Available to God
(or, “What to do before your call”)
Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:1-8)
1982 was a momentous year in my life. After 12 yrs. of school and 4 yrs. of college, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree. It was a wonderful accomplishment.
•Unfortunately, like many college graduates my goal up to that point was to have a good time and get the degree along the way;
•Suddenly that awful prospect loomed in front of me: I had to get a job! A horrifying thought.
•I had majored in Psychology, and one of my friends, also a Psych major told me that “BA in Psychology like a BA in unemployment” (without a master’s degree...);
•So I began considering graduate school of psychology; but I was kind of bored with my undergraduate work, most of which had been experimenting on rats.
•I decided I would take a year off. But during that summer someone suggested I take a few seminary classes. That’s a good idea. Everyone can use a little Bible.
•And so I went to seminary. I really enjoyed it. I began to think, “Maybe God wants me in full time Christian service”
•And I began to observe the men and women around me. Many spoke of their extraordinary life-changing call to ministry. Dramatic call. Earthshaking. Damascus Rd experiences.
•I didn’t have a call like that. So I studied and I waited for my call. Nothing.
•Friends in seminary said they were called to preach, burning in their heart. I had no burning in my heart (except perhaps the morning after eating too spicy food).
•I had heard stories of great men’s calls. dreams and visions; men in grip of sin, who God called; John Newton (African slave trade- Amazing Grace)
Don’t get me wrong. I was a Christian. I truly wanted to serve God. But I didn’t know where I should go, or what I should do. Missions? Pastor? Teacher? Involvement in church?
Have you ever wondered about God’s will in your life? What would God have me do?
This morning I want to deal with this question.
I called this message “Available to God” : But I could have called it: “What to do before your call.” How do you prepare for a life of service to God?
Now some of you may be saying, "This message isn’t for me, for 17-25 yr. olds."
•I’m established in business; Retired.
•But you don’t get off that easy. After all, God wants all Christians to be available to him. History is full of Christians in their 50s, 60s and 70s who were called by God to be serve him. People in established careers that God calls.
•I was amazed when I got to seminary. It was full of engineers and businessmen, even doctors and lawyers, whom God had called.
I don’t know what God may be calling you to: Maybe helping out in an established ministry around here (teaching or Awanas, or men’s ministry, or youth ministry; DVBS); maybe starting a new ministry. Maybe short term missions; who knows, maybe full time Christian service.
•Whatever it is, this message is for all Christians who are open to God’s will.
We’re going to look at a man named Philip
•Philip is what we might call a "minor character of Acts"
•We know great characters of Peter and Paul.
•When we meet Philip:
-Not a professional missionary; great evangelist; powerful preacher
-Just an ordinary “Joe Christian” like you or me
-But a person available to God; and so an example for us
•Three principles from Philip’s life on "What to do before you’re called." Or, How to live a life available to God.
When we first meet Philip he is simply a name in a list, but an important name.
•Turn to Acts 6 while I remind you of context:
•Exciting days in the early church.
•Growing like mad. Day of Pentecost, Peter preaches a powerful sermon, and 3,000 are converted; by Acts 4 there were 5,000.
•Spirit of love and caring: sharing possessions, meeting needs.
•Sure there is persecution (Peter and John, then all apostles), but this only strengthens the church.
Suddenly, however the honeymoon is over, an internal problem arises.
•Conflict between two ethnic groups, the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians and the Aramaic-speaking Jews the locals, born and raised in Palestine
•The poor widows of Greek-speaking are being ignored in the daily distribution of food
As we saw two weeks ago, the apostles come up with a solution.
•They are called by God to preach the Gospel and they cannot leave that calling.
•So they propose a committee of seven men to oversee the distribution of the food.
We looked at the first man on that list last week.
•His name was Stephen, the first Christian to be martyred for his faith.
•But the second is Philip...just a name. But significant:
The first thing we learn about Philip was he was available for service.
•Not what we would call powerful, or earthshaking service. It wasn’t an up-front; not public speaking; not high profile; not a mover and shaker.
•Just that daily meals-on-wheels service. Just taking food to the poor.
•It was like flipping burgers at the Church picnic; or grilling steaks at the Steak Out
But it was the most important and awesome role possible.
•Because it tells us Philip was a servant.
•Philip made himself available to serve.
Here’s our first Principle. Christians who hear God’s call:
1. Are already serving him wherever they are, Acts 6:1-6
Philip didn’t pack his pith helmet and back pack and head for Africa or Indonesia.
•He didn’t rent a massive tent and hold his own Harvest Crusade.
•He just said, "You need some help supplying the widows with food. I can make that a priority. Sure I’ve got a full schedule. But that’s important."
•He got involved in service where he was.
Appl.- Are you available to go where God calls you? To do what he wants you to do.
•I think most Christians would say “yes” to that question.
•Then I would ask a further question: “What are you doing here and now?”
Here’s the principle: “Christians who hear God’s call are those who are serving him where they are.”
I mentioned my time in seminary at the beginning. I have to admit. First year one of the most difficult spiritually.
•Great paradox; I was studying God’s word from great men of God.
•But I was so busy, I had no time to be involved in Christian service. No time to teach S.S. No time to help out in youth ministry.
•And I really dried up spiritually.
Taking in all this information; but I wasn’t exercising; stagnating, becoming cynical).
You see spiritual health like physical health
•Spiritual nourishment is essential: The food of the Word of God.
•But just like physically, if we take it all in and don’t exercise we become spiritually obese
•Here I was constantly taking in and wasn’t giving in service.
•Some of us here sit every week; but we don’t serve.
Not Philip. He was available for service.
T- This is the last we hear of Philip for two chapters.
The next two chapters are taken up with the story of Stephen, the man we talked about last week.
•Stephen is seized for preaching about Jesus. A mock trial is held and he is taken out and stoned to death.
•We saw Stephen’s incredible courage. He was willing to speak the truth no matter what the cost.
But Stephen’s execution creates another crisis in the church.
Persecution breaks out against the church, particularly the Greek speaking Christians: Turn over to Chapter 8.1b: On that day (of Stephen’s stoning) a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
•The Greek-Christians are faced with a choice: run or die.
•So they run, in all directions. East, West, North and South.
Philip heads north to the region of Samaria.
What did he do when he got there?
•Look at v. 5: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and... hid there 5 months until the trouble had blown over.
•No: he proclaimed Christ there (!). He must be crazy.
For two reasons:
(1) His friend Stephen has just been stoned for preaching the Gospel
(2) Samaritans hated Jews. They were bitter enemies. This was a bad neighborhood. This is not the best place to be. When you are in trouble you run home to mama.
For most of us the best thing to do would be to lay low. Let it blow over.
Not Philip. You see because Philip sees the persecution not as a disaster, but as an opportunity to serve God more
•While many Christians would be saying, “God, why did you allow this persecution. Stephen was my friend. Now he’s dead. Now I’ve had to run, leaving family and friends. Cut off from my church. A disaster.”
•Not Philip. He says, “God, what adventure do you have for me now? What good are you going to bring from this bad?”
Here’s our second principle. Christians available to God...
2. See life’s challenges as opportunities for greater service, Acts 8:1-4
There are times, for all of us when it seems like life has just given you a beating.
•The bills aren’t being paid; or the family’s a wreck; or the job’s a disaster.
Max Lucado, in his book, In the Eye of the Storm (Word Publishing, 1991, Page 11), tells the story of Chippie the parakeet.
Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.
The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said "hello" when "ssssopp!" Chippie got sucked in.
The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie -- still alive, but stunned.
Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.
Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering.
"Well," she replied, "Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore -- he just sits and stares."
Ever feel like? Like life has beaten you up.
•Like you don’t feel like singing anymore. Like you just sit and stare.
•It’s times like that you ask “Why God?” Why have you caused such pain in my life.
The story of Philip gives us at least a partial answer: God brings trials into our lives to make us stronger. To provide opportunities for greater service.
If you watch the sports page you know there is a great story unfolding right now in the Tour de France, probably the greatest bicyclist race in the world.
•Only one American has ever won it in the past.
•But right now American Lance Armstrong is poised to carry the yellow jersey to victory. (today is the last day)
•He has just torn up the field with incredible scores; he is way out in front.
But what is really amazing is that just three years ago, Lance Armstrong was given only a 30% chance of surviving. He had testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. He was dying.
•Talk about a comeback.
•You see through that trial he raised to even greater heights than before.
You see sometimes adversity can make us stronger. It can thicken are skin and harden our resolve. If we let it.
That’s how Philip sees his crisis.
•While others would be saying, "Why God?" Why did you take Stephen? Why did you allow this persecution? You’ve really messed up this time.
•Philip is saying "It’s great to be in Samaria, because that’s where God wants me"
•He’s saying: "What a great opportunity to share Jesus with those who haven’t heard the Gospel."
I read a great quote this week. “Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle.” J.R. Lowell
•Every difficult circumstance can be viewed in one of two ways: Either as a disaster or as an adventure. As a calamity or as an opportunity.
•The question you have to ask: “Are you going to grab the handle, or are you going to grab the blade. Are you going to wallow in self pity and depression, or are you going to make this trial an effective tool for greater ministry.
I love reading about the life of Paul (which we will do as we go through Acts). From a human perspective, this guy was jinxed! Everywhere he went, calamity followed. He’d get beaten and thrown out of town; he’s get beaten and thrown in jail; he’d get sick and almost die; he’d get shipwrecked and washed up on shore. But every time, God would take that situation, and would accomplish something good.
•In Acts 16, he and Silas are in jail; it could have been a major moan fest; a whine festival. “Why do we have to have to be in this jail? the place stinks, the food’s lousy, rats everywhere.” We should never have gone on this missionary trip.
•That would be grabbing the blade. But Paul wasn’t a blade grabbing guy. He was a handle grabbing guy. Every disaster was an adventure for God to make into good.
•And sure enough, God turns that jail time into a great success. With an earthquake, the salvation of the jailkeeper, and the establishment of a church.
Which is it going to be? Are you going to grab the handle, or the blade.
Philip chooses the handle. He uses this as an opportunities to share his faith.
That’s brings up the third principle we can learn from Philip’s life:
Principle # 3: Christians who hear God’s call are those who are looking for opportunities to share their faith.
3. Have their eyes open for chances to share their faith, Acts 8:5-8
Appl.- how do you face troubles, trials, persecutions. As disasters? Or as opportunities?
Maybe at work. Good comfortable job. Friendly environment.
-Then you are transferred to a new department.
-And suddenly hostile environment. You are suddenly faced with the proverbial “co-worker from hell”
-Finds out you are a Christian so takes opportunities to make crude comments or jokes.
How do you respond? As a disaster, or as an opportunity to share Jesus with those who desperately need him.
Or maybe it’s a neighbor, who constantly complains about everything you do on your
How do you respond?
Or maybe in school. And your teacher is openly hostile to Christians and Christianity.
How do you respond?
I read a great story of perseverance. About a man who faced constant failure.
In 1831 he suffered a business failure. In 1832 he was defeated in a bid for the state legislature. In 1833 he underwent a second business failure. In 1835 his fiancée died. In 1836 he experienced a mental breakdown. In 1838 he was defeated for speaker of the state legislature. In 1840 he was defeated for the office of elector. In 1843 he was defeated for land officer. In 1846 he finally won an election for the Congress. But in 1848 he was defeated in a reelection bid. In 1855 he was defeated in a run for the Senate. In 1856 he was defeated in his bid for vice president. In 1858 he lost again in another attempt at the Senate.
This guy was a real loser. Oh, yeah, in 1860 he was elected president of the U. S.
His name was Abraham Lincoln.
He was one of those guys who grabbed the handle, not the blade.
Philip looked at a bad situation and said, “God, you put me here for a purpose.”
Here’s our 3rd principle again: Christians who hear God’s call are those who are looking for opportunities to share their faith.
And when Philip obeyed God in the situation he was in, God blessed him.
-As a result of Philip’s work, a great revival broke out in Samaria.
-Look at verse 8.6-7: When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city.
-v.14: When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Samaria accepted the word of God!
-Philip’s work resulted in a whole community of people coming to Jesus.
-Through Philip’s simple obedience, God did a mighty work.
-Philip, ordinary "Joe Christian", became Philip the evangelist.
-In Acts 21.8 we run into Philip again in a brief mention: Philip the evangelist.
-And throughout history that is the name he is known by: “Philip the evangelist”
-God took an ordinary Christian like you or me and performed a great work for him because he was willing and available.
Do you want to be used by God? Then follow the "Philip strategy"
(1) Get involved in service here and now
(2) Learn to view difficulties as adventures, not disasters
(3) Look for the opportunities God gives you to share your faith.
William Carey was known as the Father of modern missions.
When he was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him.
•Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could produce the scriptures in the local dialect. He had also prepared dictionaries and grammars for the use of his successors.
•One day while Carey was away, a fire broke out and completely destroyed the building, the presses, many Bibles, and the precious manuscripts, dictionaries, and grammars.
•When he returned and was told of the tragic loss, he showed no sign of despair or impatience. Instead, he knelt and thanked God that he still had the strength to do the work over again.
•He started immediately, not wasting a moment in self-pity. Before his death, he had duplicated and even improved on his earlier achievements.
You see God isn’t looking for great evangelists.
•For persuasive preachers
•Super-human missionaries
He is looking for ordinary Christians willing and available to serve him.
