Philip and the Ethiopian (Acts, Chapter 8)
26 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.”
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] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the Eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. [NET]
Just be willing and open to witnessing for the Lord.
Obviously, Phillip was willing and open to witnessing for the Lord. After all, he was an evangelist. This is simply the first requirement for witnessing. Do you have to know what exactly to say? No, you do not. The Lord promised he would give you the words.
Just share what is in your spirit. He knows what the person needs to hear, and He will tailor the message. Just be willing and step out. It is okay if you are intimidated or even fearful. Just step out and Jesus will help you and speak through you. It is not important how the person receives the message. It is only important that you step out and give the message.
If you are willing, the Lord will use you.
We know Phillip was willing and we know Phillip was open to wherever the Lord would lead him. Because of this, Jesus used him. He will use you as well.
Well, you may say. “Yeah, but Phillip was so spiritual. He could hear the Lord.” Really? Then why did God have to use an angel to get his attention? Why did he not just use that still small voice or the knowing that a mature believer has developed in the Spirit? No, he sent an angel to get his attention and sent him down some desert road in the middle of nowhere.
Follow the Spirit, the Lord will get your attention.
Following the Spirit or walking by the Spirit is progressive. The more you listen and step out the better you will hear and build trust in that “voice.” You will make some mistakes, but it is ok. But you will learn and become more confident as you go.
Jesus will lead you along in this. He knows how to reach you and to lead you. As we see with Phillip, he sent an angel to get his attention and to send his message. As long as you are willing, He will get your attention and lead you into witnessing opportunities.
What are these opportunities? They are ready to hear.
Jesus did not send Phillip down the road in the middle of nowhere unless there was a real opportunity to witness. We see the Eunuch was searching and looking for answers. People you will be led to witness will be searching and looking for answers as well. This is why you were sent. The Lord knows who is open and who needs to hear the message you have.
What do I do when I get to that person?
Do what Phillip did. He got there with no real idea why he was there or what he was to do. You will probably feel the same way. But the Lord told Phillip to go up to that chariot and just stay near it. Follow the leading of your spirit.
Then what did Phillip do? He listened. He just listened. Listening to people will open more opportunities than anything else. They will tell you where their heart is and where their need is. Do not make it about witnessing. Make it about listening.
God will give you the opening.
Just as Phillip in the story, God will give you the opening to witness. Do not go looking for an opening or trying to make an opening. Remember you are listening. Do you know how few people actually really listen? Do you know how rare it is that someone actually listens to them? How will you know what to say or in Phillip’s case what to ask if you are not listening to them? All Phillip did was to listen. Then he asked the obvious question. Do you understand the passage?
See the Lord gave the opening. It was natural and it was what the person was searching for and needed to hear. The Eunuch was now ready to listen. This is all you need. Simply share from your heart and the Spirit of the Lord will do the rest. He is faithful and he will honor you for stepping out in Him.
Do not judge by appearances or a person’s station in life.
This Eunuch was the treasurer of Ethiopia. The treasurer of an entire nation that had great wealth at the time. He was riding in a chariot. He was a man of great prominence and authority. How approachable do you think he was in the eyes of the average person? Probably did not seem approachable at all. Yet Phillip was invited to come up and ride with him.
Never judge by appearances or station, good or bad, high or low. Again, the lord will give you the opening and as we see here, favor. Just being willing and stepping out allows Him to open the way before you.
Planting seeds.
What if the person does not respond? Was this a failure or a waste of time? No, not at all. In the story, the Eunuch was returning from Jerusalem from worshiping in the temple. He was most likely a convert to Judaism. Someone before Phillip had led him to God, albeit the law. So, seeds were planted in this person’s life long before Phillip got there. Phillip just showed up to reap the harvest. Often you will also plant seeds in a person’s life.
Witnessing is not just about bringing someone to the Lord at that moment. It is often about planting a seed that will lead to them ultimately being saved. So do not be discouraged if a person does not respond to your witnessing. You planted a seed, and a great harvest could come. You were willing, and you stepped out, and the Lord Jesus is happy and proud of you.
Remember that seed can lead to a great harvest. That person in whom you planted that seed could later come to the Lord and be a great servant in the kingdom of God. You do not know. But you do know you were faithful and that is all He asks.
When they respond, they will want to take action.
When a person responds to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and they want to receive the Lord Jesus as their savior, they will want to take action. We see in the story; that the Eunuch sees a body of water and says, “Hey look! Water. Why can’t I be baptized?” He wanted to take action; He wanted all God had for him.
So be ready to pray with them. Be ready to lay hands on them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Be ready to fill the need they have. The Lord will honor your faith and He will supply their need. Just be willing and step out with them. Jesus will show up, and as we see in the story, the Eunuch went away rejoicing. You both will be rejoicing.
Miraculous things happen when you are willing and step out with the Lord.
In the story, we see a miracle. When the Eunuch and Phillip came out of the water after the baptism. The Spirit of the Lord miraculously transported Phillip instantly to another town. When you step out for the Lord and follow the leading of His Spirit, you will see miracles in your life and in the lives of others. Expect it.
In Conclusion.
He leads you by His Spirit. He makes the way to witness. He prepares the hearts. He makes the openings. He plants the seeds. He brings the conviction. He gives revelation for salvation. He works miracles. All you have to be is willing and step out.