Philip

In this weeks Fuel we read about Philip. Philip was one of the seven men chosen along with Stephen by the church in Acts 6. And just like Stephen we see Philip used greatly by the Lord in the midst of a tough time of persecution of Christians.

The study takes us through Acts 8:4-8 and 8:26-39. There are many things that will be valuable for you to study in order to prepare for this weeks lesson but I want to draw your attention away from Philip and to our wonderful and great God. Notice the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Out of all the tens of thousands Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans that need Christ, God rests his favor on this man from Africa.

This was God's plan. He chose this man. He set up the meeting between him and Philip. God, in his sovereignty and grace, molded the situation in such a way that the timing was perfect. Philip, not knowing where he was, what he was doing, or who he was going to encounter chose to be obedient to the Spirit. The timing was perfect because as Philip approached he heard the Ethiopian reading from Isaiah. This provided a perfect opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

There are two points to this story in Acts 8. The first I think is that God is sovereign. He is in complete control of all things and he is the one who plans and makes things happen. The second point is that the story of Philip is an example of one of the ways God uses to evangelize the world. There is no doubt that evangelism should be planned and carried out (look at all the planning in Acts), but this story emphasizes that we should also be sensitive to the leading of the Lord in personal evangelism as well. God is good and as we abide in Him and his word he will lead us by His Spirit to the right people at His perfect time.

Did Stephen waste his life?

Stephen is a great example of one who gave his life to advance the gospel. In a world where students give their lives to be with a girl or boy, the story of Stephen screams at them to give their lives to know Christ. In a world where teens spend much of their time living in a dream world facilitated by video games, ipods, movies, and a host of other things, the story of Stephen points them to live in the real world where people die every day and leave this world only to spend an eternity separated from God.

We waste our lives and do not love people if we are not pointing them to the good news of Jesus Christ in the cross.

Stephen pointed to the cross. He boldly proclaimed the message that Jesus is our mediator to God and is the only way to heaven. He proclaimed the message that Jesus has satisfied his soul more than riches, relationships and life. He died with the good news of Christ being shouted with this last breath. Stephen did not waste his life. He lived it to the fullest. For God's glory.

Ananias and Sapphira

This weeks FUEL is about a husband and a wife who try to get one past the Holy Spirit. But we see that this does not work out the way they had planned. And you can be sure that Ananias and Sapphira did have this planned (Acts 5:4). But as we have learned and what Ananias and Sapphira seemed to have forgotten is that the "eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good (Pr. 15:3).

There are many things that can be said about Ananias and Sapphira. They loved this world more than God. They desired the praise of men rather than honoring God. They were hypocrites...representing themselves as one thing but in reality were something totally different. They wanted to seem more generous than they really were. They lied to God. All these things I am sure you will look at and study, but really quickly I want to point you to Proverbs.

I wont take the space to type it, but read Proverbs chapter 16. If Ananias and Sapphira had only taken the time to read this small chapter they might have done things a little different. For example, verse 2 says, "All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weights the spirit (motives in other translations)."

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is told in contrast to the story of Barnabas contained in chapter four. During my time in Fuel I am going to ask the students to compare and contrast Barnabas with Ananias and Sapphira. There are some major differences between them so if you get a chance check it out.

Lastly, we see that God used Ananias and Sapphira to warn the church that this is what always happens to phony Christians, sooner or later.

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Where did Peter and John's power come from?

Peter and John had changed. There was something different about them. They had spent the last three years with Jesus, but were relatively weak with in their faith during that time. They questioned Jesus numerous times. Jesus often rebuked them for lack of faith (i.g. Matt. 8:26). But in Acts we see different men. They were powerful. They were bold and full of faith. They seemed almost...fearless. What had changed?

Two words. Holy Spirit. They had been clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Peter and John's power and boldness didn't come from themselves, but came from them being "filled with the Spirit." Look with me at the emphasis of being filled with the Holy Spirit in the Acts:

Acts 1:8 "And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."

Acts 4:8 "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit," spoke to the rulers of the people. And they saw the boldness with which he spoke (v. 13).

Acts 4:31, "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness."

Acts 6:5, 10, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and faith and the Jews could not withstand the wisdom with which he spoke.

Acts 7:55, "Stephen filled with Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

Acts 11:24, Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and faith; and a large company was added to the Lord.

Acts 13:9, "Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at Elymas and said."

Do you see the importance of the Holy Spirit in the work of God's people? Without him we have zero power to proclaim the riches of God's grace.

There is so much more that can be said about the Holy Spirit and his power in our lives, so I would encourage you to spend some time looking at the following verses:

Ephesians 3:14-18, 5:18, and 6:17.
Romans 15:13

Praise be to our Creator that he did not leave us to live for him on our own power! Have a great week.

Pentecost

The word Pentecost means "fiftieth", referring to the fiftieth day after the Passover. When we talk about Pentecost we are referring to what happened in Acts 2 with the coming of the Spirit. This is a very significant event. The "Background for the Bible passage" section in your notes provides a good description of what is going on at Pentecost. I want to call your attention to a passage in the Old Testament about Moses. Check out Numbers 11:24-30:

So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, But they did not continue doing it.
Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth said, "My lord Moses, stop them." But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for me sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"

Moses is pointing to a time when all of God's people would have the Holy Spirit. And that time is Now. No longer does the Holy Spirit rest on certain individuals, but we live in a time that Moses and Joel both longed for; a time when the Holy Spirit indwelt all of God's people. At Pentecost we see this happen in a BIG way.

How does this work in your life? God has put the Holy Spirit inside you and wants you to be a prophet. Not in the sense that you know the future, but in a sense that you are so filled with the knowledge of Him who has saved you that you constantly talk about his greatness.

The promised Holy Spirit has come. This promise is for you and has been kept by God. He has poured out his Spirit on you in order that you might be empowered to glorify Him. Rejoice in the promises of God! Have a great week.