Flesh-And-Bone

The Gospel, Sexual Brokeness, and a Way Forward
July 23, 2023
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

Acts 8:26-28 (NIV)
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.

Acts 8:29-33 (NIV)
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.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

Acts 8:34-35 (NIV)
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Isaiah 56:3-8 (NIV)
Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”

For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant – to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever … .

(vs.7) “… these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

The Sovereign Lord declares – he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

Acts 8:36 (NIV)
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of me being baptized?”

Acts 8:38 (NIV)
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Acts 8:39 (NIV)
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

How Do We Start Where We Are and Walk Toward a Different Future?

Immerse yourself in Jesus – give yourself totally to Him.

Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Watch how you talk about yourself.

Isaiah 56:3 (NIV)
Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”

Isaiah 56:5 (NIV)
“… to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.”

Trust in the promise of joy that will come through Jesus.

Isaiah 56:7 (NIV)
“(I will) give them joy in my house of prayer.”

Embrace His gathering around you and His gathering to come.

Isaiah 56:8 (NIV)
“(I will) gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”