The Gospel to Africa
The Gospel to Africa
Most companies hire consultants to come up with business plans on how to strategize and grow the company. Various goals and objectives are set with timelines on when to accomplish them. This is good business practice especially when the plans are followed and implemented. When it comes to the CHURCH Inc.; though not a corporation but a worldwide family of God, Jesus left us with His strategic plan. It all goes back to Acts 1: 8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”.
So far in Acts (1-8), we have seen this Master Plan implemented by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and disciples. The Church had been born in Jerusalem; persecution has spread it into Judea and Samaria. Now, the Holy Spirit is on the course to carrying the GOOD NEWS of salvation to the Africans (one of the ends of the earth). This is an exciting journey especially when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead the way as we will learn about exchange between Philip and the Ethiopian. In the absence of church committees and mission boards, God is accomplishing the Great Commission of “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19.
Acts 8: 26 -40:
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[d]eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30Then 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. 32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."[e]
34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"[f] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. I laugh at those who once called Africa the “dark continent”. This is contrary to the gospel account in Acts as we see that Africa was actually the first of the rest of the world to receive the light of the Gospel. The first missionary to Africa is thus, Philip, sent by God himself. “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip” to take the gospel to an African man on his way back to Ethiopia.
2. Who is this Ethiopian? We learn that he is a well placed man, “a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of Ethiopia, who had charge of all the treasury” vs. 27. When God wants to accomplish anything He provides His own resources and people connections. What an able hand to entrust the gospel to. This man, like Philip must have been faithful in little things and now God is entrusting him with the greatest treasure. Lesson for you and me. Stop chasing resources. Get hold of the mission (your assignment from God) and the money will follow with the people connections.
3. Philip listened and obeyed the voice of God to “Go near and overtake his chariot” vs. 29. Evangelism is listening to the voice of God and obeying the commands. God will instruct you and me in many ways to approach people, speak to them and reach out to them. Who is God urging you to “overtake” right now with His goodness?
4. God was already at work with the Ethiopian. He was reading a passage from Isaiah the prophet and on his way from worshipping in Jerusalem. We must assume that God is already at work in all people we meet. People are not blank slates and we are not usually the first to speak the wisdom of God to them. We must recognize what God is already doing in the lives of people around us and start from there. Philip did, so we must do.
5. The Ethiopian could not understand the prophecy about Jesus that was written by Isaiah. “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Philip “preached Jesus to him” in response to the Ethiopians desire and question. Let’s allow people a chance to ask questions and let’s give them the answer we have, “Christ in us, the hope of glory”. You and I do not have anything else to offer people other than Christ. Don’t just offer them your charisma, good looks and nice words and let them walk away empty handed. People need Jesus. He is the only HOPE. Nothing more.
6. Look at faith in action. The Ethiopian asked, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Philips says, if you believe and the Ethiopian says “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” vs. 37. Right there and then, he was baptized and instantly became a disciple of Christ. What a miracle and transformation. Our story is no different. We heard the gospel and believed. Do you believe that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” who came to take away your sins? Simple Gospel. No buts and ifs nor excuses. There is only way to be reconciled to God.
You can imagine what happened, when the Ethiopian got home. He “went on his way rejoicing” vs. 39. The queen’s palace will never be the same and Africa will forever be changed by the obedience of one man and a willing heart. We are in partnership with God to establish his Kingdom all over the earth. “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God” 2 Cor. 5:20. Will you and I answer the call on our daily interaction with people? May God help us to listen and obey. Amen.
Most companies hire consultants to come up with business plans on how to strategize and grow the company. Various goals and objectives are set with timelines on when to accomplish them. This is good business practice especially when the plans are followed and implemented. When it comes to the CHURCH Inc.; though not a corporation but a worldwide family of God, Jesus left us with His strategic plan. It all goes back to Acts 1: 8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”.
So far in Acts (1-8), we have seen this Master Plan implemented by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and disciples. The Church had been born in Jerusalem; persecution has spread it into Judea and Samaria. Now, the Holy Spirit is on the course to carrying the GOOD NEWS of salvation to the Africans (one of the ends of the earth). This is an exciting journey especially when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead the way as we will learn about exchange between Philip and the Ethiopian. In the absence of church committees and mission boards, God is accomplishing the Great Commission of “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19.
Acts 8: 26 -40:
26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[d]eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30Then 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. 32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."[e]
34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"[f] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. I laugh at those who once called Africa the “dark continent”. This is contrary to the gospel account in Acts as we see that Africa was actually the first of the rest of the world to receive the light of the Gospel. The first missionary to Africa is thus, Philip, sent by God himself. “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip” to take the gospel to an African man on his way back to Ethiopia.
2. Who is this Ethiopian? We learn that he is a well placed man, “a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of Ethiopia, who had charge of all the treasury” vs. 27. When God wants to accomplish anything He provides His own resources and people connections. What an able hand to entrust the gospel to. This man, like Philip must have been faithful in little things and now God is entrusting him with the greatest treasure. Lesson for you and me. Stop chasing resources. Get hold of the mission (your assignment from God) and the money will follow with the people connections.
3. Philip listened and obeyed the voice of God to “Go near and overtake his chariot” vs. 29. Evangelism is listening to the voice of God and obeying the commands. God will instruct you and me in many ways to approach people, speak to them and reach out to them. Who is God urging you to “overtake” right now with His goodness?
4. God was already at work with the Ethiopian. He was reading a passage from Isaiah the prophet and on his way from worshipping in Jerusalem. We must assume that God is already at work in all people we meet. People are not blank slates and we are not usually the first to speak the wisdom of God to them. We must recognize what God is already doing in the lives of people around us and start from there. Philip did, so we must do.
5. The Ethiopian could not understand the prophecy about Jesus that was written by Isaiah. “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Philip “preached Jesus to him” in response to the Ethiopians desire and question. Let’s allow people a chance to ask questions and let’s give them the answer we have, “Christ in us, the hope of glory”. You and I do not have anything else to offer people other than Christ. Don’t just offer them your charisma, good looks and nice words and let them walk away empty handed. People need Jesus. He is the only HOPE. Nothing more.
6. Look at faith in action. The Ethiopian asked, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Philips says, if you believe and the Ethiopian says “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” vs. 37. Right there and then, he was baptized and instantly became a disciple of Christ. What a miracle and transformation. Our story is no different. We heard the gospel and believed. Do you believe that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God” who came to take away your sins? Simple Gospel. No buts and ifs nor excuses. There is only way to be reconciled to God.
You can imagine what happened, when the Ethiopian got home. He “went on his way rejoicing” vs. 39. The queen’s palace will never be the same and Africa will forever be changed by the obedience of one man and a willing heart. We are in partnership with God to establish his Kingdom all over the earth. “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God” 2 Cor. 5:20. Will you and I answer the call on our daily interaction with people? May God help us to listen and obey. Amen.
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