It's funny how the Lord
gives us the opportunities
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we never
thought we'd quite have.
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When we get into this business
of preaching the Lord's word--
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it's not a business really,
I shouldn't use that word.
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It's an inappropriate
word for this work.
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But when we get into
this line, this calling,
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this calling on our lives,
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we don't ever even
think about the situation
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sometimes that the
Lord is gonna place us in.
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Today we are
going to be studying
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a passage in the Book of Acts.
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In fact, we'll be
studying a very unique passage,
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something that we often look at.
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And as we read through it,
just sort of a cursory glance,
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there are certain
things that stick out.
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I hope today that we'll find
several lessons in this passage
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that will help us better
understand exactly the way
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in which certain New
Testament characters went about
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their calling,
their calling to preach.
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But before we do
that, before I jump
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right into our passage today,
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I'd like to take the opportunity
to open with a word of prayer.
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Awesome Father in Heaven,
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each and every one of
us pauses at this moment
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thankful that You
use us earthen vessels.
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We pray now that Your spirit be
present in a very special way.
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Father, I pray that You right
yourself into our very hearts.
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Make this an
opportunity to learn.
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And we pray these
things in the precious name
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Jesus, amen.
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I've been pastoring now
for a little over 10 months.
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And I told myself-- as
soon as I entered my pastorate,
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that I was going to
take the opportunity
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to teach while I preach.
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In particular, to really take
an opportunity to share things
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that maybe, perhaps seem more
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like a Wednesday
night prayer meeting type
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of a sermon or event.
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You see, pastors know
and I've soon found out
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upon entering my ministry
that when you ask people
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to come out in the
middle of the week,
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you ask them to come
out and to get trained up
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and to really enjoy things,
they sometimes don't come.
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And you could be
preaching to a few meager souls
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when you instead want to be
preaching to your whole church.
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So I've taken it upon
myself in just 10 short months
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of ministry to preach as
many training sermons as I can.
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Today will be no different.
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We're going to be
going to the Book of Acts.
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My church members
are beginning to get
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a little bit fed up
with me, just a little bit.
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You see, when I first came,
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the very first sermon I preached
was from Acts Chapter 1.
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And I've preached about
25 or 26 different sermons.
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You see, I preach each
week in a different church.
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So I only have to
prepare two sermons a month.
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And I am only now at Acts 12.
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Ten months in I've
preached through only
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12 Chapters of the Book
of Acts, 26 plus sermons.
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And every Sabbath it's
sort of a joke between us.
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How much longer
pastor is it gonna be?
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So nonetheless,
we're going to be jumping
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into one of my favorite sermons
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from this series and
it's in Acts Chapter 8.
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My sermon today is entitled
"Miracle on the Gaza Strip."
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Now how many of you
know where the Gaza Strip is?
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No doubt if you watch
CNN for any length of time,
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even just for a few days,
perhaps even almost everyday,
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it seems like, there's something
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regarding this
Gaza Strip place, huh?
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It's kind of a sort of a
hubbub of where things happen.
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Seems to be-- it's
kind of a central location
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in the events
on our globe today.
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You see, it's sort
of a hotly debated place
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this Gaza Strip,
between the Arabs and the Jews.
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Many things
happen on the Gaza Strip.
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Lot of fighting happens
there, surprised--territory.
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And many of us, as Christians,
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we pray for this
situation out in the Middle East
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and we want more than anything
for this to come to an end.
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We're tired of
seeing all the fighting.
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We're tired of everything that
takes place on the Gaza Strip.
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While there
aren't very many miracles
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perhaps taking place
on the Gaza Strip today,
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we turn to our
Bibles in Acts Chapter 8
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and we find a
story that took place--
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I want to use my
preacher's imagination
00:05:38.65\00:05:40.43
here a little bit today.
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And I believe that
this whole event took place
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right there at the Gaza Strip.
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We're turning to Acts
Chapter 8 in our Bibles.
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Acts 8 Chapter
beginning in verse 26.
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We're gonna be
looking at the story
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of Philip and the eunuch.
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Philip was a deacon.
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In Acts Chapter
7, Steven and Philip
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are featured prominently.
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And now we're--chapter 6
and 7, they feature prominently.
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And now we're really
going to hone in on an event
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here in Philip's life
and in the eunuch's life
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that serves to
teach us many lessons.
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I'm going to read right through
our passage today Acts 8:26-40.
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And then we're
going to slow down and see
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what the scriptures
have to teach us today.
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So that's 8--
Acts Chapter 8: 26.
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My little heading
here and my Bible says,
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"Christ is
preached to an Ethiopian."
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Verse 26, "Now an angel
of the Lord spoke to Philip,
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saying, 'Arise and go
towards the south along the road
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which goes down from Jerusalem
to Gaza.' This is desert."
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If you have your Bibles
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you can even turn
right in here to the maps,
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if you have one
of these nice Bibles.
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And you can come right down here
and in the south west corner
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there's a little
place here called Gaza.
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This is that stretch right here,
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that Gaza Strip
that we're talking about.
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From Jerusalem to Gaza.
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The Bible says
here, "This is dessert."
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Put that on a
shelf in your mind,
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we'll come back to that.
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This is an important
thing-- I don't think
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the Bible just minces words.
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It doesn't
record events or facts
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just for the sake of doing it,
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in order for Luke
to be a good historian.
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Now Luke was a good historian.
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And that is the person
who wrote the Book of Acts.
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Luke was a good historian.
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But he records this
phrase "This is dessert"
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for a very important reason.
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And we need to be certain
we're gonna come back to that.
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But just put that on a little
shelf in the back of your head,
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we'll be
returning to that shortly.
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Verse 27, "So he arose and went.
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And behold, a man of Ethiopia,
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a eunuch of great authority
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under Candace the
queen of the Ethiopians,
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who had charge
of all her treasury,
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and had come to
Jerusalem to worship."
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Verse 28, "Was returning
and sitting in his chariot,
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he was reading
Isaiah the prophet.
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Then the Spirit said to Philip,
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'Go near and
overtake this chariot.'
00:08:06.86\00:08:09.42
So Philip ran to
him, and heard him reading
00:08:09.45\00:08:11.45
the prophet Isaiah, and said,
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'Do you understand
what you are reading?'
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And he said, 'How can I,
unless someone guides me?'
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And he asked Philip to
come up and sit with him.
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The place in the Scripture
which he read was this."
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It's Isaiah 53 by the way.
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"He was led as a
sheep to the slaughter.
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And as a lamb before
its shearer is silent,
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So He opened not His mouth.
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In His humiliation His
justice was taken away,
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and who will
declare His generation
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for His life is
taken from the earth.
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So the eunuch
answered Philip and said,
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'I ask you, of whom
does the prophet say this,
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of himself or
of some other man?'
00:08:48.69\00:08:51.25
Then Philip opened his mouth,
and beginning at this Scripture,
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preached Jesus to him." Amen?
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"Now as they went down the
road, they came to some water.
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And the eunuch
said, 'See, here is water.
00:09:04.38\00:09:06.38
What hinders me
from being baptized?'
00:09:06.41\00:09:08.45
Then Philip
said, 'If you believe
00:09:08.48\00:09:09.85
with all your heart, you
may.' And he answered and said,
00:09:09.88\00:09:11.92
'I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.'
00:09:11.95\00:09:15.21
And so he commanded
the chariot to stand still.
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And both Philip and
the eunuch went down
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into the water,
and he baptized him.
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Now when they came
up out of the water,
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the Spirit of the
Lord caught Philip away,
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so that the
eunuch saw him no more
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and he went his way rejoicing.
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But Philip was found in Azotus.
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And passing through, he
preached in all the cities
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till he came to Caesarea."
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This is a powerful story.
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My sermon today is entitled
"Miracle on the Gaza Strip."
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Upon a cursory reading,
most of us would scan down
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and we'd get to
verse 39 and we'd say,
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that's the miracle right there,
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that's what the
preacher talking about today.
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Philip was just zapped away.
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How many of you
stars trek people?
00:09:58.23\00:10:00.20
Trekkies? You like
the show Star Trek?
00:10:00.23\00:10:02.86
Well, I don't really
like the show anymore.
00:10:02.89\00:10:05.89
But there was a time
when I was much younger
00:10:05.92\00:10:07.77
that my mom and I
used to watch Star Trek.
00:10:07.80\00:10:10.06
And I liked Star
Trek: The Next Generation.
00:10:10.09\00:10:12.68
Well, anyways in all
the Star Trek episodes
00:10:12.71\00:10:14.91
and movies and stuff,
00:10:14.94\00:10:16.85
there's this
thing that they say,
00:10:16.88\00:10:18.25
"Beam me up, Scotty."
00:10:18.28\00:10:19.65
And I can't remember--
it's slipping my mind right now
00:10:19.68\00:10:21.58
what that machine was
called but they would--
00:10:21.61\00:10:24.85
they'd appear and disappear
and they'd be transported
00:10:24.88\00:10:27.28
throughout the universe just
very simply from their ship.
00:10:27.31\00:10:31.56
And so as we're reading we
come to verse 39 and we say,
00:10:31.59\00:10:34.15
"Now when they came
up out of the water,
00:10:34.18\00:10:35.93
the Spirit of the
Lord caught Philip away."
00:10:35.96\00:10:38.51
He sort of beamed him away.
00:10:38.54\00:10:39.91
He beamed him
to some other part.
00:10:39.94\00:10:42.02
And most of us will say,
"Well, that's the miracle."
00:10:42.05\00:10:44.33
Philip didn't have
to travel anywhere.
00:10:44.36\00:10:45.76
He didn't have to go
anywhere. He just-- gone.
00:10:45.79\00:10:50.20
This morning-- today,
I would rather mention
00:10:50.23\00:10:54.29
to say that-- in fact,
00:10:54.32\00:10:59.05
the miracle is not Philip here
00:10:59.08\00:11:01.38
just sort of
disappearing into thin air
00:11:01.41\00:11:03.79
and appearing somewhere
else. That was a miracle.
00:11:03.82\00:11:07.56
But there is a far
greater miracle here
00:11:07.59\00:11:09.97
that the Lord is
wanting us to see.
00:11:10.00\00:11:13.76
And so we're going to
break this passage down
00:11:13.79\00:11:17.45
into what I believe
are seven distinct steps
00:11:17.48\00:11:21.74
in reaching those
around us for Christ.
00:11:21.77\00:11:26.35
I get it a lot and
I'm asked all the time
00:11:26.38\00:11:29.26
and it was
something I wanted to know.
00:11:29.29\00:11:31.72
When I entered college
to study for the ministry
00:11:31.75\00:11:34.34
and took some
evangelism training,
00:11:34.37\00:11:36.70
I wanted to know
just what steps do I take
00:11:36.73\00:11:39.29
to get to the
heart of an individual.
00:11:39.32\00:11:43.00
How do I know how
to share my faith?
00:11:43.03\00:11:48.23
I think that this
story lends itself well
00:11:48.26\00:11:50.79
to seven steps in witnessing.
00:11:50.82\00:11:53.63
Seven steps that we can take,
00:11:53.66\00:11:56.03
things that can be
brought to our minds to help us
00:11:56.06\00:11:59.27
reach those that
need to hear the gospel.
00:11:59.30\00:12:05.53
Verse 26 says, "Now an angel
of the Lord spoke to Philip,
00:12:05.56\00:12:09.79
saying, "Arise and
go towards the south
00:12:09.82\00:12:12.63
along the road which goes
down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
00:12:12.66\00:12:15.74
They're on the Gaza Strip.
00:12:15.77\00:12:19.61
Lesson number 1, then
is always be listening
00:12:19.64\00:12:22.66
to the Lord. Pretty simply.
00:12:22.69\00:12:27.50
Not very profound at this
point. Christians know that.
00:12:27.53\00:12:31.77
We've been told that
from when we're little
00:12:31.80\00:12:33.90
or from the
moment we enter Church.
00:12:33.93\00:12:35.49
The moment we give our
lives over to Christ we're told,
00:12:35.52\00:12:37.51
listen to the Lord,
listen to His little biddings.
00:12:37.54\00:12:39.77
And we're
constantly been told this.
00:12:39.80\00:12:42.18
And so many of us
are struck in this,
00:12:42.21\00:12:44.63
this thinking that it
needs to be an audible voice.
00:12:44.66\00:12:47.07
Now Philip was lucky,
00:12:47.10\00:12:48.47
this was an audible
voice from the Spirit.
00:12:48.50\00:12:50.98
He could
actually hear the spirit.
00:12:51.01\00:12:54.29
But I think there are times
00:12:54.32\00:12:56.65
when it's not going to
just be an audible voice.
00:12:56.68\00:13:00.39
And I think
perhaps the hardest thing
00:13:00.42\00:13:01.90
that we run into
is the fact that--
00:13:01.93\00:13:04.34
we find ourselves in
situations where we say,
00:13:04.37\00:13:06.34
"No way is the Lord gonna
actually talk to me right now."
00:13:06.37\00:13:10.65
And that when I asked
you to put that phrase
00:13:10.68\00:13:12.68
"This is dessert" in your minds.
00:13:12.71\00:13:16.08
A lot of times we find ourselves
in a modern day dessert.
00:13:16.11\00:13:19.89
And this could be a
variety of situations.
00:13:19.92\00:13:23.54
And we think to our self, "No
way is the Lord gonna listen.
00:13:23.57\00:13:26.37
I don't need to be
listening to the Lord right now.
00:13:26.40\00:13:27.87
I'm not gonna hear
Him. He's not gonna
00:13:27.90\00:13:29.27
speak to me in this situation."
00:13:29.30\00:13:30.96
And so too could have Philip.
00:13:30.99\00:13:32.93
Philip could have said,
"I'm in the middle of nowhere.
00:13:32.96\00:13:34.66
It's hot, it's steamy.
00:13:34.69\00:13:36.06
There's a sand
storm. I'm traveling.
00:13:36.09\00:13:38.61
The Lord's not
gonna speak to me."
00:13:38.64\00:13:40.18
And he could have been so busy,
00:13:40.21\00:13:41.59
so caught up that
the Lord could have been
00:13:41.62\00:13:43.59
screaming in his face and
he wouldn't have heard Him.
00:13:43.62\00:13:48.75
So well, it may not
be an audible voice.
00:13:48.78\00:13:51.00
We may be in a
situation that we think,
00:13:51.03\00:13:52.62
"How was the Lord
going to reach me now?"
00:13:52.65\00:13:56.21
But we always need to
be listening to the Lord.
00:13:56.24\00:13:59.35
Now how does
this really take form?
00:13:59.38\00:14:02.75
I think a lot of times listening
to the Lord is learning
00:14:02.78\00:14:05.45
to recognize a unique
situation we might be in.
00:14:05.48\00:14:10.11
And there's a
whole paradigm shift
00:14:10.14\00:14:12.45
that takes place in our minds
00:14:12.48\00:14:14.45
when we start to put principles
of witnessing in order.
00:14:14.48\00:14:17.12
No longer am I just
in line at the pharmacy
00:14:17.15\00:14:19.88
to get my antibiotics to
make my sore-throat go away
00:14:19.91\00:14:23.53
or that bronchial
infection I have go away.
00:14:23.56\00:14:27.04
No longer am I in line
just buying my silk soymilk
00:14:27.07\00:14:29.83
to have
breakfast in the morning.
00:14:29.86\00:14:32.31
No longer am I just
strolling through the park
00:14:32.34\00:14:34.73
with my wife to get exercise.
00:14:34.76\00:14:37.97
These, all of these situations,
00:14:38.00\00:14:39.61
these dessert
type situations become
00:14:39.64\00:14:41.89
opportunities for us to
be listening to the Lord.
00:14:41.92\00:14:44.31
Maybe you spotted somebody.
00:14:44.34\00:14:47.18
Maybe it was 12 O'clock at night
like it was recently for me,
00:14:47.21\00:14:50.75
I came down with
a terrible fever.
00:14:50.78\00:14:52.15
I know right away
when I get a fever.
00:14:52.18\00:14:53.72
My skin starts to hurt.
00:14:53.75\00:14:55.12
It's just-- I don't even
want clothing on my body.
00:14:55.15\00:14:57.31
And I knew I was getting
a fever and before I knew it
00:14:57.34\00:14:59.39
my ears were hurting and I
was sick and my wife and I,
00:14:59.42\00:15:02.65
we went to the emergency.
They did all sorts of tests.
00:15:02.68\00:15:05.94
And the doctor said,
"You've got some infection."
00:15:05.97\00:15:07.83
And he sent me to CVS to get
some antibiotics to get better.
00:15:07.86\00:15:12.89
And it was midnight
and praise the Lord,
00:15:12.92\00:15:16.33
Walgreens or CVS one of
those was open all night
00:15:16.36\00:15:19.10
and we walked in
and there was a--
00:15:19.13\00:15:21.16
just a young lady
pharmacist working there.
00:15:21.19\00:15:24.95
And I wasn't
feeling well. I had a fever.
00:15:24.98\00:15:28.08
I wanted to get
home as soon as possible.
00:15:28.11\00:15:30.01
And a lot of times that's
the kind of hubbub we're in.
00:15:30.04\00:15:32.86
We're in a situation,
we just want to get home.
00:15:32.89\00:15:34.87
We just want to go to bed.
00:15:34.90\00:15:36.27
We want to get
home with our family,
00:15:36.30\00:15:37.67
eat supper,
prepare things, go to work.
00:15:37.70\00:15:39.90
We don't want to be
ready to listen to the Lord.
00:15:39.93\00:15:43.77
And this lady
started to talk to me.
00:15:43.80\00:15:45.63
In fact, she was
way more talkative
00:15:45.66\00:15:47.03
than any pharmacist
I had ever been near.
00:15:47.06\00:15:49.24
And I was thinking to myself,
00:15:49.27\00:15:51.24
"Lord, is there any opportunity
here for me to say something?"
00:15:51.27\00:15:53.41
And anyways it came about
that I got to share with her
00:15:53.44\00:15:56.01
that I was a
pastor, I was a minister,
00:15:56.04\00:15:57.93
I was looking for, you know,
00:15:57.96\00:16:00.99
a way to just
really get in there
00:16:01.02\00:16:02.64
and peak her interest.
00:16:02.67\00:16:04.79
I recognized
that perhaps this is
00:16:04.82\00:16:06.19
one of those unique situations.
00:16:06.22\00:16:10.27
But it goes even
further than that.
00:16:10.30\00:16:11.78
It doesn't just mean our
day in and day out existence.
00:16:11.81\00:16:15.54
Again as a pastor, we have
calendars, praise the Lord.
00:16:15.57\00:16:19.21
We have things to keep us line.
00:16:19.24\00:16:20.63
We know where we're
gonna be in the coming days,
00:16:20.66\00:16:23.02
even sometimes coming months.
00:16:23.05\00:16:24.50
Even sometimes up to
a half a year in advance
00:16:24.53\00:16:26.84
we know where we're gonna be
for a certain occasion or event.
00:16:26.87\00:16:31.74
So I would venture to say today
00:16:31.77\00:16:33.18
that you need to
take your calendar.
00:16:33.21\00:16:34.86
And not only
spend time recognizing
00:16:34.89\00:16:37.84
what's gonna happen today,
but be thinking in advance.
00:16:37.87\00:16:40.66
Maybe you've planned a fantastic
getaway with your wife,
00:16:40.69\00:16:44.65
with your
husband, with your family.
00:16:44.68\00:16:47.18
You're going to
Austria, to the Austrian Alps
00:16:47.21\00:16:50.59
to go skiing in
the heart of January
00:16:50.62\00:16:53.12
when the snow is falling
and you're not even considering
00:16:53.15\00:16:56.70
that maybe
there's an opportunity
00:16:56.73\00:16:58.23
for you to share the gospel.
00:16:58.26\00:17:00.76
I think the paradigm shift
that Christians need today,
00:17:00.79\00:17:03.27
that all of us need today, if
this work is going to get done,
00:17:03.30\00:17:06.29
is that we need to
be even willing to think
00:17:06.32\00:17:08.28
that far in advance,
that far into the future,
00:17:08.31\00:17:12.89
that perhaps just maybe
we can take that opportunity
00:17:12.92\00:17:17.04
to sit beside somebody on
the gondola up the mountain
00:17:17.07\00:17:19.72
and share a
little bit about Jesus.
00:17:19.75\00:17:23.39
So not only do we
recognize unique situations
00:17:23.42\00:17:25.78
and we're listening to
the Lord day in and day out,
00:17:25.81\00:17:27.98
but also we need to
be listening to the Lord,
00:17:28.01\00:17:29.68
is there going
to be an opportunity
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.45
in the future here and be
preparing for it, be ready.
00:17:31.48\00:17:34.26
Maybe you need to
think of a sentence or two
00:17:34.29\00:17:36.59
or a story or two
for that situation
00:17:36.62\00:17:38.73
that will help you share Jesus.
00:17:38.76\00:17:42.84
Ask the Lord,
how can He use you?
00:17:42.87\00:17:46.15
How can He use me in
the coming weeks from here,
00:17:46.18\00:17:48.80
tomorrow, or
later this afternoon?
00:17:48.83\00:17:51.05
It's a matter of perspective.
00:17:51.08\00:17:53.68
We need to have a
perspective that the situations
00:17:53.71\00:17:56.00
the Lord places us in can
be situations to share Jesus.
00:17:56.03\00:18:00.83
Philip was in a desert.
00:18:00.86\00:18:03.70
There's not a whole lot
of people on the desert.
00:18:03.73\00:18:05.59
There's not a whole
lot of people to see there
00:18:05.62\00:18:07.29
or perhaps I know there's
Benjamins and different people
00:18:07.32\00:18:10.05
that travel and stuff but,
you know, this is a desert.
00:18:10.08\00:18:12.82
I think the Bible records just
like that. "This is desert."
00:18:12.85\00:18:16.58
Because it's trying
to clue us into the fact
00:18:16.61\00:18:18.63
that even in the desert people
need to be won to the Lord.
00:18:18.66\00:18:25.66
Verse 27, "So he arose and went.
00:18:25.69\00:18:31.22
And behold, a man of Ethiopia,
00:18:31.25\00:18:32.72
a eunuch of great
authority under Candace
00:18:32.75\00:18:34.54
the queen of the Ethiopians,
00:18:34.57\00:18:36.39
who had charge
of all her treasury,
00:18:36.42\00:18:37.81
and had come to Jerusalem
to worship, was returning.
00:18:37.84\00:18:41.08
And sitting in his chariot, he
was reading Isaiah the prophet.
00:18:41.11\00:18:44.03
Then the Spirit said to Philip,
00:18:44.06\00:18:45.43
'Go near and
overtake this chariot.'
00:18:45.46\00:18:47.97
So Philip ran to him."
00:18:48.00\00:18:51.59
I was sharing this
as a devotional thought
00:18:51.62\00:18:54.74
at the ARISE
Institute not too long ago.
00:18:54.77\00:18:58.20
And when I was done, a good
pastor friend of mine there,
00:18:58.23\00:19:01.09
the Director David
Asscherick he says,
00:19:01.12\00:19:02.55
"I've got a great two word title
for this section of your talk."
00:19:02.58\00:19:06.53
And he says, "You need to call
this section 'Soul Sprinting.'"
00:19:06.56\00:19:10.22
And I thought to
myself that's perfect,
00:19:10.25\00:19:11.75
that's exactly what this is.
00:19:11.78\00:19:13.25
This is soul sprinting.
00:19:13.28\00:19:15.49
So it's not
enough just to recognize
00:19:15.52\00:19:17.86
the situation that
we find ourselves in.
00:19:17.89\00:19:20.08
It's not just
enough to hear the Lord.
00:19:20.11\00:19:22.56
We need to-- the
moment the Lord speaks to us,
00:19:22.59\00:19:24.72
the moment we
recognize the situation,
00:19:24.75\00:19:26.40
we need to be
willing to run to it.
00:19:26.43\00:19:28.26
We need to be willing,
00:19:28.29\00:19:29.66
to the best of our
ability, to sprint.
00:19:29.69\00:19:31.80
Philip here
didn't drag his feet.
00:19:31.83\00:19:33.46
He didn't say,
"Oh, this is the desert.
00:19:33.49\00:19:34.86
I can see him from
miles, I'll catch up to him.
00:19:34.89\00:19:38.60
I'll just take my time.
00:19:38.63\00:19:40.33
It will give me enough time
00:19:40.36\00:19:41.73
to figure out
what I'm gonna say."
00:19:41.76\00:19:43.13
No. What did Philip do?
00:19:43.16\00:19:44.70
So Philip ran to Him.
00:19:44.73\00:19:48.84
Why is this so important?
00:19:48.87\00:19:51.52
We want to witness.
00:19:51.55\00:19:52.92
All of us want to be
effective witnesses for Christ.
00:19:52.95\00:19:56.74
Why is it important to run?
00:19:56.77\00:20:00.84
I'll tell you why.
00:20:00.87\00:20:02.46
I'm gonna use my
wife as an example.
00:20:02.49\00:20:04.06
She knows I'm going
to share this with you.
00:20:04.09\00:20:06.75
I've asked her permission.
00:20:06.78\00:20:08.81
That's an important
thing to do by the way,
00:20:08.84\00:20:10.94
to ask her permission sometimes.
00:20:10.97\00:20:12.59
Not all the stories are as nice
and as pleasant as this one.
00:20:12.62\00:20:17.01
Nonetheless my
wife was a secular kind
00:20:17.04\00:20:21.19
of strangely
agnostic at believing in God,
00:20:21.22\00:20:24.48
not really sure of what
God she believed in or how
00:20:24.51\00:20:27.05
and she was
attending the University
00:20:27.08\00:20:28.57
of British Columbia in Canada,
perhaps the second largest.
00:20:28.60\00:20:31.54
I think close to the
second largest university
00:20:31.57\00:20:33.09
in all of
Canada, next to the UFT.
00:20:33.12\00:20:35.62
60, 000 day students and she
was just in the midst of this.
00:20:35.65\00:20:39.40
Going in, studying
literature, studying philosophy,
00:20:39.43\00:20:43.00
and yet she began
to think to herself--
00:20:43.03\00:20:48.34
I actually kind
of believe in God
00:20:48.37\00:20:50.05
and I would even
probably tell people
00:20:50.08\00:20:52.60
I'm a Christian
if they asked me.
00:20:52.63\00:20:54.42
And yet I've
never read the Bible
00:20:54.45\00:20:55.82
and she started
to read the Bible.
00:20:55.85\00:20:57.32
She started to get ready.
00:20:57.35\00:20:58.72
Her appetite was whet.
00:20:58.75\00:21:01.52
She was ready to
go. She wanted to hear.
00:21:01.55\00:21:07.24
And at that time,
certain circumstances came about
00:21:07.27\00:21:10.37
and she was able then to go
00:21:10.40\00:21:12.10
and a pastor actually
approached her--her parents--
00:21:12.13\00:21:14.68
I can't get into the
whole story but there was
00:21:14.71\00:21:16.89
an opportunity for her
to start going to church,
00:21:16.92\00:21:19.00
to start taking Bible studies,
00:21:19.03\00:21:21.30
because some
other people would say,
00:21:21.33\00:21:22.70
"Hey, listen, I
know this family,
00:21:22.73\00:21:24.27
this girl, they're just ready,
they want to hear about it."
00:21:24.30\00:21:27.33
Now suppose I was that
pastor and I would say,
00:21:27.36\00:21:30.27
"Oh, well, I'll get there.
00:21:30.30\00:21:32.01
You know, I've
got a busy schedule.
00:21:32.04\00:21:33.41
I've got a lot
of people to visit."
00:21:33.44\00:21:35.45
You put yourself in
whatever situation it might be.
00:21:35.48\00:21:37.45
You've heard that.
00:21:37.48\00:21:39.03
You know those
opportunities come and go.
00:21:39.06\00:21:42.04
What was the key
here in all of this?
00:21:42.07\00:21:44.40
The key was that
the spirit of God
00:21:44.43\00:21:46.04
was already
working with my wife,
00:21:46.07\00:21:48.87
already working
with her, preparing her,
00:21:48.90\00:21:51.17
waiting, and
then the man servant--
00:21:51.20\00:21:53.51
the woman servant, somebody had
to go and preach that message.
00:21:53.54\00:21:57.55
Philip recognized that when
the Lord was calling him saying,
00:21:57.58\00:22:00.09
go and Philip says, "Okay,
the spirit has been working,
00:22:00.12\00:22:03.01
the iron is hot, I
need to strike now."
00:22:03.04\00:22:07.16
We can't drag our feet.
00:22:07.19\00:22:08.56
Too often we drag our
feet and the situation is gone.
00:22:08.59\00:22:12.37
I've got many stories like this.
00:22:12.40\00:22:14.28
Door knocking, opportunities
00:22:14.31\00:22:15.77
we have to share
and we drag our feet.
00:22:15.80\00:22:19.54
We're not wanting to really--
we're just kind of down trodden
00:22:19.57\00:22:25.34
and we're scared and we
need to get past that, friends.
00:22:25.37\00:22:29.64
We need to be willing to
run when the Lord speaks.
00:22:29.67\00:22:32.46
So step number 1, listen.
00:22:32.49\00:22:34.86
May not just be
an auditable thing.
00:22:34.89\00:22:36.83
It may be the--
the Lord setting up
00:22:36.86\00:22:38.23
a situation and
you're listening.
00:22:38.26\00:22:40.51
And then when
you recognize that.
00:22:40.54\00:22:41.91
"Hey, the Lord has
set this up for me,"
00:22:41.94\00:22:43.40
we need to run to
it. We need to run to it.
00:22:43.43\00:22:48.99
Back to our Scriptures then.
00:22:49.02\00:22:52.60
Verse 30, "So Philip ran to him,
00:22:52.63\00:22:54.63
and heard him reading
the prophet Isaiah, and said,
00:22:54.66\00:22:57.44
'Do you understand
what you are reading?'"
00:22:57.47\00:23:03.25
I call this next
step, step number 3.
00:23:03.28\00:23:06.35
I call this
"Asking leading questions."
00:23:06.38\00:23:11.84
So we run to the situation.
00:23:11.87\00:23:14.13
I've been trained in
Canada by St John Ambulance.
00:23:14.16\00:23:17.04
It's kind of first aid
care. You take a course.
00:23:17.07\00:23:19.76
I think we did in high school--
00:23:19.79\00:23:21.43
probably my little card
there's run out already.
00:23:21.46\00:23:24.30
But during this time,
during this training opportunity
00:23:24.33\00:23:27.59
I learned something
that very important.
00:23:27.62\00:23:30.30
When you're coming into
an emergency situation--
00:23:30.33\00:23:32.57
and by the way, is soul
winning an emergency situation?
00:23:32.60\00:23:35.69
Do these people need to know?
Could they die the next day?
00:23:35.72\00:23:38.96
Yeah, we just don't
quite know what's involved.
00:23:38.99\00:23:41.94
We need to run
to these situations.
00:23:41.97\00:23:43.45
Anyways, I learned that when
there's an emergency situation,
00:23:43.48\00:23:47.13
you don't just run in and
start throwing things around
00:23:47.16\00:23:49.56
and trying to help the person.
00:23:49.59\00:23:50.98
As you're running in, as you're
approaching the situation,
00:23:51.01\00:23:53.94
you're taking a quick glance
over everything that's around.
00:23:53.97\00:23:56.77
You're looking for
other possible dangers.
00:23:56.80\00:23:59.04
Maybe it was an
accident on the highway,
00:23:59.07\00:24:00.63
the car has been flipped over.
00:24:00.66\00:24:02.03
And there's gasoline
leaking. It might explode.
00:24:02.06\00:24:04.58
All of these things need to
enter your mind very quickly.
00:24:04.61\00:24:07.10
You need to do a cursory
evaluation of the situation.
00:24:07.13\00:24:12.24
Asking leading questions
in soul winning allows us
00:24:12.27\00:24:15.75
to take the time as
we're approaching the situation
00:24:15.78\00:24:18.51
to really grasp
what's going on here.
00:24:18.54\00:24:21.20
And let us put
out feelers and see
00:24:21.23\00:24:23.93
what's going on
in the person's mind.
00:24:23.96\00:24:26.86
Where have they been
in the last little while?
00:24:26.89\00:24:31.15
I know I wanted one and I
know many of you want one.
00:24:31.18\00:24:33.74
You know, that
magic silver bullet
00:24:33.77\00:24:35.14
where you could
just take dead aim
00:24:35.17\00:24:36.54
and just shoot one
statement and it's finished.
00:24:36.57\00:24:38.32
And you know that
one silver bullet,
00:24:38.35\00:24:40.02
that one statement, for
sure it's gonna have them
00:24:40.05\00:24:43.08
just begging to
know more about Jesus,
00:24:43.11\00:24:44.80
they'll be eating
out of your hands.
00:24:44.83\00:24:46.20
Listen, that silver bullet,
00:24:46.23\00:24:47.98
that magic
situation, it doesn't happen.
00:24:48.01\00:24:50.41
Each and every one
of us is different.
00:24:50.44\00:24:52.24
This eunuch was different.
00:24:52.27\00:24:54.21
Philip ran to him and
he asked him a question.
00:24:54.24\00:24:58.18
Do you understand
what you're reading?
00:24:58.21\00:24:59.58
He's asking leading questions.
00:24:59.61\00:25:00.98
Why do we ask leading questions?
00:25:01.01\00:25:02.38
We ask leading
questions because it opens
00:25:02.41\00:25:04.25
the floodgates to their heart.
00:25:04.28\00:25:07.19
It lets them open up to us
00:25:07.22\00:25:09.72
and we get to
see a better picture,
00:25:09.75\00:25:11.42
a clearer picture of just
00:25:11.45\00:25:13.21
what situation
they find themselves in.
00:25:13.24\00:25:16.42
Listen, there's abuse out
there. There's drugs out there.
00:25:16.45\00:25:20.26
There's lost jobs, finances,
00:25:20.29\00:25:22.44
broken homes, broken families,
00:25:22.47\00:25:24.42
we just don't know what
situation this person's in.
00:25:24.45\00:25:27.09
So when we
recognize-- the Lords says go
00:25:27.12\00:25:29.52
and we've run to it,
we ask a leading question.
00:25:29.55\00:25:33.11
And we ask things to
start opening them up.
00:25:33.14\00:25:36.29
Because the more information
we have the more ability
00:25:36.32\00:25:39.72
we're now going to
have to reach out to them
00:25:39.75\00:25:42.20
and to really hone
in and really be able
00:25:42.23\00:25:45.31
to develop this conversation
as such as to know exactly
00:25:45.34\00:25:49.27
what to say to open up
their spiritual lives, too.
00:25:49.30\00:25:53.55
We recognize the possibility
of doing something for Jesus.
00:25:58.29\00:26:02.55
We take a quick
evaluation of the situation.
00:26:02.58\00:26:06.30
We've asked
questions and we're listening.
00:26:06.33\00:26:09.92
We're listening
to these situations.
00:26:09.95\00:26:11.64
We need to know for
sure what's going on here?
00:26:11.67\00:26:16.11
And as we've
assessed the situation,
00:26:16.14\00:26:18.72
as we've
noticed all the dangers,
00:26:18.75\00:26:21.45
we've noticed the things that
might occupy their attention.
00:26:21.48\00:26:24.87
Maybe it's a
television in their living room.
00:26:24.90\00:26:27.74
And you've taken
this quick evaluation.
00:26:27.77\00:26:29.17
You're asking questions.
00:26:29.20\00:26:30.57
And they're more interested
with what's going on in the TV
00:26:30.60\00:26:32.83
than with what you're
asking, with what you're doing.
00:26:32.86\00:26:35.20
Then you simply ask them
to shut off the distraction.
00:26:35.23\00:26:37.65
You have
evaluated the situation.
00:26:37.68\00:26:39.31
You can turn off the dangers.
00:26:39.34\00:26:41.10
You can try and
distract them from the dangers.
00:26:41.13\00:26:43.19
You can try and
win their attention.
00:26:43.22\00:26:46.49
Philip here, he
doesn't just do anything,
00:26:46.52\00:26:48.73
he asks leading questions.
00:26:48.76\00:26:52.22
And this then leads to
the next very important point.
00:26:52.25\00:26:56.02
Only if we've
asked questions-- now,
00:26:56.05\00:26:58.46
99 out of 100 times
by the way I should say,
00:26:58.49\00:27:00.49
it takes the form of a question.
00:27:00.52\00:27:01.89
Sometimes it
will be a statement.
00:27:01.92\00:27:03.29
It could be a joke.
00:27:03.32\00:27:04.69
But most effective
thing is a question.
00:27:04.72\00:27:07.06
You know, ask them a question.
00:27:07.09\00:27:08.46
Get them talking
about themselves.
00:27:08.49\00:27:09.91
And why is this so important?
00:27:09.94\00:27:11.31
It leads to point number 4.
00:27:11.34\00:27:13.54
And we find this
right here in this passage.
00:27:13.57\00:27:18.93
"He asked the
question, 'do you--'" verse 30,
00:27:18.96\00:27:20.90
"'Do you understand
what you are reading?'
00:27:20.93\00:27:23.21
And he said to me, 'How can
I, unless someone guides me?'
00:27:23.24\00:27:27.23
And he asked Philip to
come up and to sit with him."
00:27:27.26\00:27:31.42
Then we read that
section and we jump
00:27:31.45\00:27:33.45
down to verse 34 and it says,
00:27:33.48\00:27:34.96
"So the eunuch
answered Philip and said,
00:27:34.99\00:27:36.62
'I ask you, of whom
does the prophet say this,
00:27:36.65\00:27:39.63
of himself or
of some other man?'
00:27:39.66\00:27:41.55
Then Philip opened his mouth,
00:27:41.58\00:27:42.95
and beginning
at this Scripture."
00:27:42.98\00:27:46.34
All of this
asking questions part,
00:27:46.37\00:27:48.43
all of this figuring
out where they're at.
00:27:48.46\00:27:50.36
Why are we doing it?
00:27:50.39\00:27:51.79
Because we need to
start where they're at.
00:27:51.82\00:27:54.95
I don't know how many
times I've been tempted,
00:27:54.98\00:27:57.87
you know, to just
take this opportunity and--
00:27:57.90\00:28:00.29
I know what's
been important to me
00:28:00.32\00:28:02.39
and what won me to the Lord
00:28:02.42\00:28:05.26
and I want to go that direction
and I want to be certain
00:28:05.29\00:28:07.77
that I win them
with what won me,
00:28:07.80\00:28:09.52
but that's not
gonna work all the time.
00:28:09.55\00:28:13.14
We need to be willing
to start where they're at.
00:28:13.17\00:28:18.62
You may if you want to
call that contextualization,
00:28:18.65\00:28:23.47
making sure that
we're in the right context.
00:28:23.50\00:28:27.20
We don't want to
start with something
00:28:27.23\00:28:29.18
that's not gonna
peak their interest.
00:28:29.21\00:28:32.45
We don't want to start with
an illustration or something
00:28:32.48\00:28:34.61
or some event or something
00:28:34.64\00:28:36.23
that we think is
gonna be effective.
00:28:36.26\00:28:37.80
We want to know
we're being effective.
00:28:37.83\00:28:39.36
And what does Philip do here?
00:28:39.39\00:28:40.76
He doesn't say, "Oh,
you're reading Isaiah,
00:28:40.79\00:28:42.16
that's too hard to understand.
00:28:42.19\00:28:43.56
Let's not go to Isaiah 53.
00:28:43.59\00:28:44.96
Let's go to john 3:16 first.
00:28:44.99\00:28:48.31
You know, let's go
to John-- you know what,
00:28:48.34\00:28:50.23
I think Isaiah 53 it's a little
bit difficult for you." No.
00:28:50.26\00:28:53.19
did Philip change
where he was headed?
00:28:53.22\00:28:55.75
No, he says
beginning and this scripture,
00:28:55.78\00:28:57.97
we need to meet
them where they're at.
00:28:58.00\00:29:01.31
So if they're-- you
know, crazy heavy metal
00:29:01.34\00:29:06.37
long-haired punk
rocker kind of dude,
00:29:06.40\00:29:08.35
you know, we don't need
to wait till they change.
00:29:08.38\00:29:10.69
We need to meet
them where they're at.
00:29:10.72\00:29:12.09
We need to figure out a way.
00:29:12.12\00:29:13.49
We need to ask
leading questions.
00:29:13.52\00:29:14.89
We need to know what gonna work?
00:29:14.92\00:29:16.29
Not everything is gonna work.
00:29:16.32\00:29:17.69
Not everybody has a
spiritual appetite yet.
00:29:17.72\00:29:20.91
Philip got off easy here.
00:29:20.94\00:29:22.31
The guy was reading his Bible.
00:29:22.34\00:29:24.70
Now most of us are
not in that situation
00:29:24.73\00:29:26.78
to just stumble across
somebody reading their Bible.
00:29:26.81\00:29:30.89
That's not the way it works.
00:29:30.92\00:29:33.67
We would all love it
that way, wouldn't we?
00:29:33.70\00:29:36.19
That's not the way it works.
00:29:36.22\00:29:37.59
People are in all sorts of
different situations in life
00:29:37.62\00:29:40.54
and we ask those
leading questions.
00:29:40.57\00:29:42.34
And when we
realize where they are at,
00:29:42.37\00:29:46.01
then we can take the
opportunity to meet them there.
00:29:46.04\00:29:50.12
So step number 4 is to
meet them where they're at.
00:29:50.15\00:29:51.94
Step number 1, listen to God.
00:29:51.97\00:29:53.50
Step number 2,
run when you hear Him.
00:29:53.53\00:29:56.42
Step number 3,
ask leading questions.
00:29:56.45\00:29:58.40
Step number 4, meet
them where they're at.
00:29:58.43\00:30:00.35
Once those
questions have done their work
00:30:00.38\00:30:02.69
and you've really heard
what they have to tell you,
00:30:02.72\00:30:04.44
meet them where they're at.
00:30:04.47\00:30:05.84
Begin with that
scripture, so to speak.
00:30:05.87\00:30:10.40
And this then takes
us to step number 5.
00:30:10.43\00:30:15.11
I'm gonna spend some time
on this one. Step number 5.
00:30:15.14\00:30:22.50
Reading again, let's
read verse 34 and 35 together.
00:30:22.53\00:30:25.49
"So the eunuch
answered Philip and said,
00:30:25.52\00:30:27.72
'I ask you, of whom
does the prophet say this,
00:30:27.75\00:30:31.99
of himself or of
some other man?'"
00:30:32.02\00:30:36.96
Take note of that.
00:30:36.99\00:30:38.70
"Then Philip opened his mouth,
00:30:38.73\00:30:41.61
and beginning at this Scripture,
preached Jesus to him."
00:30:41.64\00:30:48.12
You see, dear friends,
when these situations come,
00:30:48.15\00:30:52.13
people are spiritually
hungry. They want to know.
00:30:52.16\00:30:58.32
There's this--
you've heard it said before,
00:30:58.35\00:31:00.85
this God shaped hole
that's empty in everyone's life.
00:31:00.88\00:31:05.09
They don't have it filled.
00:31:05.12\00:31:06.49
They can try and fill it
with all sorts of things.
00:31:06.52\00:31:10.56
They can fill it
with relationships.
00:31:10.59\00:31:12.59
They can fill it with money.
00:31:12.62\00:31:14.33
They can fill it
with whatever they may
00:31:14.36\00:31:16.43
want to fill it
with at that time.
00:31:16.46\00:31:19.85
But it's God shaped and it
doesn't fill it just right.
00:31:19.88\00:31:25.57
You see, what do you say?
00:31:25.60\00:31:27.60
Is this--is the prophet speaking
of himself or some other man?
00:31:27.63\00:31:33.69
Then Philip opened his mouth
beginning at the scripture,
00:31:33.72\00:31:36.51
preached Jesus to him.
00:31:36.54\00:31:39.27
Now we're
sometimes tempted to preach
00:31:39.30\00:31:40.87
the second coming and
the signs of the times.
00:31:40.90\00:31:43.19
And we're just
itching to preach the Sabbath.
00:31:43.22\00:31:47.66
Or we're just
itching to preach something
00:31:47.69\00:31:49.68
that we just know,
oh, the prophecies,
00:31:49.71\00:31:51.65
the mark of the beast,
and all of those things,
00:31:51.68\00:31:54.24
sure they inform
our picture of Jesus,
00:31:54.27\00:31:56.75
amen? They do.
00:31:56.78\00:31:58.18
Those things are
important things.
00:31:58.21\00:32:01.53
But we need to get to
the root of the matter.
00:32:01.56\00:32:04.75
They've got things
missing in their lives.
00:32:04.78\00:32:07.09
But the most important thing
missing in their life is Jesus.
00:32:07.12\00:32:11.11
This huge hole in
their heart filled
00:32:11.14\00:32:13.88
with all sorts of nonsense,
00:32:13.91\00:32:15.53
all sorts of things that
just are never gonna work.
00:32:15.56\00:32:18.68
So you need Jesus.
00:32:18.71\00:32:22.90
Favorite author of mine inspired
00:32:22.93\00:32:25.97
and inspiring
wrote the following.
00:32:26.00\00:32:30.49
We're gonna read
through this a couple of times
00:32:30.52\00:32:32.56
because it's just
such a powerful quote.
00:32:32.59\00:32:34.68
Perhaps one of the most
powerful quotes I've ever read.
00:32:34.71\00:32:41.19
This author recognized
it. Philip recognized it.
00:32:41.22\00:32:44.60
You and I need
to recognize this.
00:32:44.63\00:32:50.37
From the Seventh-day
Adventist Bible commentary
00:32:50.40\00:32:52.38
volume 6, page 1113.
00:32:52.41\00:32:57.79
The author writes
"Hanging upon the cross
00:32:57.82\00:33:01.40
Christ was the gospel."
00:33:01.43\00:33:05.59
She goes to say,
"Now we have a message,
00:33:05.62\00:33:08.53
Behold the Lamb of God,
00:33:08.56\00:33:10.40
which taketh away
the sins of the world.
00:33:10.43\00:33:12.68
Will not our church
members keep their eyes
00:33:12.71\00:33:15.33
fixed on a
crucified and risen Saviour,
00:33:15.36\00:33:17.78
in whom their hopes of
eternal life are centered?
00:33:17.81\00:33:20.66
This is our message,
our argument, our doctrine,
00:33:20.69\00:33:25.14
our warning to the impenitent,
00:33:25.17\00:33:27.31
our encouragement
for the sorrowing,
00:33:27.34\00:33:29.50
the hope for every believer.
00:33:29.53\00:33:32.29
If we can awaken an
interest in men's minds
00:33:32.32\00:33:34.79
that will cause them to
fix their eyes on Christ,
00:33:34.82\00:33:37.46
we may step aside, and ask them
00:33:37.49\00:33:40.05
only to continue to fix
their eyes upon the Lamb of God.
00:33:40.08\00:33:43.58
They thus receive their lesson."
00:33:43.61\00:33:48.62
Slowing down now.
00:33:52.85\00:33:54.58
I read it
through so you could get
00:33:54.61\00:33:55.98
the totality,
the oomph behind it.
00:33:56.01\00:33:59.56
Let's slow down and see
just what was she saying.
00:33:59.59\00:34:01.85
"Hanging upon the cross
00:34:01.88\00:34:05.60
Christ was the gospel."
00:34:05.63\00:34:10.36
Now, I don't
condone watching movies.
00:34:14.33\00:34:19.22
And I think for the most part
they're a big waste of time.
00:34:19.25\00:34:23.68
But I just couldn't keep myself.
00:34:23.71\00:34:25.45
I mean, it was a phenomenon,
00:34:25.48\00:34:28.09
this "Passion of
the Christ" movie.
00:34:28.12\00:34:30.66
Mel Gibson's
"Passion of the Christ."
00:34:30.69\00:34:33.57
And I just-- I had to see it.
00:34:33.60\00:34:36.01
I had to know what
everybody was talking about.
00:34:36.04\00:34:37.83
I needed to know what are
the interviews were about.
00:34:37.86\00:34:39.50
What are the magazine
cover articles were about.
00:34:39.53\00:34:41.67
I needed to know.
00:34:41.70\00:34:43.07
And so I watched this film,
"The Passion of the Christ,"
00:34:43.10\00:34:47.25
fully aware of all the
problems along with it.
00:34:47.28\00:34:51.42
And I recognize those
problems and as I said,
00:34:51.45\00:34:54.58
for the most part, you know,
hands off sort of an approach.
00:34:54.61\00:35:01.90
But I watched this.
00:35:01.93\00:35:04.32
And you know, that situation
00:35:04.35\00:35:08.10
when Christ was
put on that cross,
00:35:08.13\00:35:12.02
there's something about
that-- hanging upon the cross
00:35:12.05\00:35:16.87
"Christ was the Gospel."
00:35:16.90\00:35:21.29
Melted my heart,
even a Christian,
00:35:21.32\00:35:24.11
Christian of many
years at the time,
00:35:24.14\00:35:26.13
one that had given
his life to Christ,
00:35:26.16\00:35:28.40
that was working,
walking with Christ,
00:35:28.43\00:35:30.10
it melted my heart again.
00:35:30.13\00:35:34.70
"Now we have a
message, Behold the Lamb of God,
00:35:34.73\00:35:38.16
which taketh away
the sins of the world.
00:35:38.19\00:35:41.39
Will not our church
members keep their eyes
00:35:41.42\00:35:44.98
fixed on a
crucified and risen Saviour,
00:35:45.01\00:35:47.91
in whom their hopes of
eternal life are centered?"
00:35:47.94\00:35:51.17
You see that, that God
shaped hole in their hearts,
00:35:51.20\00:35:54.54
that need for
something transcended,
00:35:54.57\00:35:56.70
something beyond
that, something to worship,
00:35:56.73\00:35:58.95
something to
believe, something to love,
00:35:58.98\00:36:00.55
to hold on to,
something that grounds them,
00:36:00.58\00:36:02.94
something that gives
them a reality in the midst
00:36:02.97\00:36:05.65
of all of this
mayhem that's around us.
00:36:05.68\00:36:09.96
"In whom their hopes of
eternal life are centered?
00:36:13.79\00:36:17.07
This is our message,
00:36:17.10\00:36:22.87
our argument, our doctrine,
00:36:22.90\00:36:27.33
our warning to the impenitent,
00:36:27.36\00:36:31.49
our encouragement
for the sorrowing,
00:36:31.52\00:36:35.03
the hope for every believer."
00:36:35.06\00:36:36.43
You see how, how wide that is?
00:36:36.46\00:36:38.92
She doesn't leave anybody else.
00:36:38.95\00:36:40.32
Those that want
to argue with you,
00:36:40.35\00:36:41.72
I don't agree with
this, I don't agree with that,
00:36:41.75\00:36:43.57
they always want to argue,
you know those arguing types?
00:36:43.60\00:36:46.95
She says, "Jesus hanging up
00:36:46.98\00:36:48.35
on the cross,
that's your argument."
00:36:48.38\00:36:51.78
Those that want to know-- just,
00:36:51.81\00:36:53.18
just what do you
believe? What's your message?
00:36:53.21\00:36:55.22
What do you
stand for as a church?
00:36:55.25\00:36:56.62
She says, "This is our message,
00:36:56.65\00:36:58.72
hanging upon the
cross, our doctrine."
00:36:58.75\00:37:03.69
Sometimes we want to take
them through 28 Bible studies.
00:37:03.72\00:37:06.10
Oh, and again as I
said those 28 Bible studies,
00:37:06.13\00:37:08.88
those will inform their picture.
They're all parts of it.
00:37:08.91\00:37:13.48
At the very heart of
it, at the very root of it
00:37:13.51\00:37:15.66
it is Christ
hanging upon the cross.
00:37:15.69\00:37:18.78
Without that
meaningless second coming,
00:37:18.81\00:37:21.32
meaningless Sabbath,
meaningless all of those things.
00:37:21.35\00:37:25.08
They're meaningless unless
that event had taken place.
00:37:25.11\00:37:28.68
Hanging upon the cross,
00:37:28.71\00:37:30.60
Christ was the gospel.
00:37:30.63\00:37:33.94
She says, "If we can awaken
an interest in men's minds
00:37:33.97\00:37:37.09
that will cause them to
fix their eyes upon Christ,
00:37:37.12\00:37:40.90
we may step aside."
00:37:40.93\00:37:43.37
That's what we all
really want to do, right?
00:37:43.40\00:37:45.59
I don't want to be
the one convincing them.
00:37:45.62\00:37:47.53
I don't want to be the one
constantly spoon feeding them
00:37:47.56\00:37:50.31
their spiritual
life, their spiritual food,
00:37:50.34\00:37:52.99
their spiritual desires.
00:37:53.02\00:37:55.51
I don't want to be
the one doing that.
00:37:55.54\00:37:56.98
I'm just a man. I make mistakes.
00:37:57.01\00:37:59.05
I may not prepare the
right meal for them that day.
00:37:59.08\00:38:03.19
If we can fix their eyes
on Christ we can step aside.
00:38:03.22\00:38:06.85
That's what we all want to do.
00:38:06.88\00:38:08.25
We want to be effective
soul winners for Christ.
00:38:08.28\00:38:11.56
We want to do our part,
00:38:11.59\00:38:12.96
but the moment we
can't we want to step aside.
00:38:12.99\00:38:15.88
We want to--and this
story bears that out by the way,
00:38:15.91\00:38:18.42
we're gonna get
to that at the end.
00:38:18.45\00:38:19.82
Philip has just
vanished. He stepped aside.
00:38:19.85\00:38:23.92
The eunuch's eyes had
been focused on Christ.
00:38:23.95\00:38:26.93
He preached Jesus to him.
00:38:26.96\00:38:29.76
The eunuch got a
lesson from Jesus.
00:38:29.79\00:38:32.01
He got to hear Jesus.
00:38:32.04\00:38:33.41
He got to smell
and to taste Jesus
00:38:33.44\00:38:35.45
and Philip was
able to just disappear.
00:38:35.48\00:38:36.99
You think, "Well, wait a minute.
00:38:37.02\00:38:38.39
Doesn't he need to disciple him?
00:38:38.42\00:38:39.79
Doesn't he need to nurture him?"
00:38:39.82\00:38:41.19
Yeah, yeah, all
those things are there.
00:38:41.22\00:38:42.59
The eunuch was
gonna find a place to have
00:38:42.62\00:38:44.42
all those things happen but
really he could just step aside.
00:38:44.45\00:38:48.65
Christ was now the lesson giver.
00:38:48.68\00:38:53.79
"We may step aside and ask them
00:38:53.82\00:38:55.23
only to continue to fix
their eyes upon the Lamb of God.
00:38:55.26\00:38:59.90
They thus receive their lesson."
00:38:59.93\00:39:04.33
Throughout the
Bible we find this.
00:39:04.36\00:39:07.11
We find this same
approach preach Jesus,
00:39:07.14\00:39:09.35
preach Jesus, preach Jesus.
00:39:09.38\00:39:11.74
Now you may be
thinking to yourself,
00:39:11.77\00:39:13.18
"Hang on a second, the
word there is preacher.
00:39:13.21\00:39:15.42
I'm not a
preacher. I can't preach.
00:39:15.45\00:39:18.09
I can't even stand up.
00:39:18.12\00:39:19.49
I don't know how
you're standing up right now
00:39:19.52\00:39:21.16
and preaching the word of God.
00:39:21.19\00:39:22.56
I'm too nervous to preach."
00:39:22.59\00:39:25.26
Now it's interesting
that the Bible you chose
00:39:25.29\00:39:29.35
to translate
the word preach here
00:39:29.38\00:39:31.10
it actually comes
from a Greek word,
00:39:31.13\00:39:36.88
which means where we get
the word evangelism from.
00:39:36.91\00:39:39.46
Now the
traditional word in the Greek
00:39:39.49\00:39:41.32
for preaching is (foreign word)
00:39:41.35\00:39:43.47
means to
proclaim, to tell, to share,
00:39:43.50\00:39:45.65
and it doesn't
mean a public speech.
00:39:45.68\00:39:48.80
That's not the
definition that when Paul
00:39:48.83\00:39:50.82
and others will
preach or evangelize--
00:39:50.85\00:39:53.00
(foreign words) They
weren't saying stand up front
00:39:53.03\00:39:56.35
in front a group of a
lot of people and preach,
00:39:56.38\00:39:59.88
a public, you
know, sermon type event.
00:39:59.91\00:40:02.85
No, that's not
what they had in mind.
00:40:02.88\00:40:05.20
When they said
preach or evangelize
00:40:05.23\00:40:08.20
they had this
right here, one on one.
00:40:08.23\00:40:11.45
You think Philip jumped
off the chariot and said,
00:40:11.48\00:40:15.21
"Hang on a second,
pulled out his Bible,
00:40:15.24\00:40:17.16
put in a pulpit
and started to preach?
00:40:17.19\00:40:19.02
No. That's not what
we're talking about here.
00:40:19.05\00:40:22.11
Preaching can be
just the very simple
00:40:22.14\00:40:24.27
sharing one on one of
what Christ has done for you.
00:40:24.30\00:40:30.62
What is He meant to you?
00:40:30.65\00:40:32.14
What do you know
about the Scriptures?
00:40:32.17\00:40:33.54
Oh, you say, "I don't
know my Bible well enough."
00:40:33.57\00:40:35.20
You know enough to
share Jesus from the Bible.
00:40:35.23\00:40:41.90
The woman [ preached Jesus.
00:40:41.93\00:40:45.13
All throughout the Bible
we find these situations.
00:40:45.16\00:40:49.20
It simply means to communicate
God to that individual.
00:40:49.23\00:40:54.08
That's what it means.
00:40:54.11\00:40:58.26
We go to Christ first then.
00:40:58.29\00:41:03.26
A favorite illustration of mine
00:41:03.29\00:41:07.05
is the illustration of
the pizza delivery boy.
00:41:07.08\00:41:11.01
I'm borrowing this
by the way and you know
00:41:11.04\00:41:13.08
if you ever see
this who I'm borrowing it
00:41:13.11\00:41:14.52
from speaker or individual.
00:41:14.55\00:41:16.91
I didn't ask you if I
could borrow this illustration
00:41:16.94\00:41:18.60
but I'm gonna
borrow it nonetheless.
00:41:18.63\00:41:21.37
I love pizza. I think it's good.
00:41:21.40\00:41:26.76
I've even really learned
to like soy cheese pizza.
00:41:26.79\00:41:30.78
But here's the
thing, it's no good
00:41:30.81\00:41:33.03
to just have a pizza shop
with a good pizza in there.
00:41:33.06\00:41:37.19
There's no good to even have
the best Italian pizza maker.
00:41:37.22\00:41:40.61
You know, tossing his
pizza dough into the air
00:41:40.64\00:41:44.51
and putting all the fixings,
feta cheese on there nicely.
00:41:44.54\00:41:48.16
You know, and to
have good smelling pizza.
00:41:48.19\00:41:52.18
And then just to
have it stay in the store.
00:41:52.21\00:41:55.11
No. You need a delivery boy.
00:41:55.14\00:41:58.84
You need a delivery girl.
00:41:58.87\00:42:00.62
You need somebody to
get in their car with that,
00:42:00.65\00:42:03.65
you know, sleeve
that keeps them warm
00:42:03.68\00:42:05.77
and then to drive across town
00:42:05.80\00:42:08.01
and get to that individual
and deliver the pizza.
00:42:08.04\00:42:11.48
Now it's no good for
Jesus just 2000 years ago
00:42:11.51\00:42:14.29
to have been upon a
cross to die for our sins
00:42:14.32\00:42:16.82
and then never to have
anybody deliver that message.
00:42:16.85\00:42:19.80
That happened 2000 years ago.
00:42:19.83\00:42:21.61
We need delivery boys and girls,
00:42:21.64\00:42:23.58
delivery men and women.
00:42:23.61\00:42:24.98
We need people to
take a look at that pizza,
00:42:25.01\00:42:26.78
that--the aroma of
Christ upon the cross,
00:42:26.81\00:42:30.79
of what it's meant to
life and to deliver the pizza.
00:42:30.82\00:42:36.24
Christ is only
beneficial to someone
00:42:36.27\00:42:38.76
if he has been delivered.
00:42:38.79\00:42:40.45
And I know we all
have fulltime jobs.
00:42:40.48\00:42:43.25
But the least you can
do is to be a part time
00:42:43.28\00:42:46.01
delivery boy or girl,
delivery man or woman.
00:42:46.04\00:42:52.84
Moving along then,
that was point number 5,
00:42:52.87\00:42:57.11
preach Jesus
Christ, the moment you can
00:42:57.14\00:42:59.18
preach Jesus, the moment.
00:42:59.21\00:43:01.60
Don't wait, don't drag
your feet, preach Jesus.
00:43:01.63\00:43:05.48
Step number 6 then.
00:43:05.51\00:43:08.64
We must learn to
recognize conviction.
00:43:08.67\00:43:13.04
Verse 36, Acts Chapter 8:36.
00:43:13.07\00:43:16.22
"Now as they went down the road,
00:43:16.25\00:43:18.04
they came to some water.
00:43:18.07\00:43:19.44
And the eunuch
said, 'See, here is water.
00:43:19.47\00:43:20.84
What hinders me
from being baptized?'"
00:43:20.87\00:43:23.41
They've obviously gotten to
this point in their Bible study.
00:43:23.44\00:43:27.04
Now again Philip here,
he got off easy, scot-free.
00:43:27.07\00:43:30.10
I'm gonna walkup to
Philip in heaven one day
00:43:30.13\00:43:31.81
and I'm gonna say, "Listen, man,
00:43:31.84\00:43:33.21
I learned a lot from your story
but you got off scot-free."
00:43:33.24\00:43:36.57
This is an easy
way to tell conviction.
00:43:36.60\00:43:39.03
When somebody asks you,
"When can I be baptized?"
00:43:39.06\00:43:41.00
And they're just
waiting to get dunked.
00:43:41.03\00:43:42.74
And then you just
know that their life
00:43:42.77\00:43:44.46
needs to be given
over 100% to Christ.
00:43:44.49\00:43:46.55
They're the lucky ones.
00:43:46.58\00:43:47.95
Now that is a
sign of conviction,
00:43:47.98\00:43:49.35
no doubt about it.
00:43:49.38\00:43:50.75
That's a positive
sign of conviction.
00:43:50.78\00:43:52.15
The person wants to give
their life in baptism to Christ.
00:43:52.18\00:43:55.88
But we need to be
wiling to sit silent at times
00:43:55.91\00:44:01.16
and let the Holy
Sprit speak and then watch.
00:44:01.19\00:44:05.09
You need to be a
studier of people.
00:44:05.12\00:44:07.59
I love to observe people.
00:44:07.62\00:44:09.61
One of my favorite
pastimes is to go into a mall
00:44:09.64\00:44:13.58
and sit down on a bench
and just watch people go by.
00:44:13.61\00:44:17.29
Watch their faces,
watch what they're doing
00:44:17.32\00:44:18.82
and you know now
it's very intriguing
00:44:18.85\00:44:20.85
is all these people with
these Bluetooth earpieces
00:44:20.88\00:44:23.10
and they just think that they're
00:44:23.13\00:44:24.50
the most important
people in the world.
00:44:24.53\00:44:26.19
They got the little
Bluetooth earpiece on
00:44:26.22\00:44:27.72
and you can never stop them,
00:44:27.75\00:44:29.12
they're just trudging
through that mall and you think,
00:44:29.15\00:44:31.51
"Man, do they have an
appointment with the president?"
00:44:31.54\00:44:34.59
Like do they have an appointment
with the Queen of England?
00:44:34.62\00:44:37.06
Like who do they
have an appointment with?
00:44:37.09\00:44:39.02
They're in such a rush
to get through the mall.
00:44:39.05\00:44:41.47
Anyways they look so important
00:44:41.50\00:44:42.87
with that little
Bluetooth earpiece.
00:44:42.90\00:44:44.27
Anyways that's just
something I've noticed recently.
00:44:44.30\00:44:47.97
But we need to learn
to recognize conviction
00:44:48.00\00:44:49.69
and that means studying
people. Don't kid yourself.
00:44:49.72\00:44:53.56
Philip as he said
something truthful,
00:44:53.59\00:44:55.80
he'd kind of peak over
around the corner of his eyes
00:44:55.83\00:44:58.21
at the eunuch and he'd be like
00:44:58.24\00:44:59.62
trying to look for
signs of conviction.
00:44:59.65\00:45:02.25
He's trying to
see-- did he twitch funny?
00:45:02.28\00:45:04.09
Did his face grimace?
00:45:04.12\00:45:06.49
Did he sigh? Did
he roll his eyes?
00:45:06.52\00:45:10.93
So we need to be
looking for conviction.
00:45:10.96\00:45:14.66
Now there's positive
ones, joy, sharing with others,
00:45:14.69\00:45:18.46
their personal application
of what you've taught them.
00:45:18.49\00:45:21.28
Have they got a
tear in their eyes,
00:45:21.31\00:45:23.29
the positive crying by the way?
00:45:23.32\00:45:24.91
They can't stay away from you.
00:45:24.94\00:45:26.75
You're sharing with
them, they're a co-worker,
00:45:26.78\00:45:28.80
you've had that experience.
00:45:28.83\00:45:30.20
And that co-worker just--
they just don't leave your side
00:45:30.23\00:45:31.78
they want to
know more and you say,
00:45:31.81\00:45:33.18
what do you still doing there?
00:45:33.21\00:45:34.58
You know, they
just don't run away.
00:45:34.61\00:45:35.98
And every time they're
calling you upon the phone,
00:45:36.01\00:45:37.38
when's your next Bible study?
00:45:37.41\00:45:38.78
Those are positive
signs of conviction.
00:45:38.81\00:45:40.63
Lighting up of the face.
00:45:40.66\00:45:42.03
You can just see they're
being brightened by the gospel.
00:45:42.06\00:45:45.48
They become friendly.
They ask more questions.
00:45:45.51\00:45:47.73
They study on their own.
00:45:47.76\00:45:49.19
You see positive
attitude changes.
00:45:49.22\00:45:50.68
They used to be sour
faced and upset and angry
00:45:50.71\00:45:54.19
and furrowed
eyebrow and they were upset.
00:45:54.22\00:45:56.56
And now you see
positive attitude changes.
00:45:56.59\00:45:58.70
You see them opening
up, starting to flourish.
00:45:58.73\00:46:00.97
These are positive changes.
00:46:01.00\00:46:04.69
And basically all the
opposite of those things
00:46:05.50\00:46:07.43
can be negative
signs of conviction.
00:46:07.46\00:46:10.45
People don't
always respond positively
00:46:10.48\00:46:12.81
to what the Holy Spirit
is doing in their hearts.
00:46:12.84\00:46:17.07
Sometimes takes
the other direction
00:46:17.10\00:46:20.28
and they're
crying uncontrollably.
00:46:20.31\00:46:23.36
They reject you. They
say, "I don't want it."
00:46:23.39\00:46:25.29
They close up their Bible,
00:46:25.32\00:46:27.13
"Get out of my house,
00:46:27.16\00:46:28.70
get away."
00:46:28.73\00:46:30.10
And they reject.
They start to argue
00:46:30.13\00:46:31.50
"but it can't be--"
00:46:31.53\00:46:33.63
And they start
to argue with you.
00:46:33.66\00:46:37.11
They avoid you.
00:46:37.14\00:46:38.51
You try and call them,
00:46:38.54\00:46:39.91
"Are we gonna have
another Bible study?
00:46:39.94\00:46:41.31
Are we--" And they'll never
return--no phone calls returned.
00:46:41.34\00:46:43.97
It's just always
going to voice mail.
00:46:44.00\00:46:46.08
They get angry with
you. They resist you.
00:46:46.11\00:46:47.58
They object.
00:46:47.61\00:46:48.98
Those are signs
of conviction as well
00:46:49.01\00:46:50.95
because they recognize
00:46:50.98\00:46:52.35
that the cross has
a claim on their life.
00:46:52.38\00:46:54.72
So we need to recognize
these signs of convictions
00:46:58.29\00:47:00.31
and not give up, not lose hope.
00:47:00.34\00:47:02.10
The positive
ones, keep on going.
00:47:02.13\00:47:04.30
The iron is hot.
00:47:04.33\00:47:05.70
The negative ones, you may
have to back off a little bit,
00:47:05.73\00:47:07.71
but you don't want
to back off so far.
00:47:07.74\00:47:09.14
You want to continue to press.
00:47:09.17\00:47:12.50
Not pressure, press.
00:47:12.53\00:47:15.62
You don't want to like sit
out front of their door and,
00:47:15.65\00:47:19.84
you know, you don't
leave 10 messages a day
00:47:19.87\00:47:21.24
but you want them to know
00:47:21.27\00:47:22.64
that you're still
thinking about them,
00:47:22.67\00:47:24.04
maybe a week's gone by you
can dial up your phone and say,
00:47:24.07\00:47:25.77
"Hey, I've been praying for you.
00:47:25.80\00:47:27.21
I know this is hard.
00:47:27.24\00:47:29.66
I know this isn't easy.
00:47:29.69\00:47:31.40
Listen, I myself
went through much
00:47:31.43\00:47:33.20
of what you're going through.
00:47:33.23\00:47:35.03
I know what it's like.
00:47:35.06\00:47:36.43
It seems like it's so
different and it's seems like,
00:47:36.46\00:47:38.73
no they can't be so."
00:47:38.76\00:47:40.13
And you can leave
a message with them.
00:47:40.16\00:47:41.53
You can work
with that conviction.
00:47:41.56\00:47:43.43
And step number 7.
00:47:46.48\00:47:49.01
Step number 7, I cannot tell you
00:47:49.04\00:47:50.61
how important step number 7 is.
00:47:50.64\00:47:52.50
So let's review very quickly.
00:47:52.53\00:47:54.07
Step number 1, listen to god,
00:47:54.10\00:47:55.91
recognize the
situation, look at your calendar
00:47:55.94\00:47:58.62
and look for future
situations, recognize them.
00:47:58.65\00:48:01.55
Listen to God. Listen to what
He's setting up in your life.
00:48:01.58\00:48:04.46
Don't think that
He doesn't have a hand
00:48:04.49\00:48:06.87
in what your schedule looks like
00:48:06.90\00:48:08.70
and where you're gonna be
00:48:08.73\00:48:10.10
and what you're gonna do
and what you're not gonna do.
00:48:10.13\00:48:11.61
He's got His hand in it.
00:48:11.64\00:48:14.95
Then run to the situation.
00:48:14.98\00:48:17.23
Run to it. Don't drag your feet.
00:48:17.26\00:48:18.63
Don't say, "Oh, God, I'm
not really ready for this."
00:48:18.66\00:48:21.44
Run to it. Philip ran.
00:48:21.47\00:48:22.84
You need to run. We need to run.
00:48:22.87\00:48:24.24
I need to run.
00:48:24.27\00:48:25.78
Ask leading
questions. Remember to evaluate.
00:48:25.81\00:48:27.85
But don't forget the
first aid, the first aid story.
00:48:27.88\00:48:30.35
You evaluate very
quickly and those questions
00:48:30.38\00:48:31.90
help you to evaluate.
00:48:31.93\00:48:33.30
And then meet
them where they're at.
00:48:35.02\00:48:36.54
Don't start somewhere else.
00:48:36.57\00:48:38.29
Don't start where you
think they need to be.
00:48:38.32\00:48:40.26
Start where they're at.
00:48:40.29\00:48:41.86
Beginning with this scripture.
Remember what Philip did?
00:48:41.89\00:48:43.62
Beginning with that scripture.
00:48:43.65\00:48:45.53
Step number 5, the
moment you can preach Christ.
00:48:45.56\00:48:48.92
Don't preach
anything else, peach Christ.
00:48:48.95\00:48:51.06
Number 6 is,
recognize conviction.
00:48:54.26\00:48:57.14
It was easy for--easy
for our friend Philip here.
00:48:57.17\00:49:00.82
The eunuch asked,
"I want to be baptized,
00:49:00.85\00:49:02.30
what's stopping me?
00:49:02.33\00:49:03.70
What's stopping--
this needs to happen.
00:49:03.73\00:49:05.25
Look, there's water there.
00:49:05.28\00:49:06.87
What stopping me, I
want to be baptized."
00:49:06.90\00:49:08.99
We need to recognize conviction.
00:49:09.02\00:49:12.18
And finally number 7,
00:49:12.21\00:49:14.06
we must facilitate a decision.
00:49:14.09\00:49:17.24
This is the hardest part.
00:49:19.62\00:49:21.28
No doubt about
it, the hardest part.
00:49:21.31\00:49:24.92
This is where we back off
00:49:24.95\00:49:27.71
because we don't to
step on peoples toes.
00:49:27.74\00:49:29.14
This has been the
biggest struggle in my ministry,
00:49:29.17\00:49:33.04
the biggest struggle in
many people's ministries,
00:49:33.07\00:49:34.71
bringing people to decision.
00:49:34.74\00:49:38.05
We need to
facilitate a decision.
00:49:38.08\00:49:39.58
We can't bring them
to the point of acting
00:49:39.61\00:49:41.74
and then not let them act.
00:49:41.77\00:49:43.86
That's cruelty.
00:49:43.89\00:49:45.98
Like they just say, "Oh,
don't preach a powerful sermon
00:49:46.01\00:49:48.40
and then not have an appeal."
00:49:48.43\00:49:49.80
Basically,
facilitating a decision
00:49:49.83\00:49:51.65
is the appeal process.
00:49:51.68\00:49:53.44
So we don't want
to bring a person
00:49:57.09\00:49:58.46
to the point of decision
and then not provide a way
00:49:58.49\00:50:01.53
for which they can
make that decision.
00:50:01.56\00:50:03.55
For which they can go
forward with that decision.
00:50:03.58\00:50:05.93
Maybe you've gone
through the first six steps now
00:50:10.91\00:50:13.35
and you recognize--
00:50:13.38\00:50:14.75
and not all
situations are gonna be same.
00:50:14.78\00:50:16.15
Now listen, this decision
might not be to be baptized.
00:50:16.18\00:50:19.19
That's not the
decision we're talking about.
00:50:19.22\00:50:20.69
Now, that's ultimately where
we want to get with people.
00:50:20.72\00:50:22.74
We want them to
fully be devoted disciples,
00:50:22.77\00:50:25.03
followers,
transformed in Christ,
00:50:25.06\00:50:26.99
that's what we want.
00:50:27.02\00:50:28.39
The spirits gonna do that.
00:50:28.42\00:50:29.79
We're gonna lead
them in that direction.
00:50:29.82\00:50:31.19
But not every
decision that I'm talking
00:50:31.22\00:50:32.59
about is that decision.
00:50:32.62\00:50:33.99
Maybe it's, you know,
00:50:36.15\00:50:41.02
super play station playing,
00:50:41.05\00:50:43.10
16 year old kid
just got his license
00:50:43.13\00:50:45.34
but you had an opportunity
00:50:45.37\00:50:46.74
to sit down and talk with him.
00:50:46.77\00:50:48.14
Maybe you're a
teacher in a school.
00:50:48.17\00:50:50.11
And you know how-- hey, listen,
00:50:50.14\00:50:51.51
this guy is far from ready to be
00:50:51.54\00:50:52.91
just totally
giving his life over.
00:50:52.94\00:50:54.31
But you've done enough
00:50:54.34\00:50:56.15
and they now have
a serious enquiry,
00:50:56.18\00:50:58.10
serious questions
into Christianity.
00:50:58.13\00:50:59.87
They think well, maybe
there's something there.
00:50:59.90\00:51:01.99
And you can sense
that if a position--
00:51:02.02\00:51:04.85
if an opportunity was
provided they would go forward,
00:51:04.88\00:51:06.87
they would study,
they would want to.
00:51:06.90\00:51:08.93
You can sense that
there's a bit of hunger.
00:51:08.96\00:51:11.99
So maybe there's
just a serious enquiry
00:51:12.02\00:51:13.63
into Christianity.
00:51:13.66\00:51:15.80
You need to provide a means
00:51:15.83\00:51:17.20
by which they can check it up.
00:51:17.23\00:51:18.75
That means
buying them a good book.
00:51:18.78\00:51:20.36
You know, introductory
book to Christianity.
00:51:20.39\00:51:22.05
Steps to Christ
something like that.
00:51:22.08\00:51:23.45
And you need to give it to them
00:51:23.48\00:51:24.85
and encourage them to read it,
00:51:24.88\00:51:26.25
check up if they've read it.
00:51:26.28\00:51:27.65
You need to provide.
00:51:27.68\00:51:29.05
You need to
facilitate a decision.
00:51:29.08\00:51:30.45
You cannot say, "Oh,
Christianity is interesting,
00:51:30.48\00:51:31.85
Christianity is
great, Jesus is great,
00:51:31.88\00:51:33.25
He's died for your sins,"
00:51:33.28\00:51:34.65
and then just
leave them on their own.
00:51:34.68\00:51:36.05
That's criminal.
You cannot do that.
00:51:39.02\00:51:41.68
We cannot do that.
00:51:41.71\00:51:43.78
What if Philip had said,
"Hey, hang on second here.
00:51:43.81\00:51:45.85
You want to be
baptized?" And he just said,
00:51:45.88\00:51:48.16
"Oh, well, I'm not so
sure, the water is cold
00:51:48.19\00:51:50.95
and there's a bit of current
00:51:50.98\00:51:53.67
and I'm not so
sure I want to--" No.
00:51:53.70\00:51:57.24
Conviction was there,
the opportunity was there
00:51:57.27\00:51:59.34
and he facilitated
the decision and he said,
00:51:59.37\00:52:00.85
"Yeah, let's stop."
00:52:00.88\00:52:02.25
Commanded the chariot to stop,
00:52:02.28\00:52:03.65
baptized the guy.
00:52:03.68\00:52:05.20
Verse 38, "So he commanded
the chariot to stand still.
00:52:08.33\00:52:11.27
And both Philip and the
eunuch went down into the water,
00:52:11.30\00:52:13.62
and he baptized him."
00:52:13.65\00:52:15.02
Maybe the person
is beyond questioning
00:52:19.63\00:52:22.25
just the
validity of Christianity
00:52:22.28\00:52:23.79
and they know
that the Bible is true,
00:52:23.82\00:52:25.43
but they have
just never studied it.
00:52:25.46\00:52:26.83
May be you've gotten to
the point now where they say,
00:52:26.86\00:52:28.75
that person seems to have
00:52:28.78\00:52:30.15
a pretty good
understanding of the Bible.
00:52:30.18\00:52:34.27
And you have this opportunity
00:52:34.30\00:52:37.39
now to give them Bible studies.
00:52:37.42\00:52:40.98
You need to take
out that calendar,
00:52:41.01\00:52:44.69
take out that
PalmPilot, laptop computer,
00:52:44.72\00:52:48.24
whatever it is you
keep your schedule on.
00:52:48.27\00:52:50.44
And you need to
say, "Hey, listen,
00:52:50.47\00:52:52.62
I can make this time
available in my schedule
00:52:52.65\00:52:55.40
to give you a Bible studies."
00:52:55.43\00:52:56.80
Don't pass it off to the pastor,
00:52:56.83\00:52:58.20
the pastor's got
enough Bible studies.
00:52:58.23\00:53:01.26
You need to give
those Bible studies.
00:53:01.29\00:53:02.66
You've brought
them to this point.
00:53:02.69\00:53:04.06
Why wouldn't you want
at least fellowship now
00:53:04.09\00:53:06.84
with what you've done?
You've done all the work.
00:53:06.87\00:53:08.62
Why pass off the best
part to somebody else?
00:53:08.65\00:53:11.50
Maybe there's a Bible working.
00:53:11.53\00:53:12.90
Oh, yeah, this
person is just ready
00:53:12.93\00:53:14.30
to study the Bible.
00:53:14.33\00:53:15.70
No, no, take out
your own calendar,
00:53:15.73\00:53:17.10
your own scheduling book
00:53:17.13\00:53:18.50
and figure out when
you have 45 minutes,
00:53:18.53\00:53:21.07
an hour to give
them a Bible study.
00:53:21.10\00:53:23.63
Facilitate a decision.
00:53:23.66\00:53:25.13
Don't bring them to
the point of decision.
00:53:25.16\00:53:26.53
Don't tell them the Bible is
gonna answer all their problem.
00:53:26.56\00:53:28.86
The Bible has
got answer to this,
00:53:28.89\00:53:30.26
the Bible, the
Bible, the Bible and then
00:53:30.29\00:53:31.66
not teach them the Bible.
00:53:31.69\00:53:33.75
Take it out of your schedule.
00:53:33.78\00:53:35.15
Maybe this person
knows about the Bible.
00:53:37.55\00:53:39.76
Maybe they were a
Christian at one point,
00:53:39.79\00:53:41.89
but they're just not
coming to church anymore,
00:53:41.92\00:53:43.44
but you've
brought them to the point
00:53:43.47\00:53:44.84
where they're just
about ready to go to church.
00:53:44.87\00:53:47.88
You need to
facilitate that decision.
00:53:47.91\00:53:49.28
Tell them you're gonna
pick them up Sabbath morning.
00:53:49.31\00:53:51.89
Tell them you're
gonna pick them up
00:53:51.92\00:53:53.29
just before church.
00:53:53.32\00:53:55.61
And if they say, "Oh, ah--"
00:53:55.64\00:53:57.01
You know, I'll give
you a little secret.
00:53:57.04\00:53:58.41
The best way to make
sure they come to church is
00:53:58.44\00:54:00.26
not just to make an
appointment for church,
00:54:00.29\00:54:02.93
but to make an
appointment for after church
00:54:02.96\00:54:04.39
as well and say, "Oh,
come to church with me
00:54:04.42\00:54:05.79
and then we'll go home
and we'll have a nice lunch."
00:54:05.82\00:54:08.23
It's harder for people to say,
00:54:08.26\00:54:10.00
no to an invitation
where they're going to eat
00:54:10.03\00:54:12.23
with you and they know
that you want to spend time
00:54:12.26\00:54:13.70
with them than
simply to say no to church.
00:54:13.73\00:54:16.03
So you say, you
come to church with me
00:54:16.06\00:54:17.58
and then we'll go
home and we'll have lunch.
00:54:17.61\00:54:18.98
We'll making it a big day of it.
00:54:19.01\00:54:20.38
It's much harder
for them to say no.
00:54:20.41\00:54:22.06
so you need to make sure that
you facilitate that decision.
00:54:22.09\00:54:25.40
If they want to come to church,
00:54:25.43\00:54:26.80
make it possible for
them to come to church.
00:54:26.83\00:54:28.80
And maybe it's the
greatest joy of all.
00:54:31.67\00:54:34.19
Maybe you've
brought them to the point
00:54:34.22\00:54:35.80
in their life when they
can make a decision for Christ.
00:54:35.83\00:54:40.30
Maybe you've been
studying with them.
00:54:40.33\00:54:42.42
You've been seeing
this transformation
00:54:42.45\00:54:44.75
and you've just
presented salvation to them.
00:54:44.78\00:54:47.56
That hanging upon the
Christ, Christ is the gospel.
00:54:47.59\00:54:52.59
Not only was He the
gospel for everybody else,
00:54:52.62\00:54:55.10
but He was the gospel for them
00:54:55.13\00:54:57.53
and they're ready to
give their hearts to Jesus.
00:54:57.56\00:55:00.76
They're just waiting to
give their hearts to Jesus.
00:55:00.79\00:55:04.66
You do not want to
flounder here, friends.
00:55:04.69\00:55:07.23
Learn the sinner's prayer,
00:55:07.26\00:55:09.72
ask them, invite
them to kneel with you
00:55:09.75\00:55:11.89
and then you say
a part of the prayer
00:55:11.92\00:55:14.08
and they'll repeat after you
00:55:14.11\00:55:15.48
and you lead them
through repentance.
00:55:15.51\00:55:18.53
You lead them through
the putting away of sin
00:55:18.56\00:55:20.60
and accepting of
Jesus into their hearts,
00:55:20.63\00:55:22.68
so that
transformation can begin.
00:55:22.71\00:55:26.23
That's what we all want.
00:55:26.26\00:55:28.45
We don't want to be
somebody everybody follows.
00:55:28.48\00:55:31.23
We don't want to
just know the Bible
00:55:31.26\00:55:32.82
for the sake of
knowing the Bible
00:55:32.85\00:55:34.22
to win the argument.
00:55:34.25\00:55:36.12
We want to know the Bible,
00:55:36.15\00:55:37.52
we want to do these things
00:55:37.55\00:55:38.92
so that they can
know Jesus for themselves.
00:55:38.95\00:55:41.07
They're many
decisions that people will make
00:55:45.91\00:55:48.93
during these opportunities
00:55:48.96\00:55:51.67
and we need to
be prepared always
00:55:51.70\00:55:54.70
to provide that opportunity.
00:55:54.73\00:55:56.82
The Lord has placed us there.
00:55:59.14\00:56:00.51
2 Corinthians says
that, we are ambassadors
00:56:00.54\00:56:04.18
with a message
of reconciliation.
00:56:04.21\00:56:07.15
The Lord is asking us
00:56:07.18\00:56:08.55
as Christians to
listen to Him, listen.
00:56:08.58\00:56:13.02
Run when He asks us
to run. It's not so hard.
00:56:13.05\00:56:15.64
We're not so out
of shape spiritually
00:56:15.67\00:56:17.17
that we cannot run.
00:56:17.20\00:56:20.24
And then learn a question or two
00:56:20.27\00:56:21.64
that you can lead that
person down the right road.
00:56:21.67\00:56:23.81
You can evaluate the situation.
00:56:23.84\00:56:25.21
You can be better prepared.
00:56:25.24\00:56:28.02
Meet them where they're at.
00:56:28.05\00:56:30.02
Don't wait till
they've got to a point
00:56:30.05\00:56:31.57
where you now feel
you can deal with them.
00:56:31.60\00:56:33.50
Meet them where they're at.
00:56:33.53\00:56:34.90
And if you can't meet
them where they're at,
00:56:34.93\00:56:36.30
find somebody who can.
00:56:36.33\00:56:37.93
And the moment
you get an opportunity
00:56:39.48\00:56:41.15
preach Jesus to them.
00:56:41.18\00:56:42.55
He's the one that
can fill that hole.
00:56:42.58\00:56:44.74
Nobody else, you can fill it.
00:56:44.77\00:56:46.14
Recognize the
conviction in their hearts.
00:56:47.48\00:56:49.39
Don't let them run too far.
00:56:49.42\00:56:50.79
And finally,
facilitate a decision.
00:56:54.37\00:57:00.71
Help them, dear friend,
to know Jesus for themselves.
00:57:00.74\00:57:05.99
It's the greatest joy
anyone of us could ever have.
00:57:06.02\00:57:10.03