The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Message summary: Today God is still using people like Philip and Galen as we walk in obedience. Let us always be prepared!

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"Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked" (Acts 8:30). "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

Jay Smith has worked with Muslims since 1983 and is one of Christianity’s principal public evangelists and debaters to the Muslim world. He travels extensively teaching Apologetics for those exploring ministry to Muslims and engages the movers and thinkers of Islam on a weekly basis. We have heard him speak several times and he really has an interesting ministry expressing great boldness.

Years ago our friends Galen and Nancy were a part of a mission team that went to London to work alongside Jay. It was so exciting to see them stepping out in this manner of service for Christ.

Among their efforts was distributing tracts (small literature pamphlets with a Christian message). Galen came back home with an exciting story concerning their fruitful labor. They were passing out tracts along the sidewalk when a young man came by with a tract in his hand. He introduced himself as Graham. Galen asked him if he knew what he was reading. He told him that he had picked up one of the tracts that had been dropped by someone on the sidewalk. 

And then Graham told his story. He had lived a life far from the Lord and recognized that he needed a change of direction in his life. He had been reading a Bible placed in his hotel room by the Gideons (interestingly Galen is also a member of the Gideons, a ministry which distributes Bibles). The Spirit of God had been speaking to him through his reading the Bible.

Galen briefly explained the tract to him and asked if he was ready to make a decision for Christ. He said he was and they went to a park area where Galen further explained the plan of salvation. He followed up with a prayer of repentance as Graham asked Jesus to be his Savior and Lord!

Galen told me, "As a farmer I fully understand that when a crop is ready you get ready and harvest it", which is just what happened! Galen realized that the Lord was preparing this young man for a divine encounter since he told him he does not normally walk on that particular sidewalk.

This story sure reminds me of the wonderful personal evangelism experience that Philip had in Acts 8 with the Ethiopian. Philip was one of the seven chosen (along with Stephen) in Acts 6 and thus it seems the Holy Spirit is demonstrating early on His intent that we all be involved in spreading the Gospel, not just the original disciples who walked with Jesus.

An angel of the Lord had directed Philip to the place where he would meet the Ethiopian who was reading the book of Isaiah while riding in the chariot (I guess he didn't deal with motion sickness.) The Spirit directed Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

"Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet." (Now that's obedience!)

Philip asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" So often God ordains human interaction in explaining His truth. The Ethiopian answered, "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Philip went on to explain the Gospel and had a lengthy spiritual conversation that culminated in his leading the Ethiopian to salvation in Christ.

Today God is still using people like Philip and Galen as we walk in obedience to Christ. Let us look for opportunities and always be prepared!

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber