SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/20/2017
9:38 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Salvation
Must Center on Scripture
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 8:30-34
Message of the
verses: “30 Philip ran up and heard
him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are
reading?" 31 And he said,
"Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip
to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was
reading was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB
BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. 33 "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN
AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE
EARTH." 34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of
whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?’”
I have mentioned that I have read this passage many
times, and now that I am studying it here in a more indebt way I have come to
the conclusion that this was a God thing, not that I had not thought of that
before, but as you look at each section you realize that it had to be God who
put all of this together, for if He had not planned each and every detail of
this then it would not have happened.
Philip was in Samaria preaching the gospel and then we see Peter and
John come to lay their hands on the believers so they would receive the Holy
Spirit, and then after this the Holy Spirit sends Philip to a certain road, a
road that seems to be on that is not traveled on very much and what does he
find? He finds a chariot with and
important person ridding in the chariot.
Now I have to believe that this was larger than one person driving a
chariot, but was an entourage with this man from Ethiopia. Why were they traveling on this road that was
not traveled on very much? Again it was
a “God thing.” How did they just let
Philip get into the chariot with being searched or spoken to? Same answer.
Why was this man reading a portion of Scripture that is a prophecy of
the coming Messiah, and not only that but one of the main prophecies of His
death? Same answer. Why did the man not protest when Philip him “do
you understanding what you are reading?”
Same answer.
Philip has the eunuch’s attention now and perhaps this
man is beginning to understand that his quest to understand who God is and what
He is all about is going to be answered from this man who just happened along
the way and decided to jump up into his chariot.
It was a practice to read out loud in this time period so
Philip was able to hear what this man was reading, thus the question “do you
know what you are reading?” At this time
the eunuch invited Philip to come and sit with him. Can you imagine the thoughts that were going
through Philip’s head at this time? I
have mentioned in other SD’s that there is nothing more exciting and worthwhile
than to get a chance to share the gospel with someone, especially when you
begin to realize that you are involved in a divine appointment, which is what
Philip was involved in at this time.
The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53:7-8, and this
passage puzzled the eunuch and so he asked Philip “of whom does the prophet say
this? Of Himself, or of someone else?” His confusion is understandable as even today
when Jewish people read this passage they do not believe that Isaiah was
speaking of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, but think it speaks of the
nation of Israel. When one looks at what
happened to Jesus, and compares it to this passage along with what David wrote
in Psalm 22 there is no doubt that they both speak of Jesus Christ.
In the same way that his Lord, Paul, Apollos, and Stephen
knew the Scriptures, so Philip did, and this should be true of every born-again
believer as we should be able to tell the gospel story well enough to be able
to led a sinner to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. All we have to do is know the truth of the
gospel, as it is up to the Holy Spirit of God to give the call of salvation to
the sinner in order for him to accept the forgiveness that Jesus Christ
offers. One thing that seems to lacking
when giving out the gospel message is that there is a need of repentance, agreeing
with God that we are sinners and are in need of forgiveness.
John MacArthur writes: “An effective presentation of the
gospel must be based solidly on Scripture.
The use of personal testimony, stories, tracts, and other tools is no
substitute. For Scripture alone is ‘the
power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also
to the Greek’ (Rom. 1:16). The power is
in the word.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for
the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15).”
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Lord as I prepare to
teach Revelation in our Sunday school class.
Memory verses: Philippians 4:1, 8 “1 Therefore, my beloved brethren
whom I long to see, my joy and my crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my
beloved.” 8 Finally, brethren, whatever
is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if
anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Corruption” (Acts 13:34). The word “decay” is used in the NASB as both
words speak of our Lord’s body not decaying as He was raised from the dead in
three days.
Today’s Bible
question: “Who said, ‘You shall never wash
my feet’?”
Answer in our next SD.
12/20/2017 10:25 AM
No comments:
Post a Comment