WHAT DOTH HINDER ME TO BE BAPTIZED?

Acts 8:26-39

This is another account of the Bible Principle of one won by one. We find five essentials for leading a soul to Christ. The five essentials are:

1. You will always find a sinner.

vs. 27“And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship”
Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
Ecc. 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
Part of the reason why we are not seeing people saved is that they do not believe they are sinners. It is absolutely essential that they understand they are sinners. Our sinner in this passage was a rich and important man in the Ethiopian kingdom but before the day was over, he saw himself lost and on his way to hell.

2. You will find a soul winner.

vs. 30 “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
Philip was man who was convinced that men were lost. Too many times, we pray “Lord, make me a soul winner.” but we are unwilling to give the Gospel to those who God places in our path. These last few weeks the Lord has opened many opportunities for folks to witness for the Lord. A soul winner is a lover of men’s souls. a soul winner is wise.
Pro. 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Dan. 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

3. You will always find the scriptures.

vs. 30 “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
Rom. 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
There is no salvation apart from the scriptures.
2 Tim. 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
It is not just any ordinary scripture passage that this man was reading. He was reading Isa. 53:7-8. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
What a passage this is. It tells the Gospel story and the mission of our Saviour so plain. In fact, many Jewish Bibles do not have this in them because the Jewish rabbis are afraid of the truth that is found there. When you reflect of what it cost for our salvation, it should be bring joy to our hearts and a praise to our lips.

4. You will always find the Spirit of God.

vs. 29 “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”
John 3:5-8 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
When a man, woman, boy or girl is under conviction, it is the Holy Spirit that is dealing with them. If you are saved today, then it will be the Holy Spirit that will draw you.

5. You will always find the Saviour.

vs. 35 “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus went to Calvary just for the express purpose to save men, women, boys and girls. Remember what Luke 19:10 said “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”