In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

God doesn't always think the same way that we do. In our Savior's earthly ministry, the disciples were tempted to think that adults were more important and that children should just get out of the way and move along. Jesus disagreed sharply. He said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Lk 18:16). The Jewish Christians thought that Jesus had mainly come for them, but increasingly in this section of Acts, we see outreach to Gentiles, to non-Jewish foreigners. And from time to time, we today might think that, because God loves so many people that he doesn't have time for an individual soul. That's not the case. Yes, God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. And that also means that God is interested in every individual soul, even if they seem foreign to us. In our text for today, we see that:

1. HE PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY (vv. 26-34)

A missionary simply could not ask for a better chance at reaching out to a soul. Just think of all the details that God took care of! It's mind-boggling. First, consider the man in the chariot. We know him as the Ethiopian eunuch. He was an "important official" in his own country. But in the land of Israel, he was a foreigner. People knew it as soon as they took one glance at him. He was a black man. He looked different. The Jews would probably have treated him like an outsider. Yet, he had traveled many miles from his home to worship in Jerusalem. Clearly, he was seeking to learn more about the one true God, the God who had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Perhaps he wanted to learn more about the God who had done such miracles through Moses. Clearly, he was interested. He cared enough to travel all the way to Jerusalem to worship! This was a man who was interested in religion. This was a man who was searching for answers. This was a man who was ready for a visit from a missionary.

But wait! There's more! As if the opportunity were not good enough already, consider what this man is doing in the chariot while riding down the desert road. He's reading from the Old Testament Scriptures. And as if that were not enough, he's reading from the clearest gospel chapter of the Old Testament, Isaiah chapter 53. He was riding down the road, reading words that we read on Good Friday. If, as we expect, he had been reading through this chapter, he would have been reading Isaiah 53:4?6, "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." If I could pick any passage in the Old Testament to use on an outreach call, this would be it. We all like sheep have gone astray and sinned, but the Lord placed all of our sin and all of our guilt on "him."

As if this opportunity were not enough, there is one more consideration. The timing was absolutely perfect. God carried out all of the details so that Philip shows up just when the eunuch is reading these words, right after the words I just quoted: (Acts 8:32?33) "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. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." Can you appreciate the perfect timing? Philip arrives just as he's reading the very peak of Old Testament gospel prophecy. The pronoun "he" just keeps repeating. And there is one more detail.

Sometimes we really have to work to get "on topic" in an outreach call. You can talk about the weather, the kids, or the news, but somehow, you always try to turn the topic to Jesus, and the saving gospel. Sometimes, it's hard to find the right transition point. Philip would not have to worry about it. He arrives and finds the perfect opportunity. The Ethiopian eunuch has just read Isaiah 53, and all of these "he" pronouns. The Ethiopian was wondering who "he" might be. So, to complete the perfect outreach opportunity (Acts 8:34), "The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?'" He asked who the prophet was talking about. What an opportunity! The Lord had just laid the perfect pitch into Philip's wheelhouse, and Philip was going to knock it out of the park. Philip was ready for this! But let us not miss this factor. God placed Philip there, in the perfect opportunity for outreach. Don't miss this fact! See that God loves and converts an individual foreigner...

2. HE CALLS AND SENDS A MISSIONARY (v. 35)

Philip was that missionary. God had called him and sent him to go to this road, and this chariot, at this time. He arrives to hear this black man reading from Isaiah. Then the man is wondering aloud this question, "Who is he? Who is Isaiah talking about there?" And Philip was ready. It says, (Acts 8:35) "Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." Philip explained the passage. It was all about Jesus, dying on the cross to save us from our sins. Philip told this foreigner the good news about Jesus.

Now, I hope that you are thinking, as I am, "Even I could do that." I mean, God laid the whole thing right in his lap. Just about all he had to do was say a little about Jesus. Philip had to be thinking, "Man, this is easy!" But it was only easy because God did all of the work, and took care of all of the details. God had called and sent him just for this purpose: to reach out to this man, at this time, with this gospel, by explaining Isaiah chapter 53.

And guess what: I have a pretty good opportunity myself right now. I mean, you have gathered here in this house of worship to hear God's Word. And this is what the Lord says: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Not one of us is good enough to earn heaven by works. We all stand before God as sinners. And so, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment. But, as Isaiah chapter 53 declares, God provided a substitute. And that Substitute is Jesus Christ. As true God and true man, he lived a pure and holy life for us. Then, the Lord laid on him, the sins of us all. He died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. But he rose from death, because he had won our forgiveness, our victory, and our status of peace with God. Whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish, but have eternal life. So then, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!

Perhaps all of you already knew this gospel, and believed in Jesus. And if so, that's great! You are on the road to heaven, then. But perhaps you also know someone who does not know Jesus, who does not believe in him. And maybe, just maybe, you know someone who has been asking questions about what you believe. Maybe you are going to be God's missionary to that person. Be alert, and looking for opportunities just like the one that Philip had. God called and sent Philip, just for this purpose. How will he use you? Keep in mind that...

3. HE WORKS THROUGH HIS CHOSEN MEANS (vv. 36-39)

Philip was telling this Ethiopian about Jesus. He was probably telling him all about his suffering and death on the cross. He certainly must have told him about how Jesus rose from death. And he probably talked about faith, and about Baptism. Listen again to verses 36 and following, "As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him." It is a sign of faith that the eunuch asked to be baptized. Remember, they were traveling on the desert road. This was probably a stream or a little pool of water. Philip baptized him. God worked through the gospel, and through that Baptism. We know this from verse 39, which says that the eunuch "went on his way rejoicing." Joy is one of the fruits of faith. This eunuch was a believer in Jesus Christ, an adopted child of God. He was converted, and he was glad!

How exciting it is to see God working through his means. Oh, I know that we can't see faith in the heart, but we can see the fruits of faith. We can see people asking to hear more of God's Word, eager to learn from the Scriptures. We can see parents bringing children to be baptized. We can see joy in the lives of believers.

We read about the eunuch's joy, but I have to believe that Philip was pretty happy too. He continued to preach the gospel to others. He was probably charged up for his work! An episode like this can cheer you up for some time. And may we share that joy. It is too easy to get bogged down on depressing things that really don't matter that much in eternity. Hearing constant complaining can drag called workers down, and make them weary. But being involved in a case like this one is a real pick me up. I'm quite sure that there was a spring in Philip's step after this. And he was just a little more "upbeat" about mission work.

How about you? Have you experienced the joy of outreach lately? Maybe we need to focus a little more on why we are here, and what God wants us to be and to do. Never forget, it was only by God's grace that we became believers ourselves. Thank God that he loved and converted us! May he love and convert still more! Amen.