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The Hitchhikers Guide To The Gospel

Theme

TEXT: Acts 8: 25-31

AIM:

INTRODUCTION:
In the 1970’s Pastor Jack Hyles shares a testimony that he taught a course on soul winning at
the Trinity BC in Jacksonville, Florida. After the course, one of the men who attended the
meeting was driving back to his hometown to get his wife intent to return for the evening
service. In so doing, he stopped and offered a ride to a hitchhiker along the way and
preceded to use the soul-winning method of the "Roman Road" he just learned on the
hitchhiker.

Praise God for he had the privilege to lead the man to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
In tears, the hitchhiker reached in his pocket and pulled out a pistol, showing it to the soul
winner he said, "I got in your car with the plan to kill you, rob you, and steal this automobile. If you
hadn't won me to Christ tonight, you would be a dead man now."

He handed the weapon over to the soul winner. He even returned with the soul winner to
the service that evening, came forward during the invitation, and professed his faith publicly
in Christ. Ya know. . . it pays to be a soul winner!!!!

Well here in our test we have a hitchhiker worth picking up!

This story works the other way a round, the hitchhiker gets to witness to the driver!

There was a “HAY DAY” for Hitchhikers back in the earlier days of the automobile—back
before it became so dangerous to pick-up strangers. Back in that time various guides were
written & read—guides and tips as how to hitchhike aroundCities, Counties & even
Countries.
 
Here in our text we have a man hitching a ride NOT to some distant city but to a place “way”
out! Way out in the desert to a pool of water for a wayout baptism – Vs. 26, 35-36, 39.

This “Unique Eunuch Experience”—unique indeed…but it is also an excellent example us in

various ways.

I. A PREPARED SINNER “A MAN .VS. 27

Except A MAN be born again
A. HIS RACE ~ Vs 27a ….a man of Ethiopia
Here in Ch 8 We have the conversion of a son of Ham, ch 9 Saul of Tarsus son of Shem, ch 10
Cornelious a Roman Centurion son of Japeth.

SKIN has never took a single soul to hell. SIN does!

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This man couldn’t change himself! Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard
his spots?

* Me in Alabama led a Jewish German teenager to Lord-overcame obstacles

B. HIS RANK ~ Vs 27b …..great authority
Very influential and important treasurer for the queen. Secretary of the Treasury.

(Candace; like Pharaoh, or Emperor, title given to all the queens of Ethiopia.)

Highly educated. - not only was he able to read, he was reading in a 2nd language!
C. HIS RELIGION ~ Vs 27d ..had come to Jerusalem to worship
Religious .yet and on his way to hell!

Religion 6 x ..only once good and that is an exception!

Religion can help you reform - but not make you reborn!

Here’s a classic example of a BANKER needing a TELLER! He needed someone to TELL Him
how to be saved.

II. A PROMPT SOULWINNER SOME MAN …VS. 26-27, 31

* Two blind pilots board wearing dark glasses. Both using a guide Dog and tapping along the
aisle with a cane.

Nervous laughter spreads through the cabin, (surely, this is just a little practical joke) . but
the men enter the cockpit, the door closes and the engines start up.

The passengers begin glancing nervously around.

The plane moves faster and faster down the runway and the people Sitting in the window
seats realize they’re headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport. As it begins to
look as though the plane will plough into the water, panicked screams fill the cabin.

At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. In the cockpit, one of the blind pilots
turns to the other and says, “Ya know, Bob, one of these days, they’re gonna scream too late
and we’re all gonna die.

He needs someone to help him! He needed a guide, or he was going down!

* -if the Lord has to send one missionary a million smiles to reach just one, He will!

God uses MEN as a MEANS of spreading the MESSAGE!

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Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall
they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?

Prov 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
A. HIS IDENTITY ~ vs. 26
NOT the Discipleone of the two named original Magnificent 7 deacons

* Friend said he thought I named two of my sons after Deacons, so I could boss ‘em around !

The Angel basically told Philip to stop what he was doing and go take a hike!

EvANGEList! Only used twice in the entire Bible! 2 Tim 4:5 and Acts 21:8

Many souls are in NO MANS land!!! David Ps 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

.Yet there is always an instrument-for me it was also an Evangelist! O.B. Greene

* Evangelist Can you tell me where the post office is? Go down yonder..turn left.

Son, while I got you, I want to invite you to come here me preach tonight and learn how to
get to heaven-will you come?

Nah —-you don’t even know your way to the post office- I doubt you know the way to
heaven!
B. HIS ABILITY ~ vs. 27 ‘He arose and went’
“The greatest ability is dependability.”

Psalm 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. -He didn’t question.
He left the Revival going on at Samaria, and went to a dry, desolate, desert!

He listened to the Lord and went SOUTH ( * .Hear that Rebekah & Mike?)

He didn’t offer excuses!

He CHASED the CHARIOTit had passed him when he heard the Eunuch.

Philip didn’t let the facts that he was of another COLOR, and CULTURE get in the way!

Philip a JEWThere are those who WILL NOT speak to another person of another color and
forget that Jesus was a Jew!

The great commission is our job description!

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We are TOLD to TELL! Go where God GUIDES!

III. A PERTINENT SCRIPTURE – ”SCRIPTURE .VS. 28, 32-33

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The WORD of God , does the WORK of God!

* Me and Donald Hall Bible opened Went on a Monday Peggy & Wesley

* Philip borrowed his bible! (* Borrow Pete’s turn to & read all Isaiah 53)

The Bible is a book that is best read backwards.

We need to know the NT story about Jesus before we can understand what the OT says about
Him!

2Co 5:20 for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

IV. A PERSONAL SAVIOUR “SOME OTHER MAN” VS. 34-35

Vs. 35 Here we have the Gospel in 4 words Preached unto him Jesus

Such SIMPLICITY & MAJESTY simultaneously! GOOD NEWS!

Not Denominational dogma! Many have been converted to a church and not Christ!

* My calling of God is not to make a Baptist out of people!

Once you’re saved THEN I wanna make a Baptist out of them! Might as well go 1st class!

Everything this church does, ought to point to Jesus. Every song , sermonevery activity !

V. A PROPER SURRENDER “HERE IS WATER” VS. 36

Baptism, by some, is made everything; by some anything; and by others, nothing!
A. THE OBLIGATION ~ Vs Not an OPTION!
I’m not Baptist b/c of education, indoctrination or even vaccination.by conviction!!!
1. The METHOD is important because of the MEANING
Immersion down into the water because in order to be baptized, you must be buried beneath
the water.
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Rom 6:3-4

Baptism any other way doesn’t picture death, burial or resurrection!

Pay attention to the words!

2. 2.) The PRACTICE must match the PICTURE
3. 3.) The PURPOSE of a PICTURE is to REPRESENT REALITY!
B. THE ORDER ~ * Vs. 37 -38
If you have it! 1.) Believe 2.) Be Baptized

Salvation is by Grace Through Faith + Nothing - Nothing! Don’t get the cart before the horse!

* Same confession at Peter in Matt 16 Rom 10:10

C. THE OUTCOME ~ Vs. 39
* You’ve hear all the scary stories about the vanishing hitchhikerbut this is not an occasion
for fear!

And the Ethiopian went his wayLooking like He was raised on prune Juice and soaked in
vineagar? No! He had heard GOOD NEWS!!!

Went on his way rejoicing He is STILL rejoicing!!!!

Wouldn’t you like to go on YOUR way rejoicing?

CONCLUSION:
The Baptistery is full already-what doth hinder you? Ryan last Sunday- two sisters from New
York!!

Pastor John M. Keeter 2 Cor 5:17

Fellowship Baptist Church
Williamston , NC
www.fellowshipbaptistwilliamston.com

Date – River Valley BC – Leixlip, Co. Kildare