Sermon: The Sending Spirit

THE SENDING SPIRIT
(Acts 8:26-40)
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 1 Aug 2010

I.  GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and Go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jeruslaem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. (Acts 8:26, 27a)

ACTS 1:8 – THE FORGOTTEN MISSION
They forgot Jesus’ mission extended beyond their homes, beyond the city limits, beyond their township borders, beyond people who looked, acted, and thought just like them. They were to share Jesus with the world.
If you don’t do Acts 1:8, oftentimes Acts 8:1 will come on you!

When the Holy Spirit comes, you will want to go. He is a sending Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit moves our heart we must Get up and Go!
A Christian doesn’t negotiate or argue; he simply obeys God.
“Our plumb line for determining success can be only one thing: obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit.” (Os Hillman)

26 Arise and Go …  27 And he arose and went.
God didn’t tell Philip why, nor did he tell him what he would do when he got there, JUST GO.  He was willing to do what God wanted him to do-no matter what it was. He was willing to do what God wanted him to do-even though he had no idea what it was. For him Go meant Go and he did not seem to need anything more.

GET ON THE ROAD … ROAD2GAZA
Gen. 10:19; Josh 10:41; 13:3; Judg 16:1-3, 21; Amos 1:6-7; Jer. 47:1

GET ON THE ROAD … TAKE THE RISK
Favor in Odd Places
Favor at Odd Times
The Holy Spirit is moving us out of our comfort zone,  into new possibilities and God-created opportunities.

II. GET NEAR TO SOMEBODY – A Divine Appointment

And Behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority … Then the SPIRIT said unto Philip, “Go near, and join thyself to this chariot” (Acts 8:27b, 29 KJV)

ETHIOPIA  – the outer limits of the known world to the Greeks and Romans

BEHOLD! (:27) Check it Out! Surprise!
Ethiopian Eunuch  Isa. 53:7-8 (cf 56:3-5)
God wanted this man because he was seeking     Jer 29:13

POWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Now the Holy Spirit (:29), not an angel (:27), began to speak to Philip.
I believe in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God’s work will depend on his power,  not on our ability or resources.

The Holy Spirit said, “Go near” and Philip RAN. Philip was very eager and passionate to do what God asked him to do.   That is Christianity. That is the life of one who is a new creation in Christ.
Passion is anything that you invest time, thought, energy and money to.
Passion’s Reason:  Salvation that saves.  Souls to save. John 3:16

The Divine-Human Partnership:
1. The angel of the Lord’s work
V26 – Go south unto Gaza, which is desert.
2. The Spirit of the Lord’s work
V29 – Go near and join thyself to this chariot.
3. The preacher’s work
V31 – “Understandeth what thou readeth?…. How can I, except some man should guide me?” (cf Rom. 10:13-17)

E1B1 – Each One Bring One. Bring one more to Jesus!

The Power of One: Helen Keller said,  “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

III. CAUGHT UP: MORE TO COME

“…the SPIRIT of the LORD caught away Philip … Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea” (Acts 8:39, 40)
Philip was “snatched away” by the Spirit of the Lord, sent to other cities…
And suddenly God starts to use you in places and ways you never thought possible.

Do not rest on one victory; do not rest on past victories.

WHEN THE SPIRIT SENDS …
When the “angel of the Lord” directed Philip to go to a certain place he arose and went.
When the “Spirit of the Lord” told Philip to speak to a certain person he obeyed with passion.
And when the “Spirit of the Lord” caught the evangelist away, he submissively allowed himself to be taken.

In Philip’s complete surrender and yieldedness to the SPIRIT we see the secret of his success.

HOLY SPIRIT,  HERE AM I, SEND ME!