One in Heart and Mind

The title for our new preaching series is, Sent by The King. The topic for this week is, Meeting Real Needs. How do we recognize real needs? Once we identify a need, how do we step in? What is appropriate help, what is enabling? These are valid considerations, but do they matter?

In reading the Scripture verses for yesterday (Sunday), I was struck by one phrase in Acts 4:32. "All the believers were one in heart and mind." 

Whoa, that is powerful and what a goal to strive toward. We could rephrase this by substituting a word or two. All the family members were one in heart and mind, or all the employees were one in heart and mind. Or how about, the entire country was one in heart and mind? Can you only imagine?

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. (Acts 8:30-31)

Philip recognized a need and stepped in to help. How did Philip arrive at that place? He listened to to Angel. “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (Acts 8:26) Philip obeyed, he followed the prompting of the Angel, and found someone who needed his help understanding some of the scriptures he was reading.

How many times have we been nudged to do something, to go a certain route, to attend an event, talk to a neighbor?  How many times have we followed the urge and discovered a special situation just waiting for us to step into. Could these urges be the Holy Spirit trying to get our attention?

During a quiet time, before starting the day, how often do we feel like we should do something. Maybe calling a family member, or send a note to a friend. Just one time, follow the prompting and see what happens. There just might be an opportunity to meet a real need, and opportunity to transform someone’s life. At the very least we might bring a smile to someone who truly needed one.

Acts 8:26-40

Gladly Enduring

The Kingdom-focused Church gladly endures suffering. I don't know if I would use the word, "gladly" as it refers to enduring suffering. I know suffering is part of life and I cannot escape it, but honestly, to gladly endure, requires more than I have to give. While I would like to be that person, I am not.

Acts 8:1 (NIV)
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

The story of Stephen, whom we look to as the first martyr for Christianity, is beautiful to hear. His eloquent words of testimony are gripping (Stephen's Speech to the Sanhedrin), his subsequent death by stoning is awful and stunning at the same time.

I know, there are Christians in the world now, who are suffering for their beliefs, and who are willing to die for them. I'd like to say I am also willing, so I pray for faith this strong and enduring.

Acts 8:4 (NIV)
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

But, as I have been learning, faith comes from the trials and hardships we encounter on this journey called life. Every time I am knocked down, it takes strength, faith, to get back up again. Each time I do, I am stronger and more able to withstand the next onslaught.

I pray that one day I will be able to say, “I will endure suffering gladly”.
Acts 8:1-6

The Kingdom without Boundaries

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 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?” (Acts 8:24-26).

Though retired from the insurance industry, I still hold my breath a bit during hurricane season. Atlantic storms go wherever they please and damage whatever they choose. They don’t stop at state borders, and they could care less about county lines. Man-made boundaries mean nothing to these and other forces of nature.

In a sense, the same can be said of the word of God: no person, no government, no border can constrain it. Like the wind, it rushes from the mouth of one into the heart of another, regardless of political ideology. Like a forest fire, it leaps from the page of Scripture and ignites the soul, no matter one’s nationality. From those with no degree to those with advanced degree, God’s word topples walls of resistance with seismic power. And wherever the word of God is received in faith, there the kingdom of God—His rule in the heart—is established.

In today’s Scripture, Philip encountered a government official—Ethiopian by nationality, Jewish by faith—and explained to him Isaiah’s foretelling of Jesus, the Messiah. As the man listened, the Spirit overwhelmed him like a flood filling every void in his soul. “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” God’s kingdom had expanded by a population of one.

We don’t know where God’s reign will be established next—whether in this heart or that one—but it will spread, unseen, reaching and giving new birth to people of every nation, every race, and every religious background. And in this confidence, we share God’s word, tell our stories of His transforming work in our lives, and serve people in the name of Christ, whose kingdom is established in all who receive Him.

[Read today’s Scripture in Acts 8:26-36.]

Light tasks and heavy lifting

Years ago, my wife and I were washing dishes together after dinner.  One baking dish was proving to be a particular challenge and, as I scraped and scrubbed, Peggy said, “Just let it soak for a while in soapy water.  Let the detergent do the work for you.”  Her advice actually sounded pretty good to me, so I filled the dish as she suggested and left it alone.  Then returning to the kitchen sink 20 minutes later, I was amazed at how easy it was to finish the job.  The dish soap had done the heavy lifting and my effort was actually pretty light.  And ever since, I’ve been perfectly happy to let the detergent do the work on the occasional, more difficult cookware cleaning job. 

We who live in Christ through faith share the task of helping others see the wonder of who he is and the power of what he does.  But sometimes we mistakenly take on the heavy lifting that only God can do.  We need to understand both his role and ours. 

We are called to tell others what Christ has done in our lives, but only God can draw them to himself.  Ours is to engage people and serve them as the Spirit leads us; it is God’s role to soften their hearts.  God is the one who opens doors for the sharing of God’s promises in Christ; we simply walk through them and speak. 

And only God owns his results.  We need not worry about the outcomes of our obedience; the sovereign God is in charge and fully capable of turning our Kingdom efforts into his Kingdom wins.  In fact, he’s the only one who can. 

Ours is simply to watch and listen, then obey and trust.  And to be perfectly happy to let God do the cleaning, the heavy lifting.

Click here to see today’s Scripture in Acts 8:26-39.  As you read the story of God, Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, distinguish between the tasks Philip undertook and the work only God could do. 

God at Work in People

                                                                    Acts 8: 26-40

God is consistently vigilant. He works through us. Many are used for His purpose, who have no idea they are a vehicle for the Lord. Our Savior utilizes situations both joyous and devastating to impact the lives of his beloved.

I urge you to search your heart and memory. Depending on your age, you may have more memories than you can recall. That’s ok. We will all be there at some point. When have you been at work for God?

As it states in Matthew 25: 31-36, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on the throne in heavenly glory………..He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the king will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Matthew 25: 40; “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

We are all coming from our own place in this world, and if we are still and listen to the Lord, can be honest about where we stand with Him. Each individual created by God has been dealt their own hand to play, and as Chuck Swindoll is often quoted: “Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we respond to it.” Our circumstances may be difficult, challenging, devastating, comfortable, pleasant, and even euphoric at times, but no matter where we are now, it will not last. Life is a journey of hills and valleys. We are to give, share, and pour out our help to others when we can.

Philip took the opportunity in Acts 8 to explain the scripture reading to an Ethiopian official, and he in turn was baptized and received the spirit. We may not be baptizing and preaching the gospel in the same way Philip did, yet the way we conduct our daily lives is a testimony to who we are and whom we serve.

Read/Listen to Acts 8: 26-40