April 10th, 2024
Let’s Read the book of Acts chapter 8, verses 26 – 39. What is highlighted to you from
today’s reading?
I love it when God just puts me in the right place at just the right time. The reading today
is an example of this. Philip was a leader in the Jerusalem church who got very specific
instructions from God to hitch a ride in a chariot on a desert highway. God does not
always speak this specifically, but when he does, it is very exciting. Along this highway
came a very important Ethiopian official who respected the Jewish religion and
had been worshipping the Jewish God in Jerusalem. He was reading aloud from the Old
Testament but got stuck on a passage that he could not fathom. It did not make
sense to him. This was Philip’s God-given opportunity. Read the whole baptismal
testimony found in Acts chapter 8.
This story is another example of the close link in the New Testament between
conversion and baptism. The Ethiopian official hears the gospel and wants to say yes to
Jesus by being baptized. Philip takes him straight into the water and baptizes him.
The Bible teaches: Believe first, then be baptized.
The man from Ethiopia said to Philip, “See here is water, what keeps me from being
baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe in Jesus with all your heart, you may be baptized.”
And Philip baptized him.
Have you been baptized since you believed in Jesus? Many have been baptized ‘on the
wrong side of the cross’. Meaning they were baptized, then they came to the cross of
Jesus in salvation. They were baptized; but on the wrong side. The right side of the
cross is ‘believe first, then be baptized.’
Obey Jesus if your baptism is not in order; this Sunday is Baptism celebration at Siesta
Key. Call the church today or sign up online.
If your baptism is in order, celebrate your new identity of new life; share Jesus’ love with
someone in your traffic pattern.
today’s reading?
I love it when God just puts me in the right place at just the right time. The reading today
is an example of this. Philip was a leader in the Jerusalem church who got very specific
instructions from God to hitch a ride in a chariot on a desert highway. God does not
always speak this specifically, but when he does, it is very exciting. Along this highway
came a very important Ethiopian official who respected the Jewish religion and
had been worshipping the Jewish God in Jerusalem. He was reading aloud from the Old
Testament but got stuck on a passage that he could not fathom. It did not make
sense to him. This was Philip’s God-given opportunity. Read the whole baptismal
testimony found in Acts chapter 8.
This story is another example of the close link in the New Testament between
conversion and baptism. The Ethiopian official hears the gospel and wants to say yes to
Jesus by being baptized. Philip takes him straight into the water and baptizes him.
The Bible teaches: Believe first, then be baptized.
The man from Ethiopia said to Philip, “See here is water, what keeps me from being
baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe in Jesus with all your heart, you may be baptized.”
And Philip baptized him.
Have you been baptized since you believed in Jesus? Many have been baptized ‘on the
wrong side of the cross’. Meaning they were baptized, then they came to the cross of
Jesus in salvation. They were baptized; but on the wrong side. The right side of the
cross is ‘believe first, then be baptized.’
Obey Jesus if your baptism is not in order; this Sunday is Baptism celebration at Siesta
Key. Call the church today or sign up online.
If your baptism is in order, celebrate your new identity of new life; share Jesus’ love with
someone in your traffic pattern.
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