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<v SPEAKER_00>There's a moment in the spiritual life that changes everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's the moment when you realize God is already moving before you even know to look for Him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We talked about this on Sunday, third Sunday of Easter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But that's what we're seeing in the first reading.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip is not planning a mission trip.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's not strategizing evangelization.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's not even building a program.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then an angel tells him, get up and go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No explanation, no map, just obedience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he goes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then on a desert road, he meets a man, not just any man, an outsider, a foreigner, a eunuch, someone who, by Jewish law, would have been kept at a distance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet this man is searching.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's reading Isaiah, he's trying, but he doesn't understand.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Philip asks him one of the most important questions in Scripture.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do you understand what you're reading?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the man answers with incredible honesty.

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<v SPEAKER_00>How can I unless someone guides me, teaches me, explains it to me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>That line should stop us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because it tells us something we don't like to admit.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You cannot walk the spiritual life alone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You need someone to guide you, to teach you, to interpret, to help you see what you cannot see on your own.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Philip does exactly that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Gets into the chariot, he opens the scriptures and begins with the passage like a sheep led to the slaughter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What does he do?

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<v SPEAKER_00>He proclaims Jesus Christ, not ideas, not philosophy, Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then something beautiful happens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They come across water, and the eunuch says, What is to prevent me from being baptized?

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the question.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not, do I fully understand everything?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not am I perfectly ready?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not let me think about this.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, what is stopping me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the answer is nothing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So they stop the chariot, they go down into the water, and he's baptized.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now notice what happens next.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Philip disappears.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just like that, gone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No follow-up program, no continuing mentorship, no long-term plan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the man goes on his way, rejoicing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, because once you've encountered Christ, truly encountered him, you don't need to be carried anymore.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You've been given everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now that brings us to the gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is something that should humble all of us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Which means this even your desire for God is already God at work in you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That restlessness you feel, that pull towards something more, that dissatisfaction with a superficial life, that's not you figuring things out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's God drawing you in.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where is he drawing you into?

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<v SPEAKER_00>To himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I am the bread of life, the living bread that came down from heaven.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not a symbol, not an idea, his very flesh.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Given for the world, given for the life of the world.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So if we put these readings together, God sends Philip, God draws the unit, God opens the scripture, God leads him to the water, and in the end, God gives himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's how it works.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is always the one moving first.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So maybe a question for today is where is God already at work in your life that you're ignoring?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where is he prompting you, calling you, drawing you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe through a conversation, a restlessness, a question you can't shake.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And maybe the better question is this what's stopping you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What's stopping you from going deeper, from surrendering, from committing to that habit, that sin that you've been that keep falling into?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What's stopping you from letting it go?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because it's usually not lack of clarity, it's hesitation, it's fear, it's fear of losing control, delay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But look at the eunuch.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The moment he sees, he moves immediately.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No delay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the invitation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is already drawing you to himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's already speaking to your heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's already moving.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't overcomplicate things.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't overthink things.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't delay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Get up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Step in.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Receive what he is already trying to give you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's the greatest gift you'll ever receive.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.