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Christian Life Church
October 18, 2026 at 9am & 11am
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. Your faith is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. James 1:3-4 & 1 Peter 1:7
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
THE BOOK OF ACTS OCTOBER 18, 2026
THE DESERT ROAD
SCRIPTURE
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And 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.” 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. Acts 8:26-35
In Scripture “deserts” are real places but often serve as a metaphor to us.
HOW WE END UP ON DESERT ROADS
1/ Sometimes life puts us on a desert road (John 16)
2/ Sometimes another person puts us on a desert road (Genesis 37).
3/ Sometimes we put ourselves on a desert road (Genesis 3).
4/ Sometimes the devil puts us on a desert road (Job 1).
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
But, in the Bible, it isn’t usually these things that put people on desert roads…
5/ Sometimes God puts us on a desert road.
Who Transformation Path
Abraham Father to Father of Many Nations Desert
Joseph Nobody to Vice President Desert
Moses Goat Herder to Revolutionary Leader Desert
Israel Land of Slavery to Land of Freedom Desert
David Delivering Lunches to Kingship Desert
John Monk-esk Lifestyle to Mighty Prophet Desert
Philip Revival to Random Road Desert
Paul Pharisee to Theological Giant Desert
WHY WE END UP ON DESERT ROADS
1/ Sometimes desert roads have everything to do with you.
The road may be a trial.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. Your faith is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. James 1:3-4 & 1 Peter 1:7
The road may be a test.
God tested Abraham. Genesis 22:1
The road may be a temptation.
God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. James 1:13
Each person is tempted when they are lured and dragged away by their own evil desire. James 1:14 (NIV/NLT)
2/ Sometimes desert roads have nothing to do with you.
HOW WE SHOULD WALK DESERT ROADS
1/ We should walk with Scripture in our mouths.
2/ We should walk with faith in our souls.
3/ We should walk with faithfulness in our lives.
4/ We should walk with people in our hands.
5/ We should walk with endurance in our bones.
6/ We should walk with assurance in our hearts.
He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“A man with God is always in the majority.” John Knox
“No will or act of creatures, men, angels, or demons can do other than work for our good. No dog can bark against us, no man or woman can speak or act against us, no sinister power or evil can be against us but all must be for our good. There is no phenomenon of nature, fire, flood, storm or earthquake that can work us ultimate ill. The law of gravity cannot trip us up or cause anything to fall upon us unless first sifted through the will of God’s purpose for our good. Every experience of our individual circumstances whether temptations or whatever concerns us, humbles us, will force us to rely on Him alone Who can satisfy. All things work together for our good, otherwise the Lord would not permit it.” Donald Barnhouse
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28
THE DESERT ROAD
SCRIPTURE
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And 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.” 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. Acts 8:26-35
In Scripture “deserts” are real places but often serve as a metaphor to us.
HOW WE END UP ON DESERT ROADS
1/ Sometimes life puts us on a desert road (John 16)
2/ Sometimes another person puts us on a desert road (Genesis 37).
3/ Sometimes we put ourselves on a desert road (Genesis 3).
4/ Sometimes the devil puts us on a desert road (Job 1).
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
But, in the Bible, it isn’t usually these things that put people on desert roads…
5/ Sometimes God puts us on a desert road.
Who Transformation Path
Abraham Father to Father of Many Nations Desert
Joseph Nobody to Vice President Desert
Moses Goat Herder to Revolutionary Leader Desert
Israel Land of Slavery to Land of Freedom Desert
David Delivering Lunches to Kingship Desert
John Monk-esk Lifestyle to Mighty Prophet Desert
Philip Revival to Random Road Desert
Paul Pharisee to Theological Giant Desert
WHY WE END UP ON DESERT ROADS
1/ Sometimes desert roads have everything to do with you.
The road may be a trial.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. Your faith is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. James 1:3-4 & 1 Peter 1:7
The road may be a test.
God tested Abraham. Genesis 22:1
The road may be a temptation.
God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. James 1:13
Each person is tempted when they are lured and dragged away by their own evil desire. James 1:14 (NIV/NLT)
2/ Sometimes desert roads have nothing to do with you.
HOW WE SHOULD WALK DESERT ROADS
1/ We should walk with Scripture in our mouths.
2/ We should walk with faith in our souls.
3/ We should walk with faithfulness in our lives.
4/ We should walk with people in our hands.
5/ We should walk with endurance in our bones.
6/ We should walk with assurance in our hearts.
He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“A man with God is always in the majority.” John Knox
“No will or act of creatures, men, angels, or demons can do other than work for our good. No dog can bark against us, no man or woman can speak or act against us, no sinister power or evil can be against us but all must be for our good. There is no phenomenon of nature, fire, flood, storm or earthquake that can work us ultimate ill. The law of gravity cannot trip us up or cause anything to fall upon us unless first sifted through the will of God’s purpose for our good. Every experience of our individual circumstances whether temptations or whatever concerns us, humbles us, will force us to rely on Him alone Who can satisfy. All things work together for our good, otherwise the Lord would not permit it.” Donald Barnhouse
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28