Even Life-Valleys Bring Times of Testifying
“And Philip said,
(The Acts of the Apostles 8: 37-38 NASB)
“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said,
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
And he ordered the chariot to stop;
[Philip, the refuge & the Ethiopian Queen’s eunuch
stopped the chariot there on the road leading south to Gaza]
and they both went down into the water,
Philip as well as the eunuch,
and he baptized him.”
GOD does NOT say—“Sorry, we don’t take your type.”
Our heavenly Father does not turn anyone who repents—away from His Amazing Grace!
Sometimes, we get the sense that everything has to be just right, that the stars need to align, and that our affairs need to be all in order—for the lost to be saved OR for us to be a witness, an ambassador, for our Lord, but that’s not at all what the Word of God reveals!
Yesterday, my brother-in-law spoke of a man who was intent on going to a foreign country, one who knew the Lord had sent him on mission & one who because of a stressful miscommunication at the airport was turned away and sent back home. Even though hardship came, this same mission-minded man made plans to board the plane two days from today and go where he knows God has sent him to go.
Even Life-Challenges Bring Times of Testifying!
Yesterday, my sister spoke of a woman who was strong in her faith, who served in her church, and who walked with the Lord. As my sister talked, I was reminded how this missionary woman could testify and witness for her Lord, even there in a hospital so many miles from where she lived. Even though a children’s hospital was not where this missionary planned to spend her summer, still she could be on-mission where God has sent her to go.
Even Life-Valleys Bring Times of Testifying!
Each Sunday as we end our corporate worship, my pastor ends with these words—
“You are not dismissed because that denotes that we are finished.”
“You are sent.”
Then, as we drive out of the church parking lot, we pass by a sign—
You are entering the mission field.
God is omnipresent & God is omniscient—Meaning God is present everywhere at the same time & God is over all situations, knowing everything!
Philip was being persecuted in Jerusalem, along with other Christians, and so they were scattered across the region. The church of God was being persecuted & they could have given up on the commission to reach all parts of the world for Christ. People were being dragged from their homes, arrested & placed in prison. Life for the early believers was not without challenges.
Nevertheless, even there on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, a desert road, Philip was able to witness, to testify to another man about the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philip was economically poor—He was traveling by foot.
- The eunuch served the queen—He was traveling by chariot.
- Philip was spiritually rich—He had received the salvation God provides.
- The eunuch was spiritually poor—He was lost and did not know Jesus as his Savior.
Even though running for his life, Philip could have said, “No, Lord, I don’t want to go there now. Maybe tomorrow, Lord. Maybe then when life is less stressful. I’ll go then & do Your will.”
However, Philip did not say those words. Instead, Philip went where the Lord sent him to go & because he did, the Holy Spirit led Philip to a divine Gospel conversation along the road to Gaza.
Even Life-Valleys Bring Times of Testifying!
- We may go through hardships during our lifetimes.
- We may go through life-struggles during our time here on earth.
- We may even go through health-scares during our earthly life.
Even though we do & Even though we will—Still we are to be on-mission—going where the Lord sends us, ministering to those the Holy Spirit places into our paths, and doing our Father’s will.
WE MUST—FOR PEOPLE’S SPIRITUAL CONVERSION IS AT STAKE!
WE MUST BE PEOPLE WHO SAY (as Philip said to the Eunuch concerning his salvation & baptism)—
“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
- Acceptance of Jesus as God’s Only Son, that He is who He says He is—Brings Salvation!
- Believing in Jesus’ work upon Calvary’s cross & His resurrection from the tomb—Brings Salvation!
- Confession of our sins & Confession of our belief in Jesus—Brings Salvation!
Spiritual baptism is the next step because it reveals an outward sign of an inward change. The Ethiopian eunuch knew he wanted Philip to know he had been changed, that he had received Jesus as his Savior. So, there on that road to Gaza, as they passed by the pool of water, the eunuch responded to Philip—
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Do not hesitate to share Jesus!
Do not allow life-situations or life-challenges or even the ease of life to keep us from the mission God sends us to do, for God will use our life-walk as missionary opportunities to reach the lost.
WE MUST BE ON-MISSION WHEREVER GOD PLACES US!
WE MUST NOT HESITATE!
WE MUST SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS!
WE MUST PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL MESSAGE!
Jesus, our Savior & Lord spoke words about life, words that reminded His disciples in the 1st Century & His disciples still today—
“But it is not this way among you,
(The Gospel According to Mark 10: 43-45 NASB)
but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave to all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.”