“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. 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 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said,“How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 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.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 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?” And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 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.” (Acts 8:26-39)
When we read this we see such great faith and child like trust! What a humble and willing heart had this Ethiopian. When asked if he understood what he was reading, he did not lie and cover up his lack of knowledge. He was like Nathaniel of whom the Lord said–
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, ‘Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!'(John 1:47)
Then the Eunuch continues his strong faith and commits that he is ready to go all out for the Lord, and requests baptism. Oh, how powerful and truly marvelous this simple story of faith. Our Lord said–
“…. Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3)
Did not this Eunuch show child like faith? A desire to know the Lord and His ways? Certainly. What really grabs me is his reading of the Scriptures without truly knowing what it says. He sensed from the Holy Spirit that the Good Book was his key to heaven and even if he did not understand it well, he clung to it like a lifesaver!
Are we today showing a child like humble faith? Willing to admit when we don’t know something or willing to be corrected when we are shown from Scripture to be wrong?
As we posted several weeks back, we are active in sending out present truth packages around the world, and just as I am really filled with joy to read about our Ethiopian Eunuch’s faith, I am regularly filled with joy to hear from some of the believers around the world. Their simple faith and true excitement to receive “meat in due season” truly brings great delight.
Any of us who have taken up the Lord’s Elijah message knows what I am talking about. True joy and contentment , knowing that these people who begin their studies and learn/obey His final message, are in the process of getting their forehead sealed with His Truth. They are the ones who shall be left standing when the Lord “suddenly comes to His temple.”(Mal. 3:1)
As we are painfully aware, the Lord’s Elijah would be, and still is, greatly rejected (TM, p.475), but when we see people willing to read and see what has been written, and then to say “Yes, I get it!”– we find great joy. We can only imagine the joy brother Phillip had in seeing his new friend willing to listen to a “Thus us sayeth the Lord” then act on it.
Just like the Ethiopian, we should be ready and willing to “jump in” and receive the Truth. No hesitation, no doubtful back and forth, we know that there is more light that we need. Our Lord said we are miserable , poor, blind and naked. He knew most of His beloved Laodicean church would not want His new light in the form of His last message of Elijah.
Isn’t it ironic, that the Ethiopian could not read and comprehend yet could see, and we as SDA can read and comprehend yet we are blind! Let us turn from our smug self-complacency to a child like yearning to understand the Lord’s “gold refined in the fire”, His “new light”–the Elijah message.
In closing , a recent brother’s email shows the Ethiopian faith we should have in investigating new light.
“Very great bro.I can not belief it! A very very great surprise gift! of great happiness are the two green books which seems to contain almost all the truths and they seem to be the original copies of the materials you have sent me so far! This is a big challenge that i burn extra oil to study very hard and then the message will burn within me giving me a great desire to spread it! it is an indication that God has seen it worthy that i take charge of the Lord’s message here.
This challenge i am ready to take the message forward for it is Christ who will lead me!Bro. i have no words to express my feelings,let alone expressing my thanks giving to you and Christ ,but in the only human language,i say thanks and may God bless you!. occasionally i will be seeking brethren help whenever there will be need to visit anywhere to present the truth.But first i want to really study every night,the only time there no noisy interruptions . blessings brother”
The sanctified soul will not be content to remain in ignorance, but will desire to walk in the light and to seeks greater light.As a miner digs for gold and silver, so the follower of Christ will press from light to greater light, ever increasing in knowledge. He will continually grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Peter 3:18, Review and Herald, June 17, 1890)
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
September 14, 2019 at 7:43 am |
Amazing testimony, thank you. Just want to point out at the type found here: “Thus us sayeth the Lord”
September 14, 2019 at 4:24 pm |
Praise the Lord dear sis, may God continue to bless you as you learn more and more of His great Truth.