The Call To Share Christ- YOU shall be my Witnesses 5 (Sunday, oct 12, 2025)

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.

Round Trip to Emmaus - You Shall be My Witnesses - 4 (Sunday Oct 5, 2025)

Good morning once again, and welcome to everyone. The message I shared that day was titled “Round Trip to Emmaus.” You might have heard people speak about a “Road to Emmaus” experience—but I want to talk about the full journey, the round trip, and what it means for us today.

The Setting of the Story

Luke’s Gospel tells us about two people walking from Jerusalem to a small village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles away—roughly a two-hour walk. Here’s how it begins in Luke 24:13–14 (NASB):

“And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.”

When you read “that very day,” it refers to the day Jesus rose from the dead. But these two travelers didn’t know that yet. They were heartbroken and confused. Everything they believed about Jesus seemed to have ended with His crucifixion.

Understanding the Bible’s Big Picture

Before we follow them on their journey, let’s take a moment to talk about the Bible itself—the book where this story is found. The word Bible simply means “book” in Greek, but it also means the Book, because it stands apart from all others.

It’s divided into two parts: the Old Testament (the old covenant) and the New Testament (the new covenant). The Old Testament, made up of 39 books, tells the story of God’s people and His promises pointing forward to a coming Savior—the Messiah. The New Testament, with 27 books, reveals the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ.

Every part of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, points toward one person—Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world.

A Nation Waiting for Hope

The Jewish people at that time had long awaited a Messiah. They believed he would be a political deliverer—a mighty ruler who would free them from Roman control. So when Jesus came performing miracles, teaching with authority, and showing compassion, many thought, “This is the One.”

But then He was crucified. Their hope vanished. They didn’t understand that the Messiah was not coming first as a conqueror, but as a suffering servant. Jesus Himself said in John 18:36 (NASB):

“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting... but as it is, My kingdom is not from this realm.”

Still, when He died, even His closest followers were devastated. That’s the moment when the two on the road to Emmaus began their sad journey home.

Jesus Joins the Journey

As they walked, something unexpected happened. Luke 24:15–16 (NASB) says:

“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.”

Imagine that—Jesus walking right beside them, but they didn’t realize it. Sometimes we’re the same way. We think God has abandoned us when, in truth, He’s walking right alongside us. His presence is constant, even when our eyes don’t see it.

Their Conversation with Jesus

Jesus asked them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” (Luke 24:17 NASB).

They stopped, faces downcast, and one of them—Cleopas—replied, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” (Luke 24:18 NASB).

In a gentle, almost humorous way, Jesus responded, “What things?” (Luke 24:19 NASB).

They poured out their grief:

“The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.”
— Luke 24:19–21 (NASB)

Their words capture disappointment many of us have felt: “We were hoping…” Maybe you’ve said that too. “I was hoping for healing.” “I was hoping for a change.” “I was hoping things would be different.” But God’s plans are often deeper and greater than what we can see.

The Witnesses Nobody Expected

They went on to tell Jesus about the women who went to the tomb and found it empty.

“Some women among us amazed us; when they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.”
— Luke 24:22–23 (NASB)

In that culture, women weren’t accepted as reliable witnesses. Yet God chose them to be the first to proclaim the resurrection. That’s just how God works—He honors those whom the world often overlooks.

Jesus Explains the Scriptures

Then Jesus spoke words that must have changed everything.

“And He said to them, ‘You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?’
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.”
— Luke 24:25–27 (NASB)

He walked them through the entire Old Testament, showing how it all pointed to Him—the suffering Messiah who would take away the sin of the world.

The Bread and the Revelation

As they reached Emmaus, Jesus acted as if He would go farther, but they urged Him to stay. So He did. Luke 24:30–31 (NASB) says:

“And it came about, when He had reclined at the table with them, that He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them. And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.”

The phrase “their eyes were opened” appears only one other time in Scripture—in Genesis 3:6–7 (NASB):

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.”

In Genesis, eyes were opened to shame. In Luke, eyes were opened to salvation.
The first couple, Adam and Eve, ate in disobedience and saw their sin. This couple, Cleopas and (most likely) his wife, ate in fellowship and saw their Savior.

Hearts on Fire

After Jesus vanished, they said to one another:

“Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
— Luke 24:32 (NASB)

When Jesus speaks, hearts still burn. His Word brings light, conviction, and joy that no circumstance can extinguish.

From Despair to Hope

Those travelers had left Jerusalem in despair—but they returned in joy. Their “round trip” to Emmaus began in disappointment and ended in revelation. The same happens for us when we encounter the risen Christ.

Through His death, Jesus paid the price for our sin. As Romans 4:25 (NASB) says:

“He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.”

And 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 (NASB) reminds us:

“But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

The Round Trip for Us

The two travelers thought their story was over. But when Jesus met them, everything changed. The round trip to Emmaus wasn’t just their journey—it’s ours. We all walk roads of confusion, fear, or loss. Yet Jesus joins us, listens to us, and reveals Himself to us.

Sometimes we don’t recognize Him right away. But when our eyes are opened, our hearts burn again with the fire of His truth. And like those disciples, we can’t help but turn around and share the good news: Jesus is alive!

Amen.

Third, Go Out and Share Your Faith - You Shall Be My Witnesses - 3 (Sunday Sep 28 2025)

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to share our faith. I’m an introvert by nature, and the idea of standing up and talking about evangelism doesn’t exactly come naturally to me. But that’s the beauty of God’s work: He uses us despite ourselves. It’s not by our strength, but by His Spirit. When we step out in faith, He meets us there.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the gospel with a young man at work. What started as a simple conversation about finances—he asked if I played the stock market—turned into a divine appointment. I told him, “No, I don’t. I’m not against anyone who does, but our true treasure is in heaven.” That one sentence opened a door. Later, he told me he went home and shared with his mother and his aunts. That’s how the Lord works—He takes the simplest words and breathes life into them.

The Heart of the Gospel

In the book of Romans, Paul wrote about being set apart to proclaim the gospel. I’m no apostle, but the same God who empowered Paul empowers us. My message today is simple: the gospel itself, and what it means for us who share it.

Paul gives us the foundation of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (NASB):

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

That’s it—the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That’s the backbone of our faith. Without it, there’s no hope. If Christ didn’t die and rise again, our faith would be meaningless. But He did. And because of that, we have life, peace, and eternal hope.

The Gospel of Love, Mercy, and Grace

The gospel is more than a message—it’s the expression of God’s love.
John 3:16 (NASB) says:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

That word gave—it means gift. We didn’t earn it; He freely offered Himself to us.

It’s also a gospel of mercy. Ephesians 2:4–5 (NASB) says:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”

And a gospel of grace:
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB) reminds us,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

There’s nothing we can do to save ourselves. Every act of sharing, every conversation, every open door—it all comes from Him.

A Gospel of Peace

Paul also calls it a gospel of peace. Romans 5:1–2 (NASB) says:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.”

Before Christ, we were enemies of God. There was enmity between us. But through faith, that war is over. We now walk in peace with Him. That peace should radiate through our lives and draw others to Him.

My Story of Grace

When I look back, I can see God’s hand guiding me long before I realized it. I was born in Jamaica, and when I was six years old, my parents moved to the United States. Before that, I was being raised mostly by older boys in my neighborhood. If God hadn’t intervened—if my father hadn’t come to America when he did—my life could’ve gone down a very different path.

My father once told me a story from his early days in Queens, New York. One night, coming home from Bible study, two men pulled him into an alley and demanded his wallet. One of them raised a knife. My father closed his eyes, thinking of his family back in Jamaica. Suddenly, he heard a bloodcurdling scream, and when he opened his eyes, the men were running away. No one was there. Later, someone at church told him, “That was an angel.”

When I became a believer, I realized—if my father had died that night, I might never have come to know Christ. God spared him, and through him, He reached me. That’s the grace of God in motion.

The Gospel from the Beginning

The gospel didn’t start in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. It started in Genesis. When Adam and Eve sinned, God immediately proclaimed the plan of redemption. Genesis 3:15 (NASB) says:

“And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”

That’s the first announcement of the gospel—the promise that the seed of the woman, Christ, would defeat sin and Satan. From that moment on, the story of redemption unfolded through the prophets and the Scriptures, all pointing to Jesus.

Even the prophets longed to see what we now know. 1 Peter 1:10–12 (NASB) says:

“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”

Even the angels are watching in awe of what God is doing through the gospel. What a reminder of how precious our salvation truly is.

Becoming a Vessel God Can Use

If we want to be used by God, Paul gives a beautiful picture in 2 Timothy 2:20–21 (NASB):

“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

When we keep ourselves pure, we become vessels ready for His use. That “good work” includes sharing the gospel. We can’t tell others about righteousness while living in sin—it doesn’t work that way. God wants clean vessels, not perfect ones, but those yielded to Him.

Stepping Out in Faith

I’ve had times when I didn’t want to go out and share the gospel. There were days when I felt discouraged, even spiritually attacked. Once, I went downtown to share and felt an overwhelming heaviness, a kind of depression I couldn’t explain. But when I obeyed, when I just showed up, the Lord lifted it. Later, He opened doors at my workplace to talk to people about Christ—people I’d never imagined would listen.

I’ve learned that we don’t save anyone; God does. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6 NASB)
Sometimes we see fruit right away. Sometimes we never see it at all. But God is always working.

I’ll never forget one encounter downtown. A man came storming toward us while we were sharing. He was angry—really angry—and wanted us off the corner. I listened, prayed silently, and kept calm. After about fifteen minutes, his tone softened. Before leaving, he hugged me and asked for a gospel tract. That’s how the Holy Spirit works—He changes hearts, not arguments.

The Power of Obedience

Sharing our faith doesn’t require eloquence or perfection. It requires obedience. Pray before you go. Ask God to prepare hearts and give you the words. Sometimes He’ll give you boldness. Other times, just gentleness and patience. And always remember—our strength isn’t in us. It’s in Him.

So as we go out, let’s remember that the same gospel proclaimed in Genesis, fulfilled in Christ, and entrusted to Paul, is now ours to share. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. And when we step out in faith, He moves.