Preaching Jesus: The Eunuch

Preaching Jesus

In the 8th chapter of the book of Acts, we read the first recorded account of the conversion of a single, lone individual to Christianity. The individual in question was an Ethiopian Jew: a eunuch in the employ of the queen of Ethiopia. This man had journeyed to Jerusalem in order to worship and, as we meet him in the text, he is on his way home. (cf. Acts 8:26ff)

eunuch preaching

Just preach Jesus.

To this individual, God sent a preacher named Philip, a man full of the Spirit of Christ, and experienced in sharing the Gospel. Philip had been preaching among the Samaritans, and had enjoyed great success there, but now God wanted the Gospel to go into Africa also, and so it was providentially arranged for the preacher to meet the lost soul.

When Philip met the eunuch, the latter was in his chariot, being driven south, and he was studying the Bible. Specifically, the text tells us that the eunuch was studying the prophet Isaiah. (cf. Acts 8:30-34; Isaiah 53:7-8) The text, specifically, was that which spoke of the Messiah being led like a lamb to the slaughter.

When Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch confessed his puzzlement and asked if Philip could explain it. Beginning at the spot, the Bible says, Philip preached Jesus to him. (cf. Acts 8:35)

Following this lesson, the Eunuch saw a body of water and asked if it was possible for him to be baptized. Philip affirmed that it was, and the two went down into the water, the eunuch was baptized, and then after, he went on his way rejoicing, having received the forgiveness of his sins, and the salvation of his soul (cf. Acts 8:36-40; 2:38)

Philip preached Jesus and the eunuch was saved.

Preaching Jesus.

Such a simple phrase, but so full of import and meaning.

The eunuch was a religious man. But being religious was not enough. There was something he yet needed. He needed a relationship with Jesus Christ, who was and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: the only path to God (John 14:6). Religion, without Christ, is not enough to get one to the Father.

When the apostle Peter preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), he was preaching to a crowd filled with religious people, assembled for the worship of God. But their religion was not enough. They needed Jesus.

Saul of Tarsus was a very religious man, and in his religious zeal he persecuted the church of God (cf. Acts 9:1ff). But it was not enough. He needed Jesus.

Philip preached Jesus because Jesus was the message the eunuch needed to hear for the salvation of his soul. The world today still needs to hear the message of Jesus preached. There is no other name given under heaven by which men must be saved (Acts 4:12).

We can also discern, from the text, that preaching Jesus involves more than just telling the man about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Philip began with the theme of the sacrifice of Jesus, the same theme we see in the sermons recorded for us in Acts 2 and 3. But just knowing about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is not enough. When Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch, we can also deduce he preached faith and baptism. He taught the eunuch that the death of Christ demanded a response.

Why else, when the eunuch spotted a water, would he ask about baptism? Obviously, Philip had taught him about the need to be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins.

Preaching Jesus is not just preaching about what Jesus has done for us, it is preaching about the response that Jesus demands of us. It is telling people that it was Jesus who said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16) It is teaching people that it was Jesus who said, “Unless you repent you will surely perish.” (Luke 13:3)

The world needs to hear Jesus preached. The problem of sin, judgement and death remains the same today as it was then. The solution to this problem likewise remains the same. Jesus is still the Way, the Truth and the Life.

And when Jesus is preached, when we in our need hear that glorious message of salvation… each of us should have the enthusiasm of the eunuch in responding to Jesus.

 

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We Want a King

We Want a King

In 1 Samuel 1–5 we find the corrupt sons of Eli, priests, unwilling to heed their father’s instructions. They cause the children of Israel to despise the sacrifices of the Lord. Then the Philistines slaughter the Israeli army and carry off the Ark of the Covenant. In the midst of all this God is still faithful to fulfill His will, keep His promises, and He providentially raises up Samuel to be a prophet and a priest.

king of men

Do you want a king of men or the King of all?

Then, in chapters 6–10, Israel, who has never been satisfied with the leadership and awesome power of the Lord, desires an earthly king to rule over them. He had guided them out of bondage and into the Promised Land. He had set over them righteous representatives to lead them (Moses, Joshua, the Judges, and now Samuel), yet they continued to rebel. Now they want a king like the nations around them.

Let me posit this question, “Whose side are we on?” If not on the Lord’s side we are His enemy. But He will conquer and every enemy defeated (Matthew 11:30). “Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).
While we are often hard on the children of Israel maybe God is trying to get us to see our own nature. He has provided us with divine, kingly leadership in His Son. But that isn’t good enough for most people. He is King of kings and Lord of lords! Will you allow Him to rule your life? Here’s a test… have you and are you obedient to and subject to Him?

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Cotton Candy Christianity

Cotton Candy Christianity

While the concept might have originated in Europe, it was William Morrison and John C. Wharton of Nashville who made it become a reality. In 1897, they created the machine which used air and sugar to popularize the spread of a new product. They called it fairy floss. It still has that name in Australia. In much of the world, it is called candy floss. In France, it is called Papa’s beard. You have eaten it since you were a child and likely call it cotton candy.

cotton candy religion

Sugar coated religion?

There are some interesting parallels between cotton candy and what has happened in the religious world since the Lord established the church. He established the church in a world whose appeal was to the outward aspects of religious life. The pagan world had temples everywhere, and the devotion to the gods worshiped there was popularized by gods who sought to satisfy the fleshly nature of man. They were not designed to change the hearts and souls of men.

Even Judaism in the first century had ignored the greatest commands and focused on sabbath keeping, showy religion and ceremonial rituals. The Lord described them as only having a form of godliness, while neglecting grace and the weightier matters of God’s law (2 Tim. 3:5; Matt. 23:23). Christianity was designed to change the heart and then using the truth revealed in the Bible to bring men to God. It was based on the principle that God is a spirit, and we bow before Him with our spirits and souls seeking Him (John 4:24).

But, all that has changed. So much of religion in our land is like cotton candy. Cotton candy looks so great. You can get it in any color or flavor you desire. Our religious world is so divided that you can find any “flavor” of church you want. However, cotton candy has little nutritional value (remember your mom’s devotion that you have a balanced diet) and doesn’t really give you what you need. America feeds itself on the “sugar and air” mixture of religious cotton candy.

After you eat your two ounces of sugar and air, your body still needs more. Religion without deep Bible knowledge destroyed Israel and is destroying our land (Hos. 4:6). One cannot know the Lord without knowing His word (1 John 2:4). One cannot love the Lord and ignore keeping His word (John 14:15). A child at the fair sees the cotton candy and it tastes so good, but a steady diet of this will destroy his health. This is our land. Religiously, we are feeding ourselves and starving our souls.

What an amazing world it would be if we sought to return to the spiritual food which fed the early church. Cotton candy Christianity is so far removed from the food Jesus gave the early church and seeks to give to us today.

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Our Heavenly Father’s Day

Our Heavenly Father’s Day

What comes to mind when you consider the term “Father’s Day?” Time spent with family reminiscing what wonderful things your dad did for you growing up? How he worked to love, guide, protect and provide for you? Is the first thing that comes to mind perhaps the Sunday celebration of “Father’s Day” where you take/took the time to travel to his house and present to him your gifts of love, gratitude, and appreciation? Maybe it’s a special meal as you and your siblings all gather around the same table to eat, enjoy, and celebrate? Now, granted, for some, there may be a far sadder stigma attached to “Father’s Day” because their dads were somewhat less of a father than God desires that they should have been.

Do You Remember Your Father’s Day?

However, no matter what it is that may come to mind for you when you hear the term “Father’s Day,” one thing is for sure: If you are a blood-bought and adopted child of the living God (Gal. 3:26-27), your perfect, loving, and adoring heavenly Father is certainly worth celebrating every day in every way – but especially and in a special way on this, His special, “Father’s Day!” He brought us forth because He wanted, and it was His will to have us (Jms. 1:18). Every good thing we have is from Him (Matt. 7:7-11, Jms. 1:17). Every good thing heaven has to offer we have been given by our heavenly Father in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3-10). He guides, provides, nurtures, protects, strengthens, comforts, leads, teaches, matures, directs and disciplines us – all for our own good, growth, and godliness. But He does so with mercy, pity, and compassion, remembering our frailties (Ps. 103:8-14). He is truly “our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace” (2 Thess. 2:16).

And so, we celebrate Him. We come together with His other blood-bought children – our spiritual siblings in Christ – bearing our gifts of love, adoration, and appreciation, as we gather together within His house (2 Ptr. 2:4-5; 1 Tim. 3:15). It is there that we sing His praises and give Him thanks (Eph. 5:19-20; Col. 3:16-17; Hebs. 3:15). It is there, on His specially set-aside day, that we present Him with our gifts (1 Cor. 16:1-2). And it is only and especially there and on His special day, that we have the privilege of sharing in the most sacred, special, and meaningful meal ever provided, as we gather around the table of the Lord together (1 Cor. 10:16-17, 11:23-25; Acts 20:7).

You see, after all He’s done for us, our heavenly Father is far too special to celebrate only occasionally or annually. Every first day of the week is our heavenly Father’s Day! Let us be determined not to miss it for the world!

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Are You Feeling Guilty?

Are You Feeling Guilty?

There are two kinds of guilt in the Bible. There is the feeling of guilt when our conscience condemns us—subjective guilt. There is also guilt for doing something objectively wrong. This guilt isn’t a feeling; it is a state of being that results from having sinned. It is the criminal that is pronounced guilty by the judge – objective guilt. The word “guilt” is found 79 times in the New King James Version. Seventy-eight times it refers to objective guilt. Once it refers to someone feeling guilty (Zechariah 11:5). The Bible uses the word “conscience” in association with the subjective feeling of guilt. The word “conscience” is found 30 times in the NKJV, and only in the New Testament. When our conscience accuses us (Romans 2:15), we feel guilty.

guilty brown

We can do something about guilt.

The work of Jesus eliminates guilt of both kinds. First, the offering of Jesus blood eliminates objective guilt for those who believe and obey the gospel. Jesus said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Peter said to the guilty in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Second, our guilty conscience is also cleansed by Jesus. Hebrews 9:14 states, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” This means that holding onto guilt is a choice we make for irrational reasons. Moreover, guilt prevents us from doing God’s work of evangelizing the lost. Let go of guilt, and get to work.

If we are feeling guilty about our past forgiven sins, then we are doing so for irrational reasons. Let’s think about some of those irrational reasons.

First, we may feel guilty due to self-blame. Some confuse blaming self with taking responsibility. Self-blame is really a mechanism to excuse oneself from responsibility. We tell ourselves, “I am guilty of [some wrong],” so I better not do [some right]. After all, I don’t want to be a hypocrite!” The truth is: you are a hypocrite for doing what is wrong. To stop being a hypocrite you need to do what is right. Guilt due to self-blame fails to act. Stop feeling guilty and get to work.

Second, we may feel guilty due to false standards. Those suffering from eating disorders often set up false standards of acceptance. They feel guilty when they eat because they tell themselves that eating will make them fat, and they will be rejected. False standards of acceptance are irrational, but it isn’t guilt that is the problem, but the false standard. Eliminate the false standard, and the guilt will disappear.

Third, we may feel guilty to control others. Some express feeling guilty to manipulate others to act like they want them to act. This brings false validation, and means that they don’t value themselves correctly. Such manipulation is sinful and irrational. The Christian’s validation and worth comes from Jesus.

The feeling of guilt is an emotion that we control. Others do not make us feel guilty; we make ourselves feel guilty. We must take ownership of our own behaviors, including our guilt, by handling them correctly through Jesus. Unbridled guilt robs us of peace, joy, love, and contentment. Trust Jesus, and let go of guilt.

 

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