Obedience and the Miraculous

April 12

(Acts 8:39-40 NIV) “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. {40} Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.”

(Jeremiah 32:18-20 NIV) “You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, {19} great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. {20} You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.”

Obedience is a portal for miracles from God. Philip was obedient and went to a desert road, and the Ethiopian was miraculously converted. Philip was then miraculously transported to another place where he continued his obedient service to God. It’s cyclical -- obedience promotes the miraculous, and the miraculous promotes obedience. The one converted was a miracle promoted by obedience. The Ethiopian had traveled a great distance to worship God and was miraculously saved. Don’t forget who he was. He was the Secretary of the Treasury for Ethiopia -- a man of prominence. He probably took news of this miracle back to his queen and his nation. Very likely, God used him to spread the gospel throughout Ethiopia. God wants to use believers in the same way today. When we walk in obedience, God can work miracles in us, around us, and through us. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Seeker is Saved

April 11

(Acts 8:32-38 NIV) ““The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. {33} In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." {34} The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" {35} Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. {36} As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" {37} “If you believe with all your heart, you may”. The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”. {38} And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.””

(Romans 10:8-15 NIV) ““But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: {9} That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. {11} As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." {12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, {13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." {14} How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? {15} And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””

As the Ethiopian rode in his chariot, he was reading from the prophet Isaiah, but didn’t fully understand it. He asked Philip to explain it, and Philip began with the verses in question and shared the gospel with the Ethiopian. The Ethiopian believed and was baptized, and entered the ranks of those whose names are written in the Book of Life. But it all started with the Scriptures. Christians, we should know how to lead people to Jesus using the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit will put the hunger in their heart, but we should have the knowledge to help them across the line. Philip had obviously studied the Scriptures -- we should too. We have no excuse for not doing so. We have at our fingertips what some have been willing to die for: the Bible. Read it, study it, and use it -- not to condemn people, but to lead seekers to salvation through a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Getting Close Enough to Listen

April 10

(Acts 8:29-30 NIV) “The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." {30} Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.”

(John 15:13 NIV) “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

(Proverbs 18:24 NIV) “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

God wanted the Ethiopian to hear about Jesus, so he told Philip to stay near the man’s chariot. Philip had to get close enough to listen. When he got close, he heard the Ethiopian reading about Jesus from the book of Isaiah. He also heard the questions of the Ethiopian’s heart. Philip now had a bridge to share Christ with the man. That could not have happened if Philip hadn’t gotten close enough to listen. We have to get close enough to people to listen to them. Too many Christians today are busy answering questions that no one is asking. We spend more time lecturing than listening. We stand at a safe distance and spout directions, when what people need is someone who will draw near to them and listen to their heart. If we’re going to be effective at introducing others to the best thing that ever happened in our lives, we will have to get close enough to listen. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Lost Believers

April 9

(Acts 8:27-28 NIV) “…he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, {28} and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.”

(Acts 8:30-31 NIV) ““Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. {31} "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?””

(Acts 8:34 NIV) ““The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?””

(James 2:19 NIV) “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.”

God sent Philip to an Ethiopian who worshipped the God of the Jews, but who hadn’t met the King of the Jews. He believed in God, but didn’t know Christ. He was a “lost believer”. Otherwise, God would not have sent Philip. Believing in God does not save people -- only faith in Christ can save people. People can worship God, but not know Jesus. This means that your neighbor, who is surrounded by churches, could be just as lost as that remote tribe in Brazil. It doesn’t matter how religious people are -- what matters is if they know Jesus. A lost person is a lost person whether they live in the 10-40 window, or in the house across the street. It doesn’t matter if we believe in the God of Moses or worship cows, until we meet Jesus we are all destined for the same godless eternity. That’s why God placed Philip on that road to Gaza, and that’s why God has you where you are. Share Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day