Pilot Knob Lutheran Opportunities 4/19/2023
Acts 8:29-31 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Opportunity refers to an appropriate or favorable time or occasion. Opportunities for various activities abound. They may include travel, job openings, friendships and more. People often speak of an “opportunity of a life time,” as something beneficial and may come by only once.
In Acts 8 Philip was walking along a road that stretched from Ethiopia to Jerusalem when he came upon a particular chariot whose rider oversaw the treasury of Ethiopia. He had an important and influential position in his country, and Philip had an opportunity of a life time.
While walking the well-worn dusty road the Holy Spirit told him to go to the chariot while this man was reading from the scroll of Isaiah. What follows is instructive for us. Philip obeyed the Holy Spirit’s prompting to go to this man he didn’t know. It was not Philip’s idea at all. Upon arrival he listened and asked if he understood what he was reading, to which he replied; how can I unless someone explains it. Philip began a conversation where the man was in his understanding. We too need to listen to where people are and not push the conversation to where we want it to go. When we show interest in someone’s concern, we will gain a receptive audience and they will be more likely to hear what we have to say.
The Eunuch opened the door and invited Philip to enter the conversation. Philip proceeded, led by the Holy Spirit to explain how Jesus who is the Messiah would be sacrificed for our sin opening the way to be forgiven by God and gain entrance to the King of God. We must not be afraid or deaf to the Spirit’s leading, but walk through the open door and see what obeying God has instore. Who knows what this one man accomplished when he returned home.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Today: confirmation
April 23, 9:00 AM Morning worship service. Sermon: Be Separated.
Gideon Representative will share.
10:15 Sunday school.
May 7, 9:00 Confirmation Sunday
~ Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran/
Sermons may be heard on KIOW 107.3 FM Sunday mornings at 7:00. Spread the word. If you would like to support this outreach with a contribution, it costs $55 each week.
Truth for Health Foundation: https://www.truthforhealth.org/
Mission: To provide truthful, balanced, medically sound, research-based information and cutting-edge updates on prevention and treatment of common medical conditions, including COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, that affect health, quality of life and longevity.
To present faith-based integrated approaches to medical treatment, health and healing services that encompass all dimensions making us human: physical, psychological/emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental.
