, studying and memorizing God’s Word.
3. Open to the Stranger.
Am I open to others from a different ethnic group? Am I open to a “eunuch” in my society? Am I willing to risk my comfort to be open to the stranger?
And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
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?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
– Acts 8:36-38
Philip, in his obedience to our Lord Jesus Chirst in sharing the Good News, was willing to be open to the stranger. Even if being open to the stranger would have made him “unclean” according to the temple laws.
What you are “open” to determines what kind of “fruit” you will produce. Do not be deceived, we are all fruitful. I pray for good “fruit” in your life.
Grace upon grace
Jerry