Stopping The Chariot Acts 8:

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 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. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Stopping The Chariot 2

Introduction This is the account of the Ethiopian Eunuch A man who… ▫Had great authority ▫Was religious and went to worship ▫Read the scriptures ▫Was inquisitive and wanted to learn ▫Regarded the teaching of Philip concerning Christ ▫Realized the need to be baptized in water ▫Confessed Christ ▫Went on his way joyful after baptism The man who commanded the chariot to stop! 3 Stopping The Chariot

Some Questionsand Thoughts What is the importance of the statement… ▫“And he commanded the chariot to stand still”?  vs. 38 Why did he feel the need to delay his trip? Did stopping the chariot take some action (work)? Why didn’t he just keep on traveling? According to some today he did not need to stop… Why Stop the Chariot? 4 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If honesty is enough? Eunuch had integrity ▫A treasurer for the Queen of the Ethiopians - vs. 27 The one with the “honest & good heart” is the one who obeyed the word and kept it. ▫Luke 8:15 It takes more than honesty to be saved! 5 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If being religious is enough? Eunuch was religious ▫Traveled to Jerusalem to worship  Estimated to have traveled 1000 miles +  In a chariot God must be worshiped “in spirit and in truth” ▫John 4:24 It takes more than an religious person to be saved! 6 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If just reading the scriptures is enough? Eunuch read Esaias the prophet ▫Was reading Isaiah 53 as we know it ▫Wanted to know who Isaiah prophesied of Reading the scriptures is commanded ▫Timothy told to “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine”  1 Timothy 4:13 It takes more than reading the scriptures to be saved! 7 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If justification by faith only is enough? The Eunuch confessed Christ ▫He said “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” - vs. 37 Jesus commanded confession - Matthew 10:32 Paul preached confession - Romans 10:9 It takes more than confession to be saved! 8 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If one can be saved by accepting Christ as their personal savior? Many told to accept Jesus and say the “sinner’s prayer” to be saved ▫Paul was a sinner and prayed - Acts 9:11; 22:16 Why delay his trip by stopping? It takes more than praying to be saved! 9 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If sprinkling or pouring is sufficient? The Eunuch and Phillip went into the water ▫“…and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” - vs. 38 Why go into the water if sprinkling or pouring will work? Paul preached that baptism is a burial ▫Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:13 It must take more that sprinkling or pouring to be saved! 10 Stopping The Chariot

Why Did He Stop The Chariot… If baptism is not necessary? The Eunuch said… ▫“See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” - vs. 36 Many believe that baptism is not necessary Phillip preached “Jesus” to the Eunuch Did Phillip teach him baptism was not essential? It takes baptism in water to be saved! ▫Mark 16:16 11 Stopping The Chariot

Why You Need To Stop The Chariot! 12 Stopping The Chariot

Stop The Chariot Because… Life is uncertain and death is sure! We are not guaranteed tomorrow ▫James 4:13-18 Rich farmer thought he had “many years” ▫Luke 12:16-20 Life is as a flower ▫ 1 Peter 1:24; James 1:11; Job 14:2; Psalms 102:11 We know “not what a day may bring forth” ▫Proverbs 27:1 13 Stopping The Chariot

Stop The Chariot Because… Your Soul Is Valuable! It is your most valuable possession  Matthew 16:26 ▫It can be lost! Value your soul and be rich toward God! ▫Luke 12:20, Stopping The Chariot

Stop The Chariot Because… The Judgment Day is Coming! Paul reasoned with Felix about the judgment ▫Acts 24:24, 25 The Hebrew writer said judgment comes after death ▫Hebrews 9:27 The Son of Man will judge the world ▫Matthew 25:31-33, All will stand before the judgment seat of Christ! ▫2 Corinthians 5:10 15 Stopping The Chariot

Stop The Chariot Because… You Must Obey Christ to be Saved! Only the Obedient will be saved ▫Hebrews 5:8, 9; 11:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 We must obey Christ’s words ▫Mark 16:16 We Must Do the Lord’s Will! ▫Matthew 7: Stopping The Chariot

Acts 8: Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 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. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Stopping The Chariot 17

Conclusion Have you… ▫Heard the gospel? ▫Believed the gospel? ▫Repented of your sins? ▫Have you confessed Christ? ▫Have you been buried in the waters of baptism? If so, you have stopped the chariot! If not, stop the chariot while time allows! 18 Stopping The Chariot