Spirit-led Evangelism

Recently, I was asked by an international student, whom I was discipling, if I would baptize him and proclaim the Gospel to his gathered family at this special event. I was honored to do so and I praise God for the opportunity. I asked God to lead me to what Bible passage I should highlight and He led me to the following encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian.

Acts 8:26-39 ESV Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
³² Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” ³⁴ And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

This Philip was likely the same man named in Acts 6 as one of a few whom the Apostles set apart, ordained, to assist them in ministry at that time. They were looking for men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (see Acts 6:3). Philip was one of these men.

Earlier in Acts 8, we read that Philip was ministering in Samaria to crowds; proclaiming the Gospel and healing people (by the power and name of Jesus Christ).

Then the Angel of the Lord spiritually called Philip to go to a certain deserted pathway. He was not called to a mega-church or stadium crusade. In this instance, Philip was called away from a crowded ministry setting to what probably seemed like the middle of nowhere. But there were some people there. This was a divine appointment.

Philip came near an Ethiopian man whom the Holy Spirit told Philip to approach. In fact, Philip ran to him, probably because the chariot was moving. This man was very important in his Queen’s courts. He also had some level of belief in the Lord God almighty because he had just come from worshiping Him in Jerusalem. On the road, he was reading aloud a Bible scripture by the prophet Isaiah. Philip politely asked if he understood what he was reading, but the man said he needed guidance to understand this passage (as do all when it comes to our salvation and discipleship; Rom. 10:14-17). The man was reading verses from Is. chp53, a passage that points to the coming Messiah, the Savior, we all need.

Here are a couple verses from Isa. 53; 5-6 ESV But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Just recently in the days of Philip and this Ethiopian, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, fulfilled these prophetic statements written hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah and Philip knew this. Then Philip opened his mouth and told this Ethiopian man the great news, Gospel, of Jesus Christ beginning with Isa. 53.  And since the Ethiopian soon afterwards wanted to stop to be baptized in water, I read between the lines that moments before his baptism he accepted Jesus Christ into his life as Savior and Lord.

Here are four take-aways from this passage I want to highlight:

1) The Importance of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism.

The Holy Spirit knew there was an Ethiopian in seeker mode for salvation (because God drew/pointed him in this direction) and the Holy Spirit knew he had an empowered Spirit-filled Christ-follower, Philip, who “could” go share the Gospel with this Ethiopian.

The Spirit (Holy Spirit) somehow impressed upon Philip to go up to the Ethiopian’s chariot. And after the baptism the Spirit carried Philip away. God directed Philip to the right person at the right time. The Holy Spirit was at work before, during, and after this Gospel encounter between these two men. The Holy Spirit is an essential component to evangelism. We shouldn’t be trying to do evangelism by way of our flesh; what we think we can do in our own efforts.

The Holy Spirit will impress upon a Christ-follower through different means (i.e. thoughts, burdens, convictions, Scripture, people) and we need to ask God to fill us with the Spirit and help us discern His voice and take the next steps.  Being “full of the Holy Spirit” (see Eph. 5:18) means one is “led by” the Holy Spirit (also “walk by”, “live by”; Gal. 5:16-25) and discerning of His leading in your life.

The most effective evangelism will be Spirit-led evangelism. God is at work all around us and He expects His people to be Spirit-led.

2) The Importance of Faithful Obedience to God.

I believe God’s primary evangelism vehicle comes through a human instrument, especially a Christ-follower who is faithful in sharing the Gospel. When I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord at age 9 it followed many Gospel presentations I had heard from my church Sunday School teachers and Children’s Church leaders and my own mother.

God is not forcing His people to share the Gospel but He has called us to do so and He desires to equip and empower us for this important ministry. Are we willing and faithful, though? Philip was. You may not be uniquely gifted as a professional or large scale evangelist but all Christ-followers are called to be Christ’s witnesses to proclaim the Gospel.

Philip accepted this witnessing commission from Christ. In Acts 8, we notice Philip was faithful and obedient to the leading of God in his life. This is spiritual success in one’s life. God is the One who spiritually draws people unto Himself as their needed Savior. God does the actual saving/salvation. Philip did not save anyone from their sins. God is the One who did great evangelism ministry through Philip who was willing, available, and faithful to serve God in sharing the Gospel with people.

Praise God, Philip was not the common mute Christian witness that is so prevalent today nor was he a vague witness nor an overly aggressive witness. Following God’s prompting, he politely began a conversation with this stranger in a friendly way right where the man was spiritually at that moment (actually reading a Messianic Bible passage).

I remember once in seminary when I was walking from my basement apartment to my car and I chatted with a contractor doing some work on the neighbor’s house. He told me he was very down because of a murder suicide his high school friend was recently part of. The Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart to point this man to the living hope that exists in the resurrected Christ but instead I kept things brief and general with that guy and did not mention what was really eternally significant and needed in that moment. Afterwards, I regretted that missed opportunity for ministry and my lack of obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Praise God though, there have been other times when I sensed the Holy Spirit leading me to go talk to someone and transition the conversation to the person and works of Jesus Christ and I did that. How about you?

3) The Importance of God’s Word in Evangelism.

The Word of God is our major source of Gospel revelation from God to us. Acts 8:35 (ESV Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.) summarizes a key reason why the Holy Bible was written.

Romans 10:17 ESV So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God, especially the truth of the Gospel, to illuminate essential truth and draw people unto the Lord.

Let’s not major on extra-biblical illustrations and personal stories. These have their uses in evangelism but let’s be sure to major on using relevant Holy Scripture to communicate needed divine truth.

Do you and I have a good summary understanding of the Gospel according to God’s Word? Can you and I share the Gospel on a moment’s notice? I believe we should be able to do this and we should practice this and engage in this. If you had the opportunity today to talk with someone several minutes about the Gospel of Christ, which Bible verses might you highlight? Would any be from the Old Testament?

Let’s stay saturated in the Gospel of Christ; in our learning, in our remembering the truth we have learned, in our spiritual growth, in our proclamation of it.

4) The Importance of Cross-cultural Evangelism.

Philip was a Greek name and he was likely a Hellenist; a Jewish Christian who spoke Greek. His roots were possibly Palestinian. The Ethiopian was from another culture and land, Africa, and he was likely a dark skinned man. The point is, Philip did not just speak the Gospel to Jews or even Greeks. He spoke the Gospel to an African man (and to mixed-race Samaritans; earlier in Acts 8).

The Gospel is for people of all nations and tribes and Christ-followers are called to proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation (Mk. 16:15, Mt. 28:19). God created me Caucasian and I was born in Florida and my recent ancestors are Caucasian and were born in the US. This Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a US thing though, or a Caucasian thing, or just for or primarily for Caucasians and people who live in the US. This Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news in all of creation and intended to bless everyone. It is a cross-cultural Gospel. The eternal Son of God became flesh. God came to us, the Jews first, then to non-Jews.

I’ve been outside the US to share the Gospel with people from another land and I’ve been down the street to share the Gospel with people from another culture or the same culture. Recently, I was blessed with the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to a room of people who were from multiple continents and cultures and I spoke of this Acts 8 passage. In your circle of influence, are there people from other cultures (or you culture) you can speak to about Christ? Are we praying for such opportunities? Are we engaging in such ministry for the glory of God?

There are many people who would consider themselves religious and may even worship Jehovah/Yahweh but do they know Jesus Christ as Savior and the Lord of their lives by God’s grace through faith in Christ? And do you?

What are your thoughts about this encounter between Philip and the Ethiopian recorded in Acts 8 and what I’ve written here?

Mike