ETHIOPIAN TREASURER FINDS JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOUR. ACTS 8

Right out of the blue, the Lord directed Philip by an unusual means, ‘Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, ‘Arise, and go down towards the south along the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (v26) Are we open to the direction of God’s messengers?

Philip immediately responsed ,as he asked no questions, nor did he apologise for his non-availability. ‘So he arose and went.’ And God opened to him a remarkable opportunity.

God marvellously led this humble servant. ‘And behold, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship.’ (v27) The Treasurer was adviser to the Queen, just as Joseph had been Prime Minister under the reign of the Pharoah. God had planned that the message of His dear Son should be brought to this nation.

Furthermore, the treasurer was a devoted worshipper of the Lord, and had come from his native land for that purpose to one of the great feasts at Jerusalem. Had he attended the feast of the Passover, Tabernacles or Pentecost? However, he was not fulfilled; religious, devout, yet longing for a personal knowledge of the living God, he reluctantly left Jerusalem for his native land. Yes, many religious folk are searching for the real experience of the living God and His Son, our Lord Jesus. They, too cannot rest until they rest in HIM. Is that you?

‘He was lost in meditation for ‘Returning, He sat in his chariot, reading Isaiah, the prophet. ‘

Why was he drawn to this gospel-like prophecy in the Old Testament? The Spirit of God was reaching out to him, to introduce our Lord Jesus to him. God’s Spirit, like the Good shepherd always looked out for the lost sheep, whether exalted treasurer or common person.

Philip must have been athletic, ‘For the spirit said to Phili[. ‘Go near and overtake the chariot.’’How could the Holy Spirit compel a humble servant to do His will? He can speak audibly, for scripture says to command, speak or say; He can give an over-riding desire to do something; He can bering Scripture to mind, such a ’Go into all the world and preach te gospel to every creature.’ He c an give a hunch that God wants us do something. He is the the third PERSON of the Trinity. We learn tyo obey the God-given hunches.

Recently, I closed a business call with ’The Lord bless you.’ which brought a response,’ He does.’ ’You’re a Christian?’ ’Sure,’ was the response. ‘Praise the Lord’, I replied.

I gave our web site to the delighted, young receptionist, who was looking for childrens‘ stories. ‘You‘ll find them on the site.’ A God-given hunch or word! Follow them like Philip!

Philip ran to him, hearing him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘ Do you understand what you are reading?‘ ’How can I,’ he said, ‘Unless someone guides me.’ Humble, openly longing for truth, the Ethiopian treasurer was like a beautiful flower opening to the Sun of righteousness. ‘Come up and sit with me,’ he urged Philip. (v31)

God’s timing was just right for he read from a telling passage of the Old Testament, especially from Isaiah chapter 53, telling of the sufferings of our Lord and Sav iour.

An hour later, he may have been reading a more difficult part of scripture. God teaches obedience to the voice of the Spirit in this marvellous chapter; so that one man ( a very important one ) may be led to Christ.

‘The place of the Scripture, where he read was this,’ He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.

And like a Lamb silent before its shearer, so He did not open His mouth,

In His humiliation His justice was taken away; And who will declare His generation?

For His life is taken from the earth.’

‘I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this?’ The eunuch answered Philip.’ ‘Of himself or of some other man?’ The door was wide open for Philip to preach Christ to this illustrious man. See how he grasped the opportunity to make Christ known. Do we seize such moments to reach the needy for our beloved Lord?

‘Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture ( what a great starting point ) , preached Jesus to him.’ (v35) presumably in the Hebrew or Aramaic language. Our Lord’s name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Jehovah is salvation ‘ or Saviour from our sins.’ Faithful Philip showed the Ethiopian he had sinned against the Lord, and must repent of that sin, and come to Christ for cleansing in His precious blood. We too must be faithful to our God in making this clear.

Philip preached the whole gospel, namely the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ - and that baptism pictured that amazing sequence of events. Remember how Peter at the day of Pentecost preached,’ Repent - and let everyone 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.’ ( Acts 2;38)

‘Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘ See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’