Decisions of Faith: Lessons from Philip the Apostle
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the theme of decision-making through the lens of the Apostle Philip's life. We began by acknowledging the sheer number of decisions we make daily, some trivial and others significant. This led us to consider the importance of discernment and the dangers of procrastination or indecisiveness. We then delved into the life of Philip, an often-overlooked apostle, to draw lessons from his experiences and personality.
Philip's story begins with his immediate and enthusiastic response to Jesus' call to "Follow me." He not only followed but also brought Nathaniel to Jesus, demonstrating his initial zeal and faith. However, as we examined further, we saw that Philip's logical and pragmatic nature sometimes led to hesitation and doubt. For instance, during the feeding of the 5,000, Philip's practical assessment of the situation paralyzed him from seeing the miraculous potential in Jesus. Similarly, when Greeks approached him to see Jesus, Philip's indecisiveness led him to consult Andrew first, rather than taking them directly to Jesus.
In John 14, we saw Philip's eagerness to see the Father, which led to a gentle rebuke from Jesus, reminding him that seeing Jesus was equivalent to seeing the Father. This episode highlighted Philip's genuine but sometimes misplaced eagerness and confusion.
Through Philip's life, we learn that while God gives us unique gifts and personalities, we must not rely solely on these gifts. Instead, we should rely on the Giver of those gifts—God Himself. Philip's logical and practical mind was a gift, but it sometimes hindered his faith. The key takeaway is to cherish our God-given gifts but always place our trust in God, the Giver of those gifts.
### Key Takeaways
1. Immediate Response to God's Call: Philip's immediate response to Jesus' call to "Follow me" shows the importance of prompt obedience. When God calls us, our initial response should be one of faith and action, not hesitation or delay. This immediate obedience often sets the tone for our spiritual journey. [32:56]
2. Balancing Logic and Faith: Philip's logical and pragmatic nature is a double-edged sword. While it's essential to think practically, we must not let logic paralyze our faith. In the feeding of the 5,000, Philip's logical assessment blinded him to the miraculous possibilities that faith in Jesus could bring. [45:47]
3. Handling Indecisiveness: Philip's hesitation when Greeks approached him to see Jesus highlights the dangers of indecisiveness. Sometimes, overthinking can lead to inaction, which is a decision in itself. We must learn to act decisively, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. [51:50]
4. Eagerness and Misunderstanding: Philip's eagerness to see the Father in John 14 shows a genuine desire for deeper spiritual understanding. However, this eagerness was met with a gentle rebuke from Jesus, reminding us that our spiritual desires must align with God's revealed truth. [58:37]
5. Relying on the Giver, Not the Gifts: While God has endowed each of us with unique gifts, we must not idolize these gifts or rely solely on them. Philip's life teaches us to place our trust in God, the Giver of all gifts, rather than in the gifts themselves. This reliance on God ensures that our gifts are used for His glory and not our own. [01:03:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[25:38] - Childhood Memories and Decisions
[28:36] - The Dangers of Indecisiveness
[29:57] - Introduction to Philip the Apostle
[31:26] - Distinguishing Philip the Apostle from Philip the Evangelist
[32:56] - Philip's Call and Immediate Response
[35:45] - Philip's Connection with Andrew and Peter
[37:08] - Philip's Zeal and Initial Faith
[42:49] - Philip's Assessment During the Feeding of the 5,000
[50:29] - Philip's Encounter with the Greeks
[55:56] - Philip's Desire to See the Father
[01:03:14] - Relying on the Giver, Not the Gifts
[01:04:45] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 1:43-46 (Philip's Call)
2. John 6:5-7 (Feeding of the 5,000)
3. John 14:8-9 (Philip's Request to See the Father)
### Observation Questions
1. What was Philip's immediate response when Jesus called him to "Follow me"? (John 1:43-46)
2. How did Philip react when Jesus asked him about feeding the 5,000? (John 6:5-7)
3. What did Philip ask Jesus in John 14:8, and how did Jesus respond? (John 14:8-9)
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Philip's immediate response to Jesus' call tell us about his initial faith and enthusiasm? (John 1:43-46)
2. How does Philip's logical and practical nature both help and hinder his faith, as seen in the feeding of the 5,000? (John 6:5-7)
3. Why do you think Philip's eagerness to see the Father in John 14:8 was met with a gentle rebuke from Jesus? (John 14:8-9)
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt an immediate call from God. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? (John 1:43-46)
2. In what areas of your life do you find yourself relying more on logic and practicality rather than faith? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's miraculous potential? (John 6:5-7)
3. Have you ever experienced indecisiveness in your spiritual journey? What steps can you take to act more decisively in your faith? (John 6:5-7)
4. How do you balance your eagerness for spiritual growth with aligning your desires with God's revealed truth? (John 14:8-9)
5. Identify a gift or talent you have. How can you ensure that you are relying on God, the Giver of that gift, rather than the gift itself? (John 14:8-9)
6. Think of a situation where you hesitated to act because of fear of failure. How can you overcome this fear and trust in God's guidance? (John 6:5-7)
7. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of seeing Jesus as the representation of the Father in your daily life? (John 14:8-9)
Devotional
Day 1: Prompt Obedience to God's Call
When God calls us, our immediate response should be one of faith and action, not hesitation or delay. Philip's immediate response to Jesus' call to "Follow me" is a powerful example of prompt obedience. This immediate obedience often sets the tone for our spiritual journey. Philip didn't wait to understand all the details or weigh the pros and cons; he simply followed. This kind of faith and action is crucial in our walk with God. When we delay, we risk missing out on the blessings and opportunities that come with immediate obedience.
Philip's initial zeal and faith also led him to bring Nathaniel to Jesus, showing that our prompt obedience can have a ripple effect on those around us. When we respond quickly to God's call, we not only align ourselves with His will but also inspire others to do the same. This sets a foundation for a life of faith and action, where we are continually ready to respond to God's leading. [32:56]
John 1:43-45 (ESV): "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 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.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent moment when you felt God calling you to take action. Did you respond immediately, or did you hesitate? How can you cultivate a habit of prompt obedience in your daily life?
Day 2: Balancing Logic and Faith
Philip's logical and pragmatic nature is a double-edged sword. While it's essential to think practically, we must not let logic paralyze our faith. In the feeding of the 5,000, Philip's logical assessment blinded him to the miraculous possibilities that faith in Jesus could bring. He saw the vast crowd and the limited resources and concluded that it was impossible to feed everyone. However, Jesus used this moment to teach a valuable lesson about faith and the miraculous power of God.
We often find ourselves in situations where our logical minds tell us something is impossible. While it's important to be practical, we must also leave room for faith and the miraculous. God often works in ways that defy human logic, and our faith should allow us to see beyond the limitations of our understanding. By balancing logic with faith, we open ourselves up to experiencing God's miraculous power in our lives. [45:47]
John 6:5-7 (ESV): "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?' He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.'"
Reflection: Think of a situation where your logical assessment has limited your faith. How can you balance practical thinking with faith in God's miraculous power?
Day 3: Acting Decisively in Spiritual Matters
Philip's hesitation when Greeks approached him to see Jesus highlights the dangers of indecisiveness. Sometimes, overthinking can lead to inaction, which is a decision in itself. When the Greeks came to Philip, instead of taking them directly to Jesus, he consulted Andrew first. This hesitation could have delayed the Greeks' encounter with Jesus.
In our spiritual lives, indecisiveness can hinder our growth and the growth of those around us. We must learn to act decisively, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. Overthinking and hesitation can lead to missed opportunities to share the gospel, serve others, or grow in our faith. By acting decisively, we demonstrate our trust in God's guidance and our commitment to His will. [51:50]
John 12:20-22 (ESV): "Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you hesitated to make in your spiritual life. What caused your hesitation, and how can you act more decisively in the future?
Day 4: Aligning Spiritual Desires with God's Truth
Philip's eagerness to see the Father in John 14 shows a genuine desire for deeper spiritual understanding. However, this eagerness was met with a gentle rebuke from Jesus, reminding us that our spiritual desires must align with God's revealed truth. Philip wanted to see the Father, not fully understanding that seeing Jesus was equivalent to seeing the Father.
Our spiritual desires and eagerness for deeper understanding are commendable, but they must be grounded in the truth of God's Word. Sometimes, our desires can lead us astray if they are not aligned with God's revealed truth. Jesus' response to Philip serves as a reminder to seek spiritual understanding within the framework of God's Word and His revelation. [58:37]
John 14:8-9 (ESV): "Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' 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"?'
Reflection: Consider a spiritual desire or question you have. How can you ensure that your pursuit of this desire aligns with the truth of God's Word?
Day 5: Trusting the Giver, Not the Gifts
While God has endowed each of us with unique gifts, we must not idolize these gifts or rely solely on them. Philip's life teaches us to place our trust in God, the Giver of all gifts, rather than in the gifts themselves. Philip's logical and practical mind was a gift, but it sometimes hindered his faith.
By relying on the Giver rather than the gifts, we ensure that our gifts are used for His glory and not our own. This reliance on God keeps us humble and dependent on Him, recognizing that our abilities and talents are from Him and for His purposes. It also allows us to use our gifts more effectively, as we are guided by God's wisdom and strength rather than our own. [01:03:14]
James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Reflection: Reflect on a gift or talent you have. How can you shift your focus from relying on this gift to trusting in God, the Giver of the gift?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We make decisions every day. Harvard did a study and said that we make about 33,000 decisions in a day. So you do make decisions, even if you didn't say anything. Everybody makes decisions. Some of them are harder than others. Some of them are pretty easy to make. We don't even give them a second thought. We just do it. Others takes time. Other decisions take time to make, but we still make decisions." [25:38] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We know that sometimes it's not making a decision to avoid responsibility. Just, I don't want to be responsible for making the wrong choice, for making the wrong decision. I don't want to be responsible for making the wrong decision, so I'm just not going to make one. Or procrastination, you know, I really don't want to have to face this, so I'm going to put it off for a little bit. And as a result, we think, well, I'm just not making a decision, but we know being indecisive is still making a decision." [28:36] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "He says, come and see. See for yourself, make an assessment, and see once you see this man who says he's the Messiah, once you see this man named Jesus, once you see this man from Nazareth, and you assess him, you see if I am wrong or if I'm right. You make the determination of whether or not you believe him to be the son of God. I think he is. I believe he is." [40:01] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God has given us gifts. God has given each and every one of us gifts, some different than the other. And that's a good thing. That's fantastic. As I mentioned at the beginning of the sermon, most of the disciples' personalities and gifts were different, but God still called them. God gives us gifts, and we should praise him for that." [01:03:14] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We find out they're men, and they mess up. And so, as believers today, not that it's an encouragement that they mess up, but it's a reminder that they are just men, and God and His providence and God and His faithfulness knew what each one of them would do, knew each of their personalities, knew pretty much most of the personalities conflicted in some way, and yet He still called each of them." [29:57] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sometimes, and I get that initial call of God on your life, that can be a hard decision. It can be. There are hard aspects to it. I mean, Jesus doesn't even say it's easy. He said, unless you're willing to forsake all and follow me, you can't be my disciple. So I get there's a challenge to that. But there is, I hate to even say an easy aspect, but there is an easier aspect of it where you say, yes, I'll follow." [41:33] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We can't rely on our gifts. We can't idolize our gifts. We can't put our gifts on a pedestal and think, okay, well, I have this gift, to a point where we rely on our gifts and we don't rely on the giver of those gifts. I think when we look at Philip's life, we kind of see that sometimes. The way that God made his mind to think practically, pragmatically, logically, he almost did it to a point to where he didn't rely on the giver of those gifts." [01:03:14] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Give us the strength to be faithful. Give us the strength to not be indecisive, but to make decisions according to your word and to your will. And Father, thank you for the gifts that you've given each person here. There are so many people here that have so many gifts that you have blessed them with and blessed us with. And Lord, I pray that we'll praise you for that daily." [01:04:45] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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