One of my favorite stories in the Bible to use to illustrate God's gift of Salvation is about the Ethiopian who receives Christ ~ Acts 8:25-40.
This story shows who, why and how a person can receive Christ into their heart. The who is anybody, the why is by accepting and the how explains both about the acceptance as well as the ministering. In regards to the ministry part, it's obvious that Phillip was not responsible for the words he spoke, he left it up to the Word. It's obvious that all he did was listen to the instruction of God.
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
The part that caught my attention however is in verse 35 "from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him."
Do you see why this is so amazing? Look closer "from this Scripture"
What Scripture was he referring to that included Jesus? Consider that at this point in time the only Scripture in existence was what we refer to today as the Old Testament.
So here's the Ethiopian who's having a difficult time trying to figure out who the Prophet is speaking of and Phillip goes forth and shows him in Scripture that it is speaking of Jesus!
Can you preach Jesus to someone who has no knowledge of the New Testament? Can the Old Testament be used to explain who Jesus is?
Truly in light of this, we have it easy today. If the New Testament was published today Phillip may have suggested a more applicable name such as "How To Preach Jesus for DUMMIES!"
I know I've never tried teaching about Jesus exclusively by the OT, but clearly this was the effective and understood method in which Jesus was preached back then.
If anyone knows an effective way in which to do this, I hope to hear from you!
This story shows who, why and how a person can receive Christ into their heart. The who is anybody, the why is by accepting and the how explains both about the acceptance as well as the ministering. In regards to the ministry part, it's obvious that Phillip was not responsible for the words he spoke, he left it up to the Word. It's obvious that all he did was listen to the instruction of God.
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
The part that caught my attention however is in verse 35 "from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him."
Do you see why this is so amazing? Look closer "from this Scripture"
What Scripture was he referring to that included Jesus? Consider that at this point in time the only Scripture in existence was what we refer to today as the Old Testament.
So here's the Ethiopian who's having a difficult time trying to figure out who the Prophet is speaking of and Phillip goes forth and shows him in Scripture that it is speaking of Jesus!
Can you preach Jesus to someone who has no knowledge of the New Testament? Can the Old Testament be used to explain who Jesus is?
Truly in light of this, we have it easy today. If the New Testament was published today Phillip may have suggested a more applicable name such as "How To Preach Jesus for DUMMIES!"
I know I've never tried teaching about Jesus exclusively by the OT, but clearly this was the effective and understood method in which Jesus was preached back then.
If anyone knows an effective way in which to do this, I hope to hear from you!
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