Witness - Come & See – Go & Tell
Ready When You Are
March 13, 2022
Pastor Mike Rippy
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official
in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”[b] 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Acts 8:26-38 (NIV)
God WILL use Me When I’m PREPARED to be Used.
Three Steps to Being Ready to Go and Tell
1. Be Where God wants me to be.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." Acts 8:29 (NLT)
2. Be Aware of who God wants me to invest in.
Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah; so, he asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" [31] The man replied, "How can I, when there is no one to instruct me?" And he
begged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. Acts 8:30- 31
3. Be Ready to share my faith at any time.
The eunuch asked Philip, "Was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else?" [35] So Philip began with this same Scripture and then used many others to tell him the Good News about Jesus. Acts 8:34-35 (NLT)
5 Ways to be Ready to Share My Faith at any Time
• My Story
• The Bridge
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 (NIV)
• Do Vs Done
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Eph. 2:8-9 (NLT)
• The Morality Ladder
Now God says he will accept and acquit us--declare us "not guilty" --if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Romans 3:22 (LB)
• My Invitation (Next Sunday)
Make the most of your chances to tell others the Good News. Be wise in all your contacts with them. [6] Let your conversation be gracious as well as sensible, for then you will have the right answer for everyone. Col. 4:5-6 (LB)
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