UNCOMMON SERVICE
The Cure For The Common Life—Part 4
Jesus lived and breathed service. Jesus stooped to love. He bent over backward to concern himself with others’ needs. It doesn’t seem logical that God would choose service as the path to try to impact the world. Yet the most strident atheist has difficulty denying Christ’s impact; not just any man steps into history and splits time in two.
The bible teaches us that Jesus was equal with God. He was the ultimate object of praise in the universe that he created. Yet he chose the violence of the incarnation and the depths of his service take on astonishing dimensions. He voluntarily laid aside his divine prerogatives. The powerful creator of all things was born as a helpless baby in a dirty cow trough.
From there Jesus never stopped serving. He lived it and breathed it. The King of Kings became a bondservant.
With his life and death as a man, Jesus violated every tenet of the world’s system. The highest came to serve the lowest. The Creator came to serve the created. The one who possessed everything became nothing.
He lived and breathed serving right up to the last. When Jesus gathered his disciples for the Last Supper they were having trouble deciding who was the greatest among them. Whenever there is trouble over who is the greates, there is trouble over who is the least. That si the crux of the matter for us isn’t it? Most of us know we will never be the greatest, just don’t let me be the least.
Take ten chickens. Any ten. Put them in a pen together, and spreads a little chicken feed. In short order, you will witness an amazing phenomenon. In a matter of minutes, the chickens, previously strangers, will form a hierarchy based on dominance; or in everyday language, they will establish a pecking order. Instinctively they will determine, through a series of skirmishes, who the number one chicken will be; then the Number two and the number three; all the way down to the unlucky number ten chicken.
Much is at stake in the dance of domination. Chicken number one pecks at and intimidates chicken number two, without experiencing any kind of retribution from chicken number two. Chicken number two will take it from chicken number one but will turn around and peck away at chicken number three, who will then take out his frustration on chicken number four. The pecking order continues all the way down to miserable chicken number ten who lives a pretty miserable life. None of the disciples wants to be chicken number ten.
Gathered at the Passover fest, the disciples were keen aware that someone needed to fetch some water so everyone could wash their feet. The problem was that this chore was reserved for the least. So there they sat, feet caked with dirt. It was such a sore point that they not even going to talk about it. No one wanted to be considered the least. Then Jesus went after the water and a towel and he redefined greatness.
For three years Jesus had lived and breathed service with his followers watching every move. Having lived it out, he called them to the same thing, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done.” John 13:14-15. This is one of the things that makes Jesus pop off the grayscale of history with living color. His path to greatness was the way of serving.
Jesus lived and breathed service. Eventually these men jockeying for position got it and they also became men who served. So much so, that it became a hall mark of the New Testament church.
Today we’re going to look at one of those early church members. We’re going to look at a person who’s portrait is full of beautiful color that distinguished him from his gray environment.
Philip’s Vital Stats:
Church Ministry Position: Deacon
Relatives: Four Daughters
Contemporaries: Stephen, Paul, the apostles
Life Motto: “If I’m breathing, I’m serving.”
PORTRAIT OF A MAN WHO LIVES AND BREATHES UNCOMMON SERVICE
He Breathes In the Spirit and Wisdom
Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them [4] and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
[5] This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Acts 6:3-5 (NIV)
I need wisdom, but wisdom is not enough. I need revelation. I need to hear from God and be led by God every day. God will often speak to us in counter-intuitive ways. Sometimes what he says is decidedly UNWISE from a human perspective.
What if I’m not full of the Spirit and full of wisdom? I’m going to be full of something. Nature abhors a vacuum. So if I’m not full of the Holy Spirit what am I full of? I’m full of me! I’m an opera singer…Memmemmeme!
1. Requires external rewards. I need to know that people see and appreciate my effort. Just as surely as a compass points north, the human needle points up. In each heart is a built-in mechanism that craves self-promotion and advancement, the climb of our ego. Philip achieves amazing results when he preaches in Samaria. It would have easy o insist on recognition after he started the church in Samaria. How about a pat on the back?
2. Expects reciprocation. I become bitter when the results fall below my expectations.
3. I’m selective about who I will serve. Philip consistently served down and outers. He served people regardless of their race or social status. In Acts 6 he’s serving Hellenistic Jewish widows, in Acts 8 he’s serving the hated half-breeds of Samaria, along with a black African from Ethiopia
4. My service is affected by moods and whims. I can serve only when I’m in the proper frame of mind. Philip served despite the fact that he was mourning the loss of his friend Stephen. He was also wrestling with his own fears of persecution. If I must wait for ideal conditions, I’ll never serve in ministry. There will always be an excuse not to serve.
Philip said “If I’m breathing, I’m serving”
He Breathes Out Obedience
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. Acts 8:5 (NIV)
Some of Jesus final words on earth were “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)
By the time Acts 8 rolls around still no one has bothered to venture out of Jerusalem. One of Philip’s friends Stephen was viciously murdered for his faith in Christ as the opening salvo of fresh persecution fell upon the infant church. Many Christians fled Jerusalem to escape the persecution. As Philip moved away from Jerusalem he proclaimed Christ. Why?—because that’s what Jesus commanded. Philip was obedient. Preaching the gospel to the lost is not suggested, is not optional, it is commanded by Jesus himself.
Haiti Trip Interview Here (Roll Haiti Trip Slide Show as I’m doing the Interview)
1. In what ways did you serve the people of Fort Liberte, Haiti?
2. In what ways does your relationship with Jesus impact the way you serve others?
3. In what ways was this an act of obedience to God?
He Breathes In the Holy Spirit’s Nudges
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, [28] and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. [29] The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
[30] Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.
[31] "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:27-31 (NIV)
As Philip is sparking an amazing spiritual breakthrough among the Samaritans God does a curious thing. He tells him to leave Samaria and retrace his steps south through Jerusalem further south and west to meet a solitary man on the desert road to Gaza.
Looking at this thing from a resource management perspective it makes no sense. You’ve got a guy who is being very effective in his current position. He’s influencing hundreds and thousands of people. Why would he move from this fruitful and effective service when there are plenty of Christians still in Jerusalem who are closer to the Gaza road? Do all of this just so Philip can serve on man by explaining a passage of Scripture to him. That’s why you must be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Because if you’re just full of wisdom. You don’t make this move.
True service comes through from a relationship with God deep inside. We serve out of whispered promptings, divine urgings. Energy is expended but it is not the frantic energy of overextended flesh.
He Breathes Out “I’m God’s Go-To Guy”
Baseball fans know the value of a utility player, someone who can play many different positions. Philip was a utility player. He served in many and varied types of ministries.
“If I’m breathing I’m serving.”
Philip Serves with Administration
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. [2] So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. [3] Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them Acts 6:1-3 (NIV)
Philip Serves with Miracles
When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. [7] With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. Acts 8:6-7 (NIV)
Philip Serves with Preaching in another Culture
…they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, Acts 8:12 (NIV)
Philip Serves with Sharing his faith
Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:35 (NIV)
Philip Serves with Baptism
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. Acts 8:38 (NIV)
Philip Serves with Hospitality
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. Acts 21:8 (NIV)
We’ve got some wonderful servants here. People who have embraced the mantra, “If I’m breathing, I’m serving.”
1. our band members—some musicians play all three services 50 weekends per year!
2. our office helpers—fold and stuff 700 bulletins per week, duplicating cds dvds, mailing
3. guys and gals in parking lot—first impression serving in cold, rain, snow heat
4. youth volunteers—shaping the next generation of leaders
5. children volunteers—shaping the destiny of the next generation of church leaders
6. nursery and toddler workers—the handshake of our church
7. audio/video techies—some of them are highly skilled and highly paid in their jobs, they volunteer here
8. first impressions/hospitality teams—giving our church warmth
9. careforce and telecare—making BIG horizons into small and personal Horizons
10. Lifegroup leaders –the backbone of our church.
Popcorn Testimonies Here (I’ll need mic runners for this portion) Guidelines for popcorn testimonies. 1. What is your name? 2. In what ministry do you serve? 3. Why do you serve? What rewards do you receive from serving? Please create a slide with these questions and display it on the screen while we’re doing the popcorn testimonies.
When He Stops Breathing He Leaves a Living Legacy
He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. Acts 21:9 (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. Acts 8:39 (NIV)
Spiritual Direction: Test Drive a Ministry Form
