“Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you.”
“Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you.”
As we continue in our new sermon series: ‘Open’…we had the special blessing of celebrating a baptism last week and will be celebrating another one next Sunday! Last Sunday we heard of the amazing impromptu baptism of one of our youth. This, combined with the sermon series got me thinking of an example from Scripture…and I can’t get it out of my head!
What does it look like to be ‘open’ to following and understanding God’s Word?
What does it look like to be ‘responsive’ to God’s Word?
Let’s look at the example of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8 to see how they each demonstrate this…
Devotional:
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went… – Acts 8:26-27a ESV
Let’s start with Philip. An angel of the Lord appears to him and gives him a command. Notice he does not share any specific details about this mission…he simply says: “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza”. Philip does not yet know the purpose of this mission. We are also told that “This is a desert place” …so it certainly doesn’t seem like a comfortable route.
For those of us who like to have a plan, this may be uncomfortable if we are placed in Philip’s shoes. ‘Get up and go down this road which passes through this uncomfortable place’. Despite the uncertainty…Philip shows our first example of being ‘Open and responsive’. He simply “rose and went”! He doesn’t know the ultimate purpose or plan. He simply responds to the first step.
And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” -Acts 8:27b-31 ESV
As Philip is following this initial direction given by the angel, he comes across an Ethiopian eunuch reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip is now given his next step in this mission…not by an angel, but by ‘the Spirit’: “Go over and join this chariot”. Again, notice he is not given any more information as to the ultimate purpose of this mission. He is only given the next step.
How does Philip respond when told to join the chariot of this wealthy and powerful official? “So Philip ran to him…”. Philip didn’t waste time. He didn’t question it, he shows no hesitation…. He ran! Philip demonstrates for a 2nd time that he is ‘Open and responsive’ to the Word of God… whether it comes from an angel of the Lord, or by the Spirit.
The fact that Philip ran to this man hints that he may be starting to get an idea of what is unfolding. Look at his question to the Ethiopian…
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” -Acts 8:30-31 ESV
It looks like Philip is starting to see what this mission is all about! He did not know the ultimate plan. He did not know the end goal, the destination, the person, the method…He just knew the next step. This is a prime example of what it means to be ‘Open and responsive’ to the voice of God. We may not know all the details; we may not know the whole plan…we just need to follow that first step…then that next step…even if that next step feels uncomfortable.
Let’s shift over to the Ethiopian eunuch. Where do we see him as ‘Open and responsive’? First, we know that he has come to Jerusalem to worship…certainly not a short distance from Ethiopia to Jerusalem…this man is clearly seeking something, and he is willing to go to great lengths to find it. He seems to be ‘seeking’ and he is ‘open’.
How do we know he is open? He admits that he does not understand what he is reading…but is willing to have someone explain it to him. He invites Philip up into his chariot…an extremely humble and welcoming move for someone in such a powerful position as he!
Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” -Acts 8:32-34 ESV
This passage comes from Isaiah 53. Although the Ethiopian does not understand this…he does not dismiss it…he asks questions! ‘Who is this about?’…the man is ‘Open’ and ‘seeking’.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. -Acts 8:35 ESV
Like Philip, how should we respond when we are asked questions about Scripture? We guide and we direct. We share Jesus! Does this mean we will have all the answers, all the time? No. We simply are called to be ‘Open and Responsive’ to the calling of the Lord. We share Jesus and help ‘open’ someone to the understanding of scripture in this way.
Any time we can come alongside another person who is made in the image of God and is seeking answers…we point them to Jesus!
Philip has shared the good news of Jesus with this man. Now how does the eunuch respond?
And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[b] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. – Acts 8:37-40
Like our youth, who responded to the call for baptism last week…the Ethiopian eunuch responds to his call! “See, there is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
The eunuch goes away rejoicing…and Philip goes on preaching the gospel!
When I think about the eunuch, I see the promise and fulfillment of Jesus’ words:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8 ESV
Like Philip…May we be ‘open’ to the Spirit’s prompting and ‘responsive’ to his direction…even when we don’t know the whole plan. Even when it seems uncomfortable…may we respond to that next step in faith and trust. May we help ‘open’ people up to the truth of scripture.
And if you are like the Ethiopian eunuch…may you be ‘open’ to the scriptures…may you seek, ask and knock. Ask questions…and when you hear the good news of Jesus…may you ‘respond’ with belief, repentance and obedience. May you also come to ask that question:
“See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Sean Wagner