I got curious and did a search on Intentional Christianity. Mountain Creek Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, made a commitment last fall to be a part of ICE. The area around the church has exploded in growth recently with approximately 67,000 people living within ten minutes of the church. (SBC SC Newsletter).
Tonight we will look at the life of Philip the disciple. (Wikipedia)- Included in the Acts of Philip is an appendix, entitled "Of the Journey of Philip the Apostle: From the Fifteenth Act Until the End, and Among Them the Martyrdom." This appendix gives an account of Philip's martyrdom in the city of Hierapolis.[6] According to this account, through a miraculous healing and his preaching Philip converted the wife of the proconsul of the city. This enraged the proconsul, and he had Philip, Bartholomew, and Mariamne all tortured. Philip and Bartholomew were then crucified upside-down, and Philip preached from his cross. As a result of Philip's preaching the crowd released Bartholomew from his cross, but Philip insisted that they not release him, and Philip died on the cross. Another legend is that he was martyred by beheading in the city of Hierapolis.
The book of John points out Philip more than any other gospel. It is believed that the primary recipients of the book of John were somewhat familiar with Philip so his story is more detailed in this book.
1. Philip’s Call. John 1:43
Jesus had just called Simon Peter and his brother Andrews. John 1:43 - The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
Here is what we need to notice here. Jesus went to Galilee and FOUND Philip. How did Jesus know to go to Galilee to find disciples, such as Philip? He had just come from the wilderness from being tempted. He had just spent 40 days in prayer.
The first lesson: Pray before you go. Col 4:2-4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
I believe we start where Jesus started His ministry. Prayer. The month of May will be a time of prayer on Wednesday night. It will be an exciting time for our Church. However, we need to pray now, to Continue Steadfast in Prayer. When we pray, we will know where to go, how to go, and to whom to go. If we are at a loss now as to what to do, there is one answer: Prayer.
Joh 1:44-46 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
2. Philips community:
Second, after prayer, notice that Philip went where he was familiar. Philip was from Bethsaida, his home town.
3. Philips companion:
Third, he went to someone with whom he was familiar. Sometimes Nathanial is called Bartholomew. When the disciples are listed, Philip and Bart are usually listed together. Our guess is if they are not related in some way, they are best friends.
Just as Jesus went looking for Philip, Philip went looking for Nathanial. This reflects intentionality. He actually targeted this one with whom he was familiar.
4. Philips Compassion:
Fourth: Being intentional is very sensitive to see people’s needs.
Joh 6:3-5 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"
It was Philip who noticed that the people were hungry and their problem was his problem. This sensitivity to the needs of those around him led to one of the most witnessed and wonderful miracles of Jesus.
When we recognize a need in our community, we can expect Jesus to want to act, to do something, to accomplish something.
Joh 12:20-23 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…”
5. Philip’s Countenance: To be intentional, you have to have a “Yes” face.
Charles Swindoll shares the following stories.
“During Thomas Jefferson's presidency he and a group of travelers were crossing a river that had overflowed its banks. Each man crossed on horseback fighting for his life. A lone traveler watched the group traverse the treacherous river and then asked President Jefferson to take him across. The president agreed without hesitation, the man climbed on, and the two made it safely to the other side of the river where somebody asked him: "Why did you select the President to ask this favor?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the President of the United States who had carried him safely across. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'No' and on some of them was the answer 'Yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."
"The most significant decision I make each day is my choice of an attitude. When my attitudes are right there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme and no challenge too great." –
Charles Swindoll goes on to tell about trying to hurry home after a conference and while walking through LAX Airport, a mentally deficient girl approaches him and asks him how to get to a certain gate. He had compassion on her despite trying to get home to his family, so he walked her safely to her gate.
Before he left her safely in the charge of the flight attendants, he asked her, “Why did you ask me? Why did you pick me out of all the people in the airport to ask for help.” You can probably guess by now her response. “You were the only one who had “yes” on your face.
Two great living illustrations of Philip here. Greek Jews came to meet the one they heard so much about. For whatever reason, they felt comfortable going through Philip, so they approached him.
If we are going to be intentional, we have to be approachable, interruptible, welcoming. Many Christians walk with such an expression that their very scowl at the grocery store says, “NO, don’t even ask.”
I am one of those misfortunate people who, when I have something on my mind, my face seems to show it. I had people ask me Sunday, “How are you feeling?” Actually, I felt great, but had little energy. My problem was I had a stomach thing on Saturday and dehydrated. But I felt good on Sunday, except for a lack of energy. I can hardly ever be sick that someone says, “You don’t feel good, do you?”
When we face the world with worry, doubt, anger, bitterness, and discouragement, we don’t have to tell the world. Usually, when we are not concentrating on looking happy, or face will show what is tumbling behind our eyes. If we are going to be intentional in the world, our faces cannot have those “No” expressions.
I don’t mean forcing a “Yes” face. I would prefer that every morning, we meet with Jesus and unload all of our burdens on Him. Mat 11:28-30 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
When we walk free of the oppressive burdens of life, our faces will in themselves serve as invitations for others to come.
6. Finally, Please see this….. 6 Philips craving.
Remember when Jesus said to His disciples: Joh 14:1-4 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going."
Thomas, the doubter, as we call him, asked Jesus for further clarification: Joh 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
From that question, Jesus took the opportunity to share with us one of the greatest concise description of the Messiah ever written: Joh 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Basically, Jesus said, “Know Me. Know the Father through Me. I am the only way. Knowing Me is knowing the Father. You are about to really get it.”
But notice Philip’s last gospel mention which follows this. Joh 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
To live intentionally, you have to desire to know God more, to grow more, to be challenged, to learn, to know Christ more. Paul said, Php 3:8-11 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
He also told the Ephesians, “Eph 3:14, 16-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
How did Jesus answer Philip, and how does it speak towards intentional Christian living?
Joh 14:9-12 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Intentional living comes from experience in walking with Christ. “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?”
Intentional living comes from Christ living through us. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
Back to Mountain Creek: “Prayer is really the bedrock of the ICE strategy. It prepares the hearts of the community and the church for a movement of God,” said Jack Partridge, the ICE coordinator in SC.
Partridge says each church member participating in ICE is trained in prayerwalking and is asked to organize prayerwalks of designated areas. Mountain Creek had over 100 people participate in prayerwalking training and has hosted two community prayerwalks with another scheduled in March.
Mountain Creek has contracted with an amusement park company to host a block party with rides and free food and will be hosting a women’s dinner and a men’s golf tournament. The church has also given church members cards with the contact information of the church and encouraged them to order meals in drive through lines, pay for the order of the next car and ask the cashier to hand the card to the driver with their meal. Church members are also leaving packages of light bulbs in porches in the community with lists of upcoming church events such as Vacation Bible School.
For Mountain Creek it means continuing to follow where the Holy Spirit is leading.
“Our heartfelt desire is to reach our community for the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a burden to reach those who live all around us. To be totally honest, Mountain Creek is a church that has been here a long time and probably hasn’t impacted this community like it should have. We hope to change that through ICE and with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit,” said Pastor David Shirley. (http://www.scbaptist.org/news/article127206.htm?title=1&body=1)
