Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (NIV)

1 Cor 4:1-3

1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. (NIV)

Servants of Christ

q  Not the Church itself – Church is one of the outlets of servant hood to Christ.

·                     I changed armies you changed your servitude from the devil to Jesus.

q  Must prove faithful

·                     Must: There are no short cuts. We cannot fool God (maybe people) with our personalities. Promotion is from the Lord, it’s his Ministry.

·                     Prove: There is an action involved. Take it through the fire, the rain, time test etc..

·                     Faithful: Those that by continuing to do the right things form trust in the hearts of others.

Entrusted

q  Stewardship: A manager, a caretaker of something belonging to another.

q  I couldn’t do what I am doing with out the presence and power of God! He has entrusted me with it, and as I grow more faithful he entrusts me with more.

v  What you do with the small things is what you will do with the big things.

Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (NIV)

v  can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much

·          little money

v  dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much

v  if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches

·          how I handle God’s money will show how I will handle his power. Selfish gain?

v  if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

·          Little ministry / someone else’s ministry.

v  You cannot serve both God and Money

·          The first test of your calling that many fail, will be your love for money vs. your love for God. Lk 18:18-24 The rich young ruler.

Acts 6:1-5 Seven men for waiting on tables. Stephen and Philip 2 of seven.

Acts 6:3 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 8:4-23

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 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. 8 So there was great joy in that city. 9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." (NIV)

PHILIP                                                                      SIMON

Servant                                                                        v:10 He boasted that he was someone great..

Proclaimed the Word and Christ                                Proclaimed himself and his greatness

Follower of Christ                                                       wanted people to follow him

Wanted people saved                                                  wanted people dependant on him

Wanted to glorify Christ                                             wanted the Power to glorify himself

Philip was called                                                         Simon called himself

Right heart                                                                  wrong heart