This is part 13 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian, explaining how God appoints circumstances.

How God Works Through Divine Appointments

The story of Philip and the Ethiopian is one that shows how God works behind the scenes. Philip is traveling on the road when he encounters the Ethiopian reading a prophecy about Jesus in his chariot. First asking if he understands it, Philip then offers to explain it when the man says no. The Ethiopian was far from home and in the perfect position to receive the gospel message from Philip, and Philip was in the perfect position to give it. God orchestrates events so that encounters like this can happen, and not just in the bible. God does this today, and Christians need to be ready for it when it does happen.

Listen for God's leading.

There are a few questions we can ask ourselves to confirm that something we should do is godly. First is: Does it contradict scripture? If the answer to this is yes, then what we are thinking of is never from God. God will never contradict himself, so anything that contradicts his word is automatically wrong. The second question is this: Does it bring peace or fear? God gave us a spirit of courage, not fear, and his perfect love casts out fear. If there is no sense of peace about something, it may not be from God. The third question is: Does it encourage obedience or excuses? Often when we are faced with a decision, one option will lead us into obedience to God and the other will lead us to making excuses for not following him. We should always choos the option that makes us obedient to God. Lastly: Does it point you to Jesus? This question is simple, but we often get distracted by issues that don't point us to Jesus and must be careful to stay focused.

Be ready with an answer.

When Philip found himself in front of the Ethiopian, he seized the opportunity to explain the gospel. He didn't let the situation pass him by, he didn't make any excuses, and he didn't leave it for someone else. No, Philip jumped right in and asked the man if he needed an explanation. Then he used the very passage the man was reading to explain who Jesus was and how he had fulfilled it just a few months prior. The bible tells Christians to always be ready with an answer for the hope that we have. How can you prepare that answer in your own life?