Game Changer 3

Ok, a quick wrap up of these thoughts around Acts 8: 26 - 40...

I love the way in which God the Holy Spirit orchestrates this great moment on the road to Gaza. As we have noted, this is the first time we encounter an evangelist of this form in the bible after Jesus himself. Not just the joy of revival in Samaria but also the lonely road to one in the wilderness.

We have celebrated the arrival of this Jesus grace gift given to Philip. It seems like the wonder of Jerusalem did not need the evangelist. The encounter of Pentecost and all that flowed out of that produced growth and conversion as in revival times.

Now however the pioneering role of the evangelist is needed... to break open new vistas.

But I want to hone in on the text that the Eunuch is reading - from Is 52:13 - 53:12. Amazing isn't it ? This is the suffering servant text - which is exactly what the eunuch was - a suffering servant:

Can you imagine when Philip explained this Jesus to the eunuch. I am sure the eunuch would have jumped with joy saying - "this God gets me... he understands me... he can save me for he did it for someone just like me"

"his appearance was so disfigured" he gets me, I am also disfigured
"so he will sprinkle many nations" he embraces me, even from the uttermost
"He grew up like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground" I also felt out of place, vulnerable
"He was despised and rejected by men" That is how other men treated me too
"Surely he carried our infirmities / griefs / weaknesses"Every day I pain with my grief and weaknesses
"As a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth" All too often I too had to hold my tongue when I wanted to speak out
"Who can speak of his descendants?" I longed for a child, one of the things I will never have, neither will he!

Wow, no wonder he said 'yes' to Jesus. Our loving task is to help everyone find their place in the story of redemption. They are written into some moment of the great Jesus story. Help them find it and watch salvation takes His course with them.