WHY STOP THE CHARIOT?

1. Introduction

1. “Your life is like a vehicle. It’s steadily rolling onward until it dead-ends into eternity, and then forever begins.”
   1. 1. 1. Many get so caught up in this life they never stop the vehicle to prepare for the dead-end.
         2. God’s will adequately prepares us for eternity, so when God speaks we should take time to stop our vehicle, get the accurate directions, and follow them completely.
2. The Bible tells us of a certain person who did just that (Acts 8:26-39).
   1. 1. 1. We want to call your attention to a statement made in (v.38) that is very interesting.
         2. The Bible says” “And he ordered the chariot to stop;”
3. Have you ever stopped to think about the significance of this statement?
   1. 1. 1. What we would like to do in our study tonight is ask the question, “Why stop the chariot?”
         2. It seems to us that if many of the things that men say are true, there would be no need for him to stop his chariot.

2. If One Only Needs to Be a Good Person, Why Stop the Chariot?

1. A number of people have been convinced that all that you need to do to be saved is just be a good moral person.

1. They would say that as long as you are honest, sincere and upright then that’s all that really matters.
2. We have heard some say, “I’ve never known _______ to lie, cheat, or steal. He’s a good man and if he’s not in heaven I don’t know who will be.”

2. But did it ever occur to you that this man we just read about must have been an honest and good man?

1. The Bible says in (Acts 8:27) that he was in charge of all the treasure of the queen of Ethiopia.
2. Think about all the things that you treasure. How many people would you allow to be in charge of that? Would it be a long list or a short one?
   1. What would be the requirements and qualifications that you would have for those people?
   2. Surely you wouldn’t just hand over your treasury to just anybody and everybody would you?
3. This man must have been someone of honesty and integrity,

3. We are not trying to downplay the importance of honesty and integrity in our lives, but we are suggesting to you that it takes more than this alone too please God, otherwise, why stop the chariot?

3.  If Just Being Religious Is All That It Takes, Why Stop the Chariot?

1. Some people will tell us that “As long as your religious, and it really doesn’t matter which religion because one is just as good as the other, then you are ok.”

1. These think that one only needs to be religious and as long as you are connected to some religion then that is all that is required by God to be saved.
2. Well, if such is the case, then why stop the chariot?

2. Have you ever considered that the man that we just read about was a religious man?

1. The Bible says that he had come to Jerusalem to worship (v.27).
2.  Have you ever thought about the distance that he travelled to worship?
   1. He had travelled about 1,000 miles therefore, he must have been sincere and zealous in his worship.
   2. How many people do you know who would travel that far to worship God, and yet we are told that is all that is required to please God.

3. But we would like to suggest to you that if all that it takes to please God is being religious, then why stop the chariot? Just keep the chariot rolling down the Gaza strip.

4.  If Just Reading the Scriptures Is All That Is Required, Why Stop the Chariot?

1. We have had some tell us that all one needs to do to please God is read their Bible every day.

1. They would tell us that one doesn’t need to be involved with any church, just read the Bible every day.
2. They would say, I read the Scriptures daily and there is nothing else that I need to do.

2. But let us suggest to you that the man we just read about was a Scripture reading man.

1. The Bible tells us that as he was returning and sitting in his chariot he was reading Isaiah the prophet (v.28).
   1. He was reading (Is. 53:7-8) about a lamb being led to the slaughter, and he desired Phillip to come up and sit with him and help him understand the reading.
   2. He was a man who was reading the Scriptures.
2. The Bible places a lot of emphasis on reading (1 Tim. 4:13; Rev. 1:3). Yes, reading the Scriptures is important (Eph. 3:3-4).

3. We want to suggest to you that it takes more than just reading the Scriptures to please God and be saved, otherwise, why stop the chariot?

5. If An Individual Is Justified By Faith Only, Why Stop the Chariot

1. This could be the world’s most popular doctrine.
   1. 1. 1. The idea that a mere mental acceptance that Jesus is will suffice, no action required.
         2. All one needs to do is believe.
2. But did it ever occur to you that this Ethiopian was a man who had faith?
   1. 1. 1. We know that he had faith because the Bible says so (vv. 36-37).
            1. He was not only a man of faith, but one who confesses his faith in Christ.
            2. Many would tell us that at this point one would be saved, but if such is the case, why stop the chariot?
         2. There is no doubt that many times the Bible emphasizes the importance of faith (John 8:24; Heb. 11:6).
         3. However, the writer James gives us further information (James 2:24).
3. So if a man is justified or saved by faith alone, then why stop the chariot?

6. If An Individual Is Saved By Praying the Sinners Prayer, Why Stop the Chariot?

1. This is another popular and commonly practiced doctrine (explain).
   1. 1. 1. Have you read anywhere in the New Testament that anyone was saved praying?
         2. Think about the day the church was established in Acts 2 on Pentecost.
            1. This would have been a great time to tell the people to pray the sinners’ prayer.
            2. But when they asked what to do that’s not what they were told (Acts 2:38).
2. As we think about this man from Acts 8, we think why stop the chariot?
   1. 1. 1. If he could have been saved by praying the prayer then why command the chariot to stop?
         2. He could have very well just prayed this prayer as he travelled down the road.
         3. The very fact that he ordered the chariot to stop indicates that there is more to being saved than most people think.

7. If Baptism Is Unnecessary For Salvation, Why Stop the Chariot?

1. If you were to take a survey among the people of our community many of them would tell you that baptism is not important.
   1. 1. 1. However, the Bible teaches that baptism is a necessity (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).
         2. Baptism is what puts us into Christ where all spiritual blessings are found (Eph. 1:3).
            1. If all spiritual blessing are found in Christ then how many are found outside of Him?
            2. The Bible teaches that for one to get into Christ he must be baptized into Him.
         3. Yet we are frequently told that baptism is not important, but over and over the Bible makes it abundantly clear that it is necessary for salvation.
2. This brings us back to Phillip and the man from Ethiopia (v. 38).
   1. 1. 1. If baptism was not necessary for salvation then why did Philip and the eunuch go down into the water?
         2. If baptism is not essential to salvation, then why stop the chariot?

8. Why Do You Need To Stop the Chariot?

1. We can read and come to the conclusion that this man ordered the chariot to stop, but let us suggest to you that we too need to stop our chariot (quote).
   1. 1. 1. You need to stop the chariot because of the shortness and uncertainty of your life.
            1. Have you thought about just how brief life is and how anything can happen at any time? (James 4:14).
            2. Remember the rich man in (Luke 12:13-21) had big plans for his life, but he didn’t live through the night.
         2. So due to the shortness and the uncertainty of life you need to order the chariot to stop.
2. You need to stop the chariot because of the value of your soul.
   1. 1. 1. The Bible teaches that there is more to you than just the physical.
            1. There is a part of you that cannot be sheltered by the roof of your house, educated by the books of men, and fed from the food of your table.
            2. That is your soul, made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and formed by the Lord (Zech. 12:1) and it has value.
         2. If you were making a list of your most valuable possessions, would you include in that list your soul? If so, where would it be on the list?
            1. You could not possibly begin to place a value on your soul because it is worth more than the whole world (Matt. 16:26).
         3. Your soul is invaluable and we need to understand that it can be lost.
            1. One of these days it is going to return to God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7). What condition will yours be found in when it returns to God?
            2. The Bible teaches that we need to purify our souls, and Peter teaches us that we do that through obedience to the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).
         4. Because of the value of your soul, you need to stop the chariot.
3. Another reason to stop the chariot is because judgment is coming.
   1. 1. 1. It ought to cause us to tremble when we think about standing before God and giving account of our every word and deed (Acts 24:25).
            1. Solomon, who lived life to its physical fullest said (Eccl. 12:13).
            2. Jesus gives us a glimpse of that judgment scene (Matt. 25:31-46).
            3. If we were to die today or if the Lord should come which would we hear Jesus say?
         2. The fact that judgment is coming places emphasis on the fact that we should stop the chariot.
4. Another reason to stop the chariot is the fact that you must obey the Lord to be saved.
   1. 1. 1. Yes it’s important to be morally good and it’s important to be religious, it’s important to read your Bible, and it’s important to have faith, but until we obey the Lord we have not purified our souls.
            1. Remember the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:21, 24; Heb.5:9).
            2. How many are going to be saved? All who obey Him. Have you obeyed Him?
         2. What will happen to those who do not obey Him? (2 Thess. 1:8-9).
            1. If the Bible teaches anything at all it teaches the necessity of obedience.
         3. The fact that you must obey the Lord to be saved is an important reason to stop the chariot.

9. You Must Stop the Chariot

1. Did you notice who ordered the chariot to stop in Acts 8? It wasn’t Philip (v.38).
   1. 1. 1. You see no one can do that for you. You must stop the chariot yourself.
         2. Salvation is an individual issue (Acts 9:6; 16:30; Phil. 2:12).
         3. No one can do that for you, you must do it yourself.
2. When would you recommend that the chariot be stopped?
   1. 1. 1. When do you think it would be the right time to obey the Lord? When did this man do it?
            1. He stopped the chariot when he heard the preaching of Jesus.
            2. He stopped the chariot when he believed the preaching of the gospel.
            3. He stopped the chariot upon the confession of his faith.
         2. The best time to stop the chariot is when you have heard the gospel and believe it with all of your heart.

10. Conclusion

1. Did you notice that this man heard just one lesson? He believed one lesson and he obeyed one sermon.
   1. 1. 1. You may not have another opportunity to respond to the gospel, but you have the opportunity right now.
         2. There may be those who want to persuade you that you don’t have to stop the chariot and that you can just keep it rolling down the road.
2. But let us suggest to you that the Bible teaches that we must stop the chariot, just as this Ethiopian did.  Will you stop your chariot today?

We invite all in our audience to our Bible studies on Wednesday at 7pm and Sunday morning at 9am. We would love to study God’s together with you! Please check the scriptures we have covered tonight. We want to help you in any way we can. Contact us for Bible studies by telephone, e-mail, or simply come to one of our assemblies. Contact: We assemble at 8000 River Drive in Oak Ridge at 9am on Sundays and 7pm on Wednesdays; oakridgechurch.com; david.barry@oakridgechurch.com, murray.wade@oakridgechurch.com; (865) 693-1416.

Our next live program is planned for August 3, 2026 when we plan to study “God’s Will for My/Your Life” and we hope to see you next time on "Speaking the Truth in Love".