27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all thof the Kandake (which means "queen of theEthiopians"). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his charioreading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. - P58
35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scriptureand told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to somewater and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Whatcan stand in the way of my being baptized?" [37]* - P59
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of thLord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did notsee him again, but went on his way rejoicing. - P59
Obeying the orders of an angel, Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch on a roadto Gaza. The Eunuch is reading the book of Isaiah, so Philip offers to explain itfor him. - P59
Philip tells him the good news about Jesus. The eunuch believes andis baptized. Philip is then taken away by the Spirit of the Lord and continuesto preach the gospel town by town. - P59
After the great outpouring of God‘s Spirit in Samaria, Philip is sent onhis next journey. An angel of the Lord sends him on the road that goesfrom Jerusalem to Gaza-one of the busiest thoroughfares of the ancient world. - P60
Here, amid the hustle and bustle of travelers from all walksof life, the Spirit guides Philip to a single chariot where an Ethiopianeunuch is sitting. - P60
Imagine Philip‘s surprise as he hears this man read thewords of the prophet Isaiah describing the rejection and crucifixion ofJesus Christ! - P60
It is just like our God to act in unexpected ways to reachunlikely people. Let us be open to the Spirit‘s guidance so Godmay useus to take the gospel to the people He longs to save. - P60
God has prepared this Ethiopian eunuch to hear and receive the goodnews of Jesus. Philip‘s obedience to the Holy Spirit is rewarded as hebaptizes this new convert into the church. - P60
But once Philip‘s task iscompleted, he is immediately led elsewhere where he can continue toshare the gospel with new people in new places. It is easy to want tosettle down in those places where we see God is at work. - P60
But there areso many other places in the world that God is seeking to reach withthe good news of Jesus. - P60
There are so many other people that need toexperience His grace and salvation. We therefore need to look beyondour present circumstances and always be asking God, "What next?" - P60
Lord, wherever You lead, I will follow. Being with You matters more than anycomfort I have in my life. - P60
Help me to keep in step with Your Spirit as You lead meinto the future You have planned for me. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P60
[NIV] 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out mur-derous threats against the Lord‘s disciples. He went tothe high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the syna-gogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there whobelonged to the Way, whether men or women, he mighttake them as prisoners to Jerusalem. - P64
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whomyou are persecuting," he replied. - P64
8 Saulgot upfrom the ground, but when he opened hishe could see nothing. So they led him by the handeyesinto Damascus.
9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drinkanything. - P65
Saul is on his way to Damascus because he wants the authority to put morefollowers of Jesus in prison. Suddenly, a light flashes around him and he hearsa voice from heaven. It is Jesus, who tells him to go into Damascus. - P65
Thosetraveling with him hear the sound but do not see anyone. Saul becomes blindand does not eat or drink anything for three days. - P65
God continues to work in ways that His people never could haveimagined. The barriers that He broke down in Samaria were beyondanything the first Jewish Christians could have anticipated. - P66
And anEthiopian eunuch returning to his queen and country with a heart ofire for Jesus, who could have guessed? - P66
But the surprises God has instore through the grace of His Son, Jesus, are only just beginning. - P66
Intoday‘s passage, a zealous persecutor of the Early Church experiencesthe power and presence of the One whose name he is seeking to destroy. - P66
Blinded and knocked to the ground, the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus is aboutto be led into God‘s irresistible grace. What a lesson for us today! Goddelights in reaching people we often consider unreachable. - P66
In the past, the people of Cambodia have suffered violent attacks from both inside andoutside the country, which has left them wary and distrustful. Under the Khmer Rouge, around two million Cambodians died, and one of the major repercussions of this is that thepopulation is disproportionately young and uneducated. - P66
Although Buddhism is dominant, Christians have been able to worship God openly in Cambodia since 1990. As more peopleturn to Christ, there is a growing need for strong leaders in the Cambodian church. - P66
Dear Jesus, when You encounter us, everything changes. We bring our stubbornways before You and ask You to transform us from the inside out. Help us todesire You more than anything else. In Your name, amen. - P67
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