Praise the Lord! What a God we serve, amen? The Holy Spirit is moving among us, and it’s a beautiful thing. Today, I want us to look at a subject that is the very heartbeat of our church: Evangelism. We're diving deep into the book of Acts, chapter 8, verses 26 to 40, and the title of our message is The Call to Share Christ.
Evangelism isn't just a task for a few selected, anointed people; it's a calling for every ordinary believer—like Philip, like me, like you—to become extraordinary in sharing Christ’s message. Our main character today is Philip the evangelist, and his journey gives us the blueprint for effective, Spirit-led ministry.
I. The Divine Re-Routing: Obedience Over Comfort
Friends, the movement of the Gospel in the early church didn't start with a comfortable gathering; it started with persecution. Acts 8:1 says a great persecution arose against the church, and all were scattered—and what did they do? Acts 8:4 tells us the glorious truth: "Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word." Persecution did not stop them; it propelled them!
Philip, one of those scattered, went to Samaria and saw a powerful, fruitful ministry. Acts 8:7-8 confirms this: "For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city." Imagine that level of success!
Yet, in the midst of Philip’s comfortable success in Samaria, an angel of the Lord tells him to leave and go to the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. And what did Philip do? He obeyed immediately, just as Acts 8:26 commands: "An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is desert." He didn't make excuses! Friends, evangelism starts not with clever words, but with a heart that is ready to hear and obey God’s word. Obedience opens the door for divine appointments.
Why this route? This was to fulfill Jesus’ ultimate Great Commission in Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." The desert road to Ethiopia was the geographical "end of the earth" for their generation, sending the Gospel across racial and continental boundaries. God is the ultimate Chief Planner!
II. The Proactive Pursuit: Going to the Searcher
On that desert road, Philip saw a highly educated Ethiopian minister—a eunuch, a Chief Financial Officer—traveling 4,200 kilometers, all the way from Ethiopia, in a chariot, reading the scripture (Acts 8:28). This man was a seeker; he had traveled far just to worship in Jerusalem! Philip, following the Spirit’s prompt, runs up to the chariot. Acts 8:29 tells us, "Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.'" This is key: Evangelism is not passive. We must go to the people.
Philip heard him reading a profound section of Scripture—Isaiah 53. The eunuch was reading about the Suffering Servant: Acts 8:32-33 quotes it: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away..."
Philip asked the simple, engaging question, Acts 8:30: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch gave the classic, honest reply in Acts 8:31: “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
This is why we must share the Gospel! Romans 10:14-15 reminds us: "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" We are the ones who are sent! We are the guides!
I want to briefly share my own testimony, because I was that person who did not know. I was raised Hindu, very religious, but also an angry person and, honestly, an alcoholic. My wife, Uma, begged me to go to church. I finally went, sat on the floor, smelling of alcohol, and feeling the guilt. But I heard the preacher talking about Jesus Christ—how He shed His blood, how His hands and legs were pierced with nails for me. That message pierced my heart.
Even after a miraculous healing from severe back pain—which a surgeon attributed to "Your Jesus Christ"—I was still confused. I prayed, "God, reveal to me the true God." That night, the Lord Jesus Christ showed me a vision, standing in the heavens, waving His hands. Uma and I immediately knew the only thing to do was to surrender ourselves to Jesus.
III. The Simple Result: Baptism and Joy
Coming back to our scripture, Philip explained that Isaiah 53 wasn't about a prophet; it was about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Acts 8:35 says, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him." This shows the power of preaching Jesus from the Old Testament!
When they came to some water, the eunuch cried out, Acts 8:36: "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"
In some ancient manuscripts, the eunuch even makes a clear confession of faith before baptism: Acts 8:37: "And Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'" What a beautiful, simple commitment! He was baptized right there in the desert.
Acts 8:39 tells us the glorious result: "...the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing." Salvation brings immediate, unshakeable joy! And Philip? Acts 8:40 says, "But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea." He didn't stop—he immediately went to the next assignment!
Friends, before we close, I want to ask you this: Who is your Ethiopian eunuch? Who is the person in your life who is searching, who is reading, who is asking, "How can I know, unless someone explains it to me?"
We have the call to share the love of God, the one who died and rose again for us. Let us be obedient and reach out to them. Amen.
Key Main Principles for Spirit-Led Evangelism
Principle 1: Radical Obedience and Availability (Acts 8:26)
Basis: The direction comes not from convenience, but from divine command: "Arise and go..."
Implication: Be ready to leave places of comfort and established success (Samaria) for difficult, lonely assignments (the desert).
Reward: Obedience guarantees that you will be precisely where God needs you to be for His global purpose (Acts 1:8).
Principle 2: Proactive Engagement, Not Passive Waiting (Acts 8:29-30)
The Command: We must be directed by the Spirit to "Go near and overtake this chariot." The harvest is waiting, but we must run to meet it.
The Approach: Philip initiated the conversation. Our role is to interrupt the routine of a busy world with a simple, respectful, and relevant question: "Do you understand what you are reading?"
The Power: It’s not human energy that compels us, but the Holy Spirit's urging that makes our actions fruitful.
Principle 3: Centering on Scriptural Clarity (Acts 8:31, 35)
The Need: People possess pieces of truth, but they lack the key. The eunuch confessed, "How can I, unless someone guides me?"
The Method: Use the Scriptures already available to them (Isaiah 53) to reveal the Messiah. Don't start with rules; start with Christ's sacrifice.
The Core Message: Our entire message is summed up in Acts 8:35—Philip "preached Jesus to him" from the prophets.
Crucial Takeaways for Your Daily Walk
You Are a Messenger Sent (Romans 10:15): Every believer is "sent." See your workplace, your neighborhood, and your family as your personal mission field, fulfilling the commission (Acts 1:8).
The Gospel Produces Immediate Transformation:
Repentance & Belief: The eunuch instantly confessed, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37).
Public Witness: The desire for baptism was immediate, showing a deep hunger for public commitment (Acts 8:36).
Joy: The ultimate sign of a successful witness is a person going on their way "rejoicing" in their new salvation (Acts 8:39).
Be Ready for the Next Assignment (Acts 8:40): The Spirit is ready to snatch you away (Acts 8:39) and place you in the next city (Azotus) for the next task. Commitment to Christ means being ready to preach in "all the cities" until He calls you home.